Spirituality has assumed magnitude of an industry in India. A simple Ashram once visited 15 years back never remains to be the same . Every nuke and corner, each ashram is upgraded with all the modern aminities. It's cadres are revamped. Food turned continental, which can suit every one's taste. Huge Meditation halls adorned with cushions and soft mats and chairs for the arthritis afflicted devotees entice you with spick and span cleanliness. Fusion music is played from all the four corners of the meditation hall all set to send devotees into trance. Then comes Swamiji, with silk robes tastefully designed, with hefty gold chain studded with big "rudrakshas" and massive wrist bands embellished with jewels.. Even at the age of 70 or 80 he never seems to be graying. Band of fair skinned foreign devotees sitting in the front rows reassure our faith about the greatness of Swamiji . No doubt, Swamiji delivers a captivating speech.We all take a deep heavy breath thinking how mundane world is ruinous to our salvation. Many of us take a holiday to visit our ashram along with our family at least once in a year.
Simplicity and renunciation which were the bench marks of our old age sadhus and sanyasis are no more in vogue. It is difficult to find any sadhu with ungroomed hair and torn clothing, except few begging class. Huge spiritual congregations are arranged spending whooping millions of rupees in every part of the country. Every spiritual house is a mighty power house with Presidents, prime ministers, celebreties frequenting. All the distinguished swamijis are beyond the reach of a common man. A small man is not cared or respected even in an ashram. There stays an illustrious swamiji, often backed by a caucus, always eyeing a famed visitor who can help him spread his name and fame and contribute substantially in terms of money. More blessings are showered on potential devotee, more attention is given to them, more rituals are granted . A question lingers in my mind . In what way it is different from a mercantile house?
We find mushrooming of shops who sell all types of stones to improve your well being or quality of life. Each day hundreds of stones are being sold with a red tinge, yellow tinge or some other tinge either to bring you fortunes or to forestall a misfortune . Each day numerous advertisements are flashed on T.V. to maneuver your inkling for buying them if you have not bought one.
Paradoxically I remember a story of RamaKrishna Parama Hamsa who weighs two coins of clay and gold in both the hands and throws away both into a pond of water.Both are equal to him. Rags or riches, both are eschewed with the same countenance. It instills a great feeling of eqanimity in you.
I attended a huge gathering of a spiritual discourse organised in my proximity.I was aghasted at the sight of huge commercial hordings hung in the backdrop. Even his podium is not spared. The distinguised spiritual leader started delivering the speech on how to refrain from lust, greed, and worldly pleasures unmindful of the hording on his back reading "How to double your money ? Invest with us and get fabulously rich".
2 comments:
Very true Aunty..
Commercialization of places of worship and other religious beliefs have influenced the newer generations a lot. The ISKCON Temple is probably a classic case of this.Where else will you find pizzas and burgers being offered as 'naivedyam' to a deity.This thing drove me crazy the last time I visited one such ISKCON at Bangalore.
This commercialization of religion and places of worship is true not just in India but out here in the US as well.
When we first came to California in 1996, the Livermore Temple was a place of bliss, serenity, peace which offered the opportunity to meditate, be one with god and reflect. I tried to go there atleast once a month. --
As the Indian population grew,so did the commercialism and fanfare. Now, on any given day, its even hard to get parking -- you have no space or environment to pray or reflect. Its too noisy, there is always some yagna, some paid pooja or some other loud public celebration going on. The priests now speak mostly English and on most days dont even have time to offer to break your coconut or give the Aarti.
Sadly, its been 4 months since I visited it.
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