By Fr. Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
I’ve been loyally linking everything—from my mobile number to my I-T returns and bank account—to that all-encompassing Aadhar card that has got me photographed, fingerprinted, numbered and indexed. I guard my Aadhar under lock and key only to be produced when I travel or seek governmental goodies that I hope are forthcoming. But, there’s an Aadhar that I’ve been anchored upon since my birth and beyond, who keeps me safe midst stormy seas of life: God.
Aadhar is a word rich in meaning. It refers to foundation, root, stronghold, refuge, shelter, rock, fortress, security, ultimate, substratum and so on. The Bible uses these words as metaphors and similes to describe God. Moreover, in other religions, too, nuances of Aadhar appear as appellations and attributes of the Absolute Being called by any and every name.
In the Bible, saved from his foes, King David calls God: “my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my refuge, my stronghold, my shield and my saviour—worthy to be praised” (2 Samuel 22:1-4). The biblical psalms also sing of God’s protection and providence. Psalm 91 describes God as: “my shelter, my shadow, my refuge and my fortress.” As response, God promises: “I will deliver you, protect you, be with you in trouble, rescue you and show you my salvation.”
The biblical believer is exhorted to trust God totally since one is primarily a pilgrim on a lifelong yatra terminating with death. Psalm 121 reminds the pilgrim: “God who neither slumbers nor sleeps is your keeper, your shade at your right hand. God will keep you safe from evil … will keep your going out and your coming in secure now and forevermore.”
In the Mahabharata Arjuna sees Krishna as his Aadhar and chooses the Lord as his charioteer, security and strength in lieu of accumulating arms, astras and armies. As recompense, Arjuna is blessed with a vishwarupa darshana wherein the Lord animates, upholds and inheres in everything and everyone (Bhagavad Gita chapter 11). Inspired by this cosmic, divine darshan, Arjuna pursues the path of nishkama karma (desireless action).
Among the 99 names that Islam attributes to Allah, many suggest divine protection and security. Allah is our guardian (Al-Muhaymin), sustainer and provider (Ar-Razzaq), preserver (Al-Hafiz), protecting friend (Al-Wali), giver of life (Al-Muhyi), preventer of harm (Al-Mani’) and so on. Thus, the believer need not fear anything but must surrender to Allah.
Today, while it’s perfectly legal; indeed, professedly profitable, to bank upon one’s Aadhar card, one must guard against flimsy foundations that anesthetize us with illusory identity and false security. Name, fame, pleasures and riches uproot us from God; and, as the psalmist warns: “God will uproot from the land of the living the one who will not take refuge in God, but trusts in abundant riches and seeks refuge in wealth” (Psalm 52:5-7).
Aadhar cards equip us with an identity and a unique number differentiating one citizen from another. God, the Almighty Aadhar, also assures each of us: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name. You are precious in my eyes and honoured, and I love you” (Isaiah 43:1,4). Echoing God’s unique love for us all, and exhorting us to build our lives upon firm foundations, Jesus says: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or about your body, what you will wear … For, your heavenly Father knows what you need.” Instead, Jesus asks us to trust in God and to build our hope and happiness upon God, the secure rock.
While mighty ‘modifiers’ want to alter things and get us all linked to our Aadhar cards by coming March, that Almighty Aadhar, the Supreme Counselor and Cosmic Centre keeps on linking us to each other, to mother earth, and to Godself in an Eternal March towards fullness. Fortunately, there is neither compulsion nor condition in linking up. Why don’t you get anchored?
Fr Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Professor at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies