A few months ago I saw images of Amitabh Bachchan offering Ganga Aarti at Rishikesh. He was very calmly standing tall, on the banks of the Ganga river with an aarti in his hand. In the pictures, he can be seen completely engrossed in his devotion, the way he has essayed immeasurable roles onscreen.
I still remember going to a fully packed Cinema hall for his movie ‘Muqadar ka Sikandar’. I was a child at that time, but his on-screen image from the movie is still etched in my mind. And as I was growing ‘Satte pe Satta’ came, I had heard Ramesh Sippy’ as a remuneration, gifted him the Jalsa house, where he resides now.
Immediately after Satte pe Satta the same year 1982, news of his accident during the ‘Coolie’ movie saddened the entire nation. Although his survival chances were bleak, Amitabh Bachchan through his determination invalidated, the medical forecast by Doctors on his health. Miraculously survived and got back to doing films. And as we all know since then there is no looking back. He gives all credit for his rebirth to his fans' Prayers and their best wishes.
Amitabh Bachchan was born on October 11, 1942, but like his fans, he also thinks his rebirth took place on August 2, 1982.
Another major setback he suffered, sometime around the year 2000. When it seemed Amitabh Bachchan’s formidable reigning time period was coming to an end, with a series of his flop movies. And to put the last nail in the coffin, his business venture ABCL also failed miserably. As a result, he slumped into huge debts to pay, with no source of income in his hand.
Ironically same year he became the first living Asian to have a wax statue at Madame Tussauds.
In spite of such a huge fiasco, he did not leave the situation, like a true fighter once again through his wit and grit he tugged a solution out of the crisis and re-established himself.
Though, not so surprising, considering his larger-than-life upstanding career path, we all know that he is a ‘Karmarata’ person.
Rest is history, since then we have seen him playing powerful roles like ‘Narayan Shankar in Mohabbatein and Yashvardhan Raichand in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham movies’.
During the same time, Kaun Banega Crorepati happened to him, which has now become a cult in its genre.
Amitabh Bachchan was born to renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Social activist Teji Bachchan. His father's poems have reflections of various emotions in life like love, anger, playfulness, dedication, perseverance, motivation and sometimes heart-touching rebellion.
Probably that's why you must have observed these emotions in the on-screen characters played by Amitabh Bachchan.
However, in real life, we get to see very often, one more aspect of his personality. That is his inclination towards religious activities and belief in astrology.
In many interviews, he has openly expressed his fascination for cosmic arrangements and their impact on life on the earth.
There are 3 instances that I have seen in news media, where he chose to take support from his planets and religious beliefs.
He admitted that after the financial crisis and downfall in his career in the year 2000, he started wearing Gemstones on the advice of his astrologer. So he wears a combination of Opal, Blue Sapphire and emerald Gemstone that represents the powerful trinity of Venus, Mercury and Saturn. Especially the Blue Sapphire ring which he wears is believed to bring loads of luck to him.
Another incidence of November 2006, when Amitabh Bachchan and his family, along with Aishwarya Rai performed, an early morning puja at the famous Kashi Vishwanath and Sankatmochan temples. At that time there was speculation about Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan's engagement and the priests fixing the marriage date for them.
Later, the priest confirmed that the puja in Kashi Vishwanathwas was conducted for "Kalsarp dosha" and the prosperity of the family.
So it was not a routine puja, but a planned religious ritual for the family purpose.
Then we saw him in Lord Venkateswara or Tirupati Balaji Temple in Tirumala. Where he gave the wedding card of his son and also donated cash, and gold ornaments. Besides cash, he also gave them a considerable amount of three checks for three important causes, in which the temple is involved Daily Annadanam, free food for devotees. So Amitabh Bachchan’s contribution was utilised for a large share of the daily food expenses for a year. The second cheque was donated to Pranadanam Fund, which provides poor patients with free blood. And the third went to the Bal mandir fund, for the upliftment of the girl child and primary education in villages. Hence, undoubtedly Amitabh Bachchan is a religious person who has a strong belief in rituals, and contributions. He also understands the benefits of Astromancy. In fact, I can recall seeing ‘Ramayana excerpts’ on his Twitter, The excerpt is telling about the power of Rama Nama Japa (chanting of the Lord's name). It says that the Lord's presence can be felt through one's intellect, filled with unshakable faith and devotion.
It Resonates with another quote from his Twitter where he is talking about the importance of Dream and Faith in life.
“'Let our dreams be bigger than our fears, our actions louder than our words,
and our faith stronger than our feelings.”
Truly, “an inspiration for generations to come”. The exuberant talent he holds within himself, along with his faith in the almighty and Karma, has made his echelon beyond the world.
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