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Sunday 27 May, 2007
00:45 27/May/2007 2
Comment(s)Shortcuts to God
Maybe its me, but I fail to understand the various shortcuts to God.So, where do we start? Tirupati, perhaps -- the ultimate darshan for many in this part of the woods. To begin with, there's a special darshan, a VIP darshan, and a VVIP darshan. And then, there are agents who arrange these for a higher price at shorter notice, which isn't too far from purchasing movie tickets in black. The size of the laddus, and sometimes even the quantities, differ. Yes, this is a temple of the faith, of God, to whom we are supposedly equal. Yet, being economically stable and having contacts ensure a shortcut. A pilgrimage with little or no hardship, in terms of relativity.Today, I had a chance the privilege of witnessing a special darshan at ISKCON, pallaki-utsav et all. It was peaceful inside the temple, with mesmerizing chants of hare-krishna in the background, but honestly, this was way too easy for the devotees. Especially if you hold a pass.ISKCON, for starters, have it all -- state-of-the-art technology, ushers, air-conditioning, UPS -- everything. The darshan itself is very spectacular -- almost like some kind of show that flaunts -- with brilliantly decorated and lit interiors. And yeah, even a smoke machine when the doors are opened to allow the devotees a glimpse of the Lord.The sound, too, has succumbed to technology, as the mantras are regularly spoken into a microphone that's a mere minute article in the context of the entire acoustic setup. Luckily, a raw human-chorus still filled the air, to preserve some kind of soul warming relationship with the proceedings.Way too easy, and if this weren't enough, the prasadam at the end of the darshan is a full three-course meal, with top quality food. It includes a raisin cake, corn pulaov, a pair of puris, white rice, rasam and kesribath. A lot of food, don't you think, for devotees that have undergone little or no hardship to actually go through the darshan?ISKCON works very hard to increase the awareness about Lord Krishna. Of course, they conveniently forget how Krishna, probably the best politician ever known to man, played dirty many-a-time during the Mahabaratha. Krishna, it was, who convinced Bhima to hit Duryodhan below the thighs. Krishna, again, convinced Arjun to strike Karna when the latter, unarmed, was on the field to fix the wheel of his chariot. Krishna, rushes into a swayamvar and steals the girl, racing on. Krishna, convinces Yudhistira to speak a lie of the death of Ashwathama.I still remember feeding myself of every Amar Chitra Katha I could get my hands on, and being a true Libran, I found great pleasure in questioning what was enforced upon us. For instance, Eklavya and Karna being denied education in archery -- this, for me, was racism. Yet, Drona and Bhishma have few scars on their reputation. Karna's non-eligibility in Draupadi's swayamvara -- this, again, is racism. This idea of reservations and casteism is obviously propagated from a very high level, but it does little to help our people evolve and rise up to the task of contemporary oppression. Until that changes, we shall continue to live in this cover-up of democracy and secularism.On another note, just outside the temple -- in the ISKCON parking lot -- all the peace and tranquil go to dogs, where the Bangalore horns start doing their job. Short-lived peace, really, and it's time ISKCON makes an impact deep within than only skin-deep. They got the funding, the popularity, and the brand -- so there's no excuse, really, for contributing to society with substandard values.
Venu Gopal said...
6:29 PM 27/May/07 Your piece is well written. Anything to do with spirituality, when organised, degrades to materialism. The more organised a religion, the more material it is. Spirituality is actually for the individual and not a mass-tonic. Seek to understand the teachings and practise it in the luxury of your aloneness. That''s the trick. Any attempt to do it in tune with others would only lead to mechanical results. As in J. Krishnamurthi''s anecdote, the devil has only to help organise the truth, to have ready-made clients.SHASHANK SINGH said...
1:57 PM 27/May/07
i think karna, eklavya along with duryudhana and ravana were all tragic heros...victims of circumstances.................
Uma Ranganathan said...
11:14 AM 27/May/07
I think most of organised religion is skin deep. I personally find ISKON too strident and not questioning enough. For those who want to be controlled and stop using their brains altogether maybe it can provide some solace. I don''t know about the rest!
