The following step is to organize and instruct the locals. Several villages lack their own temples or lack the organization necessary to aid themselves in preserving their unique cultures. Finding a village that is prepared for organization is therefore necessary first. It can be simply done by:

  1. Talk to the residents of the village about Indian culture and how they fit into it. They will undoubtedly be interested, but they frequently lack the necessary skills to organise themselves or run programmes.
  2. Read to them tales from the Puranas, the Ramayana, or the Mahabharata that may already be familiar to them about their ishta-devata, whether it be Krishna, Vishnu, Rama, or another deity, and how crucial it is to worship such deities.
  3. Bring in a deity to the village later, if or when they’re prepared. The deity can be delivered to a person’s home, or they can alternate hosting it there for one week at a time.
  4. This means that each family who will take a turn caring for the deity will be instructed in the fundamentals of caring for the deity and will be required to make a number of commitments, including taking a bath before worshipping the deity and keeping clean during worship, abstaining from alcohol, worshipping the deity at specific times of the day, learning what offerings to make, and refraining from smoking, eating meat, unwarranted criticism of others, etc. while the deity is in their home.

People frequently develop strong attachments to the deity and ask that it stay with them longer rather than moving on to the next family. When the deity is with a family, miracles and benefits are frequently seen, and as word of them spreads to other families, they too take a keener interest. The entire family is positively impacted. Consciousness can change, and this is common.

CONSTRUCTION OF LITTLE TEMPS IN EVERY VILLAGE
If the locals are ready, the next stage is to erect a temple for the deity in the community. But if we go through with the effort to help the villagers gather money and materials to build a temple for them, they must now swear to never convert to another religion. They must swear to take good care of the deity always. Only after that will we be able to assist them in creating a tiny temple for the local deity. The temple should then develop into a community gathering place where everyone may routinely gather and show support for one another.

In order to prevent the traditions from being lost or misinterpreted, it should also be a venue where everyone may celebrate the holidays, take part in their enjoyment, and learn about their significance. Also, they ought to be eager to spread the joy and beauty they possess.
Now, cash must be raised and building materials gathered. The temple serves as the hub of the community’s spiritual activities, education, and preservation of the traditions both while it is being built and once it is complete.
Once the temple is completed, the deity is placed in the sanctuary, and one villager is chosen to serve as the priest, or pujari, who is instructed in basic deity worship for the newly installed god as well as to help the community members in worship and ceremonies. He is capable of growing and learning more. The locals encourage him to perform his duties for the deity and shrine. It would be ideal if a Swami or Acharya could initiate someone. It would also be beneficial if the Swami could designate a member of the main ashrama to stay at the temple.

Another method for including the villagers in the Vedic heritage through the usage of temples is to ask each interested villager to invite an additional ten persons to the temple or to the location where the event will be conducted. Next you decide on a time when everyone may gather to welcome a special representative who will deliver a sacred light or floral offering from a nearby Swami or Acharya. The sacred lamp in the temple will be lit by this fire, which will be set up inside the temple. Following their courteous acceptance, the villagers promise to keep it lighted and safe in their temple and to utilize it for pujas, lighting other lamps, or igniting incense and ghee wicks for arati, among other things.

 

Source: Crimes against India by Stephen Knapp

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