Three Green Candles (standard:non fiction, 1461 words)
Author: Juggernaut	Added: Sep 02 2013	Views/Reads: 4871/2054	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Juggernaut took three green candles made from veg oil to light them up at Hindu Temple, Muslim Mosque and Catholic Church. He received three different responses from a Hindu priest, Muslim Imam and Christian father at the church.

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holding out the green candles to show it to the priest. 

“In our religion we use only shallow clay or brass lamps with 

wicks saturated in vegetable oil or clarified butter not candles, as a 

Hindu you should know better,” the priest gave a stern look at 

Juggernaut. 

“Yes sir, I understand but these candles were made from 

vegetable oil. For the safety of the devotees in the temples, these 

vegetable oil candles are safe to use,” Juggernaut was pleading the 

priest. 

“We have been using oil lamps for thousands of years without 

any fire hazard,” the priest was logical so far. 

“Well, I shall share a tragic event that happened in our own 

family several decades ago. My aunt while worshiping at a temple was 

standing too close to an oil lamp and her silk sari caught fire and 

quickly engulfed her before anybody can help her, she died from severe 

burns  immediately; since then I was thinking about alternatives to 

the use oil lamps in the temples,” 

“I am very sorry to hear about the tragedy, certainly it was a 

horrible thing to happen particularly in a temple but a silk garment 

can also catch fire from a candle flame; what difference it makes 

whether a flame is from a candle or an oil lamp? But still I cannot 

accept candles in a Hindu temple,” the priest was kind but stubborn. 

“A candle burns with less intensity than an oil flame; I agree 

that fire accidents can occur from a lighted candle or an oil lamp. 

But the rancid smell and stains of spilled oil on the floors and walls 

is an unsightly scene in every Hindu temple. These candles were good 

alternative to oil lamps in temples, besides the candles are handy to 

carry to a temple than oil, wicks and clay lamps etc. to make diya,” 

Juggernaut tried to convince the priest. 

“I understand your point but my predicament as a priest 

serving in this temple for more than 50 years was if I would allow 

candle burning in the temple, there will be riots by the believers 

that could result in more tragedy than your personal tragedy with loss 

of your aunt. In the minds of Hindus, candles are associated with 

Christian worship in churches and the mind set won't change,” the 

priest showed some sympathy. 

After carefully placing back the green candles in the brown 

paper bag, Juggernaut headed towards the nearby Muslim dargah. The 

steep stone steps to dargah were winding and tiresome to climb. Dargah 

is a place of worship for Muslims but many Hindus also visit to 

worship for miracles. 

Ishaq Medina, a Muslim preacher came to the area over 400 

years ago to spread Islam.  He was known for performing miracles, one 

of his famous miracles was extending his hand to reach a tall coconut 

tree to pluck a coconut. Thus he earned the name coconut Baba. His 

grave or dargah became a shrine for both Muslims and Hindus for 

receiving miracles. 

The imam attending the dargah was in mid forties with dark 

mustache and short beard. He came across as a simple man in long white 

garb with a piece of green cloth around his shoulders. 

“Could I worship Baba's grave by lighting the green candles?” 

Juggernaut slowly removed three green candles from the brown paper bag. 

“In our faith we do not light candles or oil lamps in dargah 

if you have incense sticks I will be happy to light them for you,” 

said the imam. 

“These candles were made from vegetable shortening and not 

animal fat,” explained Juggernaut. 

“It won't matter whether the candles were made from animal fat 

or vegetable oil, we don't burn candles or oil lamps in dargah. 

Burning candles is a Christian tradition; If you were to visit again 

please bring incense sticks either of rose or jasmine fragrance and 

also a large bottle of clarified butter as an offering to Baba,” 

suggested the imam. 

“You said you don't burn oil lamps inside the dargah,” 

Juggernaut gave a look of surprise. 

“No, we don't burn oil lamps but clarified butter has other 

uses here.” 

“Certainly I will bring rose and jasmine fragrant incense and 

a bottle of clarified butter if I were to visit again,” Juggernaut 

slowly retrieved himself from small dargah with its inside walls 

decorated with colorful semi-precious stones. 

Juggernaut slowly walked down the steps from hill top dargah 

and headed for Catholic Church built in late 1800's on the nearby 

Mount Ross Hill. 

The father in white robe at the Catholic Church was tall and 

dark skinned. He invited Juggernaut with open arms into his little 

church. 

“I have been carrying these three green candles in an attempt 

to light them up at a Hindu temple and Baba's Dargah, but at both 

places they declined because of their religious belief,  I am sure you 

will let me light them here,” Juggernaut removed three green candles 

from the brown paper bag. 

“Certainly, I never saw green candles before though, most of 

my congregation members bring white candles only,” the father started 

to examine the candles. 

“These were special candles made from vegetable shortening,” 

“You mean regular vegetable shortening used for frying in the 

kitchen?” 

“Yes, vegetable shortening was turned into hardy wax to burn 

slow as a candle,” explained Juggernaut. 

“You have interesting candles,” said the father walking 

towards the altar. 

“Would you please do the honors by lighting a candle for me?” 

requested Juggernaut. 

“Certainly, I will light one green candle for you and with 

that lighted candle you  light the other two,” the father proceeded to 

light the candle. 

“Thank you father for allowing me to light the candles in your 

church,” Juggernaut was grateful. 

“Everybody is welcome in our little church irrespective of 

their faith; we consider all the seven billion people of the world as 

the children of god no matter what faith they follow to reach him. We 

believe in Jesus,” the father smiled flashing his bright white teeth. 

“Well, I am glad my three special green candles were part of 

worship in your church,” Juggernaut lighted the two green candles. 

“This is everybody's' church;, here we allow our devotees to 

worship god by whatever means whether burning candles made from animal 

fat or vegetable oil or burning wood chips, though burning wood chips 

and oil lamps are fire hazards since the church was built with wood 

and your green candles certainly meant to be lighted here,” the father 

looked serene in the white robe. 


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