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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Earth reflects God's all-supporting nature

 

CHENNAI, SEPT. 7. It is not uncommon to come across some people

who raise questions relating to the existence of God and His link

with us, His qualities, where He stays, how will He look like and

allied aspects. Before doing so, will they be able to say whether

they had the choice to come to this world, whether their entry

was planned and their day of exit has been determined? They have

absolutely no control over their birth and death nor can they act

as they like, while staying here. Their decisions are liable to

changes even though they might have worked out their schemes with

care and precision. These factors should make them think of a

superior force that guides them from somewhere, unseen. Why God

does so cannot be challenged but one should surmise that it is

His pastime.

 

Creation, preservation and destruction are God's activities. This

earth reflects His all-supporting nature. At whose command does

the Sun send its light and the Moon shed lustre? Stars, planets

and satellites revolve in the sky in accordance with immutable

laws. One should therefore realise whether or not these organised

activities are done by some intelligent creator. It is a marvel,

how in His creations, no two beings are identical, not even twin

brothers or sisters. Having so made us, not moulded as machines

do, but each with a distinction, Divinity also enters each one of

us. He dwells in every one's heart. God exists not only here but

also in other worlds. These thoughts can be inferred from the

invocatory verse of Kamban, the Tamil poet, in his Ramayana. His

is not a mere translation of the original Sanskrit text of

Valmiki. Having digested the latter, in all humility and seeking

his blessings, Kamban has left his rich treasure which is his

version of the re-enacted divine poem.

 

Some of our scriptural texts give direct commands for our life's

journey as do's and don'ts. Some contain suggestions and friendly

advice and yet others provide indirect indication leaving the

option to us to act or not to. If we follow the path laid down by

the characters therein, we will stand to benefit. It is in this

third category that the Ramayana falls, the hero symbolising

righteousness. Readers will gain the feeling that they too can

adopt the steps of Rama and lead an ideal life. ``Why not I too

be like Rama'' will be the attitude, said Sri Sukhi Sivam in a

lecture. The prayer song of Kamban in which the idea of real

secularism is incorporated refers to God's presence everywhere.

The whole story, in his hands, rises into a crescendo of interest

from the commencement till the very close of the action.

 

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