Out of whatever I remember this one today –
Daarji always told us one should do Ardaas daily. We as Kids were always excited for the Paath, followed by Ardaas, for the obvious reason, super-yumm Karrha Prashad given after the Ardaas, and as we grew, we still liked Prashad but Paath wasn’t exactly in our list. After years I and Soniya Di decided to do Paath regularly. Btw she always does some or other kind of Vrats, Poojas, tilak-arti as prescribed by her mother-in-law (thanks to the inter-caste marriage), So the set-up at her home includes few Murtis, Mata’s photo, some pooja’s elements, Mantra, Vidhi books along with Our Punjabi Paath gutkhas and the 10 gurus framed picture.
As decided, We prepared Karrha Prashad and sat for the Paath, To my wonder she chanted some regular mantras like Om Namah Shivay and all, then did a quick arti followed by tilak and handed me the Dukh-Bhanjani Sahib Paath gutkhas, though during the Paath It is stated that one should do it with complete concentration and should not think about anything else, But My mind wandered to how Life gets mixed at certain points, how we grow learning about our Gods to adapting new Gods, how certain praying rituals, culture is implanted in us during our childhood and how we are introduced to some new set of rules for Different Gods. Whole our lives we learn our religion, our culture and follow the so-called religious Preachers but still are bound in specific rulebooks. With the kind of vast cultures, religions and sub-religions that exists in our country and in the whole world, we actually have numerous rulebooks. In spite of all the diversities and different ways and procedures to follow and respect any religion, Ironically It is still said by all, God is One!
And I still enjoyed the Prayers for the two worlds, from the two worlds!
