Further to yesterday's post on my family's equation with God, let's take a more universal view today...
On the whole, India is a very God-fearing nation, as compared to other countries and continents. The Hindu dharma has such an enormous variety of gods and religions, that one way or another, we all share similar beliefs and faiths. Even other creeds converge intermittently, be it Muslim Qayamat or Christian Doomsday. Our vast population that includes Sikh and Jain folks, Parsi and Bengali community, Mallus and Marwaris, and so many more that I can’t recount them all. Despite their independent deities and distinct customs, each says the same thing – love one another and do no evil. I fail to understand how with the same teachings and adarsha, how we manage to stray apart from each other. A worldwide religious summit would really unravel this confusion and communal tension.
Check this... Regardless of our mutual greed for money, none steals at temples, even if there is no security or bystander! (Guess that’s the sole right of the trustees) But this shows we fear God, and if we don’t call Him that, then we refer to Him as the Force or some Power. Something we cannot quite match up to or explain, nor can we deny or deride. Even the agnostics and disbelievers surely accept that there is SOME thing that controls the world, that makes sure we breathe even while sleeping, that ensures the sun rises every dawn, that does so many more things which we mortal beings cannot even conjecture or envisage...
I’m getting carried away now! Right from the first time when I mentioned on the blog that I have no regrets courtesy God's love and support to the time I spoke about miracles and so much more... Explore complete sections in my blog labelled God, or call it destiny, or speak about it as faith or whatever you may...
Talking about miracles, Mum was recently sharing that at Ramtek near Nagpur, there's this Ram Mandir where lightning actually enters the heart of the temple, touches Lord Rama's feet and returns with an earth-shattering rumble! Also, the Kiranotsav at Kolhapur's Lakshmi Mandir where the rays of the sun reach the idol kept deep inside the building. And of course, you know about Konark in Orissa - the sun's first rays touch God every single day...
Tuesday was Datta Jayanti, and also the first day of the battle of Mahabharata in bygone days. On this day, when Arjun lost heart and was unwilling to fight his kin on the other side, Krishna started reciting the Geeta. Hence, my mum suggested I read at least 2 lines of the Bhagwad Geeta myself. I went further than that and read the entire 12th chapter – the Baaravaah Adhyaya of Bhakti Yoga where Krishna describes the different ways in which an individual becomes one with the Paramatma. Through studying the religious texts and chanting shlokas (Abhyasa Yoga), doing the “right” thing without selfish expectations, etc. The Sanksrit was mind-boggling, but the essence was relatively direct and uncomplicated. The most important take-away for me was that the ego needs to be harnessed and goodness needs to be harbored.
For quite some time I have been planning to read the Atharva Shirsha, but haven’t gotten down to doing it yet. It’s like the Ramraksha, but for Lord Ganesha. Must find time for it...
And hey, the news is I've started reading another book in the midst of the Mahabharata, coz the boss suggested it's an interesting and stirring read - "The Dark Holds No Terrors" by Shashi Deshpande. Finished 60 pages at a go, though connecting the loose ends was challenging. The narration is first-rate; the emotions and characters come alive, you can actually touch them if you extend a finger...
From what I have understood till now, the book tells the story of the protagonist Saru. The beginning completely resembles the Rani-Vivek starrer, Saathiya, where the lady doc marries the guy against her parents' wishes, and after ages of detachment, plans to return home when she hears about her mum's death. She leads an unhappy, lonely life amidst her husband, kids and patients. How she puts on a brave front and faces the world, even as she is crumbling inside in desperate need of love and empathy. Aage aage dekhe hota hai kya...
Until then, fellas!Love,
Anuja
On the whole, India is a very God-fearing nation, as compared to other countries and continents. The Hindu dharma has such an enormous variety of gods and religions, that one way or another, we all share similar beliefs and faiths. Even other creeds converge intermittently, be it Muslim Qayamat or Christian Doomsday. Our vast population that includes Sikh and Jain folks, Parsi and Bengali community, Mallus and Marwaris, and so many more that I can’t recount them all. Despite their independent deities and distinct customs, each says the same thing – love one another and do no evil. I fail to understand how with the same teachings and adarsha, how we manage to stray apart from each other. A worldwide religious summit would really unravel this confusion and communal tension.
Check this... Regardless of our mutual greed for money, none steals at temples, even if there is no security or bystander! (Guess that’s the sole right of the trustees) But this shows we fear God, and if we don’t call Him that, then we refer to Him as the Force or some Power. Something we cannot quite match up to or explain, nor can we deny or deride. Even the agnostics and disbelievers surely accept that there is SOME thing that controls the world, that makes sure we breathe even while sleeping, that ensures the sun rises every dawn, that does so many more things which we mortal beings cannot even conjecture or envisage...
I’m getting carried away now! Right from the first time when I mentioned on the blog that I have no regrets courtesy God's love and support to the time I spoke about miracles and so much more... Explore complete sections in my blog labelled God, or call it destiny, or speak about it as faith or whatever you may...
Talking about miracles, Mum was recently sharing that at Ramtek near Nagpur, there's this Ram Mandir where lightning actually enters the heart of the temple, touches Lord Rama's feet and returns with an earth-shattering rumble! Also, the Kiranotsav at Kolhapur's Lakshmi Mandir where the rays of the sun reach the idol kept deep inside the building. And of course, you know about Konark in Orissa - the sun's first rays touch God every single day...
Tuesday was Datta Jayanti, and also the first day of the battle of Mahabharata in bygone days. On this day, when Arjun lost heart and was unwilling to fight his kin on the other side, Krishna started reciting the Geeta. Hence, my mum suggested I read at least 2 lines of the Bhagwad Geeta myself. I went further than that and read the entire 12th chapter – the Baaravaah Adhyaya of Bhakti Yoga where Krishna describes the different ways in which an individual becomes one with the Paramatma. Through studying the religious texts and chanting shlokas (Abhyasa Yoga), doing the “right” thing without selfish expectations, etc. The Sanksrit was mind-boggling, but the essence was relatively direct and uncomplicated. The most important take-away for me was that the ego needs to be harnessed and goodness needs to be harbored.
For quite some time I have been planning to read the Atharva Shirsha, but haven’t gotten down to doing it yet. It’s like the Ramraksha, but for Lord Ganesha. Must find time for it...
And hey, the news is I've started reading another book in the midst of the Mahabharata, coz the boss suggested it's an interesting and stirring read - "The Dark Holds No Terrors" by Shashi Deshpande. Finished 60 pages at a go, though connecting the loose ends was challenging. The narration is first-rate; the emotions and characters come alive, you can actually touch them if you extend a finger...
From what I have understood till now, the book tells the story of the protagonist Saru. The beginning completely resembles the Rani-Vivek starrer, Saathiya, where the lady doc marries the guy against her parents' wishes, and after ages of detachment, plans to return home when she hears about her mum's death. She leads an unhappy, lonely life amidst her husband, kids and patients. How she puts on a brave front and faces the world, even as she is crumbling inside in desperate need of love and empathy. Aage aage dekhe hota hai kya...
Until then, fellas!Love,
Anuja
2 comments:
Hi..Nice to hear some facts bat nagpur temple and konark temple.I didnt know tat.Yes,there is some force which drives the world whether nyone believe it or not.The world can't run on its own.I agree with u completly.U will be a very good wife.I don't know but i observed it so i thot will share it here.Two books at a time,only u can do tat.
Have a wonderful day ahead.
Good wife? I duno how u deduced that... I think I'm gona make a naggin hell outa d house as far as my spouse is concernd! wid kids, now dats gona b different... we're gona have a blast!!
Thanks for commenting.
Anuja
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