Kerala temple opens its doors to hundreds of elderly whose children can’t or won’t ca

[Falcon]

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Here, there is no caste and there is no religion…

Ageing is common…

And now it is the turn of temple to take care of the elderly…..by providing shelter and food...

Kerala temple opens its doors to hundreds of elderly whose children can’t or won’t care for them

374 men and women, many of whose children can’t or won’t take care of them, find succour in the Oachira Parabrahma temple

Five years ago, 80-year-old Raman suddenly found himself destitute and utterly helpless when his wife and three children shut the doors of their Varkala home to him. With nowhere to go, Raman turned to the police and managed to reenter the house with their help. But his ordeal had not ended. He was completely ignored by the rest of the family, who would not even give him a drop of water to drink.

Seeing no other way out, Raman went to the Oachira Parabrahma temple in Kollam district, to join scores of other destitutes like him. “If I continued to stay there, I would have starved to death,” he says of his family home.
Like Raman, there are 374 other elderly men and women living here at the Oachira Parabrahma temple. They come not only from various parts of the state, but even from other states, and are accommodated in this temple on the border of Alappuzha district, irrespective of caste and religion.

Of the 374 people, the Temple Administrative Committee has constructed a special shelter for 30 of the oldest and sickest men and women. The others live in small tents scattered across the 40 acres of temple property, sleeping in its concrete pandal (roofed, open hall) during the night. The temple has given them access to the pay and use toilet on the premises, and they use the temple pond for bathing each morning.

Moreover, says 82-year-old Thamarakshan from Wayanad, they receive kanji (rice gruel) and tea in the morning, and a cup of tea and dinner each evening. Unlike Raman, Thamarakshan chooses to live at the temple because he doesn’t want to burden his daughters, he says.

Read more at: http://www.thenewsminute.com/articl...whose-children-can-t-or-won-t-care-them-62170

 

[Falcon]

Source: News Minute


Annadanam[FONT=&quot] This is the most important offering in Ochira which is also supporting the social cause. Devotees can donate for this purpose. Annadanam is managed by the temple administration for the past 60 years. Poor and the helpless are fed daily with the fund collected from the Annadanam offerings.

Source: [/FONT]http://www.thekeralatemples.com/templeinfo/others/ochira.htm

 

[tbs]

hi

very hard situation for all old age ppl in general....something can be done by temples/government....without delay...old age homes

useless....they are not doing well....

 

[tks]

One of the cruelty of modern age is extreme poverty when one is very young and or very old (second childhood).

It is a problem in many countries. India, which used to be Karma/Dharma bhoomi has unfortunately joined the ranks of all others in adharmic practices.

Responsible action is needed by

1. People at large to donate (and I am sure that is happening in a limited manner)
2. Some action by Government at all levels for a minimal level of subsistence of poor & old and poor & young (not sure if this is happening consistently)
3. Maturity of human beings by doing some planning for their old age. (This rarely happens)

This idea of depending on their children may not work anymore and guilting them to support them also does not work. In addition some old people cannot let go and interfere in their children's lives. That is lack of maturity. Some lament that they raised their children all these years (and children themselves are in their 50s). It is best to not expect from anything from anyone and certainly not guilt children to submission regardless of their age.

Children at any age (or grand children) are Insvara's Children and they are independent units.

It is a privilege to raise them however hard it might have been. Once they become adults (say about 25+) the mature person will be thankful for the experience of raising them and move on with their life. Becoming their burden or demanding consideration because one raised them is inviting sorrow.

The Ashrama Dharma is not Jaathi specific Vanaprastha and Sannyasa Ashrama dharma and adherence reflect one's level of maturity. For lack of maturity one pays dearly by being emotionally hurt while still suffering from material needs.

There are times when an old person is unable to take care of themselves. Society as a whole has a duty to find minimal care for them

I know my above 'rant' is idealistic interpretation of our Dharma and people may not like to hear it in this forum.