Kerala   

Keeping an open eye and mind on spiritual matters

It is an accepted fact that human beings are not free from the clutches of fear, especially fear of the future on account of its total uncertainty. Lust for power and wealth are the motivation for someone to act as a ‘godman’ or ‘godwoman.’ Highly influential persons get in touch with them often, which in turn give these “divinities” a boost and attract the masses.

Amassing whatever they can these “divinities” do their vanishing act. Keralites really know this but…

R. Parameswaran

Palakkad

It was the fraudulent actions of Santhosh Madhavan that became the Achilles’ heel of several godmen, including him. Actually some of the small “godmen’s” cottage industries have been raided because of this. However, bigger firms owned by mega “godmen and godwomen” are still active.

“Godmen” and “godwomen” who run professional colleges become cultural personalities. Some “godmen” and “godwomen” play the role of physicians also. Several quacks practise Unani and Ayurveda and other systems of medicine without any qualification. Medical representatives of reputed companies visit them regularly.

Every literate or illiterate man can now practice indigenous systems of medicine without any education or experience. In Kerala, the Malabar area is a paradise for quacks because they legally succeed in passing through the loopholes of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Council Act. Yoga is practised by non-medical persons; some of them claim super-human powers. Some yogic postures may affect the body if they are practised without the supervision of a knowledgeable person.

There is a symbiotic relationship existing between godmen and political leaders. Hindu and Muslim communal organisations expand their hold with the help of godmen and godwomen.

P.A. Aboobaker

Kottakkal

If there is a place on earth where anything goes, it must be Kerala. For example, the emergence of “godmen” and “godwomen” from nowhere with the sole aim of cheating and swindling people is a matter to be concerned about. To call these swindlers godmen and godwomen would be a complete misnomer by all accounts. Most of those who have fallen prey to them are either illiterate or weak-minded.

Since the “godmen” and “godwomen” are making their presence felt, the authorities should lose no time to bring them to book or find a place for them in the lunatic asylum. Remember, unscientific methods are no lasting remedy.

K.G. Koru Kuttan Nair

Palakkad

At the outset let me congratulate the media for bringing out the like of Santhosh Madhavan and Bhadran to the stage. It is high time that we put these fake godmen and godwomen behind the bars. Most often, the big shots will try to help. Some police officers, ministers and party leaders are running around to save these people.

There should be no discrimination on the basis of cast, religion, political party or his/her status in the society; let godmen and godwomen go behind the bars. The authorities are supporting these godmen and that is how they managed to get gun licences and contacts with ministers and police officials.

Those who were arrested recently made their money by cheating the public. Some even invested this money in real estate and cinema. The media should focus more on them. Otherwise when the interest of the media and the public wanes, they will try to set themselves free and start their business once again.

P. Sankaranarayanan

Thripunithura

While Santhosh Madhavan is in police custody, the State government is hunting for other godmen and godwomen in the State only to divert the people’s attention from the failure of the government after completing two years in power. It is true that Santhosh Madhavan and Bhadran have connections with the high and the mighty, but most of them are finding it as a way for their livelihood. The police should continue their drive against godmen, be it a Hindu, Christian or Muslim. If found guilty of cheating the public, they should be sent to jail. Most of them are dupes.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Poonithura

We cannot fully blame the political leaders for their corruption and mafia nexus. They only reflect the attitude of the society they represent. We are no more the people of 1950s and 60s who treasured human values than material pleasures. Now we are going through a period where in material pleasures—things that money can buy—are more valued. When men and women in society madly go after material welfare, sometimes their common sense takes the backstage.

It is here that godmen and godwomen score. The media, the visual media in particular, is also after the rich and the mighty. They are too busy showcasing filmstars, when the more talented non-film artistes are neglected. What is message that the media are trying to send? Violence and glamour of money.

In our society, people are reluctant to bribe are considered naïve, and those who go to any extent to get their work done are called smart. We need a paradigm shift in social values and it should start from kindergarden. Children will love, care and compassion should be appreciated more in public, than those who score high marks in exams. Everyday the print and the visual media should carry at least one real life story of persons whose services have benefited society. We might have to wait for another leader like Gandhi or Jesus to uplift our morals.

Ganeshan P.N.

Ernakulam

Godmen and faith-healers are frauds; astrologers are charlatans, and charitable institutions money-spinning propositions. Politicians want them for vote-bank and businessmen for captive custom. Common man wants them for prestige because he feels that a religious aura will give him a little respectability, which he otherwise lacks.

People enjoy higher purchasing power. They can afford faith and superstition. After all what is faith, superstition in disguise! The question of faith arises only in matters that defy common sense and ready acceptance. Superstition sells.

A minister is reported to have said that by virtue of the portfolio he handled he could keep company of godmen. Does he mean that the minister in charge of jails should keep company of thieves?

It is common sense that God is not partial to anybody to bestow him with super-human faculty or the power of divination. One can become great or saintly by constantly refining one’s character.

A typical case in point is M.K. Gandhi. Saintly persons want nothing for themselves. Paramahansa, Ramana Maharishi or Sirdi Sai Baba wanted nothing for themselves. They lived for others.

P.V. Divakaran

Avittathur

When people get frustrated with their problems that cannot be solved in spite of their best possible efforts, they approach godmen or godwomen. These people have skills to con the people and make them believe. They gain popularity by word of mouth. Once the godmen and godwomen realise that they have a following, it is easy for them to gather crowds by their empty talk. They will identify those who are rich and extract money from them.

V. Venkitasubramanian

Thammanam

It is unnerving that in a literate Kerala, godmen and godwomen are spurting more and more to exploit the easily vulnerable members of society. Most Malayalis have a vulnerable mindset and get easily taunted by the whims and machinations of unscrupulous sanyasins. It is incumbent on the authorities to insist on valid registrations by individuals and institutions before putting up boards for religious practices.

K.B. Rajagopalan

Kochi

Every person has his or her own problems, big or small. They must know that any ‘godman’ or ‘godwoman’ cannot solve it. These problems can be solved with the help of their family members or friends. The media, especially print media, spend more space for articles related to astrologers and “miracles” and publishing advertisements of these “godmen” and astrologers. The Left Democratic Front government has a vital role to play in ending this trend.

Unnikrishnan Manjeri

Manjeri

The recent revelations on fake sanyasis are symptomatic of a deep malaise. Despite the State’s great strides in social sectors and a strong progressive movement, an average Malayali feels insecure. He takes to those fake godmen for solace. He is superstitious and caste-conscious.

The disclosures about the so-called godmen and godwomen should be viewed in this context. They flourish on people’s ignorance and gullibility and must be exposed. The government must act with an iron hand. If necessary, proper legislation must be enacted to control the tendency. People should be called upon to render all possible help in this regard. After all, every citizen has a duty to cultivate and develop a scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

R.K. Vijay Nambiar

Kannur

Keralites seem to be maintaining the highest order in almost all kinds of activities. They are not only the highest in literacy and health, but also in alcohol consumption. Anything in Kerala thrives because of the people’s spirit of adventurism, and thirst for spititual activities cannot be different from the rest. This has made spirituality a tradable commodity. The state, therefore, witnessed mushrooming of many ashrams and godmen and godwomen. The extra-ordinary influence of these miracle performers did create an influence on the society. It is nothing, but exploitation of human tendency to reach the zenith. I have nothing against true spiritual gurus. Those in power should exercise their discretion to differentiate between the good and the bad.

Capt.O.B. Nair

Poonithura

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