Anbe Sivam !!!

Kovilnu sonna udane….Mudhalla enakku palichudaradhu anga kedaikara amaidhiyum negizhchiyum solla mudiyaadha aanandhamum dhaan. Naan chinna vayasula Thiruvanmiyur Marundheeswarar Kovil-la idha pala dhadavai anubavichirukken :)

The temple is set in an acre with Lord Siva as the presiding deity. Two beautiful five tiered towers or Raja Gopurams filled with parrots and pigeons, spacious Mandapams, Massive Pillars endowed with elegant carvings of all Hindu deities, lot of trees all along the pathway surrounding the temple, the vast tank in front of the temple are some of it’s features. I rarely go to temple during festivals/occasions. I like to go in a regular day when we can worship and enjoy the serenity of the temple at our own pace.

Why am I writing this suddenly? One of my visits with my husband Vijay sometime back to a temple didn’t give such a feeling to me. This certainly has nothing to do with my religious faith but rather to the attitude of people.

One Sunday (a couple of months back) I visited Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple along with Vijay. The spacious pathway which had been so exquisitely architectured by Pallavas is filled with a long maze of railing so as to make the devotees stand in queues. Velila dhaan ippadi senjuttaanganu ulla ponaa main pragaarathulayum railings. We had to wait 1 hour to have 1-2 minutes darshan after which you are forced to leave.

It’s not that I can’t wait. But the system is not right. A gang of people came from Ceylon – surely settled abroad. They went and spoke with someone and gained entry straight into the sanctorum. Isn’t everyone equal before God? It’s not that I cannot afford to pay these guys to get in. I don’t like to do that. God’s blessings can be got in the truest and fullest form even at our home. It’s not required to pay these guys and encourage such an act which will surely be against the will of God.

Something which happened that day still lingers in my mind….there was a poor watchman who was organizing the queues shouting at the maximum pitch of his voice so as to be heard amidst the noise of people…. His voice was so bad…. Something which we would have felt at a slighter extent when we prepare continuously for a speech/song competition during our school/college days….

He saw a devotee(?) coming inside with a Big Bisleri bottle …He asked him for a sip ….. That guy sharply replied “Idhu naan kaasu kuduthu vaanginadhu” and went straight…. I felt really painful and ashamed at this act….When he is not able to feel the pain of someone in front and help at the tiniest level how can he know/feel God?

Another thing which disturbs me is that non-hindus are not allowed in some famous temples. I am not able to accept/understand that some x or y can decide who can visit and not visit God in a temple?

I many times feel some people do not understand what is religion. If a person is trying to hurt someone else through thoughts or words or actions he/she cannot not be considered a pious person.

When you cannot see God in his creation who is the fellow human being how can he see God in a temple J

I am reminded of Kamal’s dialogue with Madhavan when he says that he sees God in him…..

Anbe Sivam !!!