Guptas have right to pray
THE ancient Hindus were steeped in philosophy and the sciences of the mind. But they also belonged to worldly and materialistic societies.
They craved riches and might.
The Vedas – the oldest Hindu scriptures – refer to great yajnas or sacred rituals held to secure favours such as victories, wealth and power from various deities.
Yajnas were conducted by kings intent on acquiring wealth and power by subjugating neighbours.
In some cases the yajnas were held to ensure rainfall or good crops. In others they were held for selfish reasons such as the birth of a son or the boon of immortality.
So it should be no surprise the Gupta family is having a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha at the Military Museum near their Saxonwold, Joburg, home over seven days, from April 16 to 22.
The prayer event involves reading, preaching, interpreting and singing verses from the Shrimad Bhagwat, a sacred book which invokes devotion to Lord Vishnu, especially his incarnation, Lord Krishna.
Traditionally a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha is arranged for the upliftment and welfare of the people and society, who, by listening to the katha (religious storytelling) would understand God and learn the way to reach him, inducing spiritual growth within and, crucially, becoming righteous and virtuous human beings.
Some Joburg faith organisations believe it is “hypocritical” for the Guptas to hold such an event.
The Gupta brothers – Atul, Ajay and Rajesh – and their families, who arrived from Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1993, have stirred controversy because of their close relationship with President Jacob Zuma.
It is alleged they have undue influence, especially in business.
The Guptas are viewed by some as a “shadow government” as a result of claims about their influence on appointments to the cabinet.
Because of the family’s relationship with Zuma, a number of South African and international banking and audit firms decided to end their business dealings with Gupta-owned firms a year ago.
The Guptas’ political clout and meteoric rise as mining magnates – attributed to the family’s relationship with the president – became a campaign issue that negatively affected the ANC’s performance in the 2016 municipal elections.
Following Pravin Gordan’s dismissal as finance minister a few weeks ago, anti-Zuma protests were held across the country, including in front of the Gupta family estate in Joburg.
Resentment of the Guptas led local religious organisations to organise a boycott of the public prayer.
One of them released a statement saying: “We find it ironic that the Gupta family seeks to provide a public discourse on the life of Lord Krishna, given their role in the current challenges we face as a nation.
“Lord Krishna is the embodiment of love, virtue and mercy. He declared greed one of the three gates to hell. It is our view that the actions of the Gupta family are a gross violation of the teachings and life of Lord Krishna.
“While we respect the right of any family or individual to worship, we believe habitual wrongdoers should not be allowed to use worship to conceal their nefarious deeds or as a public relations exercise to turn the tide of public opinion.
“Prayer designed to conceal corrupt behaviour and to win public support is a futile exercise.”
Hindu priests and leaders have been urged to call on followers to boycott the Gupta event and to organise prayer activities and discourses “to encourage honesty, transparency and good governance in South Africa”.
The Johannesburg Against Injustice group said it was disingenuous of the Gupta family to host an event that encouraged humanity and public good when they practised the opposite.
Demonstrations were planned outside the prayer venue to ensure non-resident Indians, who the Guptas had targeted to attend the event, stayed away.
While the public outpouring of dissatisfaction with the Guptas was understandable, should attempts to trample on a prayer event organised and paid for by the family be condoned?
Some of the largest prayer functions in Chatsworth and Phoenix are bankrolled by gang lords and drug merchants.
Religion exists for people to redeem themselves and improve their morals and values.
Hinduism is a home for saints and sinners.
People who are perceived to be sinful must be encouraged to pray because this can only help enhance their character and ensure they progress spiritually.
Through the simple act of placing all his faith in God, man is capable of experiencing a complete change.
Scriptures have prescribed that one way of nurturing devotion is for man to express his adoration of the Almighty’s infinite qualities through song and gatherings.
We may oppose what the Guptas get up to in their business dealings, but this does not give us the right to oppose what they are doing religiously.
It is their prerogative if they want to pray for prosperity or to be freed from sin.