Re: In need of volunteers
Namaste EM Ji,
Temples in the South India worked differently in the past.Priests only conducted rituals and prepared Naivedya.For all other works there were people,mostly families had the hereditary rights to do things.The flower suppliers supplied flowers for pujas,those who had cows supplied milk,there were hereditary temple music families and similarly there were people who were assigned the work of cleaning and maintaining the temple.Mostly,in return everybody was entitled to a share in the prasada/temple revenue.For example,if 100 laddus were made on a day,after distribution to the devotees,priests,temple accountants,temple dancers,workers everyone would receive a fixed share of laddus.Apart from offerings income,Kings donated villages whose tax used to keep temples running.People used to take pride to be associated with temple activities in the old social structure.
After temples were taken over by governments,the above system was ended(though most famous and wealthy temples are still involved in long legal battles(Old right holders Vs Govt.) which are now at the Supreme Court of India).Now,the government appoints laborers on contractual basis or as class IV employees who are paid based on government scales.
Yet,people who had traditional rights still contribute though irregularly.
The best way I think is to encourage people to participate by pointing out the benefits of doing Seva.As an example,you could put up posters of Saints devotees like Sri Appar Swamy(Tirunavukkarasar Nayanar
),Sri Nandanar Nayanar who used to clean temple premises.Also,books like Siva Gyana Siddhi/Siva Gyana Bodha point out that each small activity done for a Siva temple produces not only great Punya but also results in one of the four kinds of Mukti as mentioned in the Saiva Agama Shastras.This might induce people to take up voluntary Seva during weekends.
Otherwise as Believer Ji said,you may need to employ paid workers.
He dances in the golden hall of Chidambaram, Let us worship His rosy anklet girt Feet.
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