We could find wonderful Swamy cabinets in the Temples, and it would be used to fill it up with Swamy Dress materials and important puja materials and some ornaments also would be kept inside the Swamy Cabinets. These cabinets would be locked tightly and the key would be kept by the main Temple Staff, and he only would be held responsible during the time of theft or any misappropriations if found in the Swamy Cabinets. Before 40 to 50 years ago, Swamy Cabinets would be made out of hard Iron Metal, and the life time of the Cabinets would last for more than 100 years. But nowadays, Swamy Cabinets are not designed in a strong manner, since most of Cabinets are designed using only light iron materials.
Swamy Cabinets are there since few hundred years, and even some British officials had gifted few Swamy Cabinets to our temples in Tamil Nadu. While referring to the ancient stone inscriptions found in some temples, it was mentioned, that certain Chola Kings, used heavy iron object as Swamy Cabinets, and after manufacturing it, and before donating it to the temples, the Cabinets would be carried out by the Royal elephants and it would march straight a way to the temples, and after receiving it by the temple officials, it would be properly safeguarded by the then temple priests.
We can also gift Swamy Cabinets to some temples, after getting their approval, since donating Swamy Cabinets to the temples, is considered to be a very good act. Still, in some temples situated in remote areas, burglars used to break the Swamy Cabinets, and would steal the valuables present in that. Ancient kings used to punish the burglars who cause damage to the Swamy Cabinets, by chopping off their hands in front of the large number of public gathering.
Whoever interested to gift Swamy Cabinets can do so, by the way of purchasing it from big puja shops who manufactures Swamy Cabinets. Before donating the Swamy Cabinets to the temples, we should donate it by keeping some dress materials for the god and the goddesses, and if possible, we can donate some ornaments and puja vessels also along with the Cabinets. Swamy Cabinets would be available both in wood and in iron, and before buying it we should check the requirement from the temple authorities, who are in need of Swamy Cabinets.
In general, we would immediately buy a cabinet for our own personal use, but, whereas, if we prefer to donate it to a temple, then we would think at least a hundred times, in order to clarify ourselves, whether it is really necessary to buy it or not!
“OM”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR