Selling Faith?

Located in a lower middle class society is Dige Bai’s home, which is crowded with people. A long queue extends from outside the gate o f her home till the hall where she’s seated. Dige Bai is a psychic- that’s what I would call. She claims to have the ability to communicate with God and get answers for our questions from him. In a way she is capable of being a medium between God and us. She also performs extortions. This is the manner in which she serves society.
Grandmother and mother had praised Dige Bai so much that I actually looked forward to pay a visit to her- simply out of curiosity to meet a Psychic. I soon got the opportunity.
Waiting in the queue I observed arrangements of devotee’s primary comforts like water and a small fan where present. After about forty five minutes, we entered a shrine. It was a small place, part of home, and so only limited people where allowed at a time. Though it seemed to be a pleasant place, the Gods where garlanded so much that they almost seemed like a heap of flowers. I could hardly have a glimpse of the Gods my Grandma had admired so much. After watching a very simple extortion performed by Dige Bai, we bowed, took her blessing and headed towards to a lady who had a register of question people had asked to Dige Bai and their respective answers which she had got from God after mediating for about a week.
Now, cane the real time to test. My mother had asked an obvious question about my marriage, a week ago and we where supposed to get an answer. We listed to the lady carefully, and left. After stepping out of all the chaos and crowd, I began analyzing the answer claimed to be given by God to Dige Bai. I would have certainly been impressed if she would have given a customized answer so a general question. Her answer was a standardized one. A little thinking could tell there wasn’t any divine intervention to the answers she was giving. I thought if these people were giving same answers for the same questions then how could Die Bai claim herself to be called a psychic or a divine human? Perhaps, she didn’t even read our questions; and had trained her assistants to give standard answers routine question.
Dige Bai’s experience made me wonder how ‘selling Faith’ had become a popular venture for many. Sheer number of so called ‘sadhus’ and ‘saanths’ found in our country would surprise anybody. Do we ever think how many of them are worthy enough to be called so? These people have gone launched a channel completely dedicated for their publicity and increasing their fame. It feels so sad to think how professionalism and materialism has corrupted even the noblest of occupations such as teaching and philosophy.
In today’s times where one is faced with multitude of challenges, oneought to feel bogged down at some point of time. In times of distress what one looks for a guiding light, something to reassure that a divine, invisible entity will take care of them. What one needs the most is ‘Faith’.
But most people are unsure about themselves; having Faith in something larger than them makes them feel secure and more confident.
What these so called people with divine powers and wisdom are doing is indeed good. They preach good things, enlighten ignorant minds and serve as guiding light to the Faith deficient. It is social service of a different kind. But as most social service organizations we know these are also a business of its own kind. In exchange for their guidance and mental security, they ask for our faith. One surrenders wholly, voluntarily so the so called “guru” who might not even be worthy of being trusted. We have to follow their line of thought, believe and practices, have to be loyal to them.
In the end it’s all mix of professionalism and ignorance and ultimately ‘ we ‘who decide what’s’ worth our Faith.