Too Much Religion, Too Less God...

God made man, man made religion to reach God. Then he made Caste to decide who has the right to pray, conduct rituals and decide the order. God was also classified. Everyone does not have the same God. Many other lines were drawn - language, region, etc. All in all a priority order was decided for reaching God. The hierarchy of caste in the end resulted in deciding one's status in the society and priority order to access God.

Look where we have reached in this journey... 

Two toddler kids were burnt to death when their house was set on fire by a mob. Their fault - they belonged to lower caste. The visuals of the charred bodies of the kids wrapped in white cloth being carried out  of the gutted home was traumatic, to say the least. 

Few days back, a man was dragged out of his house and lynched to death by a mob. His fault - rumours were spread that he ate a particular kind of meat that the mob's religion did not permit. 

The people who burnt those kids or lynched that poor man in name of caste and religion forgot that the same religion believes in 'Nar NARAYAN' that means God resides in every human being. Then how can one man kill another in name of religion or caste. Those kids who were burnt alive did not even know the meaning of religion.

Will then our religion help us to access God? 

Did we not forget God in protecting religion? 

Will God accept our offerings soaked in blood of innocents? 

Humanity that once used tovbe the biggest religion is now dying and gasping for breath. But man is busy keeping and settling scores, all in the name of religion.

Today perhaps we have too much religion and too less God.

Holy Cow!!

The other day a cab driver slowed down suddenly in front of my car. Morning rush hours, such behaviour is even more irritating. I was curious why he slowed down suddenly. The cabbie rolled down his glasses and touched the ‘holy cow’ in the middle of the road and paid his obeisance.  I couldn't think of a more inappropriate place, time or manner for one to worship. Welcome to India!

A few meters ahead, the cabbie still driving ahead of me almost mowed down a pedestrian. The cabbie who was at fault, rolled down his glasses again and screamed cuss words towards the pedestrian and sped away.

What a contrast in a matter of minutes! Pleasing the God one moment and then ill-treating a creation of the same almighty the other moment. Will the Gods really be happy? – I thought in my mind.

Fasting, worshiping and other religious rituals have been steadfastly followed by devout beings yet many times they forget to show a little bit of compassion to the their fellow creatures. I would rather do the opposite. 

I un-belong to all religious rituals, customs and traditions – did God really ask us to perform all these and go through all this sacraments? Will this please the God? Or will a little compassion and kindness in our hearts for others, may not be charity but at least our behaviour that treats people with empathy and dignity will make this world a much better place and even Gods happier.

I wonder! 

'Bhakti' and Misplaced Devotion

Two images published in a leading daily just a day back caught my attention. They were different images but had a remarkable common connection.

Image 1 was of a strong political leader hailing from a Southern State descending on a airstrip in her helicopter. All her party leaders stood with folded hands while the helicopter is still in air about to touch base.

Image 2 was of a yesteryear Bollywood star turned politician and his wife. The image showed the wife at the feet of her husband and the caption read Mrs. 'S' worshiping her husband before he goes to file his nomination.

Did you see a common connection between these images? I saw 'Bhakti' a common connection between them.This misplaced 'Bhakti;' has been somehow become a part of our culture and it has taken its own toll on our society.

This 'Bhakti' for politicians has resulted in blind, almost fanatic followership. Hence the emergence of self-proclaimed saviours sometimes in the name of religion, sometimes in the name of caste and sometimes in the name of region. As India goes into its general elections in a couple of days, here is hoping that we do not vote out of 'Bhakti'; instead vote in the most deserving candidate to the parliament.

This 'Bhakti' in family has meant that the husband is regarded as the incarnation of God. 'Pati-Parmeshwar' meaning 'my husband is my God' has been told as a dictum to the girls and women in this country. Result has been a huge gender imbalance in families and societies that has not augured well for either sexes.

This 'Bhakti' in religion has meant that we have made demigods out of people. Every village, every town in India has its own spiritual 'Guru'. A majority of them have been alleged from time to time of land-grabbing, black magic, sexual misconduct etc. But the 'Bhakti' of the blind followers has been such that either no criminal proceedings have been initiated against these demigods or they have blocked the police and administration against taking any action.

This 'Bhakti' in organizations has meant that focus has been on compliance, reflexive obedience and keeping status-quo since that keeps everyone 'happy'. It is not 'safe' to 'differ' in such organizations, no conflict, no new ideas, no innovation and servility to the core.

'Bhakti' can only be towards the almighty, the creator, the God. Any other 'Bhakti' will only have disastrous impact, breeding incompetence, sycophancy and corruption.

Refrain from 'Bhakti' to build truly engaging families, societies, organizations and nations.