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Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
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praise of the deity, the Tirthankara while rotating the well lit lamps filled with pure ghee, in various articulated rhythmic patterns was being performed by the pujari and devotees. Deepti did not approve the burning of pure ghee in lamps when there was sufficient electric lighting. It may have been necessary to use such lamps in oil or ghee when there was no electricity. There are many poor people who do not see ghee in their whole life. Instead of burning, it should be given to poor. She however looked with awe at the architecture of the temple, its long corridors lined with decorated pillars. After Aarti they went all around the interiors, the floral designs on ceiling and pillars. They decided to come in the morning to see it more closely.
Deepti, "Deepak, I am very much impressed by the gorgeous structure and its idyllic surroundings but I am not convinced of its utility. Why waste so much money and labour on such fine decorative carvings on hard sand stone? The artisans and labourers would have toiled very hard to create these only to satisfy the fancies of the rich who spent such large sum of money just to satisfy their ego. Worship and prayer can be done in simple and moderate structures costing a fraction of what may have been spent here for pomp and show of ill gotten wealth. It was exhibitionism and neither spiritualism nor religion. The floral designs carved on stone, though exquisite and done dextrously with hard labour and costing exorbitantly are no match to nature's own beauty. Instead flower garden should have been raised."
Deepak, "The rich in those times were very religious. They earned by wisdom and craft, trade and business, but were very frugal in spending on fashionable clothing, wine,
entertainment and other such wasteful pursuits and were thus able to save for religious purposes on the advice of their gurus, the monks."
Deepti, "I have read in one of the scriptures you gave me to read that no one can earn huge amount of money honestly. You said that such ostentatious spending was done on the advice or instigation of monks. Obviously then the monks also have same sort of ego."
Deepak, "You must accept that the money was not spent on vices as is the case now a days. Such works of art also supported art and the artists. Whenever there was famine the rich came forward to help the needy by providing livelihood in the construction works."
Deepti, “This could have been done by constructing schools, hospitals, roads, houses for the poor living in dilapidated huts of mud and grass thatching."
Deepak, "It is only an academic exercise to talk about utility or futility of these no doubt elegant structures, much admired by visitors particularly the foreigners. I hope you will not go to the extent of suggesting their demolition. We have to check our E-mails. We should also go to sleep early so that we can see the temple once again in day light and proceed on our journey as early as possible."
They reached Mt Abu at 11.a.m. and went first to see the famous Delwara Jain temples. The temples were built with best Makrana marble. The exquisite needle fine carvings on pillars, ceilings and doors was so fascinating and captivating that words in even superlative degree would not be adequate
