I have my own doubts coupled with confusion-cum–suspicion about two divine deities. But as both are hit, popular and according to their devotees, powerful also, I, being coward to backbone, am apprehensive lest both should conspire to harm rather undo me ignoring my age. My grandchildren are ‘little, little’.
Two questions, which, in fact, are one, have kept me baffled for the last one week. One relates to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (may his soul rest in peace) and the other to lord Shiva.
How is it the Khwaja did not mind defiling his grave by the actor, music-director Himesh Reshamya, who barged in his sanctum sanctorum in a burqua?
Going philosophical, I feel the Khwaja, perhaps wanted to show – if my charitable interpretation is correct – his large-heartedness to a too-busy new-comer. But this interpretation is stonewalled when we see Mr. Reshamya’s less-than-holy intention to seek the divine’s blessings for the success of his film Aap ka Saroor at box-office. Touring the various states for harvesting popularity of films is understandable to me. But visiting graves for the purpose is beyond my less-than-wide comprehension.
The nasal-cum-too-loud singer may with the ever-ready support of his over-enthusiastic Muslim admirers, argue that when Khwaja has the power to intervene and intercede in Divine decisions, can he not help promote a film from the grave?
Is not the Khwaja bestowing upon his admirers largesse in the form of success in murder and income-tax cases and property disputes? Is he not providing children to the sterile, sons to the sonless and beloveds to their ardent lovers?
Following this torpedo of counter-argument, which to me is without foundation, I feel, I happen to be in a microscopic minority. My last arrow in my rust-eaten quiver to silences Himesh and his Muslim friends is: in the capital of Iraq lies buried Abdul Qadir Jeelani (may his soul rest in peace) who, according to his devotees, happens to top the list of live divines. He allowed Iraq to be vandalised by the US and its allies. Over 80,000 deaths have taken place in his country. He did not mind when his own mausoleum was sought to be razed. He did not raise his finger when Saddam Hussein, along with his several lieutenants was, through kangaroo courts, forced to mount the gallows. If the divine buried in Iraq could, nay can as his apologists argue, intervene and intercede on behalf of his devotees, why the departed soul remained quiet?
When Prophet Abraham (blessings of Allah to him) broke the idols of Ka’bah, why, the idol-in-chief did not rise save the situation? Could he?
If Himesh Reshamya and his Muslim friends do not decide to push me beyond the parameters of Islam, I, with chill in my backbone, want to make a confession: I have a soft corner for Mr. Devil, who refused to prostrate even before the grave of Adam (blessings of Allah with him).
My other grievance is against the global warming, which in its utter muddle-headedness, has since long been depriving devotees of the worship of Shiv Ling. A 5-colum story in the Asian Age (July 2) informs the understandably anxious nation that the “Lingam” representing Shiva has completely melted due to rising temperature. The other “ice-lingams, representing Parvati and Ganesh, were however, still intact. The PTI report recalls that the Lingam in the 200-cubic metre cave was around 12 feet high on June 9 but gradually thawed due to the warm weather.
My submission is: How is it that a part of a god could not withstand, and does not withstand the vagaries of the weather. But more important question is: how lord Shiva allowed, and allows it?
I presume you are with me when I sincerely pray to God Almighty: my grandchildren, do not, out of curiosity, approach me for the meaning of “Lingam.”