Recently, I stumbled upon a compilation of insightful couplets about life circulating on WhatsApp. While many resonated with me deeply, the final one left me pondering. It went:
पत्थरों को मानाने में
फूलों का क़त्ल कर आये हम
गए थे गुनाहों की माफ़ी मांगने
वहां एक और गुनाह कर आये हम
Translated, it implies: We went to the temple to appease stones, yet in doing so, we killed some flowers. We sought forgiveness for our sins, only to commit yet another.
This verse prompts us to explore the true essence of visiting a temple. Is it solely to seek absolution for our wrongdoings or to fulfill our desires? Or is there a deeper purpose?
Most are familiar with the profound verse from the Bhagavad Gita:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ 2-47||
Which translates to: You have the right to perform your actions, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Do not let the fruits of your actions be your motive, nor should you be attached to inaction.
According to Hindu philosophy, we are urged not to seek divine intervention to manipulate outcomes in our favor. Instead, we are encouraged to diligently perform our duties and accept the results with humility. Moreover, we have no control over the consequences of our actions deemed as sinful or wrongful.
Thus, should our temple visits be merely about seeking forgiveness for our misdeeds? The Gita teaches us to surrender to the Supreme Being, for only through this surrender can true liberation be attained.
Yet, this doesn’t imply that every transgression is absolved by seeking forgiveness alone. As the Gita states:
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थित: |
मन: संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्पर: || 6-14||
Translated: With a tranquil mind, free from fear, steadfast in the vow of celibacy, restrained in thought and self, let the yogi apply themselves to Me, making Me their supreme goal.
So, why then do we visit temples? Is it to expect immediate absolution for our wrongs, or is it to pray with a serene, unwavering mind, as advised by the Gita?
Visiting a temple involves an action, a karma, over which we have limited control. The rituals we perform, such as lighting incense sticks or offering flowers to the divine symbol, serve as aids to create an atmosphere conducive to prayer—a serene space where we can commune with unwavering focus.
To me, the flowers, though fleeting in life, find their highest purpose in adorning the temple. Thus, I respectfully disagree with the couplet that questions the sanctity of temple visits. In response, I offer a verse that reflects my perspective:
भक्ति
कौन जाता है मंदिर में
किसी पत्थर को मानाने
मंदिर तो जाते हैं हम
सोई हुई चेतना को जगाने
अकाल असीम अनंत का
साकार रूप है वो
मानस ह्रदय कर्म को
एकाग्र तो करो
फिर देखो वह पत्थर नहीं
उसी में है ब्रह्माण्ड
मन कर्म वचन से
उसे इष्ट लो यदि जान
हर चीज़ की संसार में
कीमत रहती है तब
अपने आशयित कर्म का
निर्वाह करे वो जब
वह फूल जो चढ़ा है
इष्ट के चरण में
इतरा रहा हो गा ज़रूर
अपने अच्छे कर्म से
यह उसका क़त्ल नहीं
सदगति है उसकी
चाह रहती हो गी
हर पुष्प को जिसकी
विजय कुमार
English Version:
Devotion
Who visits temple
To appease a mere stone
One enters the temple door
To awaken soul’s conscious core
Timeless, boundless, and endless grace
manifests a form in divine embrace
Focus on inner self with heart and action
And you find his blessings and satisfaction
And behold this is no mere stone
It Imbibes the universe within
With heart, action and soul
Just attempt to seek Him
In the realm of earth
All creations that take birth
Strive to achieve their goal
Alleviating heart and soul
That flower in Lord’s feet
Feels elated and complete
Attaining the Divine grace
In Lord’s blissful embrace
Vijay Kumar
In essence, temple visits are not merely about seeking forgiveness but about cultivating a state of inner peace and devotion—a journey towards the divine, guided by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
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