Ever since i was a boy i have been tugged along to various temples all over the country ( with a special preference given to the temples where you have to wear a dhoti and take off your shirt, not a very pleasant experience if you aint fit and if your wear a dhoti once in four years!).. i have always wondered why my parents take me along to these places...mum always says that the temples give out these positive vibes but i normally end up coming out really pissed off and frustated (well the dhoti surely does add to the whole ordeal)..i still havent had that one moment where i started believing in the lord almighty (ok maybe this is my last post and tomorrow i will be struck down by lightning :) ) and i am still waiting..
This week i went along to Guruvayoor (famous temple down south in my own country kerala :) )
what i dont understand about these temples are that they aint just one temple, they are spread all over the place..to be more clear, each temple has 10 temples inside it (worshipping various lords) and there are 3-4 temples surrounding every temple..so instead of going to like a single temple, you end up going to around 30 odd small temples..and if you take into account the fact that you have to circle the temple 3 times (please pardon my english, ill get better with time) and each major temple is located at a distance of around 500mts away from each other, its like a full day job visiting these temples...
The whole concept of temples have always amused me, why do they exist? Did God ( In one of his numerous avatars) really pass by this certain place and did something special there? And if he did do that, why are we still stuck there, he moved on.. Are temples a big scam? If it is who profits from it? I know its very easy to think about the negatives of any situation, but its ironic that the place where people go to pray for amongst other things for longevity has witnessed numerous stampedes or walls crushing people at temples
I don't have answers to these questions, hence am an atheist. Debate, argue, prove that I am wrong, I will be the happiest guy in the world.
The whole concept of temples have always amused me, why do they exist? Did God ( In one of his numerous avatars) really pass by this certain place and did something special there? And if he did do that, why are we still stuck there, he moved on.. Are temples a big scam? If it is who profits from it? I know its very easy to think about the negatives of any situation, but its ironic that the place where people go to pray for amongst other things for longevity has witnessed numerous stampedes or walls crushing people at temples
I don't have answers to these questions, hence am an atheist. Debate, argue, prove that I am wrong, I will be the happiest guy in the world.
The fact that you are thinking so much about His existense itself shows that you are not an atheist.
ReplyDeletestupid comment..
ReplyDeletenext!
nice blog.
ReplyDeleteEons ago, temples were structures invented to support religious or/and spiritual activities of the common man.
Target audience was never the Buddha or the Gates. It has always bee the suffering soul; from any walk of life. And, there are millions of them everywhere.
The numerous sub-temples in a larger temple and the multiple hands/legs and other physical extensions of Hindu gods are a manifestation of the need of the average man for MORE god and not less.
It is a simple supply-demand dynamic at work. And, as with any other such arrangement, there are bound to be occasions of scams. The more savage the need, the more hurtful the scams in nature and content.
For example, temples letting people in hoards in spite of the logistic dangers is a reprehensible act. The corporate boards of the temples are not exactly desperate to solve the problem as it doesn't pose any risk to their existence or growth potential.
Having said all that, temples are not to be disrespected because they don't reveal god to you. That is a symptom of your real problem: which is to expect everything the easy way.
You will respect that feeling of being in a dhoti under the hot sun only when you reach a point when you really need that feeling. You will do fine without it but don't worry if the day comes. Change is constant.
And, most people have many such points in their life. Unless, you are Paris Hilton or an equivalent.
You will find god only if you can attempt to look at the temple inside you; and not outside.
And, that is not easy and I don't know how to do it.
The whole post was a comment on my visits to temples and what i made of them and am in no way trying to demean the temple or the people who visit them, i know for a fact that my mom loves going around those 30 odd temples and thinks its wonderful doing that. I respect that.
ReplyDeleteAbout me wanting things easy, its true, i want things easy...who doesn't? It is in the end Human tendency. And in 24 years I have never appreciated wearing a dhoti, I'll surely call you when I get that 'feeling'
Also "You will find god only if you can attempt to look at the temple inside you; and not outside."
I seriously have no clue what you are talking about. It will be very easy for me to question you about what is inside or what do i need to look for? I understand that maybe when the time comes, i will understand the true meaning of what you said..and when it does, I will call you for sure!
When the moment arrives, call 911 before you dial me. I do not yet have a driving licence.
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ReplyDeletetemples just promote organized religion.. wher ppl need sumthing to do... n sumthing concrete to base their beliefs on
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that it might have started as that, an organized way of celebrating God. But the way the concept is being utilized for personal gain is depressing. The way people fight to get that elusive seat on the board of Siddhivinayak Trust.
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