Hindu Temple

As part of our SIMO training we visited one of the largest Hindu temples outside of India. These Hindus worship the reincarnation of Krishna and it is here that they tend to his every need. Around many of the windows of the temple are special ornate hand-carved pillars that take weeks to make. As you enter the temple women turn to the left and men turn to the right to special shoe rooms where the worshipers take off their shoes and store them in shelves. On the second floor is the main worship area and also the house of the idol. It is here that devotees gather six times a day for services. This particular sect of Hinduism worships only Krishna whom they believe is the god of all gods. He has been reincarnated in the form of a 11 year old boy. Each day his followers meet to waken him, feed him lunch, welcome him home from the fields and give him supper. They believe that Krishna's spirit comes and inhabits this special idol and helps his followers in sixteen different ways.

As I talked with some of the men who oversee the activities of the temple one man in particular wanted to show me the evidence of the power of Krishna. He brought a carefully wrapped mango that was once set before the idol as an offering. He pointed to a small line that ran around the top of the mango in such a way that he says shows the face of Krishna. He said these lines were not on the mango but after offering it to their god, he later noticed this strange design. He now adamantly believes that Krishna supernaturally marked this mango and because of that, he believes Krishna is with him and sees him. Later this same man showed us a coconut and a small leaf with similar markings. His faith was built upon these three things, because of a mango, coconut and leaf, he believed in the power of Krishna. I really began to think about what we base our faith upon. Why did I believe in Jesus Christ? Was it because of markings on a mango or because of the mark of God's love and forgiveness in my life? Obviously because of a changed life. This poor man only had a mango, coconut and leaf.

It was a very interesting trip. I gained a much better understanding of some of the beliefs of Hinduism and came away with a greater appreciation for the practicality and power of Christianity.