Buying blessings

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No free laddus at Tirupati from next year - source-Times news network

Balaji will no longer bless you for free. Now the Tirupati laddu, that delicious prasadam received by every hand that was raised to praise the lord will have to be bought. Also those who wanted a ‘take away’ version of the blessing will have to pay double the price for each laddu. Now that’s what it means when they say ‘there are no free lunches’. Not even in God’s kitchen.

If you ask me, I say this is reformist. Just last year a family member returned from Tirupati, with a frown instead of flowers. The tale of how temple staff pushed those who greased their palms close to the Lord’s feet, and shoved other unsuspecting devotees away through the queue made my devotion plunge into doubts. Then my naïve relative recounted how some people got more laddus while she was handed just one. Obviously she was unaware of the Cash for Laddu routine. I was horrified. How do you feel spiritual or close to God if you buy your way to Him? How can you pay for blessings?

At least now the price tag on faith is official. It will get documented, accounted and verified. We can hope that the money collected will be well spent on charity or security. This is Kalyug, so let us not hope for everything ideal. Buying legal blessings is still better than bribing for better ‘bhakti’.

Author: Prachi Wagh | Published Dec 20, 2009 | 09:00:00 AM

Loves and lives Mumbai. Journalist and traveler. The city is home. It is also a way of life. The city that makes me who I am, every day, all the time....