Book excerpt: Wondrous Glories Of Vraja – India’s spiritual culture degraded under foreign subjugation and also in the post-independence era due to the government’s apathy. This neglect was visible in India’s temples and holy places. Once vibrant and flourishing, these places became dilapidated and dirty. After India’s independence, the government declared the factories and malls to be India’s new temples and synagogues. Western materialism replaced the age-old traditional values.