Impact of modernization on religious practices

I prefer not to miss my routine evening walk because it is not only good for my health but also it gives new experiences every day. Recently it turned into a very special learning occasion for me on Shree Krishna Janmashtami day. There was a festive mood all around. Families, friends and relatives were going to nearby temples in groups. Devotional songs were being played through loud speakers as a spiritual atmosphere prevailed in the place. A small Krishna Mandir is situated on my way. Since there was lesser crowd I thought of going in there.

Overwhelmed artificiality

The devotees had squattered on the floor. There was a singer singing with a key board with a tabla artist to accompany him.  Mikes were given full volume so that nothing else could be heard. All devotees were clapping with lifted hands to the tune of music. Everybody was busy in following the song that the main singer was singing. The idol of Lord Krishna was decorated wonderfully with so many silver and golden coloured foils and other shining artificial materials. They were glowing with LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs and focus lights. But no original oil lamp was seen anywhere!

Having my roots in village India my mind rolled back to the past. Traditionally people were decorating the idols of god with variety of original flowers. Many oil lamps were lit which brightened the decorated idol. Bhajans were sung by all in the group line by line as some one with good voice pronounced the lines loudly. But today in cities the life is overwhelmed with artificial things. As flowers became costly, the artificial flowers have replaced them. However, the concept of decorating the lord is still continued with a change in the material. So, whatever is the matter, Bhakti is important.

Biscuits and Chocolates

While the bhajans went on and the devotees were engrossed in bhakti there started the process of distribution of prasaadam. A lady started distributing small packets of Parle-G biscuits. Every one held their hands out to get them. Then came the coffee-bytes!!! The priest started throwing something from near the feet of the idol and to my surprise they were chocolates. People started jumping to get the flying chocolates. Instead of bhajans I heard the shrills “one for me”, “I didn’t get”, “throw one here” etc. I didn’t get any as I was sitting in the last row and no chocolates reached there. Now it was the turn of pens to fly!! A lady devotee had brought some pens and they were thrown towards the crowd. Same jubilant response from the devotees and same fate for me!!  No chocolates, no pens but no regrets. It was good to observe the new dimension of Krishna’s worship from the back of the crowd.

Later bananas and mosambis were distributed by the organizers. Then the most precious and auspicious prasaada followed! It was a mixture of dahi (curd), butter, crystal sugar and poha. It is believed that lord Krishna liked dahi, butter and poha very much. So it is very sacred for devotees of Krishna. It was really delicious. Then an old lady came distributing currency notes of Rs. 10 to everybody who was present there. My mind went down the lane of memory when I was a kid aged 5 or 6 years. I remembered the days when I was eager to take one rupee coin which was distributed during ritual functions like marriage ceremony etc. Giving cash in the name of ‘dakshine’ to all those who attended the function was a tradition. In those days one rupee coin was a great thing. Now, the time has passed and Rs. 10 note has replaced the Re. 1 coin. In fact, the tradition has continued with changed material value.

Continuity and change

In a sociological sense, all these things can be explained as continuity and change. The traditional beliefs and rituals are being continued. But the things are replaced by the available new materials. In the earlier times, lamps with oil were the only means of glowing the sculpture of the Lord. But with the availability of LEDs, halogens, the means of brightening the idol are changed. People feel it easy to glow LEDs by switching on the plug instead of struggling with the oil lamps which needs frequent tending of the flame. On a lighter note, we may say oil has become expensive than LEDs!!

Just a few decades back people used harmonium as accompanying instrument while singing bhajans. It has been now replaced by ‘key-board’ with the advancement of technology. Most innovative idea is the addition to the form of prasadam. Even the packed items like biscuits, chocolates and pens have been considered as prasaada and have got validated to get that sanctity!! Thus the process of distributing prasaada is continued though the form of prasaada is changed due to availability of the modern and ready made materials. One need not wonder if the ‘teertha’ (holy water) gets replaced in the future by coca-cola or pepsi due to their ready availability!!  

Social integration

            Mangalaarathi was over. Fortunately it was with original lamp and not with the LED aarathi which is available in the market! People started leaving the place and I too wore my footwear to continue walking. Mind started wandering with thoughts. Sociology refers to the concepts of continuity and change. Is this the same? Can this be evidence to it? Well, after all with such continuity of collective worship and changes in using modern materials, whether the purpose of festivals is really served? The main purpose of Tilak, the fighter for Swaraaj, who started the public ‘Ganeshotsava’ in Maharashtra was not to popularise religion but to bring social integration among the people and harmony in the society. But has it been achieved through collective worships is a curious question. In fact, here too, apparently I didn’t see the difference between poor or rich, high or low caste anywhere in the whole gathering. Everyone was the devotee of Lord Krishna and was sitting in the group.  But how long this sense of unity and equality will remain in their consciousness? Is it only till they come out of that mandir? Unfortunately yes. Soon after their exit from the shrine they adorn their class and caste differences. BMWs, Skodas, Toyotas etc. crawl down to pick the rich where as the poor continues to walk with torn slippers!! Still I would prefer to look at the event with positive perspective. I feel that people at least come out of their class and caste consciousness for some time at the place of worship. There were no separate rows for higher and lower castes or classes as it was found in the earlier times. Any one could sit anywhere and near any other. This is a small but significant change at the place of worship because the religion has sanctioned our social stratification. No doubt, at least temporarily they had pushed their class and caste differences to the subconscious mind.   It is really a positive change, though a very small step in achieving an egalitarian society. Social integration has to be attained through small changes like this leading to break the prejudices towards the people of poor and lower class and castes. 


