Stalin Jr. Diatribe against Sanatana Dharma - Article by GB Reddy Sir

 

Stalin Jr. Diatribe against Sanatana Dharma

Stalin Jr. (Udhayanidhi Stalin, wife a Christian, also self proclaimed Christian and atheist, current Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu, and an actor-cum-film producer turned  politician, and son of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu - Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin of DMK (Hindu) - diatribe against Sanatana Dharma reflects his ignorance.

His clarion call to eradicate Sanatana Dharma from India clearly reflects not only his ignorance of the growth of religions but also drubbed as “Hate Speech”.

Stalin Jr. must educate himself on the concept of Sanatana Dharma, which is an all inclusive concept based on liberal philosophy.  One’s religious experience is one’s affair. Co-existence of composite cultures represents its basis. No group prayers as practiced under the ‘fatwa’ or Islam or Church prescriptions. Sanatana Dharma offers adequate opportunities to all people to follow their own faiths and felt needs in an atmosphere free from conflicts and violence. In sum, subjecting the individual’s freedom of religion to any public authority, under the garb of secularism, is alien to Sanatana Dharma.  Therefore, the State should not encourage or exploit ideas that threaten the basis of such liberalism. By making provocative-cum-hate statements, Stalin Jr. is only permitting its militant escalation twist.

Tamil Nadu is known as the land of Temples – 33,000 Temples. And, the 20 famous Temples include: Madurai Meenakshi Temple; Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam; Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur; Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam; Sri Rajagopala Swamy Temple, Mannargudi; Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval; Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram; Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram; Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram; Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai; Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai; Monolithic Rock Temples, Mahabalipuram; Papanasam Temple, Tirunelveli; Srivilliputhur Andal Temple – Virudhunagar; Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil; Kumari Amman Temple, Kanyakumari; Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram; Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai; Sripuram Golden Temple, Vellore;  and Bala Murugan Temple, Siruvapuri.

Tamil Nadu is also famous for Dalits prohibited from using public wells or touching the glasses of drinking water at the Temples.  Neither Periyar E. V. Ramasamy nor Stalin’s Grandfather or his father have been able to stop such obnoxious practices in their own backyard. Instead M.K. Stalin, claims to be an atheist, but  has been visiting Temples for electoral gains. Can Stalin Jr. stop his father from visiting Temples? If not, Stalin Jr. has no moral right to invoke “Hate Speeches” to drive a wedge among Hindus.

Next, understanding true Hinduism is an imperative for all political leaders in particular. It is not purely a religion, but includes a philosophy, a culture and a nation, wherein each one can gain access to his beloved God or Gods in his own way and attain salvation or Moksha. It lays claim to the spirit of universality in which man and the universe become one.

Historically, Hindu culture is based on a strong community structure, but in matters of religion, it retained its individualistic character – no regular gatherings in temples as per religious custom or fatwa. In fact, no temples existed prior to the advent of Buddhism as per some historians, mostly western. 

At the cost of reiteration, the high water mark of Sanatana Dharma is individual consciousness. For a true Hindu, religion is a personal affair and not a public affair as has been practiced by other religions and the State in the post-independence era.

Undeniably, spiritualism of Hinduism still attracts Western intellectuals notwithstanding distressing fanaticism, small mindedness and self centeredness which are consuming the society.  For the Muslims, it is a total enigma and unacceptable.

To provide a balanced perspective, the extracts of the book published way back in 1993 are serially reproduced to include: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Sikhism.

The term Hinduism is the derivative of the word Hindu. As per historian Prof Ravinder Kumar, it was used by the Arabs and Persians to describe the people of India sometime during the 10th century AD. However, it is essential to trace the growth of religion in India to understand what is being familiarly called Hinduism or Hindu philosophy. The first religious tradition has been traced to the Indus Civilization, but its exact form remains a mystery. Evidence points to nature, ancestral, animal and tree cults practiced by natives. Historical evidence confirms indigenous religious practices of a high order.

