Page 17 - The Planets & Forecast

Planets & Forecast Mar.-18

God, the content of the Vratha. Thus of material gains offering them bribes.
the fruits of Vratha are denied to the There are thousands of ancient
sadhaka due to his hunger and temples with huge land holdings. Yet
weakness. Bhakti turns towards the they are in such a neglect that there is
prasad and not the God. no oil to light a lamp and nothing to
The real worship does not lie in offer to the Lord. The Shiva temples
performing pooja to idols of deities when the main requirement is water
decorating them with golden crowns. for abhisekham too are languishing
Serving less fortunate persons, without daily worship. In spite of this,
quenching the thirst and hunger of new temples are being built. The secret
fellow beings is the real worship. Now behind the new temples and ashrams
a days hundreds and thousands of Sai is to jack up the prices of land around
Baba temples are coming up. They are them. That fattens the real estate
not built out of devotion; but only for sharks. The price of one square yard
gain. A few years back the High Court of land which was Rupees fifteen
of Andhra Pradesh has ruled that Sai hundred has gone up to six thousand,
Baba temples do not come under even before a new Sri Venkateswara
either the Hindu Religious Endow- Temple was completed. What does a
ments or Muslim Wakf Boards as Sai donor of half acre land for the temple
Baba is neither a Hindu Nor a Muslim. loose when he gets from it five times
Thus the temples of Sai Baba are for his remaining land ? It is not devotion
insulated from Government controls. to God that is prompting persons to
This gave a chance for every one to build new temples. It is business on
build even a small Sai Baba Temple God to mint money, gain access to
and mint money. higher ups, social status and authority.
The real offering to Sai Baba is Let donors donate hundred yards of
not poojas and food items. His ideals land or thousand rupees for an
and way of life should be followed. That orphanage or a home for the old. Not
is real worship. Sai Baba never he at all ! They refuse to behold divinity in
shared it with another person or even the living beings. They are not ignorant.
a dog. He slept on the floor with a brick They are selfish and self centred. They
under his head. He rendered services make others, innocents, trust that
to the poor, suffering. His devotees divinity is in the chiselled stone, installed
should follow his principles and by man. They ignore the words of Lord
practices. Performing poojas offering Krishna 'And whatever is the seed of
silver or gold crowns, silk shawals and all beings, that am I, O Arjuna there is
the like is only showering insults on no being, whether moving or unmoving
the saint. His soul may be very unhappy that can exist without me' (X 39
seeing his so called devotees Bhagavat Geeta). They squander lakhs
neglecting the starving beggars outside of rupees on a Shankara Aacharya of
his temple, while offering crowns, silk Kanchi or some other peetham to
shawls and rich gifts to him. Sai Baba come by helicopter for just doing
is not understood by his devotees and 'Prana Pratista to the stone idol'. It is
looked upon him as a corrupt saint who an irony, when the God is the giver of
bestows wealth, promotions, jobs in life 'Sristi, Laya, Karaka' how can a
response to their offerings. man give life and install a stone diety
The position of worship of Sri Rama, as God ? The lakhs of rupees money
Sri Krishna and deities is the same. spent on helicopter could be usefully
The Gods are the most unfortunate lot spent to help a few orphans or old
to be worshipped by selfish seekers persons. Swamy ( ) Page 19)
18