God Retires! A presumptuous headline beamed through all the major dailies of India in Oct. The occasion was the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, one of the most celebrated cricketers of modern times. His fans eulogized him: “Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my God”.
It showcases the illiteracy which has penetrated in Indian society about God and religion. It seems that Indians have forgotten the meaning of God and religion. Considered to be the holiest place on earth; people from all over the world throng to India for spiritual emancipation. India is a country where God walked and where sages and seers still drench themselves in spiritual fervour.
But sadly people today have a much skewed understanding about God. In Sanskrit God means parameshvarai.e. the supreme controller. God is the best in all aspects – he is the most beautiful, the most intelligent, the most magnanimous, the strongest, the most powerful, he is the proprietor of everything. No one can have all these qualities at a time or any of these qualities in full. Few mortals for short span of time may partially reflect one of these qualities.
Vedic books give detailed description of “Who is God”. Here are some examples: isvarah paramah Krishna — “Krishna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead” (Brahma-samhita 5.1); Krishna tu bhagavan svayam — “Lord Sri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.38). “Devaki’s son [Krishna] is the Supreme Lord” [Narayana Upanisad (4)]. Even Krishna Himself declares explicitly about His supreme position: mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya — “O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me” (Bhagavad-Gita 7.7).
So let us stop demeaning God by calling anyone as God. God is Always God & God Never Retires.
