Atithi devo bhava

Atithi devo bhava

O people of the world,
You who chant unceasingly,
You great believers, faithful,
Where is your God?
Searching for Him
In the cold monuments of stone
That you have built in vain,
Is an exercise in futility.
He has left your places of worship,
He has departed from your midst.
He wants no lip service-service
Nor the money you have to spare.
He needs not half-mumbled words
Or empty, meaningless rituals.
For your hearts have gone cold,
The doors to your hearts have been shut.
Fed up with us all,
He roams in the streets,
In search of a friendly heart,
A simple dwelling place
Of flesh and blood
Where He will be welcomed
With open hearts.
A place of warmth is all He wants,
He heeds not the dull exterior.
So cease your hollow songs,
Stop your meaningless rituals,
And search, search for Him within.
If he is not there,
Set your frozen hearts afire,
And throw open their doors.