Category: Miscellaneous

16 Mar 2023 23:59

Joined:	09/08/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	10991

Points:	5 (₹ 5)

Does too much commercialization impact spiritual vibes of a religious place?

Often when we visit a religious place like a temple, it is the peaceful environment, good feeling, and some form of divinity that we feel makes our heart feel at peace and happy. I am from the hilly area of Uttarakhand, and temples there, especially the temple of local deities, are often situated at very high places midst of scenic beauty and difficult to reach, but once you reach there, it always soothes your soul, even the pain of the difficult terrain does not disturb this peace, but in the cities, temples are so much commercialized. Everything is done in certain manners, and with every step, you are charged some money. The more famous the place is, the more it will impact your pocket, and above all, you don't even feel close to god, which should be the whole purpose. In the whole facade of broad rituals and ways one should and shouldn't do the worship, one loses the notion with which he/she visits such religious places.

Has anyone else also felt the same that too much commercialization of a place impacts its spiritual vibes? Here I am not trying to hurt anyone's sentiments but just giving my honest opinion on why there is so much focus on earning revenue from these places.

#770597

17 Mar 2023 01:28

Joined:	14/03/2023
Level:	Gold
Points:	1324

Points:	5

Neelam,

Appreciating your forum thread. Certainly, commercialisation of a religious place impacts its spiritual vibes. I too have the same opinion. I have been to many spiritual placed which I felt it like crowded and we don't have privacy to show our devotion. Say for example, Golden Temple in Amritsar, Jamah Masjid in Delhi, Temples & Churches in Kerala & Tamilnadu, Hadimba temple in Himachal Pradesh etc. Many religious places, especially those in natural settings, can offer a peaceful and serene environment that can provide comfort and tranquility to visitors.

However, it is also true that some religious places in urban settings may have become commercialized and may focus more on financial gain than on spiritual pursuits. It is also important to note that the commercialization of religious places may not necessarily be a negative thing, as it can help support the maintenance and upkeep of the place.

Ultimately, the purpose of visiting a religious place should be to connect with the divine or to find inner peace, and this can be achieved regardless of the location or setting. It is up to the individual to find what works for them and to stay true to their personal beliefs and values. But still I am with your opinion.

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#770608

17 Mar 2023 11:51

Joined:	10/12/2016
Level:	Diamond
Points:	109190

Points:	5

In big temples or famous and popular religious places sometimes commercialization is inevitable. There are many reasons behind that. The main thing is that money is required for the maintenance and day to day expenditures in that place. Earlier, people were offering some money to the deity and from that these temples were managing all the expenses. Today everything is modernised. There are fans and ACs installed in big temples. There are waiting halls. There are big kitchens for preparing Prasadam for the devotees. There are many priests and saints in the temple and a large number of staff assists them. It all costs money and they have to charge some entrance fee or darshan fee etc.
There are some temples which charge high amounts for special darshan giving a priority to a person who pays for it and many people pay like that and see the deity in quickest possible time. How these rich people are managing their spiritual attainments by buying the priority passes is a big question.

Knowledge is power.

#770618

17 Mar 2023 14:27

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145553

Points:	5

It is true that we are seeing too much commercialisation in places of worship. When you want to have the darshan of God there, you have to get in line and wait for your turn. But we will not have that much time and patience. We want to finish as fast as possible and push off. Taking this as an advantage the temple authorities brought the concept of Speed Darshan or Special Darshan. That is how this commercialisation started.
It is the individual who has to concentrate his mind on God and forget or ignore all other issues at least for a few minutes during darshan. Controlling others or the environment is not in our hands but controlling our minds is in our hands only.
The temples in villages will not have so many devotees, will be very calm and quiet and when we go there, we can sit for as much time as possible and we can get relaxed. But in some very famous temples, we see many people and there it may be a little difficult to concentrate.

drrao
always confident

#770629

17 Mar 2023 16:57

Joined:	19/06/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	87960

Points:	5 (₹ 3)

Even for medicines to work properly inside our body, there are some 'carriers' or 'agents'. Even bitter medicine is coated with sweetness to make it palatable. Raw and crude are not attractive however useful and beneficial they may be. They have to be coated, carried, and presented in an attractive way to make them easily acceptable for all.

Religious and spiritual matters also need such treatment. If the aim is to make more people hear or see the spiritual discourses, and events and visit the spiritual places there need some elements which attract the crowd and congregation. But among the crowd and congregation, there will be at least a small fraction who are really interested in the spiritual matters and sincerely attend to them.

Moreover for conducting and continuing with such well-intended events, money is needed. Commercial paraphernalia help in sourcing money also. As far as the decided goals are being achieved, I do not mind the commercialization of spiritual matters also. This is proved in the present-day visits of people to different worship places and the many religious courses at various places even far away from their normal dwelling places.

#771898

25 Mar 2023 17:46

Joined:	04/05/2009
Level:	Gold
Points:	31278

Points:	4 (₹ 2)

Here I wish to tell that the word 'commercial' comes into existence only because of our own people. When we are going to a temple or any worshipping place and see a crowd, automatically our eyes are searching if any special ticket darshan is available or if any known person is found in our vision for easy darshan. We immediately get second thoughts about going inside by standing in the queue. Secondly, we are expecting some eatables after the darshan is over.

By seeing all such things the authorities concerned started taking advantage of our 'own' intention and starts some escalations snacks outlet as prasad stalls.

So, we are the culprits as well we are the commenting persons.

#771982

28 Mar 2023 10:29

Joined:	03/12/2016
Level:	Gold
Points:	2307

Points:	4

Excessive commercialization detracts from the sanctity and solemnity of a religious site, making it feel less like a place of worship and more like a tourist attraction.,But in the other hand commercialization can help support the upkeep and maintenance of religious sites, making them more accessible and welcoming to visitors.
Ultimately, the impact of commercialization on the spiritual vibes of a religious place will depend on a variety of factors, including the type and extent of commercial activity, the attitudes and behaviors of visitors, and the cultural and historical significance of the site. Some religious places may be able to strike a balance between commercial activity and spiritual significance, while others may struggle to find this equilibrium.

Service to mankind is service to God.

Does too much commercialization impact spiritual vibes of a religious place?

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