The Power They Once Held: How India’s Temples Lost Their Land Empire After 1975

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 04:04:40 +0000

For centuries, Hindu temples across India commanded vast territorial holdings—thousands upon thousands of acres that made them among the wealthiest institutions in the subcontinent. These weren’t merely places of worship; they were economic powerhouses that sustained entire communities, funded elaborate rituals, supported schools and hospitals, sheltered the poor, and preserved ancient arts and traditions. The land beneath their stewardship represented generations of royal patronage, devotee donations, and communal trust. But in the span of just a few years following 1975, this centuries-old foundation crumbled—not through conquest or natural disaster, but through the stroke of legislative pens.