Comments on: Puri Temple in ‘Cleansing Act’

By: sardar and helping others « ENagar

sardar and helping others « ENagar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:25:57 +0000

[...] PS: I still maintain my earlier stance on Puri [...]

By: varinder

varinder — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:15:52 +0000

jai shree krishan .Don’t try to see krishna, do somthing so that krishana may see you.

By: pegasus

pegasus — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:39:23 +0000

@red… I agree with most of the points you raised. but what i meant by no way to become Hindu was:
“Whether this faith, no matter how deep or true it is, can grant you a place in the social structure and hierarchy of hinduism, is a different story altogether.”

however I am raising one more question… for a temple to be called ‘Jaganath’ shouldn’t all of the god’s creatures be allowed inside…. that includes Non-Brahmins, Non-Hindu, and maybe even non-Humans

By: R-E-D

R-E-D — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:05:21 +0000

Hi, Pegasus.

I disagree that to be a hindu you must be born a hindu. I was born a Jain and I converted to hinduism and practiced devoutly for a long time. Just because a priest cant convert you, doesn’t mean the scriptures dont have provisions (there are so many of them, you can pick any one lol). The basic idea of hinduism is “Atman is Brahman” and “Aum”. If you embrace these and live by the prescriptions of the scriptures, who can deny your faith in hinduism, and the fact that you are a hindu?

Whether this faith, no matter how deep or true it is, can grant you a place in the social structure and hierarchy of hinduism, is a different story altogether.

People should not pay so-called “holy men” who want bribes. The temple is already defiled by their presence (the presence of bribe-takers and casteists). If you realise that the place is defiled, you wont have such a desire to worship there anymore, but if you still want to worship, take a lawyer with you, the Constitution of India provides for all hindus to be allowed into hindu places of worship – Jains are also hindus – you can convert to Jainism, hence go inside the temple freely. lol

-RED

By: manuscrypts

manuscrypts — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:21:03 +0000

well, in the case of religion, a priest.. even a temple/any other religious structure

By: manu

manu — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:12:29 +0000

well it will be inappropriate to comment on the Religion and Tradition by itself, when the priest is commiting the henious crime of accepting the money to show the Lord to the foreigner.
It’s pity that our rich culture and tradition is blackmarked by the behaviour of such stupid peoples.

By: pegasus

pegasus — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:08:59 +0000

@manuscrypts.. i could not understand what you meant by 3rd party….

@sree.. sounds great to me.

By: sree

sree — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:47:27 +0000

Hey Pegasus…
When I said that the temple shd not be demolished , its not b’cos it is immoral or its against the religion..the only thgt was why waste an ancient piece of architecture..
It shd not remain a place of worship but converted to a museum to display artifacts..
Untouchability ? ..High time the temple was boycotted!!

By: manuscrypts

manuscrypts — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 06:15:11 +0000

ah, which is why they say that in religion and sex, its better not to have a third party … but lets not demolish, the last one is still having its effects…

By: Roshan

Roshan — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:00:50 +0000

Yeah, I agree. Checking for caste and religion needs to stop.

By: pegasus

pegasus — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:18:54 +0000

@mouna….
Exactly…. How do you expect me to worship in an institution which practices UNTOUCHABILITY?
checking for leather goods or alcohol is an inconvenience but is ok, but checking for for my caste or religion is a strict NO NO.

By: mouna

mouna — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:26:40 +0000

well, i’ve been to puri and to the jagannath temple as well. it’s ridiculous, how they are treated. and they call it ‘tradition’. they also check if the tourists are carrying any leather goods, as they are not allowed in. a worst-case scenario, what is their point?

moreover a high-born hindu, no shudras’ allowed, atrocious!

By: pegasus

pegasus — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 04:58:59 +0000

@sree…
I know it is an unreasonably harsh stand, but
as a orthodox indian, I would say that only a flawless idol/temple can be worshiped. Centuries of sin committed by the keepers has rendered the temple unfit to serve its orignal purpose. Hence should be rebuild from scratch.

By: sree

sree — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:05:44 +0000

Hey Pegasus..I saw the incident telecasted in one of the channels…the American was interrogated in a police station and I could sense the shock on the tourist’s face.
He was baffled and infact was wondering what the whole uproar was about..
The police and the priests were talking in an English that even we Indians cannot understand..imagine the plight of that poor guy!
The behavior of the priests was down-right cheap and I agree that they shd be put behind bars and the temple shd me made a museum (why demolish it? )!

