At the end of several prayers in Sanskrit, there are a few
passages called “phalashruti” which
list the benefits of reciting those prayers. The passages assure you good
health if you recite the prayer once, wealth if you recite twice, several
children (all males, of course) if you recite thrice etc. Others will assure
you a place with Lord Vishnu or Krishna or Mother Uma if you followed certain
rituals.
This is not special to Vedic Hindu teachings. You will find such
passages in the writings of other traditions also. To my knowledge, Buddhism is
the only tradition which does not promise you Heaven or Paradise, somewhere out
there. That is because Buddhism emphasizes living this present life properly.
Uddhava Gita chapter 16, sloka 23 states that these
enticements are similar to the way we tempt children to take their medicines by
offering them candy! (bhaishajya rochanam).
In a later sloka (16:31), Uddhava Gita talks about people
who follow rituals and prayers for the sake of the benefits promised in the
heavens and says, “Imagining in their hearts a future world, which is like a
dream (svapnopamam), unreal (asantham) and agreeable to the ears (shravana priyam), they spend their money
in sacrifices like a trader (who speculates)”.
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