Posted on: 22-07-07 22:15:10
I was just checking clipings from CTV for Hindu Temple opening in Toronto
Its just amazing
I still remember when I saw other building along with this when under Construction
Nice to see so many Indians in traditional dresses, views from Indian family, dances etc
Any one from this forum attended the opening ceremony
Just come in mind
Do you think calling Politicians in Canada is RIGHT thing to do?
If not then what could have been better option for such opening ceremony
I was there on Sunday, it was a pretty grand event! Could've been better managed, but at the same time, there were a LOT of people.
The temple itself is stunning to say the least! Even if you're not Hindu, it is definitely a building to check out. I felt pretty proud standing in the crowd yesterday...
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yes, I saw the live coverage on TV [sahara One]. Even my boss [General manager] and his wife, who are french from quebec, went there and asked me today about it.
I heard it is a beautiful structure as well. I will visit it with my family.
I don't want to ruffle any feathers but on a different note, I would like to ask my fellow CDs why a place of worship can't be modest? Why does it have to be so damn glamorous? Why does it have to be so damn pompous?
I personally go to smaller temples, where there are lesser number of people, where there's some peace, where I can to some extent sit and really pray to God, where there are not huge lineups for a 2 minute glimpse...
What's the point in building such humungous religious structures...where the focus of mankind is on the beauty of the structure...and not on the actual premise?
Quote:
Originally posted by mynameisraj
I don't want to ruffle any feathers but on a different note, I would like to ask my fellow CDs why a place of worship can't be modest? Why does it have to be so damn glamorous? Why does it have to be so damn pompous?
I personally go to smaller temples, where there are lesser number of people, where there's some peace, where I can to some extent sit and really pray to God, where there are not huge lineups for a 2 minute glimpse...
What's the point in building such humungous religious structures...where the focus of mankind is on the beauty of the structure...and not on the actual premise?
I was wondering when this was going to be asked, it was only a matter of time.... :-)
My late grandfather in his younger days used to protest the "chappan bhog" puja (an elaborate yearly (?) puja where they make 56 dishes offered as prasad, it amounts to a LOT of food) by going on a hunger strike across the temple where it was organized. He was rigidly against it in a country where so many people go hungry every day (most of the prasad would go to waste). We also never used to get people asking for donations for Ganesh chaturthi in our home, because he would lecture every guy who came on the fact that it was criminal to "waste" so much money on the fesivities while so many kids go hungry every night in our country. And he wasn't an atheist by any means, he believed in the Gita with all his heart.
From a purely ethical perspective, I think he was spot-on. Was he being practical? He knew himself he wasn't. Organized religion is about so more than ethics or God. It is about pomp and politics as much as it is about God and the pursuit of spiritualism. Whether right or wrong, Keeping the masses engaged in religion takes a lot more than just a philosophy.
And I think that's the true purpose of the glorious and lavish architecture...keeping the masses engaged. It is a building block of every organized religion that exists and wants to flourish. The physcial structure is part of the premise.
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Quote:
Originally posted by BlueLobster
From a purely ethical perspective, I think he was spot-on. Was he being practical? He knew himself he wasn't. Organized religion is about so more than ethics or God. It is about pomp and politics as much as it is about God and the pursuit of spiritualism. Whether right or wrong, Keeping the masses engaged in religion takes a lot more than just a philosophy.
And I think that's the true purpose of the glorious and lavish architecture...keeping the masses engaged. It is a building block of every organized religion that exists and wants to flourish. The physcial structure is part of the premise.
I agree to some extent. That is however probably, just one of the reasons.
The returns of investment in space programs and even military research, is not always obvious and at times their objectives even unethical. Yet these resulted in many useful inventions, including freeze dried food,cat scans etc. Another good example is the microwave. It was first discovered by a Raytheon (defense technology leader) scientist in his lab, when he stopped to look at a magnetron (in a military radar set) and noticed that the chocolate bar in his pocket was melting. Similarly the GPS was originally built to pinpoint location of troops in the battlefield.
Most of the legacies of the past be it from the ancient Egyptians, Incas, Moghuls, Hindus etc, were partly or wholly due to religious influences of the times. Every new monument enabled humankind to expand their knowlegde of art, tools, architecture, engineering, mettallurgy, astronomy etc. Many of the monuments...be it the Taj mahal or the pyramids of Peru and Egypt were achieved(atleast in part) by or for dubious means and practices (e.g: slave labor, human sacrifice). That does not take away from the fact that they did contribute in the building of those civilizations and advancement to humankind in different areas.
Sometimes, religious monuments also help preserve the knowledge and cultural legacies and art forms that often do not have the patronage of the state in these times (unlike earlier).
For those so inclined even a rock is a good place to pray. For others a huge monument is the answer. We need all kinds.
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Quote:
Originally posted by jake3d
Sometimes, religious monuments also help preserve the knowledge and cultural legacies and art forms that often do not have the patronage of the state in these times (unlike earlier).
Totally agreed, I was actually thinking about this after I posted but didn't have time to come back and repost or edit my post.
What I wrote was one of the reasons but a pretty important one at that (and not an easy one to acknowledge)
Irrespective of all of that, its a beautiful mandir. And I think it was Keats who said "A thing of beauty is a joy forever". I'd strongly suggest people visit, whatever your religious inclinations may be. I feel proud as someone of Indian heritage at seeing the temple much more so than I do as a hindu.
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