Idol, Idol everywhere. But, where is Rama?

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Marugela chara achara rupa! Marugela chara achararupa parat para soorya sudhaakara lochana....
Marugelara..Marugelara O! Raghava...

The great saint and one of the trinities of Carnatic Music, Sri Tyagaraja composed many Bhakti Kirtanm (Devotional songs) dedicated to Lord Rama of Ayodhya ( supposedly, his favorite God). Marugelara O! Raghava, Endaro Mahanubhavulu and  Nagumomu ganaleni are a few of my favorites. After listening to these songs, over a dozen times, at times of utmost pain and mental turbulence, I take this forum to interpret that Sri Tyagaraja composed it not for Lord Rama but for those men who inspired him with Lord Ram like qualities.
Endaro Mahanubhavulu- praising those worldly men of  God like qualities by the American Bhagawathar Jon B. Higgins 
These kirtans are my saviour in this time of spiritual deterioration, where people value symbolism over abstract virtues, and seek selfish benefits in the mask of love and care. Indeed, this is a great lesson for those, who aspire a transformational leadership strategy in cajoling the people of this country to make a paradigm shift from Idol Worship to Idea Worship. Idols are symbols to invoke the God within us. In this era of mass education and Digital India, it is factually a wrong contention to bid that the masses need symbolism. When it comes to spirituality, an utter illiterate as well as an urban sophisticate could be on the same plain. Like one says, the subjects influence the King and the King influences the subject. Modernity has to make its entry without Westernization. Here, the King has to wear his transformational robe in shaping his subjects to stride towards the path of modernity rather than being a preacher of irrational traditions of a bygone era.

‘Where are you Raghava? You don’t need to conceal yourself. Your form itself is the universe where the sun and  the moon form your eyes.’




Comments

  1. Anonymous30 April 2019 at 07:41

    this is succinctly elaborated and explained both review and critical message to all of us, particularly people like us to uplift ourselves from the state of wretchedness. thanx for posting

    ReplyDelete

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