It was last year, in the winters. A simple day, a simple visit to the temple from my favourite pilgrim city, Varanasi. I had just visited Vishwanath temple few days ago. Still a part of me was urging me to visit that. That part was not the spiritual one, that was the fearful one which was anxious that it may not be auspicious to not visit today.
I resisted that part, I instead visited Sarnath, the archaeological site of importance. I walked down the memory lane, when I was in town for Air Force selection board and had visited Sarnath for one and only time. I went to the museum, and stumbled upon perhaps one of the greatest Shiva statues instead, magnificence of which is still in memory. I went to the Sankat Mochan temple then, as I find that as a calming place, and luckily happened to attend the Sundarkand paath, first of the year. While the adobe of Shri Hanuman gave me a peaceful sensation as usual, there still was some anxiousness lurking behind.
Why is there the anxiety, why is there that stupid fear where there should be fearlessness. Is it because of the flawed motivation behind puja, which is done to get into heaven, or go to hell if you don’t? Is it because of all jyotish around, subtly suggesting that there may be some problems in future and you should go for remedy? Was it the fears amongst other visitors, which was washing up on me somehow? Or was it because I was tired from the day’s work and the fatigue was catching up in form of anxiety?
Whatever the reason maybe, that’s not your mind should get governed by. Your life’s pursuit is to gain knowledge, and knowledge comes from fearlessness. Your spirituality is the cornerstone upon which your mind is built. So throw away the fears, look at things rationally. Your God lives in your mind, and to be in pursuit of knowledge is to pray to him. You are not meant to fear God, you are meant to love him. Fear comes from the unknown, and to know is to love.
Think It Yourself 