The Grandeur Of Devoutness

 

The Grandeur of Devoutness

With ever changing social dimensions, we tend to find new definitions to the old customs and rituals. These have been part and parcel of our tradition for over thousands of years. They have been introduced to us with a very noble intention of creating some discipline and order into our disorderly and stressful life. Routine sometimes becomes boring and we are in constant search for a change. Thus festivals and religious congregations are the events devised in this process to reenergize and recreate ourselves. Most of them are celebrated to commemorate historical and mythological important occasion. These events are specially marked to honor the supernatural powers and to express our gratitude to their bountiful blessings.

Just as we moved into a new locality we wanted to explore the place. To acquaint ourselves with new surroundings and to estimate its proximity to nearest land marks. During this process we came across with an advertisement in the newspaper about a big grocery store offering a remarkable reduction prices at its inaugural sale. To avail discounts during the sale from purchasing at the place, we set out in search of the new store. Meanwhile we also found out that it is in close proximity to a famous temple. So according to the new plan we wanted to visit both the places. First we decided to visit the temple as it is popular in the locality. Hence we believed that we could easily locate it. But to our dismay it took lot of time for us first to reach the approximate location and then after repeated enquiries we could find out the place. We were forced to change our opinion as the temple was little inside. The path that leads to the temple seems to be inhabited by miscreants and anti-social forces. The entire place wore a deserted look at that hour of the day. So we cancelled our plan and went ahead with our grocery shopping.

Today accidentally while were crossing the same road we were amazed by the frenzied activity at the same place. We soon found the road teeming with people on their visit to the same temple to which we cancelled our visit. We hoped that it would be a good time to go to temple. The temple wore a festive look and it is bejeweled with several LED lights and there was huge celebration in the entire locality. The entire area is bustling with activity and the reverberating sound of the loud speakers’ added more commotion. As we were nearing the temple, we saw people being mobbed by several children and women who were desperately begging in a supposedly fashioned way. As we struggled to walk past them, we were surprised by the huge numbers of people young, old, and children from the nearest slums hijacking the whole area.

As we enquired further about directions for entry into the temple. We found out that there are two different routes to get inside the temple complex. One meant for the people who were in possession of some special designated “passes” or rather a privileged entry The word “pass” sounded so polished. But we soon discovered that few brokers along with temple authorities colluded to restrict the entry of people until visitors paid substantial amount of money, to avail passes. Other route was obviously open for the general public, free and open to all. We followed the general public. There is no designated line for them to get inside the temple. They have to walk past two lanes having make shift shops on either side displaying glittery and cheap quality products. The journey through those lanes was a big ordeal as the path was filled with several glossy plastic packing materials. The moment we step on them we are guaranteed a sure fall unless our feet are firm on the ground. We tried to carefully tread through the place to avoid any fall. Further ahead the path is littered by the ubiquitous banana peels and other organic waste. At places leaky tapes crossed our path making the place untidy and damp. Finally the long walk seemed to end and as we stepped inside the temple’s inner gate.

There are hundreds of people huddled on the corridors of the temple to have a glance at the deity. We were taken by a sudden surprise to find out that people thronging outside could have a glimpse only through windows. They have to be satisfied by this supposed glance of the Goddess lasting few seconds after all this ordeal. The inner shrine is several feet away from the window. As we managed to barge through the crowds, I had a quick peek at the supposed idol. But I could barely recognize the deity. When my husband asked if I saw the idol inside I responded in positive and told him that Lord Ganesha is bedecked with flowers. Then he managed to subdue my disappointment by managing a smile on his face and said that it is temple of a Goddess Durga.

For a while I couldn’t react. For all the trouble we underwent, I had to be satisfied with what I could manage to glance. We lately realized that it is ‘navaratras’ and those nine days are considered very auspicious and people brimming with religious fervor throng nearest temples and shrines.

My mind went back to its usual way of critical thinking again. We should have been prepared for a sure to be disappointment if we visit a temple during auspicious day/ festive occasion. Do most of us feel the sudden urge to visit these supposedly divine abodes only during festivals? Why do we seem to desert them rest of the days? Does devotion within stirs the soul only during important events? Do we get greater satisfaction in dirtying the sacred places like temples indiscriminately since it is not our own house? We can barely think of even closing eyes for a while to mediate or experience the mirth of visiting a holy place in this crowd. If we cann’t contemplate few moments on Divine, I don’t see any need to visit temple. People seem to be so fashion-conscious when it comes to personal hygiene? Why are they so delighted in making public places so filthy? Why are we so Hippocratic, we throng temples only during festivals and restore its beauty by busily painting its outer walls and repairing it for the same purpose. While the rest of the days it is a den for miscreants and trouble mongers.

Temples are sacred places. The real purpose of visiting temple is to experience peace & tranquility and above all experience the divinity and bliss. If the sole purpose is lost, it is as good as visiting any shopping mall or a market yard.

 

 

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