Mhaisal - a village, on the banks of the river Krishna, is in Sangli district of the western state of Maharashtra. Being on the boundary between Karnataka and Maharashtra, it is a confluence of cultures, languages and religions. Though the official language is Marathi, almost seventy percent of the population is bi-lingual. The highway to Bijapur and Belgaum, passes through the village. Agriculture is the main occupation, with sugar-cane, and grapes being the most important crops. Mhaisalkars are lovers of festivals, which are celebrated all year round with fervor and gaiety. (Map)
It is fortuitous that not only do I hail from Mhaisal, but chose, to spend my life here.


Saturday, August 8, 2009

Fear of God

Intellectuals have disputed quite vehemently, the existence of God as we know Him (Prophets have made the world believe that it is a Him, and not a Her or a It, most of us Indians being pan-theists believe in Him, Her & also It). Although we would like to believe, that we believe in God out of Love, the plain truth is that this belief comes from Fear.

Every day as I drive to work, I cross an abandoned Industrial Unit, and cannot but feel dismayed at the way it has been rampaged. I have seen it systematically been stripped of all its machines, then its furniture, then its doors and windows and even the tiles. Today the structure stands desolate, waiting to be pilfered further and one day there will be nothing remaining.

In the same compound there stands a small temple,( this was built by the owners of the industry, in better times). Strangely not a rafter of this temple has been touched by the pilferers of the adjoining building!


Fear & Fear alone is at work here.

1 comment:

Ketan said...

Hello, sir!

Hope you remember me! But I can understand, even if you don't. :)

This was such a fantastic post! The symbolism involved totally impressed me!

But another reason, I feel, people believe in God is to find a certain kind of purpose to their life. Almost everyone (including me), feels an incorrigible dismay at the prospect of their lives ending, and moreover, serving no real purpose--as in making a difference to some external, permanent entity. The fear of nonexistence gives rise to desire to believe in soul and rebirth, which of course to coordinate would also require a God. Some people find the complexity of the Universe also overwhelming to think that it could've come into existence on its own, and hence think it necessary to have been 'designed' by a 'designer'.

But yes, the biggest reason people do not examine their beliefs is fear of God's wrath.

Sincerely looking forward to more posts from you!

Take care.