A tale of two temples ...

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the two major temples in the Bay Area - The one in Livermore and the other one in Sunnyvale. Here's my impression of the two temples, which I must say has not changed over the last 10+ years. Shiva-Vishnu Temple, Livermore - We went to the temple on a weekend to meet a friend of my wife who was visiting from Canada and the temple seemed the ideal mid-point meeting place between our house and where she was staying. When we reached the temple, I must say the first impression was amazing. The temple looks marvelous, all with its authentic architecture etc and great organization (separate office building, shoe racks, shop for selling the big laddu prasadam etc). Ample space, neat and clean, well designed and constructed. I do not like two things about the temple though. 1. Inside the temple, no carpeting where people can sit. There are 10-15 sub temples inside the temple and it looks a bit chaotic. I mean, make up your mind what you want to have in there. My personal preference is one area for the idols and rest should be seating area where people can sit and relax/meditate/pray etc. The interior has not changed (at best) or more sub-temples have come up inside than before. The priests were quite aloof with no one even available to give prasad to the devotees. Big donation boxes all over the place, screaming out for donations. 2. The food area - surprisingly, this time around there was some food for people to enjoy - not a proper meal. Yogurt rice and some other rice dish. The table was set outside in the open (back side of temple) while the proper community hall was lying unused/vacant (I have seen it used for private parties/functions previously). There were very few tables and chairs (sitting on the floor was not an option since this was outside). The food was spicy and therefore the kids could hardly eat anything. As people sat there, after a little while some people came and started packing up the tables and chairs not bothering that people were still sitting. So, we got up and left. But before leaving, we did buy a few of those Big laddu prasad from the office (ironically, you have to buy the prasad from the temple). Sunnyvale Temple - A few weeks later, it was Janamashtmi (Lord Krishna's birthday). So, we all went to the temple in the evening. Now, this was a very different experience (I think they touched a new low that I haven't experienced in the past). There have been very serious allegations about the temple trustees/management (how they have siphoned off the donations/funds for personal use, how the trustees are life long members and not answerable to anyone etc etc) and I tend to believe that the allegations are to a large extent true. The temple is in a horrible shape. Fortunately, renovation work has started on the barn (that people used to call a temple) and it was closed to public. They have a community hall which was constructed a few years back and is much nicer. The temple idols were all moved to this new location. My first reaction when we reached the temple was a groan since as usual the parking was a nightmare. The place was crowded, parking spaces were too few and too tight. Anyways, fearing the worst, we entered the temple and I was pleasantly surprised. Even though there were 2-3 stations for idols, it wasn't bad and people were actually standing in line patiently waiting for their turn to view the idols and pray. Soon enough our turn came, I grabbed hold of my son and daughter (wife was a little distance behind), told the kids to close their eyes and pray very briefly. Within 10 seconds, a loud rude voice jolted me out of my connection with the almighty. "Keep moving. Do not stand here and pray. There is food outside that you can go and eat". I was SHOCKED!!!! how pathetic can this be...I understand people behind us waiting in line for their turn but 10 seconds and I am told that I am not allowed to pray. jeez. Anyways, without saying anything I moved on to the next station which was not crowded at all (and no lines). Prayed a bit and got some prasad. Met my ex-boss and chatted with him for a few minutes. Next, we went outside for food. Again this was in the open and a very very narrow and congested plate. No seating arrangement, just standing and most peolple were spilling onto the road. Waiting in the line for food, another so called temple administrator walks up and shouts in his typically north indian rude manner (to everyone standing there) "Be careful how many napkins you take. Use what you take. This is not Taco Bell". I mean ouch!!!! no class, no sense, no manners.... very hurtful. Quickly grab some food and eat it while standing. Quite uncomfortable esp. for the kids. After a few minutes, we left for home. Overall, the Livermore temple experience was more satisfying in the sense that the money seems to have been well spent for the temple construction but the connection with god seemed missing. At sunnyvale, the funds with almost 100% certainty have been swindled but I felt I was in a temple....despite all the rudeness all around. Now, my recent visit to both these temples have not altered my prior opinion about these places (rather they have been reinforced). All the more reason to look within one self for those wishing to connect to God.