In an exclusive interview with Organiser Editor Prafulla Ketkar, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan made a powerful pitch for the creation of a Dharma Raksha Board to safeguard temple funds, assets, and dharmic institutions. Drawing from Chanakya’s philosophy, Kalyan said, “Absorbing temple money is the ultimate sin.”
“Government is a regulating body, not a body of authority, not a body made to accept the funds of the temple. But the problem is the funds. If it goes into the state exchequer, there is an issue. That’s what I think. I remember one of the main things which Chanakya says—if a temple’s money is absorbed, then it cannot be forgiven. It’s the ultimate sin,” he said.
He further added that money offered at temples carries deep spiritual and emotional weight, and misappropriating such funds leads to inevitable consequences.
“If anyone touches temple money, it will ruin them—even you. It comes with a lot of psychic energy, that you should know. For me, the money given comes with a lot of psychic weight, and eventually, that will get you. So when governments have taken that money—which is supposed to be collected from the temple—it’s supposed to be confined for the dharmic purpose of making those premises a better place,” he noted.
Watch Pawan Kalyan’s Exclusive Interview Prafulla Ketkar, Here
‘Why Not a Dharma Raksha Board for Hindus?’
Drawing a sharp parallel with Islamic institutions, Kalyan questioned why Hindus cannot have a dedicated board like the Waqf Board.
“If Islam, which entered quite late into Bharat, could get a Waqf Board to protect its properties, then why can’t Hindus have a similar board? This act should be implemented across Bharat—a regulatory body combining both government oversight and dharmic representatives. That’s what I look at,” he asserted.
He emphasized that such a board should be empowered to protect temple properties, oversee transparent fund usage, and ensure the spiritual integrity of sacred spaces.
Mission to Protect Sanatana Dharma: The Varahi Declaration
This isn’t the first time Kalyan has advocated for such reforms. In June 2023, during his Varahi Yatra in Tirupati, he unveiled what came to be known as the Varahi Declaration, a mission document outlining his commitment to protect Sanatana Dharma and reform temple governance. It was in this context that he first proposed the idea of a “Sanatana Dharma Raksha Board”, calling for a legal and administrative framework akin to the Waqf Board but rooted in Indic values.
The declaration, sparked by the controversial Tirupati Laddu row, was a response to growing concerns over government interference in temple affairs. Kalyan stressed that the proceeds from temple offerings, prasadam, and donations must be used exclusively for dharmic purposes not diverted for secular or political expenditures.
He stated at the time: “Hindus should not feel like orphans in their own land. A Sanatana Dharma Raksha Board is essential—not just for Andhra Pradesh, but across Bharat—to ensure temple wealth is protected and Sanatan values are respected.”
Kalyan admitted that his position might cause political discomfort, but said he remains unbothered by it:
“As a political leader, it may cause a lot of implications but I don’t feel those implications. I don’t feel structured. I want to make a difference.”
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