A good friend of mine, during our discussion on religion, said very jovially that he doesn't mind going to as many gods as possible, with a begging bowl, so long as any one of those gods answer him and give him what he wants. Well, this is the general tendency in India. I have heard this expression from many people, some educated and highly placed, some uneducated and lowly placed, and any number in between. Taken in this way, it is beneficial to have a large number of gods on role, so you can go to any one of them or all of them depending on your need. This is polytheism at its best.
In a reversal of matters, just think what happens, if none of the gods respond. Then you are in a quandary! Or imagine many of them want to help you and jump into the foray, one competing with the other to do you the favor you had asked. I am almost reminded of the Greek gods who showered their favors on certain individuals, like for example, Hercules, who happened to be their favorite among human beings! Now that could invite trouble. You may not know which god is doing you the favor and might by mistake offer your thanks giving offerings to the wrong god, setting that one to be angry with you and you end up in a mess.
This also makes one shallow and disinterested in the matters of life and death, involving the ultimate questions relating to life itself, like where do you end up after death? What happens to your soul? Where does it go? Is there life after death and so on. Any in depth search into these questions is considered hardly relevant. Why bother!
So what is the remedy? Well, my only advice to my friend would be, stick to one God, the Almighty, the Creator of heavens and earth, who has no rivals, who is mighty in His deeds and is able to save your soul for eternity. Search for such a One and worship Him, and not fritter away your adoration that legitimately belongs to One on many.
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