Mobiles affecting sanctity of temples, ban them: Karnataka priests

BENGALURU: Priests in Karnataka have made an appeal to the state government: Ban mobile phone usage by devotees while inside the temple complex. According to them, loud and lewd ringtones disturb the purity and sanctity of the places of worship.
There are around 34,000 temples, including 350 popular ones, across the state and the daily footfall runs into lakhs of devotees.

The Federation of Hindu Temples' Priests in Karnataka on Saturday gave a memorandum to minister for religious endowments (muzrai) Shashikala Jolle to enforce the ban. The minister promised the members that she would discuss the matter with the officials and make a decision.
Pointing to several instances in which use of mobiles by devotees disturbed the serenity, the Federation of All Karnataka Hindu Temples' Archakas, Agamikas and Upadhivanta demanded a blanket ban in temples governed by the muzrai department.
Chief secretary of the federation KSN Dixit alleged that several people were found misusing mobiles inside temples. "People usually come to temples seeking peace and to sit in absolute silence. While we will be offering prayers in a peaceful environment, vulgar ringtones not only spoil the atmosphere but often lead to arguments, disturbing the general mood. Several people were seen clicking pictures of women and kids and playing songs loudly while we were chanting hymns and shlokas. All this sends out misconceptions among the devotees and affects the belief of theists," Dixit said.
The priests have also expressed concern over temples' security as mobile phone users keep clicking pictures of the offering box the jewellery of the deities.
"The department must intervene and ensure no disturbance to any of the religious activities or puja services within temples. Devotees can deposit the phones at the safety locker at the entrance of the temple," he added.
Shashikala Jolle told the media that currently, there is a ban on priests using mobile phones during puja services. "In some temples, we have banned use of mobile phones or clicking of photos inside the sanctum-sanctorum. However, I will hold a meeting with the officials on whether we should enforce a complete ban on use of mobiles or they should be deposited at entrance."