Where is your God ?

So, we had some good movies in the last couple of years like OMG and PK that touched upon religion and the chaos around it. While things still continue to remain the way they are, it surely was a wave of change. A change that made people think rationally.

As a child, I have grown up seeing my Dad pray religiously two times a day. More than anything I love his devotion and discipline to do so everyday without fail. We have a pooja ghar in our house and do visit various temples like most other Hindus would.

What is common in the pooja ghar at my house and the temples outside? It is the Idol or the picture that we know as God since our childhood that is worshiped. And what is different between the two ? Or for that matter, what is the difference between the idol at temples, the custom made pooja ghar in each house and the idols displayed in shops. Where is your GOD ? Whom do you bow before and do you bow with equal devotion in front of all?

Well, think about it. How do you feel when you enter a temple ? Calm, peaceful and positive. But these vibes are stronger at a temple than our pooja ghar. I wondered why ... and the answer was not difficult. It is the faith and belief of many who visit the temple everyday and the chanting of mantras which are so synergistic... that elevate the positive vibrations of the temple. No wonder why people go from Kashi to Tirupathi to fulfill their mannats.

At this point, I have a question. What if my parents showed me an image and told me as a child that this is God. I would have believed it easily. So basically it the game of beliefs.

God is our highest potential and we pray in order to untap this potential. The reason we have idols or images is to make it easier for us to understand and relate to the otherwise the 'nirguna' and 'nirakara' i.e. someone without any attributes or shapes and form. God is the life that we see around and the universe that we live in.

Before an Idol is worshipped in temple, there is a ritual called 'pran pratishta' that is done by the priest. 'Pran Pratisha' means infusing life into the sculpture of stone. The irony is... we the small speck in this universe try to imitate God into an idol using mantras and rituals and in turn bow before it. Really there is no need to do this. You already have a full fledge miracle with life infused in it. Is it hard to guess ! ? It's YOU and every human being around you.

So where are we going in this discussion. My point is, there is God in each one of us. And you should not be surprised by this statement. The universe by it's nature of increasing entropy is moving towards more chaos. The coming together of so many factors to form something as constructive and as intelligent as a human in this universe itself is the highest form of God around. And our life is an opportunity to reach that highest potential and awaken the God is us.

You may well begin your day by being grateful to have got a human life. Thank the Food you eat and Mother Earth and the Sun. Untangle your chaotic self. Try listening to the silence between your breathes. Keep anger, worry and greed at bay throughout the day. Love your work and live your life with passion. Be the beaming smile to make someone's day and be the helping hand for someone in need.

Your gratitude to yourself every morning is like your prayer to God. And what is more relateable than your own human self and yet there is so much to discover each day. You are the most unique and custom made temple with a living soul within that accompanies you everywhere. Make it your one stop temple for all your mannats. Good thoughts will keep your temple clean and the God within you will inspire everyone around. Even as our our body ages and goes back to earth with time, your soul is immortal and continues it's journey. Good deeds are always left behind and continue to do what you did during your lifetime. Where is your God ? End the search here to begin a new journey now :)