Messenger of God

Messenger of God

It was a fine Sunday evening and I was fighting with sleep to wake up. At that time my mobile start ringing. Oh god! Its too boring to get out of the bed and pick up the call.

“Ha, Aai bolo”

“Kya kar rahe ho beta?”

“Kuch nahi Aai, aaram kar raha tha”

Actually my Sundays schedule is fixed. Wake up at late morning then taking lunch then watching any movie or doing timepass on internet then sleeping and wake up directly at evening. My lots of Sundays are went like this in laziness.

“Beta tum subah mandir gaye the?”

“Nahi Aai, time nahi mila”

“Are kya time nahi mila? Week me ek din to milata hai, us din to mandir jaya karo”

“Lekin Aai, mai last Sunday to gaya tha mandir!!”

“To kya hua, khana to har roz khate ho na? Abhi jaldi se taiyar hokar mandir jakar aao”

“Thik hai Aai”

“Take care beta”

Actually I am not completely atheist. Somewhat I believe in god. I also go to temple, but not regularly.

I reached the temple, gave some coins to beggars outside the temple and entered inside the temple.

In the crowd inside the temple, everyone was looking in hurry. Someone was trying to break the line. I wondered if people were in so much hurry, if they don’t want to stand 5 minutes in a queue then why they came to temple? Breaking the queue doesn’t mean that god will listen to you early!!

After doing pranam to god I took Prasad and sat in one corner of the temple. I was observing the people in the crowd, at that time I realized that someone was observing me!! He was almost of my age. Before I could say anything he said Hi to me with smiling face.

I somewhat in confusion, “Hi, but can I know you?”

“In the temple of god everyone is same, right? So no need of formal introduction!!” he said.

After some formal discussion he asked me, “Do you believe in God?”

“Means?”

“Means do you believe in god? As simple as that!!”

“Yes, I do believe in god and everyone came here believe in god that’s why they came to temple” I continued “I believe in my own strengths but we have to keep some faith in god also, right?”

“Exactly, we have to keep some faith in god and at the same time we have to find our own strengths and abilities” he said.

“But what about you? Do you believe in god?” now I was in confidence.

On this question he smiled and answered, “Yes, I believe in god but my definition of god is different!!”

“What? Definition of god? God is same for everyone, doesn’t he?” now my tone became somewhat louder.

“Calm down my friend Calm down. The basic difference between you and me is, you see god only in temples and I see god in every good things”

By seeing my confusion he further explained, “See, you believe god is everywhere right?” I nodded in positive.

“Yes, god is everywhere” I said.

“God is everywhere but try to see it. Try to see god in every human being. In every helping hand I see god. I see god in my parents” he said. “I don’t see god in Idols, I see god in every human and in every good thing”

“So you are saying that god is everywhere and you don’t have to come to temple” I said thinking what exactly he is talking?

“No. You have misunderstood me. I don’t have any oppose to temples or people coming to temple. I like it, that’s why I came here” he further added.

“So what are you trying to say??” me.

“I am trying to say that, keep faith in god but don’t keep blind faith. Don’t follow god blindly, do hard work and for that don’t depend on god, help others, try to make things better, this will make your life meaningful”

“Ok. That’s good but why you came to temple?” I said.

“Because I like the ambience of temple. I feel refreshed by coming here. If you observe the people here they are looking happy. Of course not everyone is happy, but whoever is in trouble will also get refreshed by the atmosphere present here and forget his sadness for a moment. Everyone is behaving gently with each other. No one is shouting on each other. If we able to keep such a kindness in a society and in our daily life, our life will become so much peaceful”  Now I was very much involved in listening his words.

“You know, I respect those people who are helping the beggars outside the temple. Feeding these hungry people is more important than keeping fruits and Prasad in front of the god. Their blessing will give very much satisfaction than the satisfaction of god. I had never kept fruits, Prasad or money in front of god instead of that I am helping to poor peoples and giving some food to some people”

“And I am not saying that I am doing a great job or I am a great person. I am  just doing my duty because I feel that I owe something to society. I am doing it by my way because I am living on my own principles”

“Living on your principles is good but you have to follow society’s rule, no? you have to do what everyone is doing otherwise you have to suffer” I said.