During the second millennium BC, the migrating/ infiltrating Central Asiatic tribes brought their own faith with them. The interactions that followed produced a higher order religion to cater for the fusion of two distinctly different societies – an advanced indigenous civilization and migrating tribal communities. Its evolutionary processes have been broadly divided into three periods, viz, Vedic, Brahmanism and Hindu periods by scholars.

The Vedic period is mostly based on legend and myth. In fact, religion was relatively uncomplicated during the above period. It was based on the four Vedas – Rig-Veda, Samaveda, Yajur Veda and Atharveda – purely books of hymns, chants, rituals, and formulas of worship, magic spells and incantations. No temples or sanctuaries. No castes, but varnas. Neither the idea of reincarnation or rebirth. The idea of the soul, separate from the body, had not developed. In sum, the religion of the Vedic period represented the ideas of a transitional tribal society. Vedic Gods were divided into opposite categories: the Asuras, the Devas and the Rakshasas, represented by indigenous communities. In the absence of recorded history and based on myth and legend, it is grossly unfair to give it an ethnic or racial twist or orientation- Aryan and Dravidian connotations. After all, Lord Krishna or Lord Siva is supposed to be dark in color – racially Dravidian.

Next, the Brahmanism period. It emerged during the Magadha Dynasty (First Millennium BC). Brahmanism developed, probably, out of a need to preserve, protect and consolidate the exalted status arraigned by historical processes by various tribes. Presumably, its evolution and consolidation extended over a long period. The Upanishads spelled out ideologies for different classes and castes in a rigid manner. The Laws of Manu, which is a book of both legislation and religion, belong to this period. This book is the legal code for India's social system even till date. Even the Gods were made caste Gods: Brahma for the Brahmans; Indra for the Kshatriya and the Siva for the Vaisya farmers. The Sudras were kept away from every kind of official cult.

For the first time during this period, it was also given a caste orientation. Furthermore, the idea of migration of soul was developed, and the belief that migration of soul depended on a person’s behavior and strict adherence to caste rules became the cornerstone of Brahmanic philosophy. Even the development of Yogas, (Jnana, Bhakti, Karma and Raja Yogas) to maintain the purity of body and the self-perfection of the soul pertains to this period. Consequently, very little of religion of Vedic period was preserved in the Brahmanism period except for the belief in the holy authority of Veda, some Gods and sacrificial rituals. Thus, the foundation of stratification of Indian society was sanctified during the Brahmanism period, which gave super-status for the Brahmans. Coincidentally, in reality, largely Shiva is worshipped mostly in South India, whereas Vishnu in the rest of the country – regionalization of religion too developed over centuries.

Internal contradictions of religious philosophies followed during the Vedic and the Brahmanism periods naturally led to the emergence of two new religions – Buddhism and Jainism. Both were founded by high caste Kshatriya (Siddhartha and Vardhamana Mahavira or Jina). Both religions were largely similar. Both rejected the caste system. Both taught the philosophy that individual sufferings can be overcome through their own efforts. They laid great emphasis on piety and believed in the ideas of Karma and reincarnation. As per the myths of history, for the first time in India’s history, Buddhists built temples. Since Jainism was very demanding, its growth was restricted to merchants and urban dwellers, whereas Buddhism became widespread amongst the rulers and the masses. It was the national religion during the Maurya and Kushan dynasties. Even Buddhism too adopted militancy as part of Monk culture and ethos, perhaps, out of the need for protection of its interests, albeit its emphasis on piety.

Brahmans reacted by launching a struggle against Buddhism. The Brahmanism militancy asserted itself to wipe out Buddhism. Historically, Hindus too were militant, whenever they felt that their interests were threatened. So, big temples, elaborate rituals, ceremonies and processions came up.  The Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, the Maha Ramayana and the philosophies of various AVATARS were developed to bring the masses closer to the Gods. Numerous sects developed on the basis of various AVATARS. They were led by the Gurus belonging to various castes and colors.

