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Where faith triumphs — always
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The `new intellectual' may question the existence of God but for most people faith is the bedrock of their daily lives. PREMA SRINIVASAN writes...
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DESPITE THE fact that there is a very visible world of rarefied thinkers who question the existence of God, we all know that the Almighty has not really passed into history. The existence of God as a Supreme Being is seldom questioned here, or for that matter even outside the boundaries of our once conservative city. The cynical, probing, anti-authoritarian West may have attempted to bury God, but He is very much part of our everyday lives.
This city has a form of piety, which manifests itself in a "satvic" manner during festivals and holy occasions. Here we have celebrations by ethnic minorities, which do not infringe on the sensibilities of the general public. May be this manifestation is best explained by the social history of the land. Mylapore, dominated by the hoary Kapaleeshwara Temple and Tiruvallikeni, the location of the other famous religious landmark, the Parthasarathy Swami temple, are the two hubs of the Shaivite and Vaishnava sects, respectively. Here, devotees conglomerate, as these still remain the major centres for the two different versions of a single faith. By the time the missionaries from the West established their houses of prayer in various parts of the city, other religions too had firmly implanted the visible symbols of their faith. In this context, it is pertinent to recall a bit of information about the temple tank at Mylapore, which is said to have been built on the land given by the Nawab of Carnatic in the 18th Century (Madras — its Past and its Present by S. Muthiah). Decades of intermingling and coexistence have brought about a ``live and let live'' attitude among the people, who by and large are uncomplicated in their attitude towards God. They may have different names for Him, but they rarely doubt the reality of His existence.
Festivals and holy time are observed in a disciplined fashion in this metro even when religious fervour runs high. Christians, Muslims and Hindus seem to celebrate and worship in greater amity than in other big cities. There is a great degree of socialising during Dussera, Deepavali, Christmas and Id festivals. This socialising is also an example of the friendly and gregarious attitude of the citizens of Chennai who interact freely, unimpeded by religious demarcations. Gifts and sweetmeats are exchanged irrespective of whether a person is a Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Most of us who have attended convent schools have fervently prayed to Virgin Mary, particularly before exams, as there would always be a chapel within the school grounds. It is customary for school children to get their textbooks, pens and geometry boxes blessed by Lord Ganesha in the street corner temple on the eve of exams. Kovil prasadams are distributed as a panacea for all maladies and sometimes prove more efficacious than the doctor's prescription. Likewise healing potions from the dargahs would find their way into orthodox households to cure the sick. Shopkeepers on busy thoroughfares welcome the incense bearing `Bai' who visits the shops before trading begins, to ward off the evil eye. A steady stream of worshippers at St. Anthony's Church vouches for the effectiveness of prayers offered on Tuesdays. The Chennaivasi will include a pilgrimage to Velankanni to visit Our Lady of Good Health as well as the Nagore Dargah in his annual thanksgiving itinerary. During festivals like Navarathri and Deepavali all neighbours, irrespective of caste or creed, would be invited for ``kolu'' to partake of "sundal" and receive "vetrilai paakku" as a token of prosperity and auspiciousness. Christmas cake and Mughalai Biriyani are hailed as universal favourites and included in a festive menu along with "puliodarai" and "thayir sadam". Despite the strong current of the Dravidian movement against rituals, religious feeling continues to thrive amongst all strata of society.
This breaking down of religious boundaries has been possible only because of the basic piety of the people themselves. The reading of religious texts is taught early in life and children in most middle class families are familiar with the Puranic tales narrated to them by family elders. In the absence of an extended family situation, the televised version of these tales continues to absorb young people today. The need for moderation even in devotion is instilled in the formative years. Not aggressive by nature, they have been mentally conditioned to rise above trivialities and accept faith as a permanent solution to social malaise. This faith may be classified under different names but continues to sustain the metropolis in an amazing manner, Nietszche may declare that God is dead and the new intellectual may call religion the ``opium of the people.'' Our Chennaiite is not likely to be ruffled. He would declare stoutly: "A universe so beautifully designed as ours would certainly have a Maker. Each set of believers can have its own version of what this Maker is like and what He taught mankind." It has been generally accepted that the Almighty has only one simple message of peace, which is brought to mankind by His numerous messengers. Human reason may be powerful but we still need Him when reason can help no longer. It is this simple but logical reasoning (sceptics may call it an instinct for self-preservation) which keeps us going even when the world around us is tying itself in knots while trying to establish secular peace.
As the city looks forward to yet another season of winter festivities with customary euphoria all around, one cannot but perceive these festivals as an expression of traditional faith carried down through generations. Even amidst an unprecedented orgy of buying and spending, the Chennaiite does not forget now and then to reflect and say a quiet thank you to the powers that be.
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