HUMAN GENEALOGY (16)
WHY WE NEED TO
WORSHIP GOD
Jinja is a very big commercial and Industrial town in Uganda. Madhwanis
is a Gujarathi community is very famous and known as a very big Industrialists.
Mayur Madhwani married a film actress Mumtaj. His ancesters migrated from
Gujarat around 1900 A.D.There was a very big famine in Gujarath in around 1900.
A very large contingent of Gujarati communities comprising of skilled and
unskilled people took up an adventurous and desperate Voyage to East Africa.
Mainly to reach Mombasa in Kenya. By that time they heard the Britishers ruling
Kenya were recruiting various people in their Railway construction work
particularly from Nairobi to Mombasa and other jobs in various Industries.
Apart from Gujarat a lot of people from India predominantly the the Sikh
community and other Indian Nationals travelled by various means to East Africa
mainly to Mombasa in Kenya on small and big boats. On their way a lot of people
perished in the storms before reaching the coastal town Mombasa in Kenya.
The people reached Mombasa after undergoing many ordeals on the
way. These workers most of them uneducated, started doing small jobs. A lot of
people used to stay in a small room and work as labourers, some of them who
were educated got some jobs in various capacities. Around 1900, the Britishers
who were ruling Kenya wanted some skilled workforce to help in the
construction of Railway tracks. They also recruited lot of people from India to
work as accountants, supervisors and other skilled force to work in various
departments and Industries.
Madhwanis
migrated to Uganda. This Gujarati community settled in remote areas of Uganda
and learnt SWAHILI the language of Ugandans. The ancestors of
Madhwanis settled in a very remote village called “KAKIRA”They used to
give bicycles on hire to the natives to earn money. Natives who were very fond
of eating jaggery and other sweet meats used to buy from them. Within a short
span of time they earned a lot of money and bought vast lands suitable to grow
Sugar cane crops. Thus gradually they started manufacturing even the sugar
also. Their empire expanded. The soil of Kakira is ideal to grow sugar
cane. The Madhwanis who had primitive engineering skills, prepared a
crude mechanical device to process sugar cane juice into jaggery and other
byproducts of sugarcane. They invested a small amount of money for this purpose
and use to sell the Jaggery to the locals and slowly started many other small,
medium, and big Industries and made JINJA town as their head office.This is the
story of many other people from Gujarathi communities.The SIKH community
developed many construction companies, automobile shops and other related
enterprises.They mingle very closely with the natives and were very
fluent in speaking SWAHILI the local language.Thus the Indian National from all
over India developed the entire East Africa economy and were instrumental in
the growth of East Africa. There the currency was common in entire East Africa
i.e Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. One US dollar was equivalent to one shilling.
Initially the rupees were in circulation. Later on it was slowly replaced by
the shilling.
On one holiday I visited the source of NILE in JINJA.The water was flowing with
tremendous force. I selected a secluded place, sat on a bench and relaxing. In
my mind I was thinking about my previous meeting with Kanada Maharshi.
WHY WE
SHOULD WORSHIP GOD
Kanada Maharshi manifested and said "Dear Lahiri! Your intense
desire to meet me has once again brought me here". I asked “Mahatma! I am
a bit confused. Whether we should worship Gods or not.” Maharshi replied
“Yes, you need to worship GOD. There are many ways to receive the grace of our
creator. It is very difficult for majority of human race to get connected to
the formless energy of GOD. They will not be able to concentrate on the energy
of God which is in the form of Brilliant Light. Unless they create images,
idols of God and worship them, they will not be having any inner conviction and
belief. The Maharshis of ancient India are great Psychologists. They realized
that it would be very difficult for the common human race to reach the
higher dimensions at once.It would also be very difficult for the people to
reach the higher dimensions , without the use of sequential steps.For example,
if you want to reach 10th floor of the building, you need to
climb the steps one after the other in order to reach the final destination.
Hence they introduced different ways like Pujas, Vratas, Homas and other
spiritual practices, which would ultimately take them from lower dimension to
higher dimensions. , It helps the society to have discipline, unity and
inculcate good habits and samskaras. The relationship among the people would
increase. Fear and Respect for the God discourages them from doing wrong
things. This is one of the ways to reach God.
In the education system the children start writing the alphabets on a slate.
They byheart different shapes of alphabets. As they progress in their
education, they remember the alphabets and never use the slate again. This is
the first step in their education system. Worshiping of God can be
compared to this primary stage , in the spiritual education". Then I
asked “Mahatma! What are the benefits of these pujas, Vrathas,etc?” Maharshi
replied "These practices will take you to higher dimensions and other
heavenly pleasures after your demise. But will not prevent you from the birth
and death cycle".Then I asked “Mahatma! What is that which liberates us
from the cycle of birth and death?” Maharshi replied. “Lahiri! Only attaining
Aathma Gnana you will be liberated from the cycle of birth and deaths. You
should reach the higher dimension of Singularity, coming out of shell of
Duality. In Duality you separate the God from you, who is in fact existing
within you. Hence worshiping of God has its own benefits in promoting various
Samskaras among the people. Without this practice people would be
very lazy. There will not be any interpersonal relationship and
understanding among the people. Lastly whatever our ancients had prescribed,
various rules, regulations, Do’s and Don’t’s, we have to follow them and respect
our Swadharma. When you protect Swadharma, it will protect you. Lahiri! I hope
you understood the importance of following these two practices i.e,
worship of God and loving God as your father. We have to start the
journey from Duality (Dwaitham) to Singularity (Adwaitham).
With these words Maharshi disappeared. I sat for some time brooding on
various aspects of our discussions. I realized, there is also a great science
in worshiping the God. A person who reaches the top of the mountain will
realize that there are many and different ways to reach the highest peak of any
mountain. Because his perception expands to greater dimension. He can see
the different pathways with more clarity. Thus the human beings have the
freedom of choice to select their own path and start the journey to reach
higher dimension.