The cult of the deities based on castes also developed. Even the Shakti cult originated during this period. Much later followed innumerable isms and ideologies: Vaishnavism, Saivism, Vira Saivism (Lingayat contrast), Trika Saivism (Kashmir) and Chitanyas Krishna cult, Adi Sankaracharya, Madhava, Ramanuja, Tukaram, Namdev, Trilochan, Ramanand, Mirabai, Tulsi Das and Nanak were some of the famous Saints who will always be remembered for their significant religious contributions to the Hindu Society.

Also, when threatened by the superiority of Western culture and Christianity, Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj came up as reforming movements within the Hindu framework. Ram Mohan Roy, the founder of Brahmo Samaj expounded Hindu Unitarianism, espousing belief in one God and was iconoclastic. Scholar’s opine that Roy’s ideology has a streak of the transcendent unity of universalistic traditions and laid the foundation of a modern Hindu ideology – a real social reform, but which failed to expand. Whereas Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875. As per his ideas, no Brahmans were needed to preside over rituals and worship. Anyone, to include outcastes, could participate and perform prayers, besides studying scriptures. So, it was an egalitarian movement, with a streak of nationalism.

Next in the line are Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. Ramakrishna experienced various Gods during intense meditation and expounded the ultimate unity of all religions. Vivekananda viewed the existence of Divine at two levels: without qualities at higher levels, and with qualities and differing forms at various levels, whichever form one wishes to worship. He stressed the importance of inner spiritual experience. His main theme was based on the fact that humanity is itself divine and once we see the divine in one another, it will promote an ethic of love and social concern. This ideology presented Hinduism as a very high order egalitarian religion and humanist.

Mahatma Gandhi gave a new ethical and political value to the principles of Ahimsa (Non-violence – an old Jain idea) and the notion of renunciation, a social concern. His principal focus was also Satyam (Truth) and Satyagraham (holding fast to truth). Not to mention Sri Aurobindo philosophy for its profoundness is incorrect. As per his theory, spirit first descends into the material world and conversely begins its evolution upwards. Internal Yoga assists in the evolutionary process to move upwards to a higher level of spiritual existence – Life Divine.

Shri. MP Pandit of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in his book “The Indian Spirit” has very lucidly covered the salient aspects of Hindu Culture: life has a purpose (Goal); life is an opportunity; the culture of people is their consciousness (ideas) of life; ideas (motives) become ideals and determine the character of individuals; and, the common rallying of motives forms the organization of politico-socio-economic interest groups. Hinduism is a universal religion which has no name, no founder and no Prophet. It is not based on ethical values, but spiritual values – values that are perennial and lasting, and values of the God, the Infinite and the Eternal.

Furthermore, Shri MP Pandit states that the Hindu culture was based on a study of three quaternaries – all indigenously developed. The first is Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The second is that of the four ashrams; the student, the householder, the elder and the itinerant. The third is the classification of the society with a view to drawing and pooling the optimum of energies and optimum of effort. Thus, originally birth was not the mark of a man’s occupation. It was decided by the Guru on the basis of natural temperament and the line of development of his students to ensure effective contribution to society. So, there was great mobility of consciousness and social flexibility. For example, the status shifts of Viswamitra from Rajarshi to Brahmarshi or a Muslim as Shiridi Sai Baba.

Thus, the fusion of many religious dimensions took place over a number of millenniums to cater for the politico-socio-economic needs of a society at various points of time finally to assume the form of Hinduism – the religion practiced by the Hindus, a derivative of ‘Sindu’ as labeled by the Arabs. Its modern ideology is still in a continuous evolutionary process, despite its ancient vintage. To explain it or to understand it, honestly is beyond my reach, more due to its complexity and inaccessibility than any other reasons. Surely, it must be the same with a majority of my brethren. Assure them that I too make frequent pilgrimages to Tirupathi, Vaishno Devi Mata and Sri Satya Sai Baba temples. In my younger days, to promote national integration, I married a Sikh girl, so, at home, there is true secularism practiced even till date. Having been exposed to repetitive communal conflicts and pseudo-secularism, in retrospect, I am convinced that Hinduism is facing a serious threat to its interests from pseudo-secularists and other rabid fundamentalists.

