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When tradition meets modern education, a quiet conflict often begins within the human heart. This story of a newly married young woman captures that very struggle—between devotion and blind faith.

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The First Day

It was her first morning in her new home. The household woke early, and her mother-in-law, with affection and authority, asked her to join for a temple visit.

Though she was well-educated and grounded in scientific reasoning, she felt she could not refuse. Respect for elders and social expectation tied her hands. Helplessly, she agreed.

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The Temple Path

As they approached the temple, her mother-in-law said, “This is not an ordinary place. Every wish of a devotee is fulfilled here. The goddess lives among us.”

The young bride listened, her mind questioning, but her lips silent.

Suddenly, she screamed. At the entrance was a stone lion.

“Mother, it will kill me!” she cried.

Her mother-in-law laughed gently. “Oh child, that is stone. It cannot harm you.”

Moments later, she screamed again at the sight of a snake idol.

“That snake will bite me!”

Her mother-in-law, half amused, half puzzled, replied, “This too is only stone. It cannot bite.”

The same happened when she saw a tiger idol. Each time, the same answer came: stone cannot harm.

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Inside the Sanctum

At last, they reached the sanctum. The priest performed rituals before the stone goddess, covered in flowers and sindoor. Her mother-in-law urged, “Bow down here. Pray sincerely. The goddess will bless your new life.”

The girl bent down—but at her mother-in-law’s feet.

Shocked, the elder woman asked, “What are you doing? This is not right.”

With folded hands, the young bride replied softly:
“Mother, when the stone lion cannot kill me, when the stone snake cannot bite me, and when the stone tiger cannot save me—how can another stone idol grant me blessings? But you are alive. You understand me, guide me, and care for me. It is from you I seek blessings, not from lifeless stone.”

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A Moment of Realization

Silence filled the temple. The mother-in-law’s heart trembled between faith and reason. Slowly, she embraced her daughter-in-law, realizing her words came from sincerity, not disrespect.

From that day, their bond deepened—not because of shared rituals, but because of mutual respect. Faith and reason found balance in human understanding.

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Reflection

This story is not a call to reject faith, nor to mock traditions. It is a gentle reminder that devotion should not blind us. True blessings do not flow from stone, but from love, compassion, and humanity.

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✍️ By Sidheswar Jena, PhD Scholar – Law
This story is narrated from my recent visit to a ritual site of one of my clients. During the visit, I observed thousands of devotees bowing before idols—most of them daily wage earners, separated from their families for years, some trapped in addictions, yet their faith in God remained unshaken. I even encountered a man praying for relief in his GST case. These human experiences, where belief and struggle intertwine, inspired me to narrate this story and reflect on the thin line between devotion and blindness.