“My friend, fighting with world is easy but fighting with your own principles is not easy because, you are the winner and you are the only looser!!” he said.

“You can do these things outside temple also, what is need of coming to temple?” me

“Yes, you are right. I am not saying that you have to come temple regularly. Our priority should be to help people. We all are doing our daily routine work. We need some change. We need some ideal place where we can meet new peoples, share our experiences and help each other and I think mandir is very good place for that. But remember my friend again I am telling you, don’t keep blind faith in god, don’t be dependent on god and don’t waste your money on god instead of that use these money to help some needy people, feed hungry people then god will definitely become very happy”

I was very much impressed by his work. “Nice job yaar. I think you are perfectly balancing the religious and social life. But I have one question, people remember god only when they are in trouble and they forget god when they are happy. What would you say about this?”

“There is also good thing in this. See, if you are happy and satisfied you will not do any bad things. And when you are in trouble you are going to god but at the same time you remember all the bad things you have done in the past. By closing your eyes for 2 minutes in front of god you say, Bhagvan is bar bacha lena, aage se koi galati nahi hogi. If you really mean that then it is very good thing” he was explaining very much clearly.

“Very nice yaar. I am really impressed. What is your name friend?” after asking this question I wondered to myself because after doing this important discussion for so long time, now I am asking his name!!

“What is in the name? conversation is important” he quickly replied.

“Phir bhi!!”

“You can call me ‘MITRAA’, because we became friends now, right?”

“Yes, Mitraa. I will definitely try to implement these principles in my life” I said in confidence.

“Also try to motivate some more people like you” he further added.

“Sure”

I was walking out of temple with big satisfaction. Today I realized the true meaning of going to temple and God.

टपाल (Letter)

टपाल.....आजच्या मॉडर्न युगात दुर्मिळ होत चाललेली गोष्ट. टपाल हा शब्द ऐकल्यावर बरेचजण क्षणभर अवाक होऊन पाहतात आणि त्यावर प्रतिक्रिया असते कि, अरे!! बऱ्याच दिवसानंतर ऐकला रे हा शब्द. त्यातल्या त्यात जमेची बाजू म्हणजे बऱ्याचजणांना हा शब्द ओळखीचा तरी वाटतो, नाहीतर आजच्या पिढीला टपाल म्हणजे काय हे माहित आहे कि नाही याबद्दल शंकाच आहे. आणि भविष्यात याच्याशी काही संबंध येण्याची शक्यताच नाही. कारण आजचे युग हे इंटरनेट युग आहे. एका सेकंदात हवी ती माहिती, हव्या त्या व्यक्तीपर्यंत इंटरनेटच्या माध्यमातून पोहोचवता येते. पहिल्यांदा टेलिफोन आला नंतर मोबाईल आणि आता व्हाट्स अॅप त्यामुळे आता टपालाची काही गरजच उरली नाही.

पण या सगळ्यामध्ये, सर्वांची सुख दु:खे घेऊन येणारा, ऊन पाऊस कश्याचीही पर्वा न करता, गावोगावी जाऊन टपाल पोहोचवणारा पोस्टमन कितीजणांना आठवतो?? आजकाल टपाल जसे दुर्मिळ होत चालले आहे तसेच पोस्टमन सुध्दा. लहानपणी एक खुप गमतीदार खेळ होता, ताईचं पत्र हरवलं.....सर्व मुले गोल घोळका करून बसायची आणि एक मुलगा हातात रुमाल घेऊन त्या घोळक्याच्या बाजूने धावायचा आणि बसलेली सर्व मुले एका सुरात मोठ्याने गायची "ताईचं पत्र हरवलं......." आणि तो धावणारा मुलगा म्हणायचा "तेच मला सापडलं.....". धावता धावता तो रुमाल नकळत कोणाच्यातरी पाठीमागे टाकायचा......ज्याच्या पाठीमागे तो रुमाल असायचा त्याने तो रुमाल उचलून त्या धावणाऱ्या मुलाला पकडण्याचा प्रयत्न करायचा. खूप मज्जा यायची. हळूहळू तो खेळही मागे पडत गेला आणि पत्रही!!

