VEHICLE CEREMONY

A friend of mine with the intention of buying a new car referred to his 'jathagam' (astrological chart) and a numerologist.. ascertaining that the stars, and the chosen numbers cum color codes are correct in favour of him.
He than proceeded to book a car. He chose a white colored 'Opel' and requested for the number JH2969 to be registered (all arranged with cash inducement).

Happy with this, he made a further arrangement with the salesman for the new car to be delivered next Wednesday at 7.32 am. After some serious arguments the matter was settled for an extra cash. The car was delivered at "Lord Murugan" temple for the vehicle blessing ceremony.

Ceremony commenced. The priest went around the car with incense, followed by lighted camphor and sprinkled some holy water on the car with some utterance of magical verses. He wrote the word "OM" on the bonnet with sandal paste. He placed a lemon in front of each tyre and told my friend to drive over it slowly so as to squash the lemon. My friend after mumbling some prayers of his own did likewise. The priest than broke a coconut in front of the car. Money was transacted, and that completes the ceremony.

My friend is extremely happy and jubilant that the car is of the correct color, correct number and blessed by Lord Muruga. Few months later, I met him in town and enquired about his well being. He lamented that in his hurry to attend a wedding met with an accident and his daughter sitting at the back had a small tear in the forehead requiring a couple of stitches.

He went to the temple to pray and was told that luckily no death has occurred and only some shedding of blood. Well again a simple ceremony was done. Again money.

Well, with all the precautions and steps that he had undergone to buy a car seems to be a wasted effort in time and money and foolhardy. I too have a car that did not do the vehicle blessing ceremony. I too had some knocks here and there and some breakdowns. This is normal for a car that runs on engine that fails due to wear and tear or carelessness of the driver. It is normal.

How about the public mode of transportation (bus, taxi, lorry, train, aeroplane,ship ) that did not meet any blessing ceremony of "gods, colour, numbers ) and yet we gladly travel on them. Why?

One should trust one's own driving skill and the proper maintenance of the vehicle and not the stars, numbers or blessings of 'High Power'.

NOTE: The spare tyre did not receive the lemon treatment - and greater danger is lurking when he changes tyre.
A diverted trust.

GYNECOLOGIST

A relative of mine, where both husband and wife are reasonably educated and holding respectful jobs. The lady was in early pregnancy. She decided that she should consult a "samy" to ensure a safe delivery. This is because in previous pregnancy there was a miscarriage.

One day we all paid a visit to the temple. We brought along 3 different types of fruits, a large piece of red and yellow cloth, incense, joss stick, camphor and certainly money. After the lady had narrated her views, the samiar started his rituals and the invocation ceremony. Certainly he created an atmosphere of serenity.

The samiar than took a betel leaf and chanted some more verses and smeared yellow paste in the centre of the leaf. He stared at it for a long time, than glanced to the left, than to the right, than stared back at the leaf, and vehemently shook his head indicating that the message he saw was bad and an evil omen.

After this he said in a deep base voice that there is an old man with a stick standing guard at the main door of their house. It is this spirit that disturbs the peace and would make trouble for the unborn baby.

By now the lady is visibly frightened. The samy blessed her and said that he can reverse this bad situation and ensured a protection for the baby, and a safe delivery. He than took a lemon wrapped it up with the red and yellow cloth and a further invocation of the gods, gave it to her. He instructed her very seriously, that the lemon must be carried at all times, until delivery of the baby. And the grand finale was to tie the magic yellow strings.
The money was placed under the mat as the samy refused to touch it. Thus concluding the ceremony.

The poor lady carried the lemon whenever she leaves the house and for an extra safety placed a broom and a parang (a long knife) in front of the main door at nights.

Much regrettably three months later there was a miscarriage. The lemon was thrown into a flowing river as custom required it. This time the forces from the dark side won. Whew! at least for once the bad guys had won. They do not intend to sue the samiar.

I am puzzled why they did not trust the advise of a medical doctor.
A diverted trust.

NOT ENOUGH OF GODS

Whilst I was residing in Perak, a group of people approached me to know whether we wanted to book a bus to go to Penang to attend St. Ann's festival. I declined. On the given date three busload of devout Hindus proceeded to St. Ann's festival to receive blessings, cure some illness, or to solve some of their problems.

To me personally it is a mockery and a slap in the face. Isn't there enough gods, goddesses, demi gods, prophets and saints to satiate their faith. Then there is this magic yellow strings to protect them, the imported samiars (priests) who can commune with gods to grant favours...and many many more avenues to appease their desires in Hinduism alone. Why another. ?

Does it insinuate that the legion of Hindu gods is less powerful then other gods.
I don't get it. Do You.

Human minds are so flimsy and brittle that it can be swayed without any effort or an enquiry to reasons.

Everybody goes, so I follow, ideology is apt in this instance.
A diverted trust.