RITUAL PURITY

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RITUAL PURITY

IS GOD REALLY SUCH A FUSSPOT?

We were on a routine flight to Mumbai, my long-time boss and I. As soon as the

aircraft began taxing she pulled out a metal icon of Hanuman and a Chalisa

prayer book. She clutched the deity in her left hand, her white knuckles

turning a dark shade of crimson even as the aircraft began to soar, while she

fervently recited the prayer and turned the pages of the small book with her

right thumb. By the time we were fully airborne the prayer was done and both

the deity and his book were back in their special silk jhola, ready to be

pulled out again at the time of landing.

"Do you recite the prayer every day?" I asked, all set to get into a provocative

discussion -–what better way to while away the flight?

"No", she said, "Hanuman demands strict discipline and one has to be very

careful while saying the Chalisa, you should have your bath and carefully

follow the text, or else you could face repercussions."

Considering I have been chanting the Chalisa for over a decade not necessarily

after a bath and not always with the book in hand (with the result I often race

through it and stumble when the mind strays I began to ponder over divine

‘repercussions’.)

Are that how we seeing God? One who expects such perfection from flawed

creatures? Ready to punish, wreak vengeance on all defaulters? Are we not

failing to draw a line between ‘God-fearing’ and ‘fear of God’? Are we not

better off saying our prayers rather than waiting for the ideal solution?

I have always considered liberalism to be the beauty and strength of Hinduism –

it imposes no strictures, no strident discipline. Fasts, feasts, temples,

pilgrimages, pujas, rituals you choose what you choose what you wish to adhere

to. But the moment you imbue the practice or observance with rigidity you get

into the fear or "veham" syndrome. Thus I have known the most devout men and

women to be devastated when they inadvertently consume nimbu or imli on a day

of Santoshima upvaas or onions on Amavasya.

An elder in the family refuses to hand over a family heirloom of Amman because

the Goddess needs an offering of rice each morning, cooked after a proper bath.

With a cook of unknown lineage presiding over my kitchen, she may not take

kindly to the abode. I have a number of portraits and icons in my puja alcove.

Some day I hope my good intentions will prevail over my lack of ‘shudhatta’ and

I will have Amman amongst them.

(Jaya Ramachandran in The Indian Express, 01-09-2003)

 

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