आज आयुष्याच्या खेळामध्ये असा काही अडकून गेलो आहे कि.....असे वाटते.....ताईचं पत्र खरोखरच हरवलय.....!!

याच विषयावर लक्ष्मण उतेकर यांचा खूप छान चित्रपट आहे "टपाल". प्रत्येकाने आवर्जून पाहावा असा हा चित्रपट आहे. खेडेगाव आणि एका पोस्टमनचे त्या खेडेगावाशी असलेले नाते, त्या गावातील लोकांच्या आयुष्यात पोस्टमनचे असणारे स्थान खुप सुंदरपणे या सिनेमात दाखवण्यात आले आहे.

गावातील एक लहान मुलगा रंगा, त्याने लिहिलेले टपाल आणि ते टपाल परत मिळवण्यासाठी पोस्टमनसोबतचा प्रवास........ त्यानिमित्ताने रंगाचा पोस्टमनच्या आयुष्यातील दोन दिवसांचा प्रवेश, पोस्टमनच्या आणि त्याच्या बायकोच्या आयुष्यात सुखांच्या फुलांची उधळण करणारा ठरतो. नंदू माधव यांनी आपल्या उत्तम अभिनयाने हुबेहूब पोस्टमन उभा केला आहे. वीणा जामकर आणि बालकलाकार रोहित उतेकर यांनी आपल्या सहजसुंदर अभिनयाने त्यांना तितकीच उत्तम साथ दिली आहे.

आपलं बालपण पुन्हा अनुभवण्यासाठी प्रत्येकाने हा चित्रपट जरूर पहा.....काय माहित, तुम्हाला तुमचं हरवलेलं "पत्र" पुन्हा सापडेल सुद्धा.....!!!!!

Be the Change

It is said that, change is the only constant thing. Yes it is true, we have to keep updating ourselves regularly in order to survive in today’s world. Everyone is talking about change, changing India, changing nation, but no one is talking about changing ourselves. Everyone’s mentality is like, some good change has to happen in the society, India has to become developed country so that everyone can live happily. But no one is ready to think, how this change will happen? Who will do change in society? And most importantly what is my contribution to the society? Everyone is talking about change at big level but no one is thinking about small thing which we have to change in our daily life. No big change will happen to country or society until and unless the mentality of our people will change.

Start a small positive change from yourself and this will definitely make big difference in the society. Our government has started Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. To make this Abhiyan a grand success we just have to do small things. First start from your house, keep your house very clean and important thing, don’t throw garbage on roads, use proper dustbin. Don’t throw papers, wrappers or any waste material on the roads or anywhere. Do not spit on the roads. If all of us start following these small and very easy things, I am confident that within few days we will see our India very clean and that will be big change for us.

As said by Mother Teresa, Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. We have to be faithful in every small things so that one day definitely we will see good change in our society.

How many of us have courage to stand for truth if something is happening wrong in the society? Very few people are like that. Always stand for truth, even if you are standing alone. Just try this once you will really feel proud of yourself and surely this will become your habit.

Usually we talk about foreign countries that, they have clean roads, they have good traffic. And we think that this is only because they have strict rules and our country doesn’t have but I sincerely feel that there is no term such as strict rules. Rules are rules, we have to follow them. Only difference is, foreign countries are following rules strictly and we are taking it casually. At the time we will change our nature, we will become successful. For that we have to change ourselves first. As said by Mahatma Gandhiji, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

I hope everyone will think on this and start positive change from our self because Journey of thousand miles start with a single step!!