Part 4 - Preparation of a questionnaire

A questionnaire is prepared consisting of seven questions which are designed in such a way that they cover different aspects such as:

• Importance of deity for the individual person and for the community.
• How well the devotee knows the deity?
• How much faith and devotion the devotee shows towards the deity?
• How religious is the devotee in nature?
• What is the contribution of the deity Lord Jhulelal in the life of devotee and towards their community and towards the nation in the fields of culture and spirituality?

The devotees responded enthusiastically to all the questions. The questions were prepared in such a manner that they would help the researcher to understand the mindset of the devotees and help in taking the research ahead. (See plate 8)

The nature of answers by the devotees from Sindhi and Lohana communities throw light on the vital role played by their faith in their deity in influencing and shaping their lives both, in times of peace and prosperity as well as adversities.

• The deity being their community God has a unique place in their heart. All the devotees expressed their reverence and unwavering faith towards their deity.

• A large number of devotees stated that they were aware of their Ishtadeva right from childhood and that they have a special connection with him. Some devotees even believe that their relationship with the deity has continued since many previous births.

• The devotees expressed a feeling of unquestionable and solid faith towards their deity. It would be difficult to measure the degree of faith and if one says it is unfathomable, it would not be an exaggeration.

• Some devotees visit the temple frequently, at least once a week, whereas some devotees visit the temple mainly on auspicious days like ‘Cheti Chand’ and during festivals like Navratri and Diwali. They also visit the temple on important occasions like birthdays and anniversaries etc.

• Keeping in touch with the place of worship, taking part in religious festivals, listening to Bhajans and knowledge sessions and Satsang(discourse) etc. reflects on the religious nature of devotees. Most of the devotees undertake one or more of the above activities keeping them attached to the religious and spiritual path.

• The devotees feel that He is the Savior for them and their community as a whole. They feel they owe everything to him. They are ever grateful for His grace in their lives. The two magical words, ‘Lord Jhulelal’ unite them under one umbrella as a vibrant community in India and all over the world. As Lord Jhulelal preaches not to hate anybody from any faith or belief, He spreads the message of love, kindness, brotherhood and compassion for humanity. This important message has inspired the whole community to give back to the society by acts of philanthropy. One can see many institutions mainly in the field of education and healthcare which have been founded and supported by these communities.

• The festivals like Cheti Chand are celebrated with great enthusiasm in bringing the community together. The processions, rituals, cultural and entertainment programs play an important role in keeping the language, culture, tradition and the heritage alive and especially helps the younger generation to remain connected with the mainstream.