Sachin Tendulkar's visit to the Kukke Subramanya temple in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district has generated tonnes of publicity both for the cricket diety and the real one. Pictures of Sachin and his wife Anjali, and his brothers Ajit Tendulkar and Nitin Tendulkar, doing the various poojas associated with the two-day 'sarpa samskara' to overcome the naga dosha that he reportedly has, have dominated the front pages of newspapers and the air waves.
Admittedly, cricketers are intensely superstitious. Admittedly, it is Sachin's personal decision to do the poojas. And admittedly, every individual is entitled to his or her own religious beliefs.
Still, is such superstition such a good thing in this day and age? Is it such a good thing for such a superstar to unwittingly contribute to such superstition? If the curse of somebody in his family having killed a cobra did not prevent him from scoring 25,000 international runs, why should he feel it now? Or is it all a fault of the media for giving a private pooja so much publicity? And is a scientific temper something that will always elude us despite our avowed secularism?
There is nothing wrong with Sachin doing his pooja – His belief . But it is fault of the media giving so much publicity and also it is dobule fault on your side asking it in Churumuri poll – “Benkige thuppa suridange”
It is utterly wrong to have equated superstition with NagaDosha. If any one consult their horoscope to eminent astrolger they will say that a person is have naga dosha or not. It is a part of once’s jataka. It is not at all wrong on behalf of Tendulkar to have performed the same. If he feels that something have do be done for getting peace of mind i think he has every right to do so. As usual Media don’t have anything worth to publish off, so they made this private event into public ceremony. I am getting this feeling these days that instead of Investigative Journalism, this kind of petty journalism is geeting more importants as celebrities runs for cover.
But why didnt you condemn pakistani cricketers who claimed that their recent success in one-day matches is due to all of them taking to Islam seriously and reading Koran everyday ? Afraid ?
it is utterly stupid of anone to believe in all this superstitious mumbo jumbo.
he will hit a glorious zippity zip in this next match.
instead if he had paid the duty he owed to the government it would have done him and the government lot good.
yes, Sachin is on the right path.No doubt about it.
wow! I remeber in one match when sachin was captain he was having his pad on in pavilion, yeh long after he was out. Sunny was remarking that its his superstion…………never saw him again with his pad, after that.
From what I understand about superstition, it is about blind belief that something unrelated (and which is not under your control) can affect the outcome of whatever you do.
Belief in God can be attributed to being the same as well.
Unless either is being used to hurt another human being(in any which way), why exactly is to be abhorred or condemned?
Sachin is a super star and for the media any event connected with him makes a good news. Let us not be judgemental, it is their busines. For the public it is lively debate and as for Sachin it leasts affects him. To be superstitous is in built in every person. This is not the first time he exhibited this. Media reported his fixation for taking shower for a long time while india was playing. Does not every cricketer looks up to the unseen God in the sky whenever he complete a milestone?
It seems that even after having made advancement from a colony to a democratic republic, from cotton to BT cotton, from swords to missiles, during the past one century we haven’t changed much… Would we ever be able to break our social and religious illusions that are still keeping us locked in the vile realities?
A century before Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) said “I would rather see every one of you rank atheists than superstitious fools, for the atheist is alive, and you can make something of him. But if superstition enters, the brain is gone, the brain is softening, degradation has seized upon the life…. Mysterymongering and superstition are always signs of weakness.” (The discovery of India, JL Nehru)
“Passionately Vivekananda condemned the meaningless metaphysical discussions and arguments about ceremonials, and especially the touch-me-notism of the upper castes. “Our religion is in the kitchen. Our God is the cooking-pot, and our religion is: `don’t touch me, I am holy.”’” (The discovery of India, JL Nehru)
http://www.hinduism.fsnet.co.uk/namoma/life_swamiji/life_swamiji_nehru.htm
Whether Sachin’s belief in the supernatural irks the die-hard atheists or not, it’s his own decision to offer the poojas. Nobody can question his belief-superstitious or otherwise. Sometimes, our belief makes wonders. So, let him visit more temples and abodes of peace.
It’s amazing to see how dosha’s come into play when the willow doesn’t. Correct me if I am wrong does sarpa dosha happen by killing a Nagarahavu (cobra-snake)? If so has Sachin killed a cobra and is cobra an endangered species?
If its all true salman bhai you have a Jmate:)
In this country anything a demi god does becomes news, the media has succumbed to celebrity news value .
It is ridiculous that media carry it for two days consecutively. At this rate I will not be surprised to see them doing an opinion poll onj the topic will the pooja work for ganguly to get back his stand in the team
Guys… the media gives what the people want. I know a person who is working in a english channel in Delhi and all he did on that day was cut visuals of Sachin in the temple. Like TV guys say Sachin is a great TRP driver and anything with him is great!
I used to have a lovely cartoon from the 1930s in my cubicle in Delhi in which a newspaper reader says: “Why cannot we have a free, fair, bold, gutsy, independent, unbiased, objective newspaper—that reflects my point of view.” Ditto and likewise in the Sachin Tendulkar issue. Churumuri respects the personal decisions and beliefs of whosoever it may concern, especially when it involves religion and faith. However, as long as these are conducted in the public realm, there is nothing that should stop us from debating and discussing issues with candour and without rancour. We aren’t Saudi Arabia, are we? Or are we on the way?
becoming like Saudi??? god forbid!!….about a year back in this part of the world…the ruler of the UAE passed away and the death was kept unannounced as there was a power struggle on to see which of his countless sons would take over…it was common knowledge on the streets that the old man had popped it, but the newspapers kept talking about what he was up to everyday for as long as it took for the palace to sort out ther affairs!!…in fact, just the day before they officially announced it in the papers, he reshuffled the cabinet,,,a good two months after he died!!
If Sachin could score so many runs and so many tons with the ‘dosha’, maybe more players must be wishing that they too had this.
Sachin is right in doing what he wants to do. it is his personal matter. but we should not compare this with his failure. And at the same time all the beliefs are not superstitious. Without beliefs one cannot live in this world. different people will have their own beliefs. it is common that one’s belief can look silly to another. for example musician Mr. A.R. Rehman is a hindu by birth. Mr. L.K. Advani gave a public message to perform pojas, homas for Mr. Promod Mahajans recovery, result is known to all.
It won’t be surpring, if Greg Chappell conducts his next camp in Kukke Subramanya after taking an oil bath at 4 a.m.All the players,coaches,Board Officials would have been sanitized the previous evening with Prasadam from Haji Ali Durgah,St. Mary’s Church, Meenakshi Temple from Madurai. The Patch before a one day Match would be cleansed from effects of Shani by the curator going round the square with Ganga Jal. Ditto for 5 dyas for a test match.The stumps would be smeared with Vibhuthi and kumkuma so that the wickets do not fall easily..Reverse the process if you are fielding……