Dasarathi goes north (and face discrimination)

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.