Religious rites needed to invoke Rain God

CHENNAI, AUG. 23. God has provided two main paths for men to choose from. They are told how the vista of religion before them will lead them safely to the divine domain. The other course open to them is to remain entangled in worldly affairs, enjoying material pleasures, thus not realising the suffering which may result from them. The spiritual way of life, making a person mellow, humble and devoted, will also enable him to pursue righteous rules and stick to Truth. The man who resorts to spiritual exercises will also be aware that God will extend His grace to all those who sincerely serve Him and the society and who put in their efforts unlike those who sit idle hoping that the Almighty will come to their rescue. Religion will also help in developing contentment.

Even those who roll in comforts and are wealthy can turn to the other path when they donate liberally to noble causes as charity will surely change the attitude of anyone. The recipe for a safe journey in a man's brief stay here has been prescribed by saints and one among such distinguished spiritual guides, Pattinathar, had shown the two paths mentioned above. A wealthy businessman as he was, sudden transformation came to him through God's grace and in a trice he distributed his earnings and spent the rest of his life singing God's glory. ``You do not bring anything when you come to this world, nor can you take even a small coin with you when you leave. Not even a needle with its eyes broken will accompany you'' was the message he had left.

In a lecture on Pattinathar's life, Sri M. K. Ramanan said, the saint acquired spiritual knowledge from a young boy (God in human form) when he himself was of middle-age, thereby demonstrating that lessons can be learnt at any stage in one's career and from anyone enlightened. As a child, Lord Subramania ``taught'' a mantra to His father and Prahlada delivered a sermon to his father. Pattinathar has forcefully pleaded with men that the devotion they display should be steadfast. Tests are bound to stare at them but they should continue to put faith in God and remain unwavering at all times, unlike some who may curse God when they are placed amidst misery.

Another important aspect about which he has reiterated is about the need to conduct religious rites to invoke the Rain God as in olden days the belief existed that the smoke which emanated from the fire helped in the formation of rain-bearing clouds. Though a saint, he was deeply attached to his mother and by virtue of his powers, he caused the pyre, on which his mother's body was placed, go up in flames though it was wrapped in fresh plantain barks instead of firewood.

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