Once Swami Vivekananda visited King of Alwar in present day Rajasthan. The king in an attempt to mock idol worship told Swamiji, "I've no faith in idol worship. How can one worship stone, wood and metal? I believe people are in illusion and just wasting time!"
Swamiji smiled. He asked the king's assistant to take down the picture of the king that was hanging on the wall. Although confused, the assistant did so. Then Swamiji ordered him, "Spit on the picture!" The assistant was shocked and looked at both of them. Swamiji repeated again and again, becoming more stern each time. The king was growing angry and the assistant started trembling. Finally, he cried out, "How can I spit on this? This picture is of our beloved and respected king".
Swamiji then told him, "The king is sitting in front of you in person. This picture is merely a paper - it does not speak, hear, think or move. But still you did not spit because you see a shadow of your king in it; spitting on it was like spitting on the king itself".
The king looked at Swamiji and bowed down, clearly understanding what he was referring to. This is the essence of idol worship. God is everywhere but people want to pray to Him, ask favours, offer food, tell stories, bathe Him, play with Him and do what they do in their lives. Creating a human-like idol creates an image of God as a companion, a guide, a friend, a protector, a giver, a fellow being and so on. An idol is a concrete representation where they find Him. When I look into the eyes of an idol, I do not see stone or metal, but another pair of eyes looking affectionately at me, smiling.
Wonderful Questions to Read and Answer.
1. How many Malayalees have become President of India?
2. How many states share border with Kerala?
3. How many teaspoons make a Table spoon?
4. How many Vedas are there in Hindu mythology?
5. How many times did Mahatma Gandhi visit Kerala?
6. How many countries have larger area than India?
7. What is the Ph value of water?
8. How many planets are there in the Solar System?
9. How many districts in Kerala have coastline?
10. How many millimetres make a centimetre?
11. How many players are there in a Football team?
12. How many inches make a foot?
13. How many Legislative Assemblies have been elected so far in Kerala?
14. How many District Panchayats are there in Kerala?
15. One-time vehicle tax is valid for how many years?
16. How many feathers are there in a shuttle cock?
17. How many languages are printed in an Indian currency?
18. How many Chapters are there in the Mahabharatha?
19. Which Commonwealth Game was hosted in India in 2010?
20. How many overs are there in T-20 cricket?
21. How many years did Mahatma Gandhi spend in South Africa?
22. What is the position of Kerala in terms of area?
23. How many chromosomes are there in the human body?
24. How many spokes are there in the Ashok Chakra?
25. What is the qualifying age for becoming an MLA?
Note. The question numbers are the answers!
Tailpiece.
Sasi, my director, had called up to say as to how his son - studying in Bangalore - has gone missing. He attributes his shenanigans to the bad company that he keeps. He'd got into a band group which is known to indulge in drugs. Hope the youngster comes back safe. He, also, gave me a rundown of the latest meeting of the JSS Directors at Thiruvananthapuram.
Swamiji smiled. He asked the king's assistant to take down the picture of the king that was hanging on the wall. Although confused, the assistant did so. Then Swamiji ordered him, "Spit on the picture!" The assistant was shocked and looked at both of them. Swamiji repeated again and again, becoming more stern each time. The king was growing angry and the assistant started trembling. Finally, he cried out, "How can I spit on this? This picture is of our beloved and respected king".
Swamiji then told him, "The king is sitting in front of you in person. This picture is merely a paper - it does not speak, hear, think or move. But still you did not spit because you see a shadow of your king in it; spitting on it was like spitting on the king itself".
The king looked at Swamiji and bowed down, clearly understanding what he was referring to. This is the essence of idol worship. God is everywhere but people want to pray to Him, ask favours, offer food, tell stories, bathe Him, play with Him and do what they do in their lives. Creating a human-like idol creates an image of God as a companion, a guide, a friend, a protector, a giver, a fellow being and so on. An idol is a concrete representation where they find Him. When I look into the eyes of an idol, I do not see stone or metal, but another pair of eyes looking affectionately at me, smiling.
Wonderful Questions to Read and Answer.
1. How many Malayalees have become President of India?
2. How many states share border with Kerala?
3. How many teaspoons make a Table spoon?
4. How many Vedas are there in Hindu mythology?
5. How many times did Mahatma Gandhi visit Kerala?
6. How many countries have larger area than India?
7. What is the Ph value of water?
8. How many planets are there in the Solar System?
9. How many districts in Kerala have coastline?
10. How many millimetres make a centimetre?
11. How many players are there in a Football team?
12. How many inches make a foot?
13. How many Legislative Assemblies have been elected so far in Kerala?
14. How many District Panchayats are there in Kerala?
15. One-time vehicle tax is valid for how many years?
16. How many feathers are there in a shuttle cock?
17. How many languages are printed in an Indian currency?
18. How many Chapters are there in the Mahabharatha?
19. Which Commonwealth Game was hosted in India in 2010?
20. How many overs are there in T-20 cricket?
21. How many years did Mahatma Gandhi spend in South Africa?
22. What is the position of Kerala in terms of area?
23. How many chromosomes are there in the human body?
24. How many spokes are there in the Ashok Chakra?
25. What is the qualifying age for becoming an MLA?
Note. The question numbers are the answers!
Tailpiece.
Sasi, my director, had called up to say as to how his son - studying in Bangalore - has gone missing. He attributes his shenanigans to the bad company that he keeps. He'd got into a band group which is known to indulge in drugs. Hope the youngster comes back safe. He, also, gave me a rundown of the latest meeting of the JSS Directors at Thiruvananthapuram.
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