Too many holy books, too confusing!

'Amma, what's the holy book of the Hindus?'

That was my daughter's question while studying for her last exam (G.K.) in this academic year. A little earlier she had asked me about the holy book of Sikhs and I told her, without any difficulty, that it is the Guru Granth Sahib. She already knew about The Bible and The Quran. So, coming back to her current question, I thought this is easy... and said the first thing that came to my mind - The Bhagavad Gita.

S: What is the meaning of holy?

Me: Holy is something that is divine, that is Godly.

S: Means?

Me: Hmmm... okay, we say the temple is a holy place because we believe God stays inside a temple. That means it's very divine and peaceful.

S: So everything about Gods will be holy?

Me: Yes, we can probably say that.

S: (asked hopefully) But what about the Ramayana and the Anjana?

Me: Anjana?

S: The story of Hanuman...

Me: (Ahhh, okay now I get it...) There is no such thing as 'Anjana'.

S: Then what about the story of small Krishna?

Me: (I don't like cartoon shows... Period!) That is Bhagavatam.

S: That is not a holy book?

Me: It is.

S: Then when Krishna becomes big also there are stories no? Peddi (aunt) told me many stories.

Me: That is the Mahabharata.

S: They are also about Gods, so they should also be holy no!

Me: If that's the logic we use, then yes they are also holy books.

S: Then the mantras they read in the temple are also holy books?

Me: Okay, the mantras used while worshiping Gods are written not just in one book but in many books. We find them in the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, etc.

S: We have so many holy books?

Me: Yes.

S: Amma, but Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs have only one holy book no.

Me: (my patience is totally running out) That's what I've told you in the beginning right!

S: But amma, why do we have so many holy books then? How can everybody read and remember so many things? They'll get confused no.

Me: (OH MY GOD, I've never thought about this in the past 30-plus years of my life) Maybe...

S: (In a conclusive tone of 'That's it') So we should also have only one holy book.

Me: (still shocked beyond words) Okay, but you better study now.

Nevertheless, once again, she got me thinking about the whole philosophy behind the holy books, the confused Hindus and the spirit of the religion. I felt sorry not only for myself but also for all my fellow Hindus for all the confusion that the many holy books must be creating in our minds as she has pointed out. How very sad indeed!

Of bikes and gyan sessions...

Today I had my first gyan session after ages! I am still trying to recollect when was the last time I had a counselling session and with whom... Was it my last boss trying to pep talk me into how to handle a project better and remotely? Or was it my mom trying to persuade me to have another baby? Maybe it was my husband trying to convince me to move out of journalism and join an MNC when I was too hesitant to take the leap?

I don't remember exactly how and what those sessions were like. But today's is something I'll probably never forget... because it has come from the MOST UNEXPECTED source and how! Yes, it was my seven-year-old devil again who had another brief conversation with me over lunch. SIGH!

I guess God alone knows how the mind of a seven-year-old works. So suddenly her mind was wandering towards bikes and women drivers (Why, oh why!) and S bursts out in her usual bubbly tone, with the similar touch of enthusiastic inquisitiveness:

S: Amma, why don't you drive a bike?

Me: Do you want to know the truth or can I tell a lie?

S: Tell me the truth amma.

Me: I'm scared.

S: (with a mischievous smile mingled with a concerned look) What is the lie?

Me: You know the truth, why do you need the lie now?

S: I want to know what you'll say... I think I can guess, but you tell me no. Please!

Me: Okay, I'd have said... I'm not interested.

S: I knew it. I thought you'll say that only or you'll say 'I like driving a car'.

Me: Hmmm... now you know!

S: I know you've this car mentality (wonder where she picked up the word) and so you're scared of driving a bike.

Me: (kept gawking at her with a 'what the...' expression on my face) Who told you?

S: I heard when you were telling nanna...

Me: Hmmm....

S: But you should get over your fear no amma, and drive a bike. It's easy.

Me: (thinking in my head 'what do you know...') Hmmm...

So, is it really time for me to retire to the Himalayas to live in peace and not worry about bikes, driving and daughters?