Rejuvenation

We were celebrating our daughter's birthday over the weekend. She chose to enjoy the day with her friends in the water park. While playing in the water park, I accidently pulled the lever on one of the taps and a jet of cold water soaked me and my mind almost immediately. My very lovely daughters offered a facial for me to help revitalize my facial tissues later that day. The water and the facial left me thinking of something that had always amused me and troubled me at the same time.

Years ago, when I was a little kid, I visited Sri Shravanabelagola – a small city in Karnataka, close to both Mysore and Bangalore. The city is a famous pilgrimage center in Jainism for the statue of Gomateswara Bahubali. Every twelve years, the giant statue is bathed in water, milk, sugarcane juice, saffron paste and is sprinkled with powders of vermillion, sandalwood and turmeric.

Later, I visited Jatipura – one of the many villages around Mathura – a place associated with the advent of SriNath Ji and also the place where the people of Braj offered their worship to Lord Govardhana upon instructions of Sri Krishna. At Jatipura, every morning devotees offer buckets of milk and water to bathe the lord in the hope that their demands shall be met by the lord himself.

Every year, during Janmashtami, Sri Krishna idols are bathed in various ways common being water, milk, oil and honey.

Observing all the rituals I have often been appalled by the wastage of the resources in the name of belief at a time when many are deprived of their bare minimum hunger needs. I have often asked the question on the necessity of the pompous show and the prodigal use of the resources that could have been utilized elsewhere?

After all these years, I have realized that this is the belief system of many and possibly I shall not be able to modify the same. However, if a conscious effort is done to understand the symbolism and the meaning behind the ritual, the human kind may be benefitted.

Each of the above acts of belief symbolize the act of rejuvenation or rejoice. We bathe the statues symbolizing washing away all the wrong doings that the God has taken away from us and helping him revive himself to come again with new vigor. Every time the idols are bathed, they are said to have reorganized themselves and our belief in them. Drawing a parallel here, it is quite similar to us taking a bath every morning to feel fresh and infused with new energy. Almost every time the bath is followed by "Abhishek" or anointing and sprinkling of herbs. This symbolizes recognition of the grown mental state. Remember humans have a bigger head as compared to animals as they have a better developed mind. And the expansion of the mind is what leads the humans to divinity. The ritual of abhisheka recognizes the well developed and grown mind. This is similar to the house hold ritual of applying tilak on the forehead before starting any important work. The tilak symbolizes a reminder to grow the mind.

So, the rituals were started for a reason – a good cause. However, our execution of those rituals turned them into monstrous criminal acts. And yet, the popular thought is to shun the rituals and anything related to religion or our history without understanding the meaning. What are we doing? Are we avoiding the sin or are we committing the sin in a new name? Or are we performing ablutions through the pompous display of devotion?

The God never wanted greatness in offerings. All he wanted was truth and knowledge in heart. Why else did Rama ate the fruits at Shabari' hut? Why else did Krishna refused the grand reception in Hastinapur and dined with Vidur?

In my views, physical rejuvenation happens through our daily schedules and activities. A mental rejuvenation is required. It is an act which we all need to go through and experience. Unfortunately, it cannot be measured or recorded. However, the easiest form is introspection.

So what are you rejuvenating?

Think, seek answers and think again.