Is God everywhere?

Is God everywhere?

When I visited Ramraj last week he showed me a very nice calendar put out by the Thirupathi Devasathanam, with excellent pictures of God in HIS various forms. The full-size calendar produced so well was a work of art. It was printed in fine art paper, each page in a different bright colour, with idols decorated in exquisite costumes and ornaments and decked up with flowers.

When I said it is very nice, he said, “If you like, it is yours”.

I said, “No thank you, I don’t want it Ramraj”. I was not rude or impolite. I am not an atheist. I just avoided a conflict and a dilemma.

Of course I had to tell him ‘why not’, though I appreciated the calendar and his loving gesture of offering it to me.

I have this conflict going on in my mind.

Are the pictures printed in these calendars and wedding invitations, Brahmaotsavam announcements are Gods?

What do I do with wedding invitations I receive with excellent pictures of the Lord Srinivasar or Ganapathi or any other deity printed on it?

Does only a God picture framed and put in the Gods’ room become worship worthy? Or do you worship the God in the calendar with the same reverence?

Why do I feel uncomfortable watching religious discourses when temples and Gods are shown on TV, with my legs stretched out in front of it?

When people bring back little God pictures from the temples they visit and give it to me, wishing me well, respecting their sentiments why do I use them as bookmarks with the excuse that I atleast get to see them while I read the books?

IS GOD REALLY EVERYWHERE? Vellukkudi Krishanan says HE is. Do I believe it?

I don't know. I am yet to resolve this issue.

Couple of years ago when I visited an old friend of ours Dr. Kanthan, I appreciated such a calendar hanging on the wall of his house. He immediately took it down and presented it to me. Even though I protested I couldn’t refuse as he gave it to me as a gift and also because I liked it very much.

When I brought it home, I couldn’t bring myself to hang it on the wall, as the walls were wet due to incessant rain and I felt it may spoil the calendar. And also I felt it is too good to hang it and then tear off the pages each month or turn it back to save it and discard it at the end of the year. Not wanting to discard right away I even reuse these types of God calendars as lining for the shelves in my cupboard and throw it away after they are really used up.

This time I got a bright idea. I decided to frame these pictures and donate it to a local temple we visit occasionally. Without delay I took action and took the twelve framed pictures to the temple and gave it in the temple office. While I was still at the temple going around praying at various shrines one of the temple priests came to me and said the pictures belong to the other sub-sect of vaishanavism and they can’t hang these in this temple. I was disappointed and said I would take it back. But the priest said ones given to the temple I can’t take it back either. I left it at that.

It was a lesson for me. I learnt that God is not just God. People (the real believers) don’t even believe in the Gods of other sub-sects leave alone other religion.

This time not wanting to go through any conflict I took the easy way out and said NO without any qualms.