Sai Baba Gita - Chariot Festivals

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Sai Baba GitaJuly 13, 2004

Chariot Festivals

In India, there has been a tradition from ancient days for temples in villages

and towns to conduct chariot festivals. During these festivities the idol of

the deity installed in that temple is taken in procession. First, a huge

chariot is constructed for this purpose. Then the chariot is elaborately

decorated and a beautiful seat is provided therein for the deity. On the

auspicious day, the deity is transferred from the temple to the chariot with

appropriate rituals and incantations. The chariot is then taken through the

streets in a colorful procession pulled by devotees and preceded by groups of

dancers, musicians and singers. Along the course of the procession, many people

offer worship to the deity by lighting sacred lamps and waving them as the

chariot comes by.

During these festivals thousands of people gather, coming from all the

surrounding villages. Three kinds of people come. The first kind, which

constitutes the bulk of the people present for the festival, concentrate all

their attention on the chariot and its external appearance. Then there are

others who concentrate mostly on the sacred feelings generated by the

procession, such as the fervent piety of those who are pulling the chariot, the

ecstatic joy of the dancers and singers, and the reverence of the priests and

devotees who are offering worship. Thirdly, there are a few who recognize the

real purpose for which this festival has been arranged. Only this small handful

cares to have a vision of the indweller, the sacred person who is seated in the

chariot.

Of course, the festival is being celebrated for the purpose of installing the

image of God in the chariot. Without the representation of God, the festival

would have no meaning. This sacred figure inside the chariot represents the

indweller, who is God himself. But only the rare individual will turn his full

attention towards that divinity. Most people will see only the physical

appearance of the chariot, its decorations and other such things as the fine

raiment put on the sacred image inside, the costumes worn by the dancers and

musicians, and all the sound and color of the festivities. The largest number

will concentrate only on these external things. But there will also be some

people who concentrate their attention on the rituals of worship and the

offerings being made, such as the breaking of coconuts, the waving of lamps and

incense, and the devotion expressed through these rituals. The number of people

with this kind of vision and interest will be much smaller than those

who concentrate on the decorations, the dances and dramas and all the external

paraphernalia associated with the festival.

But the divine person who has been installed in this chariot, who is driving

this chariot and who is the resident of this chariot will be seen by only a

very small number of intensely-devoted people who yearn to have the sacred

vision of the divinity. In the huge throng turning out for the festival, such

people may be counted on the fingers of one's hand. For them, all the outer

trappings and all the sound and excitement of the procession will only get in

the way of their having a real vision of God. All they long for is to see and

be with their beautiful Lord, whose representation is seated in the chariot.

http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/saigita286.html

Sai Baba Gita, Compiled and edited by Al Drucker - Published by Atma Press -

http://www.atmapress.com - ISBN: 0963844903Online Edition:

http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/index.html

 

 

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