Resolution, anyone?

Visiting a famous Jyotirlinga shrine recently was an eye-opener. Gallons of water, milk and curd were poured on to Shivlings, only to find their way into the groaning sewers under the garbhagriha. Even a very dedicated set of temple attendants cannot possibly keep the place clean. The drainage system in most ancient shrines has simply packed up. The polypacks of milk that were unceremoniously emptied onto the Jyotirlinga could surely have nourished the scrawny children lining the temple entrance!

Saturn-spooked believers who throng Shani temples bring packets of oil and grain in a bid to appease the stern faced and easily angered deity but they end up making the place slippery and grimy. A colossal waste of foodstuff that could easily have fed several hungry mouths! The Taittiriya Upanishad clearly exhorts us not to waste food Annam na nindyaat. God seems clear that He doesn8217;t really want masses of marigolds or litres of liquids poured on to an idol. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains how any offering made to Him with total devotion is perfectly acceptable 8212; be it leaves, flowers, fruits or even water Patram pushpam phalam toyam, yo me bhaktya prayachhati.

A beautiful hymn, 8216;Shiva Manasa Puja8217; describes how a devotee can offer anything to God in the sanctum of his own and thus experience a spiritual high without effort or expense. Therefore, as a practical alternative, a ritual morning ceremony with the full array of offerings can be performed by the priests while subsequent visitors can offer silent prayers or a token flower 8212; an uncomplicated darshan! The temple committee can set up a Milk Fund, an Oil Fund or similar arrangements. Devotees can pay up and ensure through public representation that foodstuffs are purchased for orphanages or charity homes eager to accept them.

This way, the offerings of the devout would serve a public purpose. Our temples would be cleaner. Even your neighbourhood Shivaalaya can go on to the tourist map if it is spruced up. I am certain we can then successfully achieve the original objective of our rituals: pleasing the gods! So in the new year, let8217;s rework our rituals.