Importance of the Temple in Village Life

A temple besides being a place of worship is also a place where the intelligent priest influence and guides the villagers. The forecasts and premonition of the priest fluencies the village life to a very great extent. The importance of temples can be studied under the following heads:

1. Religious Importance: Basically the temple is a religious place where village men, women, and children offer their prayers to the god. The prayers (Kirtans Bhajans Path etc.) are arranged by the temple priests who at the end distribute sweets. Besides this, daily routine congregations are invited and prayers are organized, it is a commonplace village assembly that signifies unity among the villagers.
2. Social Importance: Temple is a place where the congregation comprising individuals of different castes and groups gather to participate in the organized ceremony. This is how the temple becomes a place where the people belonging to different castes get an opportunity to exchange each other views. When people talk together much tension in their respective minds is reduced. Several programs of social welfare are also conducted in the village temples, sometimes funds are collected at the temple and these funds are spent on so many public works in the village.
3. Moral Importance: Morality flows from the village temple and villagers realize it in their daily life. The village priest is often called to intervene in such a disputed problem in which there is a question of morality or righteousness.
4. Cultural Importance: Temple is a place where cultural festivities are organized. The villager’s cultural life is enriched by the village temple. Group devotional songs and congregations are held to keep the village alive with its cultural traditions. Musical Instruments are used on all such occasions and dances are also performed before the deity. Many village rituals are performed in the temple. The marriages performed in the village temple are sacred and unavoidable. Women visit the temples to propitiate about their husbands and children and on the fulfillment of a desire to visit the temple and offer their presents and prayers.
5. Educational Importance: Temples in ancient India were the source of knowledge and centers of education. Even today many basic schools are run in the temples, it was believed by the people that if they were taught by the priest their religious and moral attitudes would become sound. Not only children, but the priests also teach Youngman and women in so many fields much depends upon the intelligence and personality of the priest, and once it is effective, his words are taken for granted without the slightest doubt.
6. Recreational Importance: Temples, provide healthy recreation to the villagers through their various organized programs. The village temple situated outside the village often becomes a suitable place for holding village gymnasia and other games it is also due belief that for success the participants must take the blessings of God, especially lord Hanumana. Competitions in wrestling are organized and villagers gather in large numbers to please their eyes and acclaim the performances of other participants.
7. Judicial Importance: The village priest is treated as the messenger of god, who alone can do Justice, village priest in this capacity is called to do justice in certain complicated and entangled problems, priest also recommends punishment to get rid of a sin committed by an individual.

This discussion signifies the crucial role of the temples in villages. The life of the villagers is not only influenced but dominated by the village temple. It is a place of unity and aspirations.