Thank you Vaidehi akka, editor of Afternoonvoice http://afternoonvoice.com/ 

Tie the minds, not only Rakhis

                Bomb blast in Pune, Train accident in Andhra pradesh, buses fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir are the tragic news of last 2- 3 days. If we flash back the recent past, there was Mulleperiyar issue between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Kaveri water sharing issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Kasarargod issue, Endosulfan issue in Karnataka and Kerala, Belgaum issue between Karnataka  and Maharashtra, Mining issue between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Vidarbha issue in Maharashtra, Telangana issue in Andhra, Naxalism in Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgargh, Odisha, Bhopal gas tragedy’s after effect are still continuing, unresolved Gujarat riot case, Khap panchayat and its new rules on women in Uttar Pradesh, Gorkha issue in West Bengal, violence in Assom, Naga issue in Nagaland, disturbance from China in the border of Arunachal Pradesh, unresolved AFSPA issue in Manipur and continued fast of Irom Sharmila, protest against Salman Rushdie in Rajasthan, everyday rapes, molestations and murders in Delhi and NCR regions, Bhakra water sharing issue between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, violence in Manesar of Haryana, unheard appeal of Kashmiri Pandits, death of more than 90 people in Amarnath yatra in Jammu and Kashmir and so on are the sad stories of Indian subcontinent. The whole India is facing deficit in railfall. There is a semi drought condition in many areas.

India and its neighbours:            

India’s relations with Sri Lanka ruined after it backed the sanctions of USA, the relations with Pakistan has not improved much, Nepal is still in unstable condition, relations with Myanmar is not laudable, Teesta water sharing issue between India and Bangladesh, conflict with China  on China sea issue and its insurgent activities in the border etc. are the additions to the list of bitter truths.

World view:

If we see continent wise also, we can see lot many disturbed condition in the world. The relation between China and South East countries has gone bad due to the issue of China sea, there were instability in Fiji, Afghanistan needs lot many years to recover from the downfall, frequent natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, conflict between citizens and the state on the issue of nuclear plants in Japan, anti-Putin movements in Russia, Arab spring, sanctions on Iran, people living in Syria with bombs blasting every now and then as if the celebration of Deepavali is going on!, still continuing Israel – Palestine fights, sufferings of people in Gaza strip etc. are the major negative events happening in Asia continent.

                Euro crisis is one of the major set back for the whole world’s economy. Default of Greek, debt burden on Italy, Spain, Germany, France and other Euro members, Libor scam in England etc. are the hot news.

                If we see Africa, it is also not better than any other continent. Somalia pirates are causing so many troubles to the ships moving through that area, so many countries are suffering with hunger and poverty, high level of infant mortality, maternal mortality is seen, no health facilities, conflict between North Sudan and South Sudan, disturbances in Mali, Libya, Nigeria etc. have made Africa too turbulent.

                America has problems of unemployment, recently innocent people at the screening of batman, lack of rain and hence food crops etc.

                Antarctica and Arctic regions are badly hit due to global warming. Snow melting has been recorded at a very faster rate. It may lead to the rising of the level of sea and other natural calamities. It is a well known fact scientists have noticed a hole in the ozone layer in Antarctic region.

What can we do now?

                We must be aware of the fact that we are not going to live in this world permanently. Instead of having conflicts within us, it is better to live in peace. In the given short life span, let us try to do as much good deeds as possible. The world will remember Swami Vivekananda as well as Osama Bin Laden. The former will be praised for his constructive contributions where as the later will be remembered with a blame for his sinful action of killing thousands of people. It is for us to decide how we should be remembered by this world. It is easy to destroy something but it is not so easy to construct it again. What is there to achieve by having grudge with some one? Let us live like brothers and sisters. Let us build harmony. Let us do some collective actions which will have positive consequences. We are not going to gain anything by humiliating some one or killing some one or. It is our duty to provide good, peaceful, less prejudiced environment for the younger generation. Let us be ambitious, but not selfish. If someone is performing better than us, let us appreciate their abilities and not have jealous about them. Let us understand our own limits and accomplish whatever we can. Fighting for status, prestige will actually bring our respect down. Let us unite together and work for the nation, work to save our mother earth. Unless we protect our nature, it won’t protect us!! It is our duty to make the theme of this day,”protecting one another irrespective of the caste, creed , race, religion, rich, poor etc.” to be true.  

Happy Raksha bandhan to all my brothers and sisters.