A DIVINE Fight

Recently while I was on a coffee break at client site discussing US markets, rising oil prices with my co-workers, we had an additional member at our table. He is a trustee member (Treasurer) of an Indian Temple in Dallas area. (There are close to 6 or more active Hindu temples in Dallas area..)

Although he was a religious guy, I commend his free thinking mind - (Well I don't want to get into religion Vs. Free thinking fight, but I guess everyone agrees there are some religious nut jobs, who won't think twice before slamming jets into buildings or shred themselves into pieces all the name of God).

One of my coworkers asked him that there were folks knocking on his door informing about a new (Jain?) temple coming up in the area. The temple guy (TG from now) agreed to that & said there was one more temple coming in addition & they raised 1 Million USD for that temple. I was thrown back hearing 1 Million USD being raised in funds for temple.

So he started explaining things about the temple he works at, how many weeks they perform Pooja, Aarti etc. Slowly the discussion diverted from divinity to humanity. Apparently there are people (of Indian origin) in Dallas area who are very bound to Abhishekam on their favorite Gods. According to TG, the problem is not in Abhishekam but in disposing off the Abhishekam article. And people are very particular and enthusiastic about bringing gallons and pounds of Ghee, Special kinds of oils, Milk. TG offered them the way of offering 1-2 spoons on the God & the rest of it to be used in preparation of prasadam or dinner. 'NO WAY! We want our God to have a full bath in fat free skim milk, with extra butter!'. In the US, cities (local city level governments) are very particular about what you put into sewer system, including from temples. I asked him 'Is the city OK with this?' TG replied 'No, City doesn't know about this, If they know about us, they will probably slam a big fine on temple.' !!! Wait a minute, is it really temple??

The real kicker comes in about the people who are fighting ON the temple board. Apparently one particular ethnic group (from India) of people have been maintaining temples from a long time & in the recent years a new ethnic group (from India) became active & dominating in the temples circle. The latter is trying to oust out former group.

TG explained about his son who is studying in US in a med school & is on apprenticeship touring in Uganda. He wanted to take his dad's help in raising awareness & funds for digging wells in Uganda. TG had posted some fliers around temple for this, but as expected people were busy fighting bringing tons of ghee, fighting politics, raising 1 Million USD for building new temples than donating a mere 500$ to dig water wells in poor African countries.

I began to think 'Men will be men, whether they are in US/India or working in a temple or how well paid they are - no better than a bunch of 5 year olds. GOD is GREAT!'