God is not found in Temples

Sudhir Phadke

The Marathi devotional song "Deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi" which poetically illustrates the presence of the supreme Lord within, not in the temples and pilgrimages, is beautifully rendered  by Sudhir Phadke, an accomplished Marathi singer and composer. This song was eloquently penned by Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar, a poet, lyricist, writer and actor (popularly known as Ga Di Ma in Maharashtra). Ga Di Ma also has the credit for re-writing the Indian epic Ramayana in a poetic form called " Geet Ramayana"  to which again Sudhir Phadke had given his immortal voice.

The song "Deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi" beautifully conveys the universal divine message that the God is everywhere and eminent in everything. The song in Marathi with its English translation is given below;

देव देव्हार्यात नाही, देव नाही देवालयी
देव देव्हार्यात नाही, देव नाही देवालयी
देव चोरुन नेईल, अशी कोणाची पुण्याई
देव देव्हार्यात नाही, देव नाही देवालयी

देव अंतरात नांदे, देव दाही दिशी कोंदे
देव आभाळी सागरी, देव आहे चराचरी
देव शोधूनिया पाही, देव सर्वाभूतां ठायी
देव देव्हार्यात नाही, देव नाही देवालयी

देव मूर्तीत ना मावे, तीथर्क्षेत्रात ना दावे
देव आपणात आहे, शीर झुकवोनिया पाहे
तुझ्या माझ्या जड देही देव भरुनिया राही
देव देव्हार्यात नाही, देव नाही देवालयी

देव स्वये जगन्नाथ, देव अगाध अनंत
देव सगुण, निर्गुण, देव विश्वाचे कारण
काळ येई, काळ जाई, देव आहे तैसा राही
देव देव्हार्यात नाही, देव नाही देवालयी

Transliteration

deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi
deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi
deva choruna neila asi konaci punyai
deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi

deva antarata nande, deva dahi disi konde
deva abhali sagari, deva ahe charachari
deva sodhuniya pahi, deva sarvabhutam thayi
deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi

deva murtita na mave, tirthaksetrata na dave
deva apanata ahe, sira jhukavoniya pahe
tujhyamajhya jada dehi deva bharuniya rahi
deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi

deva svaye jagan‍natha, deva agadha ananta
deva saguna, nirguna, deva visvache karana
kala yei,  kala jaai, deva ahe taisa rahi
deva devhar‍yata nahi, deva nahi devalayi

Translation

The God doesn't reside in a place of worship neither He does in a temple
The God doesn't reside in a place of worship neither He does in a temple
Who can steal the God, who has such saintliness to
The God doesn't reside in a place of worship neither He does in a temple

God resides inside us, God is spread in all the ten directions
God is in the sky, God is in the sea
When I search God, God is present everywhere in the universe.
The God doesn't reside in a place of worship neither He does in a temple

The God doesn't fit in the idol, neither He is seen in the places of pilgrimages
God is inside us, lower the head and see Him
Yours and mine physical bodies are pervaded with God
The God doesn't reside in a place of worship neither He does in a temple

The God is Supreme Lord, the God is limitless & infinite
God is manifested and un-manifested, is the cause of the universe
Time comes & goes, God is a traveler like it.
The God doesn't reside in a place of worship neither He does in a temple

The reason for choosing this song here is its grand and divine message to the mankind in very simple form that "Everything is God and nothing can exist without God". The whole philosophy of God is summed up in few lines by Ga Di Ma. In Bhagwad Gita, Bhagwan Krishna says that I am the cause of everything, manifested or un-manifested, in this universe. The God is the universal force that is basis for all creation. The God is limitless, infinite, all pervading, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, the essence of all the wondrous physical and spiritual existence. He is within you, within me and is pervading in the whole prakrati, the nature. The same truth about the presence of God in all human is also beautifully captured in Chandogya Upanishad by the words "Tat Team Asi' (Thou are That), the self in each person is not different from the Godhead. The pervasive nature of the supreme Lord implies unity of all existence. In the Shloka (verse) 8 under Chapter 10 of Bhagwad Gita, Bhagwan Krishna also says; 

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्त: सर्वं प्रवर्तते |

इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विता: || 8||

Meaning - I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds.  Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.

The song conveys the central message of Gita that God is in everything. He can be found present equally within us, He pervades all the directions, universe, the sky, the seas and everything, and can be realised if we explore and attempt to reach Him. The God is not found by worshiping an idol; neither He roams in the places of pilgrimages. But if one looks for Him with full sincerity, honesty and devotion, He can be found within the self. He is present within your and mine physical bodies. The song further leads to the truth that the God is the Supreme, almighty, limitless, infinite. The God is both "Sagun and Nirguna" - the manifested and un-manifested and is the real cause of the universe. He is always there in the time cycle. The God, the Timeless comes and goes like the time on the time cycle. Therefore, one must always put his/her supreme trust on the all supreme Lord and pray to him, not in the temples but the temple within.

Music lovers can listen to the beautiful song in the attached video.

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