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Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
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They reached late in the evening and went straight to the temple which was not a simple structure as they presumed in view of life history of the saint. It was a big gorgeous monument with bewitching grandeur, fascinating frescoes, gilded doors and walls and beautifully carved and a decorated emblazoned golden throne with life size sitting statue of Sai Baba dressed in expensive silken attire and wearing a golden crown studded with precious diamonds and other jewels. Seeing all this Deepti burst out, "How can such an ostentatious display of silver, gold and jewellery, symbolise the simplicity of the saint who wore torn clothes, slept on the floor without bedding and lived an extremely frugal life?
Deepak, "I am also amazed but we are here to know the truth of heresy and facts."
Shree returned completing the assignment given to her. Deepti embraced her and said, "I am surprised to note that the attitudes inculcated during your monkhood are still lingering with you. Ever since your marriage did you have any feeling or urge to go out to any place of your choice for honeymoon. We have done it at Mt Abu, the lovely hill station. We also utilised the opportunity to evaluate the relevance of the gorgeous temples costing huge sums of money which would have been better utilised for constructing schools, colleges, hospitals and shelters for the poor. We had a good discussion with Brahmakumaris also there. Here is a surprise for you that I promised, two return air tickets for both of you to enjoy your honeymoon in Kashmir. Time permitting you should also visit religious places particularly the famous Vaishnodevi shrine and tell your impressions to us on return."
Shree and Vibhu blushed but were delighted and said, "You are so caring that we do not feel the absence of parents."
Deepti, "Your flight is on Tuesday. You have enough time for preparations. This week end we shall go to some good picnic place."
Deepak, "I want to go to Shirdi to see the famous temple of Shirdi Sai Baba. Many of our clients have been telling about the miracles of Sai Baba who is no more in this world. I saw a brief documentary about him in which he is depicted as an ideal saint, living with utmost simplicity almost in tattered clothes, helping people in need. His most important contribution is that he tried to bridge the divide between the communities, particularly the two prominent communities Hindus and Muslims. He lived both in mosque and temple."
Deepti, "We must see and find out the truth."
It was Aarti time and devotees were performing the ritual with zest and fervour, singing paeans in praise of the saint, eulogising him as real god, always present with the needy devotees to help, grant boons as desired. They came out before the Aarti was finished. Shree stood near the exit and enquired from the devotees coming out as to whose desires or prayers had been granted and fulfilled. Only a minuscule minority hardly five percent acclaimed that they got what they prayed for and the rest said that they would continue coming and praying till their wishes were fulfilled. Some told weird stories that Sai Baba was in person present on the scene to save them from disaster. Shree revealed her statistics for Deepti to surmise, “This is the case at every such place. Only a few get and that too by their own personal efforts but being obsessed by the deity, attribute success to it and then spread it to entice others and increasing numbers of devotees continue to swell as a multiplier effect. The felt presence of
