Respect vehicles of god to show true devotion: Maneka Gandhi

Dharmasthala, November 24: Former union minister Maneka Gandhi said that all the Hindu gods and goddess have animals and birds depicted as their vehicle. We can express real devotion only when we show concern towards the animals and birds.

Speaking at the Lakshadeepotsava and 79th 'Sarva Dharma Sammelan' held at Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala on Wednesday, she said that people worship the gods with great deal of devotion but they fail to show even a bit of respect to the animals and birds depicted as vehicles to the gods.

“These animals and birds are ill-treated and even made to death without any sanctity attached it them,” she lamented.

“We revere Lord Krishna but the peacocks, vehicle of Lord Karthikeya are killed and peacock feathers are sold in market. We respect goddess Durga but at the same time we hunt Tigers to earn money selling its pelt,” she said.

ISRO former chairman Dr G Madhavan Nair said inspite of development in science and technology, the religious discourses are helpful for the welfare.

“I have spent my life in the field of science. I am not a follower of any one particular religion. I have understood earth, galaxy through science. Still there is a power which was responsible for Big Bang. We human beings have understood only five per cent of the world around us. The complexity of the universe makes us believe that God created the world,” Nair said.

“We start believing the God when special and weird happenings take place in life. Luck works out in life,” he said citing an example of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

“There was no technical fault in GSLV. However, luck was not our side. It failed. There was cyclone in Arabian sea when we were about to launch satellite from Sriharikota. Seeing this many of our scientists broke 100 coconuts and prayed to God. Later, we realised that the cyclone had changed its path. It may be accidental or the handwork of the God,” he said.

“All the religions propagate peace. There is a need to develop respect towards other religion for the well-being of the society,” he added.

Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade was present. Bagalakote's Dr Bala Saheba Lokapura, Bijapur's Basheer Ahammed Umri and Prof Judith Pinto of Mangalore delivered lectures on the occasion. Maneka Gandhi and Madhavan Nair were felicitated on the occasion.