Thought 57: Religious Karmas in Hinduism (Continued)

Vedaanta considers those who do religious Karmas and Upaasanas expecting a better life in the next Janma or do it for going to Pitru Loka (Chandra Loka) or heaven (Svarga Loka) for enjoyment after death, are ignorant people, who are consumed by a passion to possess and enjoy the worldly and heavenly things and pleasures. Those who focus on the worldly or heavenly enjoyment have wrong priorities – because worldly enjoyment is always accompanied by a lot of worldly misery also. In fact, the enjoyment portion is tiny compared to the misery component. Such persons have no control over their minds. Minds, which focus on worldly enjoyment, are considered to have “Maalinyam” (impurities) and “Chapalyam” (wild and random movement) in them.

When you have no control over your mind, it is but natural for you to feel compelled to act on whatever priorities your mind conceives. The priority of an uncontrolled mind is always enjoyment – and ever more enjoyment. Buddhi alone has the power to control the mind, but in such persons, Buddhi is not available for introspection and self-control. The minds of such persons successfully impose their own priorities. Their priority is always more enjoyment – and never less enjoyment.

Procedures are available in Hindu Saastras to invoke specific Devataas for fulfilling specific desires. Persons who do the Karmas and Upaasanas perform these rituals with great Sraddha. They are content and happy to worship these Devataas or gods. These Devataas and gods are controlled and governed by a superior power called Isvara. The devoties, who worship these Devatas and Devas, are not bothered about Isvara, who alone has the power to fulfill the desires of all devotees – no matter which Devataa or god they invoke in their worship. These persons do not know that nothing ever happens in this world, without the knowledge and consent of the Isvara, who is the Omnipresent, the Omniscient and the Omnipotent controller of all events in this universe. They do not know that Isvara (Vaasudeva) is everything; they do not know that he alone appears in the form of the Devataa or the god worshipped. These are the ignorant persons - who are deprived of discrimination.