Is Hinduism losing it ?

"This was posted in orkut Hinduism Reloaded community by a Gurudutt
____________

http://www.orkut. com/CommMsgs. aspx?cmm= 21896160& tid=250936705254 0275265

This is a true account of my visit to Andhra Pradesh this week. On 7th jan I took off to Mantralayam a famous pilgrimage centre in AP. Mantralayam is in Adoni district and is surrounded by poor villages.It is the holy place where the great saint Sri Raghvendra swami entered jeevanta (alive) Samadhi after performing 12 years of penance. A large number of devotees from various parts of the country visit this sacred place every year.

I reached Mantralayam on 8th afternoon. I visited the temple premises and then rented a room in the temple. Then I took of to the sacred place Panchamukhi where Swami erformed .penance for 12 years and were blessed with the darshan of Lord Hanuman. Mantralayam is a well connected town with good mobile network and transport facilities. I hired a Rickshaw to Panchamukhi. A small village at 21 Km from Mantralayam.

As we reached the outskirts of Mantralayam I saw a hamlet full of Christian houses and a small church freshly painted in white. All houses were distinctly marked with huge Crosses on doors and an image of Christ on every house. I dismissed it as the local Christian population. Then as we moved some 5 Km I saw another huge church with many Christian houses surrounding
it. Now I grew curious and started closely observing all the houses aside the road. Majority of the houses were freshly decorated with colorful frills and Happy Christmas Slogans, a remainder of the Christmas celebratioins. Now we were at the entrance of Panchamukhi village with a huge Gopuram greeting us. But I grew nervous at the site of a huge Church under construction here
with a big Red Cross hung atop.

I looked inside the autorickshaw and saw a photo of Lord Krishna pasted on the top. I found hope and asked the driver in hindi why were so many churches being built in this area. He replied in typical Andhra tone addressing me as "Sir", he said "Sir every village in this district has more then one church. Some villages have 100% Christian population. Foreign se
bahut paisa aata hai( Lot of money flows from foreign). They (missionaries) build new houses for poor and give them vehicles like jeeps and rickshas for a living. Sir this region is very poor and farmers have gone bankrupt due to scant rains". He became quiet and I felt frustrated and the silence continued. I visited the Panchmukhi temple , a peaceful and serene place. While returning by the same road I again came across the Christian areas. The houses of the converts were newly and well built. The church was abuzz with activity with a huge crowd gathered in the compound. A old temple , few yards away was in a shabby and locked state.

The same night I took a train for Titupati , the abode of Lord Venkateshwara. I intended to get down at Renigunta Junction ,10 Km away from Tirupati. As My train neared the Renigunta station I was greeted by the glimpse of a huge Red colored Cross atop a newly built church. I reached Tirumala by Bus and completed the darshan by evening. Then I returned to
Tirupati and visited Padmavati temple. Since I had few hours still left for my train back to Mumbai, I visited the still being built, magnificent Krishna temple of ISKCON. While returning from the interiors of the Tirupati town by auto rickshaw I was shocked to see a huge Church named JAGANMATHA CHURCH, the same one which we saw in the conversion video.

I am sure that Andhra Pradesh has atleast 40% Christians in the interior remote areas.
I prayed to Lord Venkateshwara to help us stop this menace which is destroying sanatana dharma and sanatana culture.
--
Let noble thoughts come from all directions.

Rig Veda "


I believe what is being done is done because there is the oppurtunity to do so. If indeed religion can overcome poverty, then so be it. Let's think it as another way of development. As long as, the conversion to any religion is made willingly and not forced upon the individual.

I feel those practising Hinduism should not take it as a threat, instead analyze why such a thing is happening. Where was the mistake ? Did we not instill the believe GOD is great and he listens as long as we pray? Maybe we did not do enough. Gone are the days, where GOD is superior being. Nowdays money talks louder than prayers.

If changes should be made for the benefit of people, lets welcome it with hands wide open and not ridicule such changes. It's about time, Hinduism that's been practise thousand of years be modified to suit todays fast paced world.I'm a Hindu and my father thought me about the importance of praying everyday and saying manthras. That's my fathers' believes and I respect that. I don't pray everyday. I pray when I remember. I pray when I'm scared. I pray when I walk along a silent pathway, playing with my thoughts. I pray without having deities in front of me. I pray with the believe that god is around, somewhere. Is it wrong ? No. I pray because I feel from time to time , I need to bond with my buddy (read:God). I talk to him. I make jokes with him. That is my way.

I believe that temple is just a place of gathering to worship the mighty Lord. If I don't go to temple, that does not make me any less of a Hindu than any of you. If I do, it doesn't make me a great devotee. As long as I live as a Hindu, I practise what hinduism preaches (to a certain level) and respect other religions the way they are, I see no wrong in the statement above.

God knows what you are. God understand you.
After all, God made you.

-peace-