From the dawn of civilization, humans have sought ways to connect with the divine. We’ve built grand temples, offered precious metals, and adorned deities with jewels, believing that such offerings would bring favour, protection, and prosperity. But in this pursuit, have we lost sight of what truly matters?
The Almighty, the Supreme—be it Gods or Goddesses—never asked for gold, diamonds, or wealth. If the Almighty created everything, why would God need anything from us? The essence of Sanatan Dharma is to protect Dharma, and in turn, Dharma will protect you. When you stand united, you can fight evil. Moreover, if you help the poor and needy, God will acknowledge your deeds. It is not the material wealth we offer that connects us to the divine, but our deeds, our love, and our sincerity. Unfortunately, few truly believe in these principles today.
But where did the concept of offering material wealth to God originate?
From the very beginning, human beings have strived for superiority in every aspect of life. People have always sought to accumulate wealth, comfort, happiness, love, and all that is good. With this desire comes the fear of losing what they possess. This fear led to the creation of prayers to the Supreme Power, asking for strength, power, and wisdom to protect their possessions and gather more. Thus, offerings began. People started offering a portion of their possessions to God as a gesture of gratitude, hoping to receive more in return. But does God, who created everything, really need anything from the material world? The answer is No.
However, the human mind is often more concerned with worldly gains than spiritual truths. To amass wealth, people sometimes resort to shortcuts, even bribery. And whom do they bribe first? God. People offer money, wealth, food, costly clothes, and jewellery to God, expecting more of the same in return, along with protection and security. In my opinion, if you must offer something to God, it should not be material wealth. Instead, offer your faith, sincerity, honesty, and love, along with a promise to remain steadfast on the path of humanity.
In today’s world, where the race for material success often overshadows spiritual values, it is crucial to remember that God does not need our wealth. What the divine seeks is our commitment to living a life of Dharma, a life that is just, compassionate, and filled with love for all beings. This is the offering that truly matters. So, the next time we stand before the deity, let us reflect on what we are offering. Instead of focusing on material wealth, let us offer our unwavering faith, our honest deeds, and our love for all of humanity. For in these offerings, we find the true connection with the divine—a connection that is beyond the material and rooted deeply in the spiritual.
I would like to end this write-up with two incidents related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA) to showcase the true essence of offering beyond materialistic desire.
The first incident took place in Rangoon (now Yangon). On Netaji’s birthday, the residents of Rangoon decided to weigh him with gold and other precious gems and jewellery. The collected amount would be donated to the INA for the war against the British and for India’s freedom. During the event, an elderly woman came forward and placed a silver-framed photograph of her only son on the scale. Others objected, stating that only gold and precious gems or jewellery could be donated. The woman replied that her son, who had died as a soldier in the INA, was her only possession, and she would have given her second son to the nation if she had one. The photograph was all she had left. Her words left everyone in stunned silence. Netaji declared that her donation was the most valuable of all because she had sacrificed everything she had for the nation, even though it might not have monetary value compared to the gold and jewellery donated by others.
The second incident occurred in Singapore in 1943, during World War II. The Tamil Hindu trading community in Singapore invited Netaji to a grand function at the Chettiar Temple for a fundraising event for the INA’s provisional government. Although the Chettiar community had been a significant financial supporter from the beginning, Netaji initially declined the invitation. He refused to visit a temple where caste and religion were discriminated against, believing that religion and matters of the state should not mix. The priests clarified that the event was not about religion or caste but was a nationalist event. Netaji then stated that if he were to attend, his entire team, comprising people from all religions and castes, would also attend. He emphasized that he would not go as Subhas Bose, but as Netaji Subhas Bose, representing the entire INA. The temple community agreed, with the condition that everyone, regardless of their religion or caste, would be welcomed, but they must enter the temple barefoot. Respecting each other’s sentiments, Netaji and his team attended the event barefoot.
Jai Bharat, Jai Dharma.