On Ashadhi Ekadashi (19th July):
Tommorow is Ashadhi Ekadashi, for many people it is just another day. But it is a very special day in Maharashtra, millions of people from different parts of the country forgetting their cast and creed throng to Pandharpur to see their belo...ved VITTHAL. The wari as it is called has record of being at least 800 years old. Why is gathering of simple and many illiterate people such a big event?
India is a unique country of having such gatherings across the country and owing allegiance to one saint or another. This country has witnessed a galaxy of saints across country like Dnyaneshwar, Namdeo, Tukaram in Maharashtra, Narsinh Mehta in Gujarat, Meerabai in Rajasthan, Guru Nanak in Punjab, Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabir, Ravidas in UP, Chaitanya in Bengal, Shankardeo in Assam, Ramdas, Kanakdas, Purandardas in South. Our history has not acknowledged their due contribution or probably our Marxist historians cannot see it. They were born at times when Dharma was locked in Sanskrit and become a monopoly of few. Society was divided into as much fragments as imagined and become embroiled in superstitions. Moreover they could see that it was falling short of challenges ahead in form of foreign invasions which would have been a death toll for this country.
What they did was totally revolutionary in nature. The first thing they did was decoded Dharma for common people like us in form of Dnyaneshwari, Abhang gatha, Ramcharitmanas, Dasbodh, Dohe, Bhajans and what not. Secondly they went around nook and corners, preaching it and acting as a shining beacon of light when the society was groping in darkness. They claimed that GOD, can be called by any name and it is not only in idols but it is everywhere in all your fellow beings and creatures. To love them and help them is the real worship. Thus they were real social reformers and laid foundation of an equal society. Instead of running away from world for GOD, they preached that HE can be realised by doing our karma and surrendering everything to HIM. Thus they consolidated faith of society in itself and made them courageous to fight back injustice and invasions. They should always be a guide for us in current testing times of today.
India is a unique country of having such gatherings across the country and owing allegiance to one saint or another. This country has witnessed a galaxy of saints across country like Dnyaneshwar, Namdeo, Tukaram in Maharashtra, Narsinh Mehta in Gujarat, Meerabai in Rajasthan, Guru Nanak in Punjab, Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabir, Ravidas in UP, Chaitanya in Bengal, Shankardeo in Assam, Ramdas, Kanakdas, Purandardas in South. Our history has not acknowledged their due contribution or probably our Marxist historians cannot see it. They were born at times when Dharma was locked in Sanskrit and become a monopoly of few. Society was divided into as much fragments as imagined and become embroiled in superstitions. Moreover they could see that it was falling short of challenges ahead in form of foreign invasions which would have been a death toll for this country.
What they did was totally revolutionary in nature. The first thing they did was decoded Dharma for common people like us in form of Dnyaneshwari, Abhang gatha, Ramcharitmanas, Dasbodh, Dohe, Bhajans and what not. Secondly they went around nook and corners, preaching it and acting as a shining beacon of light when the society was groping in darkness. They claimed that GOD, can be called by any name and it is not only in idols but it is everywhere in all your fellow beings and creatures. To love them and help them is the real worship. Thus they were real social reformers and laid foundation of an equal society. Instead of running away from world for GOD, they preached that HE can be realised by doing our karma and surrendering everything to HIM. Thus they consolidated faith of society in itself and made them courageous to fight back injustice and invasions. They should always be a guide for us in current testing times of today.
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