Open Source Code of Hinduism

An open source code or software is defined as any program whose source code is made available for use or modification as users or other developers see fit. Open source software is usually developed as a public collaboration and made freely available. The Huffington Post in 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.”

The 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 give enough freedom to them to travel on the faith independently and know the truth in his/her own way. Thus, the source code of Hinduism is quite open and encompasses all ideas, peoples and their beliefs which lead one to the destination called Bhagwan, Ishwar, Lord or God.

Recently, I have come across a message credited to Francois Gautier, a French political writer and journalist based in India, which is in circulation on Whatsapp groups. This message also lead us to the conclude that the religion called Hinduism has  a open source code. The message is reproduced below;

Quote:

YES THIS IS HINDUISM: WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A HINDU - BY RANCOIS GAUTIER

Yes, this is Hinduism. I'm also somewhere in these descriptions.

1) Believe in God! - Aastik - Accepted

2) Don’t believe in God! - You're also accepted...as Nastik

3) You want to worship idols - You are a murti pujak - Please go ahead.

4) You dont want to worship idols - no problem. You can focus on Nirguna Brahman.

5) You want to criticise something in our religion. Come forward. We are logical. Nyaya, Tarka etc. are core Hindu schools.

6) You want to accept beliefs as it is. Most welcome. Please go ahead with it.

7) You want to start your journey by reading Bhagvad Gita - Sure!

8) You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads - Go ahead

9) You want to start your journey by reading Purana - Be my guest.

10) You just don't like reading Puranas or other books. No problem my dear. Go by Bhakti tradition . ( bhakti- devotion)

11) You don't like idea of Bhakti! No problem. Do your Karma. Be a karmayogi.

12) You want to enjoy life. Very good. No problem at all. This is Charvaka Philosophy.

13) You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life & find God - jai ho! Be a Sadhu, an ascetic!

14) You don't like the concept of God. You believe in Nature only - Welcome. (Trees are our friends and Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship).

15) You believe in one God or Supreme Energy. Superb! Follow Advaita philosophy

16) You want a Guru. Go ahead. Receive gyaan.

17) You don't want a Guru. Help yourself! Meditate, Study!

18) You believe in Female energy! Shakti is worshipped.

19) You believe that every human being is equal. Yeah! You're awesome, come on let's celebrate Hinduism! "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is a family)

20) You don't have time to celebrate the festival! Don't worry. One more festival is coming! There are multiple festivals every single day of the year.

21) You are a working person. Don't have time for religion. Its okay. You will still be a Hindu.

22) You like to go to temples. Devotion is loved.

23) You don't like to go to temples - no problem. You are still a Hindu!

24) You know that Hinduism is a way of life, with considerable freedom.

25) You believe that everything has God in it. So you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, River, Prani-matra, Earth, Universe!

26) And If you don't believe that everything has GOD in it - No problems. Respect your viewpoint.

27) "Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu " (May you all live happily) -You represent this! You're free to choose, my dear Hindu!

This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive.. That is why it has withstood the test of time in spite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspect from everything. That is why it is eternal!!!

There is a saying in Rigveda , the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hinduism philosophy in a Nutshell -" Ano bhadrah Krathavo Yanthu Vishwathah"- Let the knowledge come to us from every direction".

Unquote.

The Supreme Court of India also in a judgment concluded that the word "Hinduism" or "Hindutva" are not necessarily to be understood and construed narrowly, confined only to the strict Hindu religious practices unrelated to the culture and ethos of the People of India depicting the way of life of the Indian people. As such, technically also the people from other religions or faith can be called to be a part of Hinduism if their way of life is like Hindus, visiting or not visiting temples or praying or not praying to any Hindu God. It is an open system of faith or even faithlessness (Nastik) or in between where every view point is accepted and no rigidity is imposed by any supreme body or any supreme spiritual scripture.

Idol worship is common in Hinduism. However, the idol worship and the rituals are just means to keep oneself focused and reach the ultimate supreme Lord. If you don’t do all these rituals or worship an idol, still you are a Hindu. There is another story of a father and his little girl about idol worship and inner faith which is also in circulation on Whatsapp groups which gives a true meaning to the faith. The message is reproduced below;  

Quote:

A father and his little daughter went to a temple. Suddenly, daughter shouted after seeing the pillars of Lions at the entrance of the temple."Run Dad, or those Lions will eat us "Dad consoled her saying "they are just statues and won’t harm us".

Daughter replied “if those lion statues won’t harm us then how could statues of God give us blessings"*

The father wrote in his diary..."I am still speechless on my child's answer and have started searching for God in Humans instead of statues. I didn't find God but I found humanity!! *so do our best to people who are around us......*

Unquote.

The above view expressed by the girl’s father is perfect and is gladly accepted in Hinduism. The relation between the God and a person is purely personal. Everyone is free to approach to the God in his/her own ways. Hindus worship many Gods and goddesses. But the Hindus believe that all the Gods and the Goddesses are the manifestation of the same Supreme God. Thus there is an essential unity in the philosophy of multiple Gods as well oneness of all souls coming from the same infinite, omnipresent, omniscient and all powerful, all pervading Supreme God, the lord of Lords. Hinduism is said to be the world’s oldest religion with over a billion followers and third largest, behind Christianity and Islam.  Hinduism has survived through many onslaughts of Mughal invasions for 400 years between 12^th to 16^th century and through subsequent advent of the rule of British Empire till India achieved independence in 1947. Hinduism accepts the best of all religions and does not have any hesitations in saying so.

Mahatma Gandhi said that he believes in the fundamental truth of all religion and god has no religion. On future of religion, Gandhi said; “No religion which is narrow and which cannot satisfy the test of reason, will survive the coming reconstruction of society in which the values will have changed and character, not possession of wealth, title or birth will be the test of merit. “ It apply to Hinduism too and as the history tells us, it has survived and will survive entirely due to the test of times and reasons due to its openness of source codes.

Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti” is a Sutra from Upnishads. This aphorism means: “That which exists is ONE sages call it by various names.” This idea from Upnishads is ingrained into the civilisation 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 or don’t name it so.

Om Tat Sat!