Does God Exist?

The world does not owe its origin to us. We take birth in a world that already is. Death may occur any moment. So creations are perishable objects; this is our logical conclusion. Since everything in the world is subject to destruction, there must be an immutable object. This is logic number one.

Secondly, we have entered a world that already exists. This implies that there is a creator. Some factory worker must have manufactured this microphone speaker. Some potter must have moulded the pots that help you to store water. A painter draws a painting. So, logically, since each creation has a creator and since we are creations (or creatures), there must be a Creator! You can call the Creator 'God', call him 'Nature'; address Him by any name. There is a Supreme Force; Its Presence cannot be negated.

If a theft occurred, you seek the help of a police constable to trace the thief. He sketches the footprints at the scene of the crime, and the police dog trails the scent to the thief. The spectacular sights in this universe speak the glory of God, their Creator; on every magnificent spectacle in nature are marked the footprints of the 'Ullam Kavar Kalvan', the One who captivates us with His Grace. By experiencing His presence in nature, you know that such a "Thief" does exist. This is logic.

The second proof is Experience. God has materialized to every devotee who invested faith in His Presence. The elephant Gajendra, appealed to Lord Narayana when a crocodile held one of the elephant's legs in its jaws, and the Lord granted Gajendra salvation. Do not ask if there is proof for the occurrence. Whatever you know about this world is also information passed on to us down the ages. You have not personally met Thomas Alva Edison or Isaac Newton. You have read about them in your science book, and yet you are prepared to applaud their discoveries and inventions, aren't you? If history and science can be true, then spiritual lore are also true. This means God must have granted Gajendra, Moksha (salvation).

There are numerous mythological/historical records of God revealing His presence. Kambar, a Tamil poet, incorporated a sequence called 'Hiranya Vadhai padalam' in his delineation of the Ramayana. Scholars refused to acknowledge his version of Ramayana if it contained the episode on Lord Narasimha, on grounds that it did not figure in Valmiki's Ramayana. Kambar declared that that part was handed to him by God Himself; so it was His responsibility to change it, if required. The scholars scoffed at him saying they would concur if God personally testified. So Kambar recited the 'Hiranya Vadhai padalam' at a Mandapam at the Srirangam temple, to an audience of learned scholars. As he was reciting the phrase, 'yaarada sirithathu' (who laughed?), the place reverberated with laughter; the audience was spellbound.

Prahlada was constantly chanting 'Om Namo Narayana'. His father, the demon-king Hiranyakasipu, demanded proof of Narayana's presence, to which the child replied, 'He is present in this pillar, in a tiny pin, in the minute fraction of an atom; why! He is present even in the word you just uttered.' The irate king struck at the pillar, and in that instant, God, in the form of Lord Narasimha, roared out of the pillar, and slayed the demon-king.

That is how God responded to a child's absolute trust in His Presence.

In the Sarabeswarar temple at Thirubhuvanam near Kumbakonam, there is a sanctum for Lord Siva. This idol is known by the name Kambakateswar. The reason being, a king was afflicted with Brahmahathi dosha (a severe curse), and nothing seemed to relieve him. The king, desperate for relief, bemoaned his fate in front of the sanctum and Lord Siva emerged from a pillar in the temple and put an end to the king's misery. This is why Siva is known here as Kambakateswar [Kambam (pillar) + Eswar (Siva)].

An incident at Thiruvannamalai: a noble at the King's court, Sammandhandar misguided the king Vallabha Deva that Arunagirinatha had faked Muruga's darshan. He challenged Arunagirinatha to reveal Muruga to the courtiers. Arunagirinatha, placing his trust in Muruga, accepted the challenge. Despite Arunagirinatha singing the praises of Lord Muruga, the Lord did not present Himself for a long time. The saint realized that Goddess Shakthi was caressing Muruga on her lap, in response to the entreaties of a Shakthi upaasaka (ardent devotee of Shakthi), at the instance of Sammandhaandar. Immediately, Arunagirinatha sang the praises of the peacock, Muruga's divine vehicle. In response, the peacock appeared before Lord Muruga and caressed Him with its feathers, making the Lord to become aware of what was happening and the Lord rushed out to His devotee's aid. Muruga emerged from a pillar. The sanctum is named after Muruga, 'Kambathu Ilayanaar Sannidhi' (another name for Muruga is Kumara, the Youthful One: Ilayanaar.)

