Offering is not bribing
It is a practice of devotees to give various offerings to God in return for favours received or to get what they have prayed for.
Most devotees consider this a “favour” to God. But this approach is quite wrong. This is in fact against the very concept of offering as defined in Indian philosophy.
Devotees should remember that God is the Almighty and he doesn’t need anything from anyone.
L
ook at these definitions of God. “Eeswara: Eeesana Aethani Eesathe” (He who rules is God. He rules all these), “Aiswarya daanat Eeswara” (He is God because he spares grace) and “Vasitwad Api Avasyatwad Eeswara (He is God because he holds everything, But he can never be held by anything).
These interpretations of God given in Brahma Vaivarta Ka Puranam make it clear that it is for the sake of the devotee that God accepts an offer and not for his own sake.
Therefore, the devotee can offer the deity sweet broth, garlands, lamps or anything auspicious in the right spirit. After making an offering, the devotee should submit himself to the deity and offer continuous prayer.
In fact, every offering is a symbol of self submission. Offering is not bribing God. Instead, it is sacrificing part of one’s possession to the Almighty. It gives the devotee a psychological feeling that his prayers will be heard.
It is also a living truth that prayer made in the proper way, fetches results. If it is accompanied by an offering, it becomes all the more powerful and evokes God’s grace.
Prayer emerging from the heart and sincere offerings that imply a true sense of sacrifice will get response. In that sense, making an offering is advantageous to the devotee.
Offerings have not only a psychological value, but practical and spiritual value also.
Let us take the example of fireworks as offering to deity. It is neither to deafen the ears of the devotees nor to rouse the deity who “remains asleep” within the sanctum sanctorium.
On the contrary, it is meant to kill the harmful germs in the ambience of the temple. It also represents the primal explosion or Big Bang from which the universe was born. The simple form of the sound of the explosion “phat” is used as a mantra in the puja as well.
The fireworks are a reminder of the eternal power of God whom we please with prayers and offerings.
It is still considered a taboo to touch the priests in India. It may appear to some that this is a remnant of the evil practice of untouchability. But the fact is different. A priest is a person practicing austerities and chanting hymns most of the time. His body is virtually a storehouse of spiritual energy. If someone touches him, he will lose that energy. Everyone has an aura around his body. When we touch the body of a person, this aura is believed to be affected. This is the secret behind the much misunderstood practice.
— Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan is the author of Thaliyola, a book on Hindu beliefs and rituals. He has also written books on the Vedas and Upanishads. The author can be reached at drvenganoor@yahoo.co.in
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