Karkala: At a juncture of time when humanity is divided by religion, here in Karkala a gesture by a man hailing from one religion has breathed life into a dilapidated place of worship of another religion.
A place considered to be sacred by Hindus over the last several centuries at Abbenjala of Bajagoli in Karkala was in shambles.
The locals joined hands together to renovate the place of worship, but there plans got wings only when a rich businessman from the village promised support.
Mohommed Gaus, a businessman from Miyar stood by his words and supported the renovation work in such a way that when the place was ready for inauguration, it ceased to be just a place of worship, but stood out as a testimony for ‘religious co-existence’.
While the region is torn apart due to fights between the followers of two religions, Mohommed Gaus’ move to lend a helping hand in renovation of the Hindu place of worship is truly a reminder that humanity stands above religions and that religions are meant to unite people and not divide them.
With complete support of Gaus, the shrines of Naga Brahma, Raktheshwari, Nandi, Kshethra Pala, Chamundi, Guliga and other deities were installed and the renovated place of worship was inaugurated on Wednesday with all religious rituals being performed by Padmanabha Thantri and his team of 18 ‘Vaidiks’.
For Gaus, this is not the first. His love for Hindu deities is immense, In 1992, he started a sculpturing business after he supplied a ‘black grit stone’ for Adi Lakshmi temple at Kodsarbettu in Nandalike.
Despite his name strongly spelling out his religion, people are often taken by surprise when he says he owns a firm named after Goddess Adi Lakshmi!
Gaus believes that starting the firm as an ode to Hindu goddess of wealth was a turning point in his life because, since then he has only grown as a businessman and has never looked back.
Gaus says that there might be many religions, but the fact is that all the religions speak of one God.
“No matter in which way you worship, it all reaches to that ultimate God. Hence there is no need to fight over religion,” says Gaus.
