THE  MODERN  RATIONALIST

Recently I had been at a hospital famous for cardio vascular treatments. The vast, air conditioned reception / waiting hall consists of a church - perhaps the owner may be a Christian. There is a marble statue of our lady of health - it should be their lady of health. Another marble statue is also put up by the side to appease the Hindfu patients. It is a statue of an animal - monkey standing on two legs. They say it is Hanuman, Anjaneyan etc. What is in a name? In whatever name you call, rose is a rose. Likewise monkey is a monkey.

But why monkey statue? It is said that it is worshipped by Hindus. As far as I know, it is not a god of health. There is another one, Vaidyanatha or Baidyanatha as is called in north India. Dhanvatri who was charged and found along with nectar Lakshmi, and Maya! Then, how Hanuman? Perhaps, it may be due to the fact that RSS founder Hedgewar worshipped and carried a small idol with him always! The hospital authorities alone are competent to answer.

How is monkey elevated to that of god, in this religion? There is no mention of this monkey god in Vedhas and even in 18 Puranas. The epic Ramayana speaks about a monkey which acted as a messenger of Rama to Sita to say that he has come to rescue her. That is all.

The worship of animals and the cult of snakes, monkeys, elephants, cows, bulls, and the worship of birds like kite is familiar in Hindu religion even today. The zoomorphic form of worship prevailed in most parts of the world in primitive age has been given up in all other parts of the world, but continues in Hindu religion only. That is why, Periyar called these worshippers barbarians. In Egypt, sheep, cow, jackal, ibis, baboon, crocodile, cat etc were worshipped but now they have switched over to worship one god, Allah. In Mesopotamia, bulls and snakes were worshipped. In Iran cows, dogs and roosters were worshipped. In Greece, wolf, doe (she bear), ram, cow, she goat were the gods worshipped by Greeks. The aborgins of Australia worshippd Kangaroo, Emu, Eagle, Crow, Cockatoo the animals and birds available in their country. The people of Andamans worshipped bear and snake. The (Red) Indians of North America worshipped crow and wolf. The African bushman worshipped leopard, chimpanzee, snake, monkey, antilope, and even ants. In Siberia, they worshipped domestic hearth (house fireplace) and they will not put any impure things into it. In Japan, they worswhipped fox, monkey etc.

All these were considered as barbaric gods centuries ago and they have shifted to monotheism. But here, religious people of primitive Hindu religion, spend much of their time and energy on the observance of rituals and rites prescribed by Brahmin gurus who command high status among them. These gurus are supposed to be not only intermediary between gods and men but boasted to be embodiment of gods. For example, Sankaracharya ( accused no. 1 in a murder case) as living god, Saibaba of Puttabarthy as god himself.

The practice of worshipping animals etc by barbarians of the world were given up by them after the birth of Moses and Jesus who preached mono theism. But in India, about hundred crores of Hindus still continue to be savages. The erection of monkey statue in a modern hospital, proves this. Is it not?

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There is an announcement that Indian Railways has arranged special trains to Kerala to meet the heavy flow of passengers to Sabarimala. All the myths attached to Ayyappan and its abode Sabarimla have admitted to be all frauds even by the Devaswom Board and the government of “god’s own country!” In spite of these, the festival is arranged by both the departments. Everything is for money. A rough estimate shows that the Kerala Devaswom Board derives income of more than 200 crores of rupees every year besides huge income by private entrepreneurs. Who will lose this amout in the name of reason and rationalism?

But one thing the Ayyappa devotees have unaware or forgotten. This idol of Ayyappa in a defecating posture, was completely burnt in 1950s and replaced by a new one! It was Sir P.T.Rajan who initiated the rail yatra of the new idol to all parts of Tamilnadu before its installation. Most of the Ayyappans do not know this fact. How can they expect such ‘god’ which is incapable of protecting itself is expected to save and protect others? That is why both the governments of Kerala and Tamilnadu have provided police, health and sanitary arrangements.
The stone idol of Ranganatha in a sleeping posture at Srirangam was also burnt in 1950s and it was reported that it breathed its last. In order to give ‘life’ to that god, life saving oxygen was sent from Thiruvarangam village temple on the banks of river Pennar in Sankarapuram Taluk of Villupuram district. I was given to understand that such fire accident happened at Srirangam temple some 250 years ago also! The Vaishnavites say that their Rangan is the saviour of the world and all the creatures. But it is unable to protect itself! Then how to believe the omnipotency of god? Let them reply.

One genuine doubt, I have! Were all these accidents or arson suspected? If they were accidents, had any action been taken against Ayyappa and Ranganatha for their suicide bid and if arson was suspected what was the action taken against the culprits for their crime to murder them?

Let the known persons clarify!

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Tail piece

It happened in 1950s. A Soviet ship was sinking. The captain asked whether anyone knew how to pray. A priest came forward proudly. Then, the captain told the priest to pray and asked others to wear life jackets to save themselves.

There was a shortage of one life jacket and so he asked the priest to pray to save himself!