अवांछित पाहुन (२)

After worshipping all gods and goddesses in the campus of Kashi-Vishwanath temple, I reached the last statue of Pawan-putra Hanumaan. Tarun was also brought there. His clothes were completely wet due to sweating. The atmospheric temperature was high and Pandaas (priests) had ragged him too much. Sweat’s drops were seen falling from his forehead while adoring Hanumaanjee. I was totally ignorant about the behavior of pandas with Tarun. After worshipping Hanumanjee, I gave a ten-rupee note on behalf of both of us to the pandas and got rid of them. We sat on a verandah to take rest and become normal, as the pandas had disturbed us badly. Tarun told me the whole story how pandas had cheated all the money by swearing him of father, mother, brothers and sisters. I went into deep thinking about this situation. People go to temples to get rid of worldly anxieties and to have peace. But, these pandas are big hurdles and they snatch our peace and we swear not to go again on the pilgrimages.
In most of the North-Indian temples, you will have this type of misconduct where people become vexed from these obstacles. In South-Indian temples, trusts or the government have made good arrangement for the visitors by taking some fees. Free entry is also there but in separate queue. Pandas do not disturb there. Perhaps they are waged. I am surprised why not this type of procedure is introduced in North-Indian temples. In Patna, at Mahaveeer Mandir near station, this type of arrangement has been done. There is free service for keeping foot wears. One can very peacefully worship there without anxieties of shoe-stealing or hindrance by the pandas. Many thanks to the Mahaveer Mandir managing committee.  ----------again next.