GANESH CHATHURTHI ( written on 30, August 1992)

Father, Mother and three Chldren will be there.
Eldest studying in XII Class.
Father : Narayana ! my dear son ! Perform the Ganesh
Puja.
Narayana : You are all following out dated methods.
Faher scientifically there is no Creation with
elephant head and human body.
Mother : It is not like that It is our culture and tradition to
worship & Pray are needed to start any
auspisious work. Impossible task also become
easy by the blessings of Ganesh.
Narayana : You are following superstitions. You are
wasting time and money.
Father : Not like that dear son, At least if you donot have
any faith do it for our sake.
Narayana : Unless I am convinced I won't, do any work.
Father : O.K. son. We are all illiterates. Evening Swamijy
will come We can have a thorough discusion
with him.
Narayana : I am not an arrogant. I will give respext to
elders. I will too participate in the discusion.
( A family Performing Ganesh Puja)
Father, Mother and three Chldren will be there.
Eldest studying in XII Class.

Mother & Children bow to Swamiji : Pranam
Swamiji : Sowbhagaymasthu.
Father : Swamiji. Today my son didn't performed
Ganesh Puja. He is telling that it is an outdared
practice .
Swamiji : Dear son! Spiritualism is differnt from
materilism- materilism does't give ultimate
peace.
Narayana : Swamiji you have read so many books; and
visited so many places. I couldn't understand
why our country people are still following the
out dated practices.
Swamiji : Dear son! you are correct. I have studied
asmuch as i can and I have seen somany
placess than you people.So I will try to clarify
your doubts, one by one First of all you must
Know whart people wants through spiritualism.
It is entirely defferent from what they will get
from materialism. For this point I quote you one
example of eminent professors from IIT's, Who
retired voluntarily to take up the spiritualism.
Narayana : Is it sir!

Swamiji : Yes.It is correct. Do you think,if there is
nothing, why did those prominent people took
that path.
Narayana : No.If great people followed that path it must
have some hidden wealth.
44
Swamiji : Yes Indian philosophy & spiritualism has many
dimensions. It has a great healing effect on the
psyche of the people.
Narayana : O.K. l accept. that but why the people worship
that mud made idols?
Swamiji : This is only a way to concentrate your mind
and to be pure for a while in thought.If you
achieve that stage nobody compells you to
worship an idol
In our Indian socity,most of the people are
illiterates so at least thay will become clean and
keep their surroundings, well enough, at least
in the name of festival and see by making an
idol, more artistic emotion and diffusion of
jstress happinings. This is the basic out come
of spiritualism. the diffusion of psychological
stress. Unless you create any alternate choice,
don't destroy the safety valve weathers it may
be festival, idol worship or any other
superstition.
Narayana : yor are correct Swamiji. Most of the people, who
are haviing so many bad habbits, atleast on
festival day, do the vinayaka puja, leaving these
habits. Is there any other direct effect of the
spiritualism on our society, Swamiji?
Swamiji : Yes Most of the freedom fighters got their
inispitation through spritualism only. Hindus
muslims & christians also faught for freedom
taking inspiration from our spiritual scripts. Take
for example,Gandhiji also done the same thing.


Narayana : Dear Swamiji! What about the people, who are
wasting their time by prolonging the puja for 9
days,18 days etc.And some people collect donations
& cheat the people.
Swamiji : You are correct my son. The puja can be
performed in one day or at the most 2 to 3 days.
Beyond that, young people shouldn't waste their
time. If old people want to contijue it, let them
continue. And watch the cheaters & organise
some cultural activities with the remaining
money. Distribute prizes, books to the winners
& encourage them.
Narayana : Swamiji what about the people who are using
religion for bad purposes.
Swamiji : In this connection we must have religious
harmony. and honour to the other religions. I
will site you the best example what I
experienced in recent past in Navodaya
Vidyalaya. All the religious fuctions & festivals
are conducted as community functions. All the
students & teachers participate in that. They
will honour each other's sentiment & feelings.
A new prosperous & hopeful India is emerging
from this school. They are highly learned &
talented affectionate teachers. The principal is
highly experienced & knows the sentiments &
feelings of staff & students you visit once the
school and learn from them.
Narayana : Definitely Sir. I will go there & learn from them.

Swamiji : There they come from different places,
leading like a good harmonious family. If you
don't honour the sentiments & feelings of your
parents, who will honour them.
Narayana : O.K. sir Definitey I honour the feelings of my
parents. and from now onwardsI look all the
aspects of a thing, before taking a decision &
work for positive approch & harmony.
Asathoma Sadgamya
Thamasoma Jyothirgamaya
Mruthyorma Amruthangamaya
Ohm Shanthi ! Shanthi ! Shanthi hi !