It's 3 in the morning and all I'm doing is shutting my ears to save myself from the unbearably loud mantras/shlokas being recited by an elderly woman in the temple next to my lodge. I understand the religious sentiments of people who like getting up early in the dawn and praying to the deities. But why do they have to disturb other folks who are peacefully sleeping like logs? How did these bigots manage in the days when there were no microphones or loudspeakers? Haven't their religious teachings taught them to live and let live?
In my 5 years of stay at Attukal, Trivandrum, almost every student I knew there complained how it was extremely difficult it is for them to concentrate on their studies because of the blaring speakers during the month of march due to Attukal Pongala. They install loudspeakers in front of almost every house in Attukal and play mallu film songs (Yes! Film songs and NOT devotional songs) in the name of God. Does God really ask these temple people to disrupt the Annual/Board exam preparations of the poor students?
Luckily for me, I could shift to CRPF campus every march just before the final exams commenced. But what about other kids who are still silently suffering from all the noise pollution just on the previous day of their exams? I had experienced it once and the frustration and torture I went through was unbearable. The distraction was even more difficult to resist when they played my favorite tracks. The response of parents when we ask them to take an action against such cruelty is appalling, 'How can we ask them to take out the speakers when nobody has any problem with it? You are not the only student here with exams. There are other kids who are studying (suffering). After all it is for the God.' I wonder if God asked the temple authorities to play ear-splitting filmy music and cause such nuisance.
Some of you may accuse me of blasphemy but I've never been a religious person. I have never liked visiting temples, though I liked going to church/temple sometimes to ogle at my crush. I remember telling my mom I wouldn't mind changing my religion because I am a non-believer. Mother would give me a cold stare and preach me on how it is essential for every human being to be blessed by God to have happiness in life. I don't believe in the myth that God will be pleased with you only if you go to temples and shrines and beg them for what you want. Even terrorists and criminals pray, but in the end karma teaches everyone their lessons regardless of whether they worship God or not. Having humanity and kindness is matters more than being religious. Here are some of my favorite atheist quotes :
"An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that deed must be done instead of prayer said. An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated. "
- Madalyn Murray O'Hair
"I brought this case because I am an atheist and this offends me, and I have the right to bring up my daughter without God being imposed into her life by her schoolteachers."
- Michael Newdow
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own"
"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me."
- Emo Philips
"So you really think that God would plant a bunch of bones in the earth to test your faith? Either you're in denial or God has some serious self-esteem issues."
-Coral Yoshi
"You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe."
-Carl Sagan
In my 5 years of stay at Attukal, Trivandrum, almost every student I knew there complained how it was extremely difficult it is for them to concentrate on their studies because of the blaring speakers during the month of march due to Attukal Pongala. They install loudspeakers in front of almost every house in Attukal and play mallu film songs (Yes! Film songs and NOT devotional songs) in the name of God. Does God really ask these temple people to disrupt the Annual/Board exam preparations of the poor students?
Luckily for me, I could shift to CRPF campus every march just before the final exams commenced. But what about other kids who are still silently suffering from all the noise pollution just on the previous day of their exams? I had experienced it once and the frustration and torture I went through was unbearable. The distraction was even more difficult to resist when they played my favorite tracks. The response of parents when we ask them to take an action against such cruelty is appalling, 'How can we ask them to take out the speakers when nobody has any problem with it? You are not the only student here with exams. There are other kids who are studying (suffering). After all it is for the God.' I wonder if God asked the temple authorities to play ear-splitting filmy music and cause such nuisance.
Some of you may accuse me of blasphemy but I've never been a religious person. I have never liked visiting temples, though I liked going to church/temple sometimes to ogle at my crush. I remember telling my mom I wouldn't mind changing my religion because I am a non-believer. Mother would give me a cold stare and preach me on how it is essential for every human being to be blessed by God to have happiness in life. I don't believe in the myth that God will be pleased with you only if you go to temples and shrines and beg them for what you want. Even terrorists and criminals pray, but in the end karma teaches everyone their lessons regardless of whether they worship God or not. Having humanity and kindness is matters more than being religious. Here are some of my favorite atheist quotes :
"An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that deed must be done instead of prayer said. An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated. "
- Madalyn Murray O'Hair
"I brought this case because I am an atheist and this offends me, and I have the right to bring up my daughter without God being imposed into her life by her schoolteachers."
- Michael Newdow
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own"
"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me."
- Emo Philips
"So you really think that God would plant a bunch of bones in the earth to test your faith? Either you're in denial or God has some serious self-esteem issues."
-Coral Yoshi
"You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe."
-Carl Sagan
Well written. :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie