India is known for its rich culture and religious identity. You would admit with me that our devotion to God comes in many forms, packaged into innumerable deities, god's and religions. There are countless religious festivals, ceremonies and rituals that one can get lost in its myriad. Glorifying each of these festivals by splurging money has become a trend in recent times.
It will not be fair to categorize a person or the country as religious on the basis of how lavishly they set up a devotion room in one’s house, society or in the city. Recently, it was cited that a saree for goddess Durga worth 22 kg of gold was prepared in Kolkata. Does that mean Kolkata supersedes as number one religious state? Not a fair argument, right? Let’s together analyze if our devotion to God is transforming us as a person with divine values or whether religion and life are two different sides of a coin altogether.
It is said that there are 4 to 5 million sadhus (there are naked digambara, or "sky-clad" sadhus who wear their hair in thick dreadlocks called jata) and sadvis. Some of them are revered and worshiped even after their death. There are incidents where people have placed them in the position of gods later to their utter bewilderment, only to be revealed how negative and harmful they were to the society.
Predominantly, we want religion to make us happy. Our complacent attitude takes the better of us by giving cash offerings and gold offerings in some cases to Temples, Mosques, Churches and other places of worship without really taking an effort to be a transformed person. Check this informational video which is there for a long-time asking people to stop donating money to religious places; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZFEpy5CByI&t=25s
Even the supreme Court in India has ordered massive judicial scrutiny and do an audit of all religious shrines because of the misuse in many cases. Check this short video:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/sc-orders-massive-judicial-scrutiny-of-all-religious-shrines/videoshow/65513061.cms
Even the supreme Court in India has ordered massive judicial scrutiny and do an audit of all religious shrines because of the misuse in many cases. Check this short video:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/sc-orders-massive-judicial-scrutiny-of-all-religious-shrines/videoshow/65513061.cms
A true God is an embodiment of love, who transforms us from our wretched sinful state of addiction of any kind and restore us to a nice human being. Our devotion to God should be able to transform us to be a better person with divine nature from whom love, peace and joy is continually transmitted. He invites us to join Him in crafting an abundant and joy-filled life. Transformed life by God incites us to save the society being affected by any social evil.
Check the work of Sudha Varghese, a social activist whose devotion to God and her commitment has transformed the society.
Check the work of Sudha Varghese, a social activist whose devotion to God and her commitment has transformed the society.
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