Sunday 3 December 2017

I am a Hindu and I am not!

Much row has erupted in Indian political circles when the Congress Party’s Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited the famous Somnath Temple in Gujarat in an effort to solidify the Hindu votes for the forthcoming Gujarat state assembly elections. His name has been entered in the temple register which requires the non-Hindus to make the entries. Rahul Gandhi himself along with his party later claimed that he is a Janevu Dhari Hindu (A customary thread tied along the neck and body by Hindu Brahmins) and a devotee of Lord Shiva. However, interestingly Rahul Gandhi was earlier never found visiting any Hindu temple as a routine or during any Hindu festival.

Is Rahul Gandhi a real Hindu or not? The question is not relevant as Hinduism does not issue strictures and demands that a Hindu should essentially wear a Janevu or visit a temple. Hinduism is an open religion without any specific command from a super religious authority or a super scripture which makes one a devote Hindu. Hinduism does not bind to superficial rituals and worships but the true Hindu religion liberates one from the bondage of traditions and customs. The rituals, customs and traditions are for ignorant people and are suggested only to the ignorant to adhere to the path of purity as a guide towards the Supreme reality. The Huffington Post in one of its article on Hinduism says that the Hinduism is an open source faith. It also says that “the word “Hinduism” itself is a total misnomer, as it basically refers to the sum total of spiritual and religious thought and practice that has taken place on the Indian subcontinent over the past 5,000 years. And let’s just say it’s been a busy 5,000 years.” As such the Hindu religion is truly free from all manmade scriptures or dogmas.

Then who is Hindu? As per Wikipedia, the word Hindu refers to any person who regards themselves as culturally, ethnically, or religiously adhering to aspects of Hinduism. It has historically been used a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for people indigenous to South Asia. Wikipedia further states that Hinduism is an Indian religion or a way of life widely practiced in South Asia. It has been called as the oldest religion in the world and some practitioners or scholars referring to it as Sanatan Dharma, the “eternal tradition”, or the “eternal ways” beyond human history. Scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions with diverse roots and no founder. The Supreme Court of India has also ruled that the Hinduism is a way of life and a state of mind, not a religion.

Form the above stand points, anyone conclusively can say that, “I am a Hindu” or “I am not a Hindu.”
So I am a Hindu and am not! How does it matter as long as you believe in the universal truth? Swami Vivekananda said beautifully, “I am a Hindu. I am proud to belong to belong to a religion which has taught the world both the tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religion to be as true.”  This is the real Hinduism and not mere going to the temples and committing cruelty and dishonesty in real life.

What is true Hinduism? I would like to say that it is the true essence of all the world religions. The universe is one, the creation is one and therefore the creator also has to be one. The reality and the truth of the one world have to be one only. We may call it with different names but the truth can’t be different. If any truth is different for the same universal reality, then it can’t be a truth. The Indian Upanishads say; “Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti.” This aphorism means: “That which exists is ONE sages call it by various names.” This idea from Upnishads is ingrained into the civilization of India for thousands of years resulted in the extreme tolerance of Hindus on the whole. And the principal idea behind “Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti” is the whole of Hinduism, you may name it or don’t name it so.

The true Hinduism believes in one universal god, a true God, the Supreme Spirit, you can name it anything, the way you like. It even says that the God is nameless, colorless, and sexless, pervades the whole universe and is the cause and essence of all creations. Hindus believe that the God is present in every person as the eternal spirit or soul. In Hinduism, there is no supreme authority dictating on how to worship God, when to worship or how to attempt to realize the God. There is no one authoritative scripture which is binding on Hindus so as to be a real Hindu. The inner faith is given more importance in Hinduism and it is left to individual to seek God through a Guru, a teacher, through study of a scripture, through worship and devotion or through a trial and error method, by self exploration. Thus, there is no particular defined code to be a Hindu. And frankly speaking, the Hinduism is quite liberal in its approach towards the people and gives enough freedom to them to travel on the faith independently and know the truth in his/her own way. Thus, the religion Hinduism is quite open and encompasses all ideas, peoples and their beliefs which lead one to the destination called Bhagwan, Ishwar, Lord or God.

Alas! The religion is much abused and maligned word by the vested interests world over for selfish gains and political maneuver. The ignorant people world over are used by the fanatics to exploit their emotions to divide the people and use them as political tools. No violence and bloodshed greater than the violence and bloodshed have been inflicted by fanatics in the name of religion world over. Pope Francis has said that “No one must use the name of God to commit violence. To kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege. To discriminate in the name of God is inhuman.

Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Somnath and other temples in Gujarat is part of this politics only to impress few ignorant Hindus. The other political parties are no less guilty as they too have resorted to the evil of using religion, caste, creed and race to divide the people and reap political crop.


Humanity can survive with mutual love and trust, not by building walls of pseudo religions. When political leaders will practice this in their political life is another question.   

Readers may also read my other blog: Open Source Code of Hinduism at URL:

 

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