For the good of every living being

During the Dussera celebrations. A Kannada TV channel (I think it was TV 9) interviewed the current Wodeyar couple. The interviewer was probably keen on getting some patriotism out of the couple. She asked if all the celebrations/poojas were being done for oLitu of the nADu (good of state, and by god, she meant Karnataka state only!). To which, the Wodeyar queen replied by quoting a Sanskrit verse and said that it was for the good of mukkoti jeeva rashi, that is, every living thing of every kind everywhere in the world. The interviewer could not understand, digest the scale of these traditional Indian rituals performed by Kings and Queens for the well-being of everybody. She comforts herself by repeating, "Oh it is for the good of the state." How pathetic! The Wodeyar couple emphasized quite nicely that the traditional mantras were asking for the good of everybody, of the 14,000 types of living beings. How expansive our traditions have been, and lo what they have to be reduced to by a generation too ashamed to grasp them!  

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