The Myth Called GOD... - Part 1

(Image source -  my.yoga-vidya.org)

When I was a child I was taught to worship Lord Ganesha, and to request Him to give me buddhi(intellegence),riddhi(satiety) and siddhi(achievement). I used to do that frequently.
It is a common custom to visit the Siddhivinayak Lord Ganesha to either ask Him to accomplish our desires, or to thank Him for fulfilling our desires. Even Big B Amitabh Bachchan goes to Him barefoot from his residence to Dadar. In recent days we are coming across longer and longer queues for visiting any kind of God, may it be Lord Ganesha or Tirupati Balaji or Shirdi Saibaba.
When I was going through a stormy period of my life, I repeatedly went to temples. I requested the lord to give me courage to overcome the hurdles. But He did not become merciful to me. Then a doubt struck my mind. Is it a real God to whom I am asking for a favor, or is it just a statue of God in the temple?

Then where is He in reality? Does He really exist? If so, why am I or many people visiting temples still suffering? Or does He not want to help us, but select people like Big B for his showers of blessings?

Then more questions started pouring in,and it became more confusing. Mythology tells us that Lord Shankar and Devi Parvati are father and mother of Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha had normal child-like head. He had not seen his father till his child age, as his father was meditating in Himalayas. One day his mother was taking a bath, and he was guarding the entrance; his father arrived. Child Lord Ganesha did not recognize his father, and did not allow him entry. Lord Shankar also did not recognize his son, and in anger beheaded him. Devi Parvati came out, and told the facts to her husband. Sorrowful Lord Shankar then searched for a baby elephant, beheaded it and transplanted its head onto his son Lord Ganesha.

Now more serious questions came in. Beheading a child for any reason can not be a Godly act. Uncontrolled anger is not a Godly sign. Ruthlessness to behead a baby elephant is not Godly behavior. Selfishness to take away a baby elephant from his mother, to give life to His own son can not be Godly conduct.

Now practical questions came in. Why do we destroy our own God Lord Ganesha statues to ruins? Why do we have to see the photographs of broken and humiliated statues across the sea shore year after year? Do we not have any respect for our God? Is God from other cultures better than ours? Will God from other cultures help me in my distress?

And then He sent me the light of knowledge. Every thing became clear like sunlight. I was relieved and very happy to be a follower of my own culture.

To be continued...