Dasarathi goes
north
(And face
discrimination)
Debi Prasad
Choudhary
Los Angeles.
3/13/2016
Dasarathi grew
up in a small Odisa village, where the only religion was Hindu. There were
people of lower caste, but they lived far away from main habitant and helped in
delivery of child or other low level, untouchable activity at the time of death
of human or cows. There were few other local sects of Hindus, such as “Alakh
Mahima Dharma”1 and “Arjya Samaj”2. “Alakh Mahima” means the glory of the One who
does not have form. The sadhus of this sect used to come to the village mostly
naked, with a little cloth or a tree bark. Their hair was braided with some
kind of adhesives. They seldom took a bath. They used to sit around fire at a
hut located in the end of the village and singsongs in the evening. Dasarathi
attended many of these singing sessions with his father. The music and songs
were fabulous. But, the looks of those sadhus were so bad that he could never
like them. The other group was “Arjya Samaj” sadhus. They were better looking
and used to perform rituals with fire. The Hymans was always in Sanskrit. They had
a little hut in the middle of vast paddy field. Dasarathi used to attend their
rituals with his father and take part in the ritualistic exercise. He learnt
about the happenings to an individual after death in these activities. Since
his granny was old, he became very interested in such knowledge. He read a book
called “Satyartha Prakesh”3 written by the founder of the sect that
describes why idol worship is not correct. In one incident, the founder writes
that he observed a rat going over a “Siva Linga”4 in a temple. So,
he thought if god cannot prevent this event, and stop the rat doing this act,
what power he has!! So Idol worship is meaningless. Dasarathi thought, his
father lets all of his children (by that time, Dasarathi had six siblings) to
sit on his solder and head or where ever they liked. All creatures are Gods
children, so, may be God was enjoying the love of his children. That was the
end of Dasarathi’s association to this sect.
Dasarathi came
to a small nearby town and joined class 6th, where his father was transferred
with a small promotion. Along with Buses, Trucks and few cars, here, he saw
people from other two major religions. The Muslim classmates were well dressed
and came from wealthy family. So, he became curious about them and tried to go
to their home. Dasarathi was disappointed to see the funny dress of their
parents with beard and meat selling as the prime occupation. On the other hand,
the Christian high school head master was impressive. His polished black boots,
ironed grey pant and white shirt looked dignified. But, he was so dignified
that Dasarathi could never gather courage to approach him and ask about
Christianity! He than explored other newer Hindu sects or groups such as “Satya
Sai Baba”5 and “Sri Aurovindo and Sri Ma”6. He
encountered many interesting things, which will be the topic for another story.
At the age of
seventeen, he left for north India for his higher education. He lived in
college or institutional hostels for an about 15 years and went abroad for
couple of years. When he actually got a job and tried to live in the society,
he had a tough time. First thing was to find a rented house to raise his newly
born son. In an interview with a landlord, Dasarathi was asked, if they are
vegetarian. He knew that eating meat or any non-vegetarian food is a crime in
most respected north Indian society, which are generally safe and habitat of
dignified people. Dasarathi was prepared for this question. He said, he is
vegetarian to such an extent that he avoids cow milk. He used to consume
coconut milk, while working abroad. He recited few couplets of Sanskrit mantra
to impress the landlord and got the house for rent.
When his family
joined, his wife was not impressed with the quality of the house and tried to
revolt by declaring that we eat meat. It was important that their son gets
non-vegetarian food for a proper growth. After meeting the landlord, he
mellowed down and devised a strategy. She started with boiled egg and told
their one-year son that he gets “Rosgulla”7, which is a kind of
sweet dish, an Indian Dessert. His son used to ask for boiled egg loudly.
After, few days the landlord and his wife wondered about the frequent
consumption of this dessert. Later they came to know the reality. But by that
time, they were comfortable with Dasarathi’s nobility, knowledge of Hindu
scriptures and regular payment of the rent. Later the lower portion of the
house was rented to a Bengali family, who openly consumed fish. The landlord
was not happy but never had courage to oppose.
While working in
north India, Dasarathi was a frequent visitor to Nathwara8, a famous
temple for Pusti-Margaya Vaishnabs9. Even though, Dasarathi was
Goudaya-Vaishnab10, Sri Krishna was the common God. So, he liked to
visit this wealthy temple frequently. On one occasion, he was waiting, with his
little son on his shoulder, at the door of the temple, which used to open after
some intervals. One of his companions, perhaps his student, said what happens
in temples in Orissa? Do they also have such huge rush? Before he could reply,
a nearby wise-looking individual said, people in Orissa, even Brahmins eat fish
and meat. That is why God punishes them with floods and hurricanes, ignoring
those facts that God also punishes this area of north India with frequent
draught. He also said that God decided to stay here instead of Orissa, because
they eat non-vegetarian. Dasarathi thought, he should describe him about Sri Jaganath11,
who is the living deity of Hindus at this time. The grant temple of Sri
Jaganath is guarded by Sri Kasi-Viswanath12 in the Lion Gate and
by Sri Hanumanji13 in another gates.
Gods from heaven come to pay respect every night. Generously, He comes out
every year to mingle and hug His people. Such is the greatness of the God,
lives with people of Orissa. Before, Dasarathi could narrate to him, the door opened
and he rushed for the Darsan14. Anyway, the man would not have believed
the greatness of Sri Jaganath, who lives with meat eater!!
1Alakh Mahima Dharma: A small hindu sect,
confined to only Orissa. They believe the formless God.
2Arjya Samaj: An organization, who
believes in the formless of God and only in Vedas. They believe the Hindus in
India is a part of Aryas, who developed their culture in Ganjas valley in
pre-historic time.
3Satyartha Prakesh: A scholarly treatise
related to Vedas, literally means “revelation of the truth”.
4Siva Linga: A form of Hindu God Siva,
commonly worshiped in temples.
5Satya Sai Baba: Godman from India
6Sri Aurovindo and Sri Ma: God man and
woman from India. Sri Ma was born in France.
7Rosgulla: a kind of sweet dish
8Nathwara: A small town near Udaipur,
India.
9Pusti-Margaya Vaishnabs: A sect of
Krishna Worshiper, founded by Sri Vallabharya, who also belongs to Bhakti
tradition and knowledge.
10Goudaya-Vaishnab: A sect of Sri Krishna
worshiper, founded by Sri Chatyanaya, who appeared in West Bangal about 300
years ago. This sect emphasizes devotion to Sri Krishna.
11Sri Jaganath: The main deity of Hindus of
current time, who lives in a grand temple in Puri, Orissa.
12Sri Kasi-Viswanath: God Siva, who lives
in Varanasi.
13Sri Hanumanji: A powerful God of Hindus
who appeared in Ramayana, a great holy scripture of Hindu.
14Darsan: To meet or see the Gods.
