Humanity is my religion

I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.

Khalil Gibran

Ever since I understood the nuances, of life, relationships, God etc... I realized that I didn't like the categorization of people because of their religion. For a person, who totally believed in humanity first, it became complicated when my grandparents did certain things because they belonged to a particular religion, or, because in the Hindu (read: Brahmins) culture, it has been passed on from generations. 

The silly superstitions like - waiting for 5 minutes incase a black cat crosses your path or not to ask "where are you going" to someone who is already at the doorstep. Or, not to talk or touch the maids as they are 'untouchables' and more used to irritate me. 

The rebel inside me refused to accept the religious practices in the name of God! "So, who is God for you?" I remember my Grandmom asking me angrily. She was very upset that I took the 'prasadam' (the religious offering consumed by worshippers) without having a bath. The kesari was so tempting, that I just couldn't resist myself, and she scolded me for having dared to come to the pooja room without cleansing myself. Ofcourse my Mum, also got a dose on upbringing, but little did my Grandmom know, that my Mother had given up.

I told her that God is the supreme being. I am not an atheist. To me religion is simple. There is one God, you pray HE responds. To her utter horror, I said I have been to the church with my Christian friend, I have been to the Gurudwara and savoured the yummy prasad, and I bow my head when I cross a mosque.

Well, my Grandmom remembered all this in distaste until the day she died. Her constant lectures of putting a bindi while stepping out, or fasting on Mondays, or on Ekadashis fell on deaf ears.

As a child, I remember visiting lot of temples, famous ones like Tirupati, Guruvayoor etc... I couldn't understand, why my parents would us put us through the ordeal of traveling all the way to a crowded temple, where even before you could take a look at the idol, you were pushed away by the authorities.I would rather pray in my house, stand in front of the idol as long as I want without anybody pushing me or asking me to leave.

The donations that these kind of temples get is not funny. Celebs and businessmen give crores of money, in the name of God. Where does the money go? 

Instead, can't they do something for the needy? Build schools, hospitals, provide facilities for better hygiene for women and children? I just fail to understand this whole facade in the name of God or religion.

No God ever said, give me gold, or diamonds or money. 
K J Yesudas, one of the most respected singers that our country has sung in praise of the Lord sitting in Guruvayoor, his songs are played inside the temple, but till date he hasn't been allowed inside the temple as he is not a Hindu. Hypocrisy at its best.

Women discuss the price of their sarees and accessories while the aarti is going on. The older Aunties, gossip about others and their daughters in law. Men discuss stock markets. And then talk about Indian values nineteen to a dozen outside. Why come to a temple if you can't maintain the decorum?

There are others, who spend hours doing their pooja, and then fight with the maid, call her names, abuse her. If a holy book is read properly, any holy book, it talks about humanity, mutual love and respect, kindness. What's the point in singing praises or reciting shlokas, if with the same mouth you insult others?

Then there's one more category, who instill fear in the name of God and religion. My son one day came to me and said you never told me I am a Hindu. He was told by his Teacher that he belongs to a particular religion, so I asked him, has that discovery made any difference? He said No. Since the age of 3, he was told by me and his father, that Humanity was the biggest religion. If we can be kind, if we can be honest, if we can respect people, without looking at their social standing, then we have let God reside in us forever. He didnt know he was a Hindu, because we never told him. I don't like the religion column in the school admission forms. There must be a logic behind it I am sure, but I haven't understood it till date. Last time, I filled the form for my son, in the religion column I wrote "Humanity". The Principal saw it, and she smiled.

I heard this dialogue in a movie, which made a lot of sense.
There are just two things that a religion can do : It can either make you vulnerable or it can make you a terrorist.

My connection with the Almighty is very simple. If I have done a good deed then, I have connected spiritually. I light a lamp, everyday. Stand for couple of minutes, thanking Him for everything. 

Anytime, anyone asks my son his religion, he will say 'Humanity'. I am proud of it.