Ganesha settles an issue

Back from the meeting with Brahma, Mooshik brought up an issue to the notice of Ganesha. Ganesha instantly became wary, as whatever issue troubled Mooshik, it always ended up giving him some soul searching and heartbreaking moments. He inwardly chided Mooshik for finding ways to unsettle him. He wondered, “Was an element of Gajamukhasura still trying to cause me some trouble?” 

Mooshik, sitting nonchalantly watched the expressions fleeting across Ganesha's face that was already lined with thoughtful wrinkles. To gain time. Ganesha asked Mooshik to repeat the issue, slowly. Mooshik saw through this gambit and deliberately slowed down so much, that each spoken word took a long time to end. It made it difficult for Ganesha to decode, remember and join the uttered word to the next one. This ploy irritated Ganesha, as it reminded him of Vyas’s' ruse, while dictating the verses of Mahabharata. Ganesha understood the intent and ordered Mooshik to resume at normal speed. 

Mooshik's complaint was that the principal gods, in all their resplendent glory, did not react whenever their very own existence, powers and rule over the destinies of mortals was questioned. 

“My concern is if this sort of attitude propagated, will there be believers to defend the sanctity of divine entities. Maybe, I am a lowly sit-in-companion, and I might be stepping out of my comfort zone but when the divinity is being questioned, how can I remain mute?”

Ganesha heaved a long sigh, which threw up a minor sandstorm around the temple premises. He asked, “Have you finished or some more sentences are left over"? This remark did not sit well with Mooshik. He showed his disagreement by simply tucked in his tail and calmly looked at Ganesha. 

Ganesha, speaking in a conciliatory tone agreed, "Mooshik, I too have come across such repeated denigrative statements from high and low."

" My Lord, have I missed any of the actions, you have taken on these repeated transgressions into the realms of divinity!"

"No, Mooshik, my thinking was, if we ignored such utterances and acts, the instigators might lose interest and turn their attention towards some other issue."

Mooshik demurred, " I did not expect this casual approach. If we wait for the instigators to run out of steam, by that time the divine entities might have incurred irreparable losses - sizeable population of devotees might have become non-believers." 

Mooshik’s clinical observations made Ganesha to take the matter seriously. Ganesha preferred a walk in the garden to get refreshed and think through the issue and promptly took off to his favourite garden. This instant tele-transportation from the temple premises to the garden left Mooshik breathless. He silently berated Ganesha – “You could have easily carried me along!” 

After doing some serious walking, Ganesha stopped abruptly and started talking to Mooshik. "Mooshik, let me tell you three things. After hearing each one of them, you have to give me an answer." Mooshik always had an aversion to question-and-answer sessions. But having raised an issue, he had to endure it now. He meekly murmured a “I am ready." 

“Number one. Assume there is a country. One day, in calculated moves, a neighbouring country swiftly occupies it. Now, imagine yourself in that situation and tell me how you would react to this aggressive manoeuvre?"

“If I am one of them, I would not hesitate to gather mass support to fight and push back the aggressors.”

“Exactly, but you have made a point about gathering mass support implying that standing alone you could not do anything. Am I right? Then remember this point.”

“If you say so.” 

“Number two. Temples are consecrated after installing idols of deities. Idols are sculptured out of granite and marble or made with amalgamated metals. Often, an abhisheka, - after an oil bath, with turmeric powder and sandal wood paste mixed water, rose water followed by curd and milk bath, is performed on these idols. This ritual is completed after a water bath and toweling to dry the idols. Drawing upon your own experience, answer me.  How would the idols and the represented deities feel about this ritualistic act?

“The abhisheka ritual stays on the exterior body of the idols. This is also my personal experience Nothing- the scented water, curd and milk flowing over the idol gets past the granite or marble or metallic surface.”

“O K. What about the clothes and ornaments that adorn the idols?”

“They too stay on the exterior surface of idols. What else?”

“There is one more important thing, can you guess what it is?”

Mooshik frantically sifted through his mind and finally answered. “None of this would make any impression on the idols.”

“Then what about the deities themselves?”

In a hesitant voice, Mooshik replied, “Maybe in the same way.”

“Mooshik, remember this point also.”

“My Lord, instead of settling the issue, you are making me to answer and note some points I have made. When this Q & A session will end/I am getting nervous”

“Be patient for a little more time. You are almost there to get to the solution.” 

“Third point. Why the deities and their idols do not react to these statements, opinions and acts of mortals denigrating the divinity or the lack of it.? Is it not your question?  Can you guess why?

A powerful spark, like a bolt of lightning hit Mooshik’s mind. Now he understood why Ganesha asked him to note down some points he had made. In ecstasy, he jumped up and down and did a few somersaults before answering. Ganesha watched him in admiration, thinking how an astute student Mooshik has been.

Mooshik continued,” Lack of popular support to condemn the denigrating acts and statements of immature mortals. Finding no other axe to grind, this tribe selects divine targets knowing fully well that there will be no reaction from the complacent population. The performed abhisheka stays external and does not make an impression on the idols. Same is the case with clothes and ornaments. By extrapolation, these thigs also fail to make an impression on the deities, who are represented by these idols. Since nothing touches them, the gods ignore the denigrating acts and statements and loss of a hoard of believers.”

“Well said Mooshik, well said. Let me point out o you one more important reason. Suppose the gods become angry and start punishing such charlatans, then to be impartial they may have to punish some of their devotees, who once in a while do curse or berate them. Both the charlatans and disgruntled devotees do it out of sheer frustration.”

Like a student rushing out of the examination hall, Mooshik searched for an opening to escape. Sensing this, Ganesha indicated he too was ready to get back to the temple premises.