P.M.C. Menon and 70 kilos of gold

Menon's 70 kgs. of gold as an offering to Guruvayoorappan is an affair between God and his devotee. What has it to do with us? Nevertheless, since the temple and its affairs are within the public domain, comments on the acts of devotees are inevitable. Oftimes, commentary or criticism can clarify or bring out the moral lessons of an action. Firstly, thulabharam is a ritual that has been extant since the temple was built and the ritual exists in many other temples too. A devotee offering thulabharam is the natural outcome of the devotee's devotion to his diety. But when amounts involved are unusually high, invariably the public wonders whether the amount spent could not have been spent more wisely. But how could something earmarked for one occasion be used for another? For other needs, other funds - that's all as far as the devotee is concerned. Therefore I feel we ought to in no way criticise Mr. Menon for what he did. It is well within his right to have done so and may Guruvayoorappan bless him for that. But the 70 kgs. of gold, once donated, becomes the property of the temple and at this level, the question should be about the use the temple puts this gold to. Here public questioning must be pursued with vigor. A temple belongs to its devotees. If devotees are kept in the dark about any aspect of the temple management, then that temple would before long be in the hands of vested interests. This we should be cautious against and it should be in this background that Mr. Menon's 70 kg. of gold is talked about.