Kachiyappa Sivachariar of Kandakottam, Kanchipuram, was ordained by Muruga to compose the Skanda Purana in Tamil. When the words 'thikadachakram aindhudaiyaan' were recited, a scholar from the assembled gathering of scholars protested that Tamil grammar did not allow those words to be split. When Sivachariar humbly conveyed that Muruga Himself was the composer, the scholars ridiculed him demanding proof from Muruga Himself. And the Lord presented Himself in the form of a Tamil scholar and said, 'Study the eighteenth sutra of Veerachozhiam (a Tamil Grammar treatise); there is a supporting rule'.

God has manifested Himself in several such forms; both divine representations as well as human forms. He has also rewarded the faith of persons, by granting them the boons they have sought.

The district court at Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh has record of the following incident: a person had borrowed Rs.3000 from a money-lender. When he went to repay it, the money-lender said his accountant was on leave and asked the borrower to return it the next day. The borrower insisted that he had full trust in the landlord, and handed over the amount stating that he would take the promissory note later. Some days later, the greedy landlord sent a legal notice to the borrower demanding repayment of the loan. The poor villager was aghast. The case was brought to court. The British Judge, moved by the tears of the accused, asked him if he could produce any witness to provide proof of the repayment of loan. The innocent villager named Lord Venkatachalapathy as his witness. The Judge, taking the villager's words literally, summoned 'Venkatachalapathy' to court. On the next hearing, a dark-complexioned, middle-aged person answered to the name of Venkatachalapathy. He affirmed that the money had been returned and was hidden underneath a dress in a steel bureau. And so it was. Perumal had responded to court summons, all for the sake of a naive villager who trusted Him.

Krishnaiyyer, a person in the services of Arcot Nawab, was a devout person. All others in the office were jealous that Krishnaiyyer was in the Nawab's good books. They pounced upon every petty opportunity to tarnish his name. Once, he started his accounting for the day with a Pillaiyar Suzhi (invocation to Vinayaka). The conspirators brought this to the Nawab's notice. When the Nawab asked for the ledger, there was a line from the Holy Quran, in place of the Pillaiyar Suzhi. Some days later, Krishnaiyyer went on a week's leave, not disclosing to his Islamic superior that he was on a pilgrimage to Tirupati. The scheming officers immediately sneaked this information to the Nawab. Just before the Nawab could question Krishnaiyyer, a Sufi appeared, exclaiming to Krishnaiyyer, 'I saw you at Mecca last week. How have you managed to return so early from your pilgrimage?' These are historical records that evidence the omnipresence of God.

You can witness His presence in your own life. You may have observed that in times of distress, the person who responds to your call for help, will either bear the name of your favourite deity or be connected in some way to your favourite place of worship. For instance, if your favourite deity is Muruga, the person who supports you will have one of the numerous names of Muruga: Karthikeya or Saravanan. So, never assume that God has to present Himself physically.

Rama appeared in the form of a buffalo to enthrall his devotee Bhadrachala Ramadas. Shirdi Sai Baba confirmed that it was he who had taken the form of a black cat and upset the vessel containing curd, to prevent his devotee from drinking sour curd. To satisfy the wish of a poor old woman who wanted to offer him food, he had taken the form of a black dog and partaken of the bread slice she had thrown to him.

Arjuna undertook a penance to get the Pasupathaasthra (a weapon) from Lord Siva. He did not realize that it was Siva who appeared in the form of a hunter to test his faith.

Resolving to marry none other than Siva Himself, Parvathi took birth as Himavan's daughter. However, she failed to identify Siva who manifested Himself in the form of an elderly ascetic. Valli was eagerly waiting to wed Muruga. The Lord did appear, but it was in the form of an old man, and Valli failed to recognize Him.

Adi Sankara was on a pilgrimage to Kasi seeking the blessings of Kasi Viswanatha. He felt thirsty. A cobbler offered him water from his leather bag. Adi Sankara grew furious and said, 'Low-born! Move away', to which the cobbler retorted, 'Whom are you asking to move away: this body or the Atma within this body?' Only then did Adi Sankara understand that it was Kasi Viswanatha Himself (the presiding deity of Varanasi/Kasi) who had come in the form of a cobbler to enlighten him. Lord Siva appeared in the form of a butcher to Somasi Nayanar who trusted Sundaramoorthy Nayanar's words.

The Lord whom you seek, does present Himself to you. But, since you are not mellowed enough to comprehend His ways, you fail to recognize Him. He comes to you in various ways, in some form or some sound vibration you hear. But you fail to see Him; you fail to hear Him.