HAVE YOU MET GOD OF SAFETY IN INDIA?

IS THERE A GOD OF SAFETY?

What is happening in Japan holds out lessons for us in India.

IS THERE A GOD OF SAFETY?

What was remarkable about the Japanese have been commented upon in our media but it may be worth recalling some aspects :

[a] The orderliness of common people—they stood in queues at shops

[b] they did not loot from supermarkets

[c] they did not steal from the dead

[d] tall buildings in Tokyo leaned to the extent of 15 * but did not collapse. Not even a window was shattered.

[e] the country being quake prone had taken every conceivable precaution including designing buildings to be quake proof , training people on how to handle emergencies

[f] the very culture of the people involved co- operation

[g] Utmost importance to safety in every aspect of life

It is the last that I intend to dwell on.

Hinduism—the predominant religion in India-- has a god or goddess for every conceivable human problem, dilemma ,situation and disease.

Thus one prays almost daily to goddess Lakshmi for wealth—which in view of our long history of poverty and obsession for money is understandable.

Saraswati is paid obeisance to, for education—a salutary concern.

Ganesha bestows blessings whenever we start a venture –from cricket matches to a wedding to a music or dance programme to inaugurating a new business.

--there are deites for each diseased organ of our body

-There are deities that bless you at the start of a long road journey the most recent creation being ‘Highwayswara’ outside Bangalore.

--Depending on which examination you are appearing for, you visit a different temple .Thus in Chennai there is a temple that CA students throng to in May and November on the eve of CA exams. MBA students rarely show up there unless they are appearing for a test on finance and accounts.

--there are different deities you pray to if you desired a visa to different countries. The temple for a US visa—again near Chennai-- is not worth a visit if you intend migrating to Outer Mongolia.

My question is this—Is there a god for safety ?

I have spoken to some pious Hindus about my search for a’ safety’ deity . People who recounted several of the 30 crore deities , could not name any deity devoted exclusively to safety of life . Lakhmi was the closest they could come to but this in my view of the obsessive emphasis that we lay on safety of our assets rather than on life especially if the owner of that life is someone else.

While one cannot resist concluding that the absence of a deity for safety reflects our lack of concern for this. I am prepared to wait till I receive clarification from readers.

WHAT IS THE NAME FOR THE GOD OR GODDESS FOR SAFETY ?

Taking liberties from what Votaire said ,if there is no god for safety we will have to create one.

K.R.RAVI