Originally Posted by
ShivaFan
Namaste
Actually, this might be a question about Temple Services such as the services of a Brahmin, Pujari, Pandit, Priest etc. to come personally to your home, sometimes with a retinue, to perform a homa, or puja, home blessings, many other services, for a service fee such as $108 dollars, or $1008 dollars and so on.
This would be correct, there is nothing wrong with this. It is what helps pay for the temple, feed the family of the priests, and so on.
There are many examples of this in the Puranas, e.g. 1 gold coin for this, a feast of 7 kinds of rice for that, and so on.
So I suppose there could be a service that might look like a kirtan, but not a kirtan in the traditional sense of public blessing for the world. But I have not seen it on any Temple Services billings on any temples I have attended.
Lot's of things are not free per say. For example, I have an account with a Jyotish, I have to pay $100 dollars for each time I need a service. This is the standard charge in the USA, only those Jyotish who have results are successful and it doesn't matter if they leverage computer programs in their Jyotish practice it is their expertise and public reputation that I pay for.
In India there are pandas or guides. Some such as at Kali Ghat are tricksters who do not request fees or donations until afterwards, but there are also actual Pandas who provide a very real and welcome service to pilgrims who don't "know the ropes" if you will, just make sure you know what the donation will be prior to taking hire.
Personally, taking fees or donations is proper and obvious in some cases even if it is a service of a divine nature.
Today, I have to go to "Jury Duty". I have no choice, I have to go, I may be selected to serve on a jury to judge a person innocent or guilty. It is a civic duty. But even stiil, they will pay for my petrol and perhaps a few dollars a day "for my service". Of course.
Om Namah Sivaya
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