Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 12: "A temple acquires heights of divinity when every one, irrespective of his/her caste or creed, is allowed to worship in it," opined Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade.

He was speaking after presiding over the religious meeting organized on the occasion of the re-consecration and Brahmakalashotsav of Neermarga Manoor Sri Anantapadmanabha Temple here on Thursday June 11.

"When the Lord feels that His temple needs to be developed, he inspires donors, workers and other persons to execute development works. This realization sinks in, when we come across dozens of temples in the district that have been renovated in the recent past. The fact that the people belonging to different religions have come together for developing Manoor temple is praiseworthy and satisfying," Heggade added.

Heggade felt that, a person can never gain happiness simply by accumulating wealth. A sense of fulfillment and gratefulness gets kindled in him when he shares a portion of his riches to different centres of worship by way of service. His life also becomes satisfying thereafter, he said.

Veteran litterateur Erya Lakshminarayan Alva pointed out at the fact that elders in the past, used to indulge in tasks that created religious consciousness among the family members, which inculcated discipline and spiritual awareness. He lamented that this practice has since been given a go by.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Coastal Development Authority chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, trustees of the temple, president of Bunts Matru Sangha Malady Ajit Kumar Rai and several other dignitaries were present.

Mangalore taluk panchayat former president Gokuldas Shetty presented the programme.