Oh My God Part Six: God and Worship

BT Song 1602

In a recent phone conversation, a person asked me, “Which God do you worship?” I said, “I don’t worship any God.” Surprised by my response, he further asked, “Then which God do you believe in?” I said, “I don’t believe in any God, particularly in the word ‘GOD’ in any language.” Shocked further by such a response, he continued, “Then why have you written so many songs worshiping Gods?” In response, I said, “To communicate my thoughts to others, I have to use terms familiar to them. But in my life, personally, I don’t believe in any God. If I need any God, then my Guru is my God. For me, my relationship with Him is my act of worship. I never believe in the so-called ‘worshipping’ God by taking some time separately. There’s nothing wrong with it as part of sadhana for many. For me, abiding in the presence of my Guru and enjoying my relationship with Him is my constant act of worship. In that relationship, He comes to me in any form, taking any name that we use for human relationships like Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Friend, Master, Slave, Servant, etc. Whichever is my need, He will be with me in that form and name. That’s why one time I call Him my Mother, another time my lover, friend, and even servant. This relationship is not mere sentiment, emotion, experience, or feeling but goes beyond all human categories. He is not limited but happy to limit Himself to accommodate my needs.”

After that conversation, as I reflected on this, I wrote this song. As usual, it is very difficult to translate this song into another language.

I don’t know the actual meaning of the word ‘G—-O—-D.’ But all the words in my mother tongue [Tamil] have a definite meaning that denotes relationship. Iraivan [Head]; Thalaivan [Leader]; Kadavul [One who dwells within transcending everything]. I don’t need to give more words in other Indian languages and their meanings. Almost all of them have a definite meaning and, in most cases, denote relationships.

Similarly, I don’t know the meaning of the English word ‘Worship.’ But in Tamil, we have beautiful words, though there are others [like Kumbidudhal, Vanangudal, Panidhal, etc.] ‘Vazhipadudhal’ = Vazhi = path or way; Padudhal = walking, going in it. So worshiping God or Guru or even parents and other respectable people mean walking in the path they showed. But this walking is also possible only if one develops a personal relationship to learn. Otherwise, all other activities related to worship would remain mere ‘ritual’ physical acts.

Gurukulam, 19-4-2024

BT Song 1602

In a recent phone conversation, a person asked me, “Which God do you worship?” I said, “I don’t worship any God.” Surprised by my response, he further asked, “Then which God do you believe in?” I said, “I don’t believe in any God, particularly in the word ‘GOD’ in any language.” Shocked further by such a response, he continued, “Then why have you written so many songs worshiping Gods?” In response, I said, “To communicate my thoughts to others, I have to use terms familiar to them. But in my life, personally, I don’t believe in any God. If I need any God, then my Guru is my God. For me, my relationship with Him is my act of worship. I never believe in the so-called ‘worshipping’ God by taking some time separately. There’s nothing wrong with it as part of sadhana for many. For me, abiding in the presence of my Guru and enjoying my relationship with Him is my constant act of worship. In that relationship, He comes to me in any form, taking any name that we use for human relationships like Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Friend, Master, Slave, Servant, etc. Whichever is my need, He will be with me in that form and name. That’s why one time I call Him my Mother, another time my lover, friend, and even servant. This relationship is not mere sentiment, emotion, experience, or feeling but goes beyond all human categories. He is not limited but happy to limit Himself to accommodate my needs.”

After that conversation, as I reflected on this, I wrote this song. As usual, it is very difficult to translate this song into another language.

I don’t know the actual meaning of the word ‘G—-O—-D.’ But all the words in my mother tongue [Tamil] have a definite meaning that denotes relationship. Iraivan [Head]; Thalaivan [Leader]; Kadavul [One who dwells within transcending everything]. I don’t need to give more words in other Indian languages and their meanings. Almost all of them have a definite meaning and, in most cases, denote relationships.

Similarly, I don’t know the meaning of the English word ‘Worship.’ But in Tamil, we have beautiful words, though there are others [like Kumbidudhal, Vanangudal, Panidhal, etc.] ‘Vazhipadudhal’ = Vazhi = path or way; Padudhal = walking, going in it. So worshiping God or Guru or even parents and other respectable people mean walking in the path they showed. But this walking is also possible only if one develops a personal relationship to learn. Otherwise, all other activities related to worship would remain mere ‘ritual’ physical acts.

Gurukulam, 19-4-2024