I mentioned in my earlier posts that Gods are worshipped by attributing all the qualities of Man, including what we label as Bad.
Hinduism is a Religion which dares to call God as the Repository of Sorrow.!
‘Dukka bukh, Dukka Sadhanah’-The Repository of Sorrow and One who is the Instrument to overcome it.(Sri Vishnu Sahasranama)
At the Transcendental or Higher level there is nothing Good or Bad per se as there is The One Reality.
Being a part of The One(Reality) , the part(Human Beings ) can not be Sinners .
For more on this, please read my Posts under Indian Philosophy,Hinduism).
Hindus worship Gods and Love him more than Fear Him.
He Is treated as Mother, Father, Teacher, Lover, Son and Friend.
For those who treat Him the way one likes, He comes to them in that Form.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita confirms that ‘I shall bestow you all, in The Form and Name you call Me’
Lord Krishna was a Charioteer for Arjuna, Lord Siva appeared as Mother and help delivering a baby(Thayumanavar,Tiruchi);
Lord Siva a son to a Poor woman and got beaten by a Pandya King(Pittukku Man Chumandadau,Madurai)
Lord Siva was treated as a close friend by Sundarar and the Lord went to the extent of personally going to meet up with Sundarar’s Girl Friend to sort out a tiff between Sundarar and Her.
For Thirugnana Sambandar, Goddess Uma gave her Mother’s Milk and was treated as Mother by him.
Goddess Andal, Srivilliputtur pined for Lord Vishnu and he came all the way from Sri Rangam to marry her.
It is a practice in India for the Elders, to bless the young.
To Bless The Lord?
In other Religions it is Blasphemy.
Vishnu chitta, Father of Andal, being the father in Law of Lord Vishnu, Blessed the Lord, by Blessing Him ‘ Long Live for thousands of Years!’, as a Father in law!
பல்லாண்டு பல்லாண்டு பல்லாயிரத்தாண்டு
பல கோடி நூறாயிரம்
மல்லாண்ட திண்டோள் மணிவண்ணா
உன் சேவடி செவ்வித் திருக்காப்பு’
Such being the emotional bond of the Hindus with God, there is no wonder that The Hindus treat Gods as they would by conducting all the Rituals associated with Human Beings.
Gods Birthdays are celebrated, marriages are performed .
It is a Custom for the Hindus to have the Newly Married Couples seated in a Swing , praise and Bless them.
Children are given the same treatment.
Then why not Gods?
Yes, The Dolotsavam or Oonjal Sevai is performed for The Gods.
The most famous are for Sri Andal of Srivilliputtur and of course , Tirupati for Lord Balaji.
Tirupati Dolotsavam.
Dolotsavam is performed in the adhala meda (Mirror Hall) as it is popularly known. The hall is in Aina Mahal (Addala Mantapam) opposite Ranganayaka mantapam where Arjita Brahmotsavam is performed. The Aina Mahal consists of mirrors on four walls and a central stage with a provision for unjal (Swing). Sri Malayappaswami, Sridevi and Bhudevi are seated in the unjal (Swing) and the deities are swung to the accompaniment of Veda parayanam and mangalavadyam.
The ticket holders are given vastra bahumanam and 5 small laddus for this seva. At the conclusion of the seva, the ticket holders are also sent for the darshan of the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum.’wiki)
