As India struggles with the second wave of the coronavirus, several temples across the nation have come forward to offer aid and assistance to fight this battle.
As new cases of Covid-19 surge in Gujarat, BAPS Swaminarayan Temple of Vadodara has converted its Yagnapurush Sabhagruh to a Covid-19 facility. The Covid-19 care centre is equipped with 500 beds, oxygen facilities like liquid oxygen tanks and piped oxygen lines, ICU beds and ventilators.
The facility that has been operational since April 13 has so far admitted 45 Covid-19 patients from a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Gyan Vatsal Swami of the Shri Swaminarayan Temple informed, “We are providing all the non-medical facilities for patients. We have arranged for oxygen and ventilators including the ICU rooms apart from fans and air-coolers. Currently, 300 beds are operational and 200 will be added soon.”
Puri Shri Jagannath Temple
Puri’s Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has decided to convert its Nilachal Bhakta Nivas into a Covid-19 Care Centre. This facility with 120 beds will also act as a dedicated centre for servitors and officials associated with the temple infected with the coronavirus.
Apart from this, the temple had pledged a donation of Rs 1.51 crore towards the Chief Minister Relief Fund to aid the government in this fight. A letter by the temple registration read, “As per the decision of the Managing Committee of Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, an amount of Rs.1,51.00.000/- (One crore fifty-one lakh) is contributed towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for COVID-19 from Temple Administration.”
Along with Jagannath Puri, 62 other smaller temples in Orissa had donated to the CMRF.
Pawan Dham converts its 4-storey building
The Pawandham Temple in Mumbai’s Kandivali has once again converted its four-storey building into a Covid-19 quarantine centre equipped with 100 beds. Out of the 100, 50 beds are equipped with an oxygen concentrator unit, oximeters, pulse metre, portable BP apparatus, monitor machine among others. Additionally, more than 50 medical staff including 10 doctors are deployed in the facility.
Santosh Singh, a Managing Committee Member of the temple says, “We have so far got 50 beds ready, we have tied up with Apex Hospital for healthcare support like doctors, medical staff. All we are waiting for is the critical oxygen supply before that comes we can’t start. Assurance has been given by some suppliers but let’s see.”
The temple which was converted into a covid centre last year as well, had treated more than 2000 patients.
Mahavir Temple, Patna
The Mahavir Temple at Patna is providing free oxygen cylinders to the infected. It started its work of providing free oxygen on the 30th of April.
Jain Temple, Mumbai
A Jain Temple in Mumbai has been converted to a Covid care center. A 100-bed pathology lab was built here last year and 2000 patients were treated.
Sant Gajanan Temple, Maharashtra
Sant Gajanan Maharaj Temple, located in Shegaon of Buldhana district in the state, is one of the largest religious centers in the state. Here, separate isolation complexes of 500 beds have been built for Covid suspects and patients. It has a community kitchen that prepares food for 2,000 people. This food is given to everyone for free.
Shri Swami Narayan Temple, Mumbai
In view of the deteriorating Covid condition in Mumbai, the temple was converted into a Covid Hospital some time ago. The temple chief assured that the treatment of the patients here would be taken care of by the temple committee.
ISKCON Temple
Arrangement has been made by the ISKCON Temple for free food for the elderly, children, patients and pregnant women. A helpline number 9717544444 has been issued by ISKCON. A separate kitchen has been started by the Temple for the purpose.
Radhaswami Satsang Vyas, Indore
It has been made the second largest Covid care center in the country. It has been named “Maa Ahilya Kovid Care Center”. A maximum of 6000 beds can be arranged here.
Ram Mandir, Ayodhya
‘Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’ announced the setting up of an oxygen plant in view of the Corona crisis . The trust will bear the expenses of Rs 55 lakhs. This oxygen plant will be set up at Dasharatha Medical College.
Tirupati Temple
The Tirupati Temple is often at the top of the list in terms of charity. Last year amidst the Corona crisis, migrant laborers were accommodated here.
Other temples
Kashi Vishwanath Temple which is one of the holiest shrines for Hindus had been feeding the patients suffering from Covid-19.
The famous Sarangpur Hanuman Mandir In the Botad district of Gujarat, had converted its Dharamshala into a 100-bed hospital to tend to the coronavirus patients last year.
Last year too, when the pandemic’s first wave had hit the country, many Hindu temples had poured in crores of rupees in donations, had provided food and shelter for the needy and had stood up to support the nation through the crisis.
