This article was originally published on bhaskar.com

The holy month of Srawan (August) has brought enthusiasm among the Hindu devotees. It is an auspicious month and Lord Shiva is worshiped widely in various ways. But for Mohammed Zahir this is just another month. He is the caretaker of Lord Shiva temple in Khandwa, Indore. He takes care of the temple with the same enthusiasm as for the Dargah round the year.

(Image : bhaskar.com)

From dawn to dusk he takes care of the temple, from cleaning the periphery of the temple to the core of it, that is, the ‘Lingam’. Religions have never been an obstacle to his services. He believes that Allah, God, Bhagwan all are one, but our way of thinking makes them different.

He hails from Asirgarh twenty kilometer away from Burhanpur near ‘Asirgarh’ fort in MP. He has been offering his services to the historic Lord Shiva temple for the last six years. The temple comes under ASI site and it employed him as the caretaker. Forty-years-old Zahir happily took the job saying that it was his privilege to serve the temple.

(Image : bhaskar.com)

As there is no ‘Pundit’ to offer any prayer or to do the rituals, he alone helps tourists offering their prayers and garlands that they bring for the temple. He also offers his services to the Dargah 100 meter away, which also comes under ASI. He takes care of both the places equally and thinks that it will help him teach equality and harmony to his five children.

If we come out of our ego and are driven by love, there is nothing to hate, no religion above or below, no God bigger or smaller; there is only one power which runs this universe and for that, all are the same. If we see this bigger picture like Zahir, then we can have harmony and peace in the world.