Articles
Causerie
Dt: 26/4/22
Causerie
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
1) Comrades and America
Com. Narayana is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India. He had a bereavement in April 2022 in the passing away of his wife, Smt.Vasumathi Devi also a communist. Communists on almost all occasions denounce America as an imperialist exploitative power. It is also accused of indulging in “regime changes” and controlling the World Bank and such institutions bearing aloft the banner capitalism and private enterprises.
2. The surprise, not so hidden is that communist leaders’ children are sent to the US, not only for studies but for settling them in that accursed capitalist, imperialist, interventionist country. Com. Narayana’s son and daughter had not only gone for studies and employment to the USA but they are settled there!
3. Com Narayana (and many of his likes communists) who habitually and routinely denounces America, has not sent his children to communist North Korea or communist China for studies or settlement but to the accursed America . This shows that their commitment to communist ideology and sincerity in denouncing the USA are for public consumption and for misleading and misinforming the public . This is one of the reasons why the communist parties in India founded nearly 100 years ago in 1925 have being shrinking and shrinking and splitting and are reduced to “statement parties of India”. In the recent general elections to the UP Legislative Assembly CPI got 0.07% and CPM got ------% of the votes. With a dismal performance the communist parties exhort the non-BJP parties to unite to dethrone the BJP and make India the BJP-free country.
2) Bhaktas or Hindus
The President & Vice Presidents of India, the Chief Justice and other Judges of the Supreme Court & High Courts are often going to Tirumala and offer pujas to Lord Venkateswara and feel blessed by Him.
2. Has any one of them, these great constitutional luminarias ever asked the question to himself as to why the temples of Hindus alone are under the management & administration of the government of AP ( and other states) ? Are they not aware that the churches of Christians and the mosques of Muslims are left to be managed and administered by the societies of those people following those religions? Why is it that in respect of Hindus this discrimination is shown that governments which are required to be secular according to our Constitutions are keeping Hindus temples under their iron grip? Is it not known to them that the trustees of these temples are changed every time a new party forms the government in the state and the trustees picked up are not known to have done good for Hindu dharma ? In fact, some Chief Ministers of AP happen ( ed) to be practising Christians and they have nominated SC people who have converted to Christianity as trustees of Hindus temples.
3. Well-known Hindu temples including Lord Venkateswara’s in Tirumala. The present Chief Minister who is a publicly practising Christian has created a jumbo Trust Board . As if the number is not sufficient he also put a panel of about “50 special invitees”. All of these assemble for the trust boards’ meetings . It is known that practising and publicly asserting that they are Christians and are church goers, are even in executive positions in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
4. It is inconceivable that the Justices of Supreme Court and High Courts are not aware of this blasphemous administration and management of the TTD.
5. The Tirumala Lord Venkareswara gets over Rs. 3100 cr of revenues every year as kanukalu from the devotees and otherwise . It has quintals of gold in the vaults of banks. It can take a loan gold loan and use that as well as the annual revenues for doing manava seva which is Madhava seva by way of establishing and running Hindu Schools and hospitals, all in the name of Lord Venkateswara. Secular as well as dharmic education can be imparted to the students in the schools through vidya and vaidyam their Hindu faith can be strengthened .
6. Most importantly, the judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court can suo motto take up for consideration and direct governments to disinvest themselves from Hindus temples and through an appropriate law entrust them to societies of Hindu devotees. The example of Sikh Gurudwaras can be taken. In 1935 the Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Act was enacted and all the Gurudwaras are managed by the societies of Sikh devotees. This example should serve to bring legislation for the management and administration of Hindus temples through appropriate bodies of Hindus themselves.
3) Kshudra pujas? And Yagnas!
The Director of health services, Dr Krishna Rao of Telangana State was disparaged for participating a puja organized by Scheduled Tribe (ST) people in a village in Khammam district in April 2022. The ST people conducted the puja in their traditional way and that was called most objectionably, kshudra puja.
2. The Chief Minister of Telangana and Sri Chinna Jiyar Swamy have been conducting yagnas. Performance of yagnas by such persons are not only commended but are also given wide publicity approvingly and admiringly.
3. Does it mean that if the Chief Ministers and Swamis conduct yagnas in their traditional way, it is alright but if the simple ST people conduct their pujas in their traditional way, should they be called kshudra (bare / mean / vulgar) pujas? This characterization is ill-motivated and is most disrespectful to a section of our people, namely the STs. The pujas that they do with the means they have like burning mirchi but not Chandan is to be denounced and derogated whereas, if quintals of pure cow ghee is used in the yagnas, they are to be extolled ? The criticism levelled against the Director of Health Service is ill- motivated . Calling the pujas offered by ST people as kshudra puja is an insult to our own traditions. People in different geographies of India belonging to different castes and communities have different ways of pujas. All of them must be respected as the doers themselves do. In Bhagawad Gia Lord Krishna says:
ye ’pyanya-devat?-bhakt? yajante ?hraddhay?nvit??
te ’pi m?m eva kaunteya yajantyavidhi-p?rvakam
- B.G 9.23
Meaning that the prayers and pujas offered by people with sraddha, devotion and firm faith though may not be according to vidhis that are prescribed procedures, they are worshiping me only.
Hindu Dharma is not exclusive, it says, “ekam sat, vipraah bahudha vadanti - truth is one; the wise propound it in many ways / names.
Patram, pushpam, phala, thoyam yo may bhaktyaa prayacati
Tadaham bhaktypahritam asnaami prayatatmanah
- BG 9.26
I accept a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with great devotion (as of equal value) by a saadhak.
Let us value sraddha, sincerity, true faith and selfless prayer and puja and not desire-motivated ostentatious costly yagnas. (1,148 words)
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