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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Faith in God can fetch anything

 

CHENNAI, Feb. 2. Scriptural texts which contain directives for a

man's safe journey in the world, do at times need clarifications

as well as proper explanations. The sublime thoughts therein have

therefore been properly commented upon by saintly souls who had

appeared amidst us to tell that the divine statements should not

be treated as moribund. Customs and traditions do have relevance

but need convincing elucidation. These selected pious men kept

the spiritual torch burning through their lectures and have asked

us to understand the permanent relationship between God and man.

How and why a man is born, is it due to his own will, what was he

before his appearance now, what is his goal, how will he achieve

it and how to conduct himself, are all questions often raised for

which suitable answers have been given by these reputed scholars.

 

The main thrust of their expositions was that man differs from

other creations because he is endowed with intellect. By reposing

faith in God and adopting the spiritual exercises he can rise to

a higher level. They have pointed out how a single strand of

thread can be easily snapped whereas by twisting a number of them

and making them as a rope, it will be possible to drag a chariot.

Pamban Swamigal came out of a covered pit remaining in it for 36

days and composer Thyagaraja saw Rama by chanting His name 96

crore times. Faith can fetch anything.

 

Some people have questioned the wisdom of worshipping ``stones''

as idols and ``wasting'' milk by pouring it over them. Why spend

money on temple festivals is yet another query. All these doubts

have been cleared by one among the most profound scholars who

lived among us till recently. Temple festivals provided

employment to many and also helped distribute money amongst many

traders and professionals. Even as cotton, spun as thread and

then woven into cloth cannot still be called by its original

name, so too, figures of God, chiselled out of stones and then

consecrated and installed with due rites in temples, can no more

be termed inanimate objects as they ``breathe'' life and shower

grace on devotees. Such was the brilliant manner in which the

religious fervour of the elite and the masses was sustained and

promoted through simple illustrations at the same time driving

home moral values by Sri Kripananda Variar whose contribution was

remembered and whose glorious life and his message were recalled

by Sri C.V. Sadanandam at a memorial function. Among Sri

Kripananda Variar's illuminating points in his discourses was how

idols in the temple stored divine power and distributed it. Sri

Variar's literary output is amazing and he had mastered

Thiruppugazh and had toured extensively to spread God's message.

 

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