The Growing Culture Of 'Paid' Darshan At Temples
By Sumit
Paul, New Age Islam
19
September 2023
A learned
medico friend of mine recently criticised the practice of 'Paid' VIP Darshan at
temples in a leading broadsheet published from the Central India. This is
indeed a reprehensible practice which is prevalent at all the famous shrines of
Hindus, be it Tirupati or Shirdi. Yours truly has observed this practice at
obscenely rich Jain temples as well but then, Jains are Hindus in disguise.
Does god,
if at all it exists, allow this rampant discrimination on the basis of one's
wealth, clout and affluence? "Devanaam Prasanna Vadante Ishat Pushpa
Sarvante" (God is happy with just a flower). But visit famed temples
of Hindus. You'll get to see queues of VVIP, VIP, ministers (they don't stand
in a queue because it's infra-dig to them), influential people and what not.
Though this
'paid' darshan culture is a recent phenomenon, the internationally renowned
sociologist late Meera Kosambi wrote an essay for The Illustrated Weekly of
India. It appeared in July 1972. Meera wrote about the subtle, and later
obvious, discrimination at the shrines of Hindus. She argued that the
deep-rooted obnoxious class and caste discrimination and distinction in
Hinduism resulted in the discrimination among the devotees at temples. She
juxtaposed this with the (pristine) Islam which didn't discriminate on the
basis of one's wealth and deep pockets.
The concept
of egalitarianism or Musavaat can still be seen during Haj. You can be a
prince or a pauper, but all are equal before Allah. Even at an ordinary mosque,
you don't find any discrimination. Ek Hi Saf Mein Khade Ho Gaye
Mahmud-o-Ayaaz/ Na Raha Banda Na Koi Banda Nawaaz (Mahmud and his
'slave' Ayaaz stood in the same row/ There was no 'slave' and no master). 'Baargaah-e-Khuda
Mein Nahin Koi Farq Hai/ Wahan Har Ek Insaan Faqat Insaan Hai' (There's no
discrimination in the court of god/ There every individual is just a human).
All these
morons in Hinduism must know that god surely doesn't sort out prayers by
denominations and subscriptions. One more egregious tendency should also be
highlighted.
All these
grovelling devotees also try to bribe god by offering expensive gifts. Does
your god use a diamond-studded designer i-phone?
This idiocy
must be stopped forthwith and the doors of temples be thrown open for all. And
if you find them close or ajar because of any discrimination, return like Mirza
Asadullah Khan Ghalib, quoting his immortal couplet, "Bandagi Mein Bhi
Woh Aazaad-o-Khudbeen Hain Ke Hum/ Ulte Phir Aaye Dare-Kaaba Agar Waa Na Hua"
(So full of amour propre I'm even in worship/ I return home if I find that the
doors of Kaaba are not open for me).
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/culture-paid-darshan-temples/d/130708
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