Too many Gods

There are certain things in life which are very simple and yet most effective. Difficulties will be a common occurrence when things are more complicated and complex.

People who come to me for consultation often narrate their stories of faith in God and whatever they do to enhance it. This often includes long tedious recitations of more than one deity. Their narration includes a common curiosity. The most common question is the higher level of dedication for God and the meager level of fruits they have obtained.

You too may have seen people who worship every God with dedication. You can find photographs of each and every deity in their homes. And yet the “Yaksha Prasna”. Why their lives are so miserable?

To understand it we have to understand prayer itself. A prayer is like “Avahan” of a deity. When you worship you actually seek the deity himself or herself. When you seek so many deities you will often do the mistake of forgetting one. It is almost like giving appointments to so many people at the same time, and talking to nobody.

This is a complex situation. Now if you compare a “Sardarji” or “Jain” with Hindus you will see that they are most prosperous community. (Trust me I am not biased.). Please note that it is not their fate. Fate is an easy thing for believer. You can levy all your problems on it. But logics say that every person of this community cannot have a good fate. The difference is simplicity and dedication for One Guruji or Mahaveer Ji. They do not follow too many Gods. They do not follow mantra or tantra. They are one of the richest and prosperous communities in India.

The reason is their simplicity. Frankly I believe that faith in one deity, (who should be your ishta) can change life. You do not need mantra or yantra for that. One needs, simplest dedication, offering in form of incense twice a day, and that is it.

Prayers are effective, when they are performed with simplest devotion and dedication.

If you believe that being simple is easy, then I must tell you that being simple is most difficult. Once you are honest with yourself, once you are strong with your morals, you will become simple. Simplicity has nothing to do with the luxuries you are involved in. It is a part of human nature. Sometimes a man wearing a cargo jeans can be more simple and more devoted to God, then the priest of a temple.

I can narrate you the simplicity of a man whom I met during my visit to Bangkok. He was highly simple, down to earth and is very prosperous. He has relatively high level of devotion for Goddess Radha ji and Shree Krishna. He does not recite any big mantras, but I believe he is very happy.

He is not a Sadhu clad in some saffron, he is not a mantrik, but he is a simpleton. His devotion was at par with one of the best sadhus, I have met.

So friends, too many cooks spoil the dish and too many Gods …………..

Alok Jagawat