Lighthouse

Author(s): Udayvallabhvijay
Publisher: Pragna Prabodh Parivar

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monetarily, compared to the amount spent on construction of temples. Feelings can be expressed by spoken words also. Still if such costly presentation in the form of cards etc. of human feelings is not questioned, then construction of temples should also be considered in the same way as a way of expression of Bhakti.
If love towards a person or a thing can be measured on the yardstick of money, then it is only fair that the construction of temple is evaluated on the yardstick of love. If you are comfortable with the idea of a wealthy industrialist presenting his wife, as a birthday gift, a luxury yacht costing crores, you should also be comfortable with the idea of construction of a temple.
Once, the occasion was the entry of the deity of Bhagwan Adhiswhar being brought from the village Una into Vallabhipur (the first foothill of Palitana) for being installed in a temple at Vallabhipur which was to take place after about 2/3 days. The deity was to be placed into the "Madhuvilla" bungalow of the famous philanthropist Shri Harshadbhai for those 2/3 days. For this purpose Harshadbhai got constructed a very artistic seat of marble on which the deity was placed. Someone told him - "a shamiana made of colourful cloth could have served the
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purpose! After all, it was only a question of 48 hours". To this, Harshadbhai responded beautifully - "you are guided by the thought – for how long this seat will be used – whereas I am guided by the thought – for whom this seat is made!"
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And there is substance in this thought. We often find that in a grand programme, a VIP guest may come only for five minutes. Still the decoration of the stage, sitting
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