Talk:Fastidious and Ostentatious Ritualism
Sometimes, some devotees make a great show of their prayers and follow all the rituals of worship scrupulously but mechanically. However, their worship is just superficial actions and in reality, the hypocritical worshipper is engaged mentally in worldly tasks. There is no use of this type of worship or devotion because it does not result in any spiritual progress.
The ignorant perform yajnas by offering a dog, others do it by offering cows. He who sacrifices his mind to the Divine is alone praiseworthy. Atharvaveda, Shaunakīya Samhitā 7.5.5
A true Bhakta does not make a big show of his spiritual practices. Bhakti does not require elaborate ceremonies, a lot of money or extremely scrupulous following of elaborate rules. What really matters are love for Bhagavān, shraddhā and the attitude of service towards Him. Bhagavān owns the entire universe. He has no use for fabulous temples, gold and diamonds. All this physical infrastructure is needed more for building a community and for other social purposes. In fact, during the long Islamic rule in India, the Muslim rulers smashed thousands of Hindu temples and broke the sacred mūrtis, but it still did not extinguish Hindu Dharma from the land, because Hindu saints guided the masses to follow the simple practices of Bhakti like Japa, kīrttana and so on. The following story illustrates how fake worship motivated by one’s pride is actually disliked by Bhagavān:
Story: The Grand Worship of Indra versus the Tears of a Poor Old Worshipper
In Heaven, Indra, the Lord of all Devas, once organized a grand Pūjā to worship the Devi. He offered numerous delicious dishes and flowers to Her on golden plates that were studded with gems. Rishi Durvāsā too attended the ceremony, and then decided to meet with the Devi herself. When he reached the abode of the Devi, he was shocked to see Her ill, and with boils and wounds all over Her body. He asked Her how She was injured. The Devi said, “I was injured by the flowers and dishes that Indra offered during his archanā because he did not offer them with bhakti or shraddhā. Instead, he did this just to show off his power and riches to others. Therefore, even his flowers hurt me like arrows. But I can be cured by my bhakti who worships me every day at the Vishālākshī Mandir in the city of Varanasi.” Rishi Durvāsā rushed to the Mandir, and saw an old man worshipping the Devi with flowers. He asked the old man if there was a physician who worshipped regularly at the Mandir, because the Devi had suffered injuries all over Her body. When the old man heard this, he started weeping and said, “My beloved Mother is not well! I am greatly grieved to hear this. I wish I knew who that physician is. Unfortunately I do not know him and am really sorry because my mother is suffering and I cannot do anything to help her.” The Rishi went back to see the Devi, but was surprised to see that She was radiant again, in her All Powerful Form. The Rishi asked, “How did this happen? I was not able to find the physician you had asked me to bring. Did he come on his own?” The Devi smiled and replied, “You did find that physician – the old man who is my true Bhakta. His flowers and his tears served like a powerful medicine. As they fell on my Mūrti, I was cured, because they were offered with love and reverence for Me.”