FROM GODLINESS TO APPEASEMENT OF THE GODS

 

Looking at the frenzy and the emotion that has been engineered through clever use and manipulation of religious faith, by the ruler and his ilk, it would seem that Lord Ram was lost, exiled and in deep trouble for last hundreds of years.  He was in dire straits, much more in agony than what He underwent during his forced vanvas way back during the period 800 BCE.  It was left to mere mortals, and that too a bunch of devious ones, to retrieve Him, build an abode for Him and create events that the lord has never seen or wanted, even during his reign, about 2800 years back.
In addition, He is perplexed, it would seem, to find that Sita ma and the divine Hanuman is nowhere in sight, in this reincarnation. Instead, He finds only one bearded man trying to be around him. Even claiming to be representing Him.
He still remembers his birth day, called Ramanavami by his devotees. He now finds that day relegated along with Dusshera and Diwali, and in its place another day, ordained by this bearded man, declared as His day. As if to say it is not Him but the ones who resurrected him, who needs to be worshipped. It has been declared that this day would be one which would bring glory to the nation (a euphemism for the bearded man himself!) even though Lord Ram has nothing to do with this day.

Lord Rama is believed to be an ideal human being and a symbol of truth, righteousness, and virtue. Never in His life, as described in the epic or puranas, has he ever asked people to sing praises of him, offer him goodies or even build structures in his name. A man of a Godly incarnation like Him, would have asked and expected his followers to be like him, be humane, spread love and kindness, never tell lies or spread hatred.  Sadly, He finds  instead of that   a structure in His name is built, series of meaningless rituals have been enacted to be the end by itself by the bearded man and his ilk. They have managed to get people to do all these while His qualities are conveniently ignored or made secondary.
He was, back in the days of the Epic, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The good Lords Lord Vishnu, the preserver,  Lord  Brahma the creator,   Lord Shiva the destroyer, and all the thousands of deities ( representing forms that humans visualise God for themselves) have never been known to have asked people to sing praises ( the bhajans ,  the slokas etc are that) of them, glorify them , make offerings , feed them, dress them up , perform bizarre rituals etc but instead , each had virtues , that they expected the followers to imbibe and assimilate into their life. In this expectation, at least, these Gods were different from those of other religions who may have specifically asked to be revered and worshipped.
The Gods surely are disappointed. Some humans, like this bearded man, have tried to be cleverer than Them. Used Them for their own ends. This man is not alone. There are others like him and there were many like him since creation, who have led mankind astray. Man's greed turned out to be more potent than the God's desire and will.
Once again this month in the name of the good Lord Ram, the marayada purush, a travesty of Godliness will be enacted. Idols will be worshipped and efforts to appease them will be made.  Sadly, some mortals can only watch helplessly.