By: pegasus

pegasus — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:13:07 +0000

@lera and Roshan….
“Its the people ‘running’ the religion who I’m ashamed of.”

same here.

By: Roshan

Roshan — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:24:56 +0000

Yeah Pegasus, it does seem fashionable to be an atheist. But I’m not, maybe I’m out of fashion. But even those who are in fashion, I don’t think its for real. Just coz it’s fashionable ppl say they are atheist. But they are the same people who would pray and go to a temple just before their exams/results.

Even I was like that earlier. Having faith and belief in God, but when asked in public it was always a NO. But now I have realized that I don’t have to be ashamed of my religion. I believe in God, the Hindu gods. But I don’t follow all our rituals or celebrate all the festival. But I do have faith. Hinduism for me is nothing to be ashamed of. Its the people ‘running’ the religion who I’m ashamed of.

Just my thought on the topic, maybe there are (quite a) few who are atheist and ashamed of their religion.

By: Lera

Lera — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:35:20 +0000

Sad this is happening in today’s times,for some Religion & religious heads seem to be greater than God.As the saying goes, Even if God allows darshan,The priest obstructs The darshan.

By: pegasus

pegasus — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:26:02 +0000

@mona… Exactly…. if god is has created everyone than how can we forbid anybody from worshiping him.
@parseval….. Thanks for the quote… its worth treasuring.
@Roshan… yes it is hapenning in too many temples… and for the sake of mankind we have to correct it.
yes bribes and corruption is everywhere and it is spreading like cancer.

regarding hindus being ashamed of hinduism.. I ask you a simple question isn’t it fashionable to be an atheist? most people visiting Varanasi try their level best to stay away from pandits.. and call them Pandas.

By: Roshan

Roshan — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:38:09 +0000

That’s just disgusting! It’s a shame that these are the people who claim to represent my religion. But such exclusion is nothing new, it happens in so many other temples around the country. As a Hindu, I’d like to see this attitude change. After all its Hinduism which talks about ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’.

The priest taking money and making everything “alright” cannot be blamed on the religion. Our society is to blame for this. Everywhere you go you’ll be asked to pay a bribe. Politicians, govt offices, cops, school & colleges, everywhere. Irrespective of their religion people ask/accept bribes. Again, I feel ashamed and disgusted by those who ask for money to do their work. And I’m not talking about the low paid govt clerk, but well paid officials in respectable positions. These people just do not have any self respect.

And I do not agree with your assumption that most youth of today are ashamed with Hinduism Pegasus. That seems like a very big generalization. And to your question on my blog, well I’ve been busy at work. But now I’m back

By: cyberkitty

cyberkitty — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:23:50 +0000

Knowing how things are in India, if the american had paid a bit more he would never have been caught..ha ha!

By: parseval

parseval — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:23:19 +0000

You know, Steven Weinberg once said,

“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”

By: Shruti

Shruti — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:36:56 +0000

Website in my blog refers to my office website…

By: Mona

Mona — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:31:17 +0000

this news is really shocking..bcoz at one level hindu religion is aying all are one..no need to discriminate and the care taker of the religion or prist used to discriminate people on such basis..
Today only, i read an article in news paper says that the authorities of the temple will take action against priest..
but how can a person decide who to enter in temple or not if the god doesnt have any problem..and doing such stupid acts by throwing so much prasad…

By: pegasus

pegasus — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:20:13 +0000

thanks for dropping by…
Think of Brahmin caste as one large extended family who proscribes against marrying outside the family. Priest of today is a result of 3000 years of incest.
Most youth of today are ashamed of Hinduism when they hear their words and witness their practices. In a couple of decades some revolution might correct them.

By: aizwaikcha

aizwaikcha — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:02:28 +0000

so sad to know it. why do priests do such things which harm the dignity of our country and its traditions? For your question on my blog- The half white & half black circle is called "YIN YANG" It is part of the Chinese tradition.

By: pegasus

pegasus — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 05:41:21 +0000

Hindu civilization is already down the drain. Every time I think that we have reached our rock bottom, Hindus will surprise me.

By: TiDeS

TiDeS — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 05:16:47 +0000

what a shock for the entire community.. are we goin forward or backward.. ??