The bhakt is in a dilemma. Which is the most lucrative/auspicious venue to invest in, in order to reap benefits in this life, and gain mileage in the next. The options are growing by leaps and bounds, as the planetary alignment is just right and the magnitude of interplay between the cosmic forces and us earthlings is at its fairest.
Should one make a donation to the forthcoming Ram temple, which according to Mr Shah, the home minister, "is going to touch the sky", facilitating the communication between man and God? Or to the "winter jackets for cows in Ayodhya" drive, for haven't the Shastras stated that all the gods reside inside the generic cow, Kamdhenu? So, swathing a jacket (no leather, please!) around a cow, would imply saving all those thousands of gods from the cold winters of Ayodhya. Or, should the donations be directed to promote Swami Nithyananda's scientific research on how lions, cows, and monkeys, the three holiest creatures from the Indian Pantheon, can be taught Sanskrit and Tamil? Or, perhaps one can offer some much-needed dough in the coffers of Archeological Survey of India, which, nearly two years on, is still trying to crack the mystery behind the disappearance of thousands of gallons of milk poured over the giant statue of Lord Bahubali Gommateshwsra during the Mahamastakabhisheka in Vindhyagiri. Or, some die-hard devotees might like to make an offering to the Modi temple in Rajkot, or towards the construction of another one in U.P., also dedicated to the prime minister. And, for the never-say-die followers of the Congress, there is always the famous Sonia Gandhi temple in Telangana, to contribute to.
With such an array of exciting 'investment' choices at the bhakt's disposal, whereby, one may not only pave the way for a smoother ride, but also receive tax reductions, a dip in the Ganga may no longer be the only means to find salvation. And, in case, the ride in this lifetime proves to be a little bumpy and uncomfortable because of pot-holed, puddle-infested roads, the promise of cruising down the highway at full-throttle in the next, seems more and more feasible.
Superb.
ReplyDeleteDear Seema. There is something special about the history of faith in India. Faith is so important to me. But as you make clear in this article, it is disappointing that faith becomes a commodity for profit and commercialism. I love hearing the temple music here in the mornings.
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