Recently I returned from a trip to udaipur-the city of lakes and mountabu-the only hill station in rajasthan-the desert!
Both are lovely places-bestowed by all the beauty of nature in the form of aravali hills and lakes.and blessed with humanmade attractions like the temples,forts,palaces and gardens.the trip was really enjoyable-yet made me ponder about the pathetic condition of temples in our country.
I donot intend to offend anyone-so those people need not read further, whose religious faith overshadows the practical irony I wish to point out.
As soon as I reached the city-I was surrounded by a bunch of people, we call “guides”..Who were all willing to spill out the already mugged (semi-cooked up) stories about the city, with spices..yet they would not utter anything unless you promised to pay them the price they demanded. And dare you bargain-they had a union!so u better agree to their quoted prices.
The first destination was “gurushikahar” temple at abu-the place was popular-thus all throughout the way, there were stalls and restaurants, where even a bisleri would cost 25 bucks. Its believed that giving others water to drink is a good thing-but these people didnot have the conscience to sell even at mrp-forget about “for the free” thing! The focus was more on eating than on worshipping.
Then followed a trip to “achalgarh” temple –the story says that the shaking earth was controlled by lord Shiva by sending his left foot’s thumb here. that thumb is worshipped at this place .i wonder if the thumb had the name of lord Shiva written on it-or else how would anyone be sure that its thumb-that too left thumb of only lord shiva,and none other god!!or was the story cooked up by someone ages ago, and has been told for generations now! (srry but despite many arguments the guide couldnot convince me about its authenticity!)
Then was a visit to “dilwara jain temples”-the place where the beautiful carvings and handworks on marble could win your hearts. but then the “beware of pickpockets” sign would keep you in your senses.
The sight of a poor couple fighting with the shoe stalls persons was a pity. I wonder if people can really steal your shoes in a temple-if yes-then what’s the use of worshipping if you can’t have a clear soul even in temple. And if no-then why we need to have shoe stalls at such places for safety…is it not the money making idea of stall owner.
Then was a visit to the “nathdwara temple”-a place of immense popularity. its believed that the lord here grants whatever you ask for! I wonder what decides this “manyata” factor! Suppose I ask for the same thing in three temples-and the wish is granted-should the credit be given to three of those gods, or to just “god”-coz its believed that god is one! Or to my hardwork!
Another thing I can never understand-people say ”if this wish comes true-I”ll offer Prasad of this sum of money—is it that you are trying to bribe god too!!:-P
On the entrance of a temple-a beggar blessed me and my brother that if we gave him the money ”bhagwaan hamari Jodi banae rakhega!!”..so we could not stop laughing(needless to mention that we did not offer that beggar anything).but I really liked the style of begging..Definitely the newly weds would give him a lot!
A person came to ask if we were interested in special darshan! on asking what that meant(we thought the god would personally visit us in our dreams like in movies!!)..but he told that on paying 250 bugs extra we could get a back door entry to temple and special prasad, thus avoiding all the crowd. so now god is also more accessible to rich people. thanks to the commercialization !!
This visit made me realize the different activities in temples-everything but worshipping!!
You can see people bargain for reducing the cost of Prasad! People fighting with poor rickshawpuller for even 10 bugs, without considering the hardwork by him, people staring at girls, chatting on mobiles. admist all this lies the belief that this visit would clean your souls-but ask yourself-is the visit worth anything-if you can’t behave justly even at such places and maintain the decorum and charm of such places. Its time we understand the difference between regular tourist hangouts and temples and behave accordingly.
Will post soon.keep smiling till then J
