SATYAN 2
-8. The Temple Fraud

A few days later, Queen Chitralekha’s parents visited the palace.  They were going to celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary on a grand scale and had come over to invite their daughter and the King for gracing this occasion.  The parents had also a word of caution that if Chitralekha was not feeling comfortable about traveling all the way to their kingdom owing to pregnancy, then there was no need for her and Bharadwaj to attend the event.  However, the Queen had already up her mind in the affirmative and no one could now change her firm decision!  The parents also met Vasudev, whom they held in very high reverence after the remarkable sacrifice he underwent for his ruler, and spent a long time chatting with him.  They left the very next day for there were some more special dignitaries whom they wanted to invite for this celebration that was due ten days hence.

A day before the King left with his Queen to Dharmaraja’s kingdom, he spoke with Vasudev, “I have spoken about this with your guru.  Since he knows that you are so indispensable to me and this kingdom, he has agreed to it.  Now, I want your consent  to my proposal, Satya!”  As Vasudev listened keenly as to what the King was trying to say, he continued, “I know that you do not like to become a ruler but then during my absence I cannot think of anyone better than you who can diligently govern the affairs of the kingdom and keep my subjects happy.  Satyan, it is a matter of just two weeks!  I want to delegate my powers to you.  If you agree to bear this responsibility, I can go in peace and enjoy this short vacation.” 

Vasudev was pleased to see the trust that Bharadwaj reposed in him and consented.  Delighted, the King hugged him.  “Oh thank you so much!  Let me tell you something else.” he then told his beloved minister,  “In case, you feel that some injustice is going on or a wrongful activity is being committed, you are free to take your independent decisions.  You do not need to wait for my arrival.” 

Vasudev again nodded in agreement.  He told the King that he wished to stay in his cottage and continue leading the simple life which he had now redeemed himself to even as he performed the task of a ruler.  Even if he had to attend the durbar, Vasudev was categorical that he would only sit on the raised marbled floor that led to the golden throne of the King.  Bharadwaj had little option but to agree!

The King, then, called a sabha of his ministers and counselors and acquainted them of his decision which was hailed by everyone.  Thereafter, Bharadwaj left with his Queen to attend her parents’ function. 

Just as the King had expected, Vasudev exercised his duty with utmost sincerity and earnestness.  Day and night, he strived for the welfare of the people.  His unfeigned dedication and commitment to work won him appreciation from all quarters. 

One day, Hari visited him and gave him some information.  After he had left, Vasudev was lost in intense mental concentration after which he appeared very upset.  He called his guards and asked them to bring Manohar to his place. 

Soon, Manohar came and greeted Vasudev who only responded with a faint smile. 

“Is everything alright, Satyanji?” asked Manohar perturbed. 

“How can everything be alright when funds are being so blatantly swindled in the most famous temple of our kingdom?”  Vasudev griped. 

“I am not able to understand what you are saying.” 

“Manoharji, I strongly believe that you are using the temple funds for your own benefit!”  Vasudev alleged. 

“What!” exclaimed Manohar.  “How did you reach such a conclusion?” 

“I will tell you about all that later.  I also believe that you have been stacking these funds in your house.  Therefore, I want to conduct a search in your residence to recover this loot.  You will have to provide a satisfactory explanation for whatever wealth is recovered from your house.  Your wife may be of help to us for she disapproves of what you are doing with the temple funds.”  Vasudev inferred.  

As Manohar looked at him stunned, he continued, “I called you here just in case you gather the grace to admit to your guilt and surrender the money.  This could avoid the embarrassing exercise of searching your house for the illegal money.” 

Manohar maintained that he was innocent. 

“Alright!  You stay here while I take my men to your house for verifying my suspicions.”  Vasudev snapped. 

As he was leaving the chambers, Manohar called out to him.  As Vasudev turned, he could see clear signs of nervousness in Manohar’s face.  “Why are you after me?  What harm have I done to you?  If you do not approve my idea of keeping your idol in my temple, you are free to take it back.” 

“Instead of making such unnerved statements, why don’t you own up to your wrongdoing?”  Vasudev demanded sternly.  

“Okay!  I admit it!”  Manohar confessed and continued, “Our garment business has not yielded in much profit this year after father’s demise which made me feel insecure about the future.  My father had, no doubt, made big money but he had not saved much for he ended up spending it in some way or the other.  Therefore, I thought of accumulating a part of the temple funds which may come handy for my family some time later.  I took the men, who assisted me in the management of the temple, into confidence and together put the plan into motion.  We understated the temple funds and pocketed the remaining money.  Since we had to provide you with full details of the money earned and spent by the temple on an annual basis, I had to offer some explanation for the low temple revenue shown in our books.  Therefore, I falsely claimed of their being a deficit in the number of devotees visiting my temple and people not making enough contributions in the hundi, during this year.  After my meeting with the King, I realized that every year I cannot expect to get away by parting only with a modicum of temple funds and offering the same excuse.  Therefore, I thought of a ruse which would enable me to not only donate the temple funds properly for the noble cause that they are meant for but at the same time also get me a handsome share for meeting my personal needs.  After much thinking, I felt that if I install your idol in my temple it may make more devotees throng the shrine that may subsequently augment contributions to a new high, thereby enabling me to achieve these twin objectives.   I met you with this intention and you agreed.”  Manohar concluded.

“If your business was not yielding the desired revenue, you should have taken pains to find out as to why this happened.  Instead, you resorted to cheap means for making money.  How shameful!”  Vasudev snarled. 

Manohar did not say anything and looked at the ground.  He was wondering as to how Vasudev learnt about all this.

(To Continue)