Part II >

Realisation of Self is the essence of our Scriptures. The origin of the Vedas cannot be measured by time. There has been no consensus on the age of the Vedas despite several research works. Even those religions that do not accept the Vedas agree on Its ancientness. Vedas are the air that God breathes. It is difficult to answer the question, which came first - the hen or the egg. There has to be someone who created the hen and the egg first. AND THAT IS GOD.

There cannot be several Gods in the universe. There cannot be a separate God for each religion, country, city, community and caste. There is only one God for every religion, every country and every community. As God is omnipresent every form of prayer reaches only Him, who is the Supreme.

Some opine that, bhakti, shraddha (eagerness), respect need not be displayed but is enough if felt within the heart. They go around stating that applying 'tilak', wearing japa mala, doing pradakshina (circumambulation), prostrating, doing puja and serving God and sadhus are needless rituals. They scoff at those who follow these practices questioning if only practice of these is bhakti. But in day-to-day life they refuse to recognize the policeman if he is not in his uniform. They send their children to school in uniforms but do not question if this is necessary to acquire knowledge. They show their obedience to their superiors by standing up without questioning if it not enough to feel the respect at heart. When they meet their friends they express their affection by shaking hands with them without thinking if this show of affection is necessary. They expect others to demonstrate their feelings of affection and feel hurt if they do not. As a token of their affection they bring gifts to their spouse, children and friends without questioning if such acts are necessary for expression of their affection. They expect others to come enquiring after them at times of distress or illness. They fail to think for a moment, if the grief or the pain will reduce because of others' enquiry. Generally, we are unable to bear others around us being happy while we are grief-stricken. All these only go to show that in our life we go around exhibiting our feelings - affection, friendship, obedience, joy and sorrow - through various actions. We expect others also to behave in similar fashion. Therefore, in reality, to think that bhakti, shraddha and respect need not be expressed outwardly is only deluding us.

What is the need to build several temples and worship the Lord, who is omnipotent, in the form of idols? That which is formless and nameless has taken several forms and names out of mere compassion. 'Rishi' means one who has seen the mantra directly. One who has seen the mantra directly means one who has seen God who is mantra swarupa (form of mantra). Just as one is reminded of a real hen on seeing a toy hen or a real cow on seeing a toy cow, the forms of God that we worship in temples now are those that were 'seen' and 'realised' by Maharishis by the power of their tapas (penance). The heat of the sun is spread all over, yet, when it is focused through a lens its intensity increases. Likewise, though God is omnipresent, the Maharishis have, by the power of their tapas, installed this divinity in temples, for the welfare of the future generation.

Even though we do not possess this capability, through sincere and devoted worship, we can at least safeguard that which has been installed by the Maharishis, for our own benefit and that of the future generation. Even if we do not look at God when we go to a temple, God will surely look at us. Won't He? That itself will do good to us. How can the respect, shraddha and devotion shown to these 'archaavataars' (God in the form of idols) in the temples deem to be that shown to God Himself? And the indifference shown becomes a sin? After all, these idols that stand as deities in the temples have come about in course of time only. Haven't they? They are also mere stones. What difference can there be, between the stones found in street corners or in the mountains and that found in those that stand as deities in temples?

Saints like Adi Sankara, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsar, Sri Ramana Maharishi were human beings. We are also human beings. But can we compare ourselves to them? Though they belonged to the human race man is worshiping them. This is because of the divinity exhibited in them. The same way the 'stones' in the temples possess the fire of divinity (God's Presence) in them. This 'Shakti' (power) in them can protect and also destroy the world. We have to bow down to them for this. Today, in the society, in political circle and even the atheists show respect to pictures and statues of their leaders by offering garlands to them and deem it to be that shown for their own leaders and thus feel happy. To exhibit their hatred towards those whom they dislike they burn their pictures and use various other demeaning ways. And the leaders are pleased with the respect shown to their statues and pictures as if shown to them. And are angered and feel insulted if any disrespect is shown to them. The respect or disrespect shown to the National flag is considered that shown to the Nation itself. While it is so in these cases then the respect shown to the idols of the omnipresent and omnipotent God is that shown to Him. Similar is any disrespect shown. So, we should in every possible way go on pilgrimage and worship God and earn His blessings. The other religions and many from amongst our own 'dharma' ridicule the existence of numerous gods in our religion. One should make deep study into an issue and make an honest attempt to understand the truth contained in it and not pass judgement based on a superficial view or hold that only our view is right. If the Maharishis, who, having truly renounced the world and with total control over their minds for a long period and as a result of their 'tapas' have found out something, then there has to be truth in it. It is not right to view them at the surface and comment on them.

To be continued ....

Part II >

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