From Prasad to Pooja Samagri: Complete Inventory Management for Temples

Managing a temple store (Kothar) is more complex than running a retail shop. You are dealing with perishable goods like milk and flowers, valuable items like ghee and silk, and sacred prasad that cannot be wasted. This guide shows how to implement a tight inventory control system that respects the sanctity of the items while preventing theft and wastage.

The Challenge of the "Open Store"

In many temples, the store room is accessible to multiple priests, cooks, and volunteers. Items are taken as needed without recording the transaction. This lack of accountability leads to significant issues:

• Invisible Pilferage: High-value inputs like Pure Ghee, Dry Fruits, and Oil often disappear in small quantities that add up to massive losses over a year.
• Wastage due to Expiry: Without a "First-In-First-Out" (FIFO) system, older stock of grains or flour sits at the back of the shelf until it spoils.
• Stockout Embarrassment: Running out of Camphor (Karpur) or Oil right before a major Aarti is a preventable operational failure.

The Model: Digital Store Keeping

A professional temple store operates on strict "Indent" principles. Nothing leaves the store without a digital request.

• Centralized Inward: All items, whether purchased or donated (In-Kind), enter through a single receiving point where they are weighed and entered into the system.
• Recipe-Based Deduction: If the kitchen prepares 100 kg of Ladoo, the system automatically deducts the exact required amount of Besan, Sugar, and Ghee from the raw material stock.
• Expiry Alerts: The store manager receives alerts for items expiring in the next 30 days, allowing them to be used or distributed to the needy before they spoil.

Step-by-Step: Taking Control of Your Stock

1. Categorize Your Items: Group items into logical categories: Perishables (Flowers, Milk), Groceries (Rice, Dal), Pooja Samagri (Kumkum, Haldi), and Assets (Vessels).
2. Establish a Measurement Unit: Standardize units. Don't mix Liters and KGs. Decide how you will track each item.
3. Define "Re-Order Levels": Set a minimum quantity for essential items. If Oil drops below 50 Liters, the system should prompt a Purchase Order.
4. Secure the Physical Store: Limit physical access. Only the Store Keeper should have the key or biometric access. Others must submit a digital/paper intent.
5. Conduct a Physical Stock Audit: Once a month, physically weigh the stock and reconcile it with the software figures. Investigate discrepancies immediately.

How 3ioSetu Optimizes Temple Inventory

3ioSetu's Inventory & Store Module is built for the specific needs of religious supply chains.

• In-Kind Donation Integration: When a devotee donates a bag of rice, it's recorded at the donation counter and instantly reflects in the Store Inventory.
• Prasad Counter Link: Every automated sale of a Ladoo packet at the counter updates the finished goods stock in real-time.
• Supplier Management: Track vendor performance. Who delivers on time? Who supplies the best quality Ghee? Maintain a rated vendor list.
• Inter-Store Transfers: If you have a separate Annadan Kitchen and a Pooja Store, manage transfers between them seamlessly.

About the Author: 3ioSetu Research Team

Specialists in Temple Management, Trust Compliance (80G/10BD), and Digital Transformation. Empowering 500+ temples across India with simplified technology since 2018.