When and how regression/decay of such a noble order religious ideology took place in an in depth study by itself. But what is vital is that there was decay and Manu’s caste system, hailed by elite political pundits as the most scientific and institutionalized politico-socio-economic infrastructure ever devised anywhere in the world, consolidated its stranglehold on the society. Unique and relevant, it might have been during the ancient and medieval periods, but woefully archaic in today’s India. It is a fact that upward social mobility is denied within the system. So, lateral mobility of suppressed, oppressed and depressed people to other religions which offers a chance to gain respect, human dignity, freedom and social status, is only possible, if they adopt other faiths. Even the relevance of the caste system during the early period, on reflection, is a moot point. How can otherwise one explain the birth of Buddhism and Jainism, had there been no decay of Hinduism?

In sum, the growth of Hinduism as a religion or as a philosophy is, therefore, dynamic, diverse, continuous and complex – an aggregate of a number of philosophies. Many contradictions exist. As per scholar, Hinduism is not a religion because in reality it is Dharma – the spirit of universality in which man and the universe become one. It is also viewed as a civilization, a culture and a nation. Based on polytheism, it is divisive by conception, albeit it may have satisfied the aspirations of a transitional society at various points of time in the past on the basis of politico-socio-economic conditions existing then, but its inadequacy to meet the aspirations of people belonging to present and emerging milieu is real. It is a living, pluralistic, tolerating and assimilating religion – so open. But, it does not believe in proselytism and individuals cannot join it. Its excessive obsession with caste reflects its rigidity. So, it tends to be status-quoits and closed. Its negative caste orientation in conjunction with the specter of revival of fundamentalism and its communal twist provides the right mix or Masala for intra religious conflicts of unimaginable dimensions. To crown it all, it is inaccessible and incomprehensible even to a common man like me, but maintains an all pervading strangle hold on the people's psyche. Hope for living with dignity, respect and honor and to improve the quality of life for a backward caste Hindu continues to remain an anathema to them. Under such compelling circumstances, other religions provide attractive alternate channels for upward social mobility. Thus, conversions offer them an opportunity to live with human dignity and many succumb, particularly under the lure of free education, medical treatment and other attractive perks.

The substance of Hindu philosophy remains its spiritualism – Infinite and Eternal. But by itself, it is grossly inadequate, particularly in the state of multi interdependency nature of society. More so, when it is confronted by individualism, acquisitive materialism, consumerism and political adventurism to show how to grab power – all the modern manifestations of developed countries of the world today. Under such conditions, spiritualism may wane and brutalization of society cannot but be avoided – harsh prospects. Some intellectuals feel that people's mental approach even today can be traced to the stranglehold of ‘Infinite’, time is of no consequence to People – it is endless. Add to it, the concept of ‘Reincarnation’ and the belief in many more ‘lives’ to realize the ultimate – merger into God. Linked with Karma (fatalism), the Hindu people’s attitudes to everything happening around them today can be easily explained and is almost beyond belief. Such are the real issues and problems faced by Hinduism. Its unchallenged supremacy enjoyed over 5000 years stands threatened by alien religions. Naturally, it is the prime cause for revival of Hinduism and its militant manifestation. But, modernization processes are including rapid-fire transformations in Hindu attitudes. Cautious fatalism is collapsing. It is inevitable.

Nonetheless, two unique contemporary developments need special attention. First, the rise of Sri Satya Sai Baba already hailed as Avatar/ Prophet. His philosophy is secular in approach. Almost all people belonging to various religions are following his secular philosophy. A trickle in the 1950s and 1960s, the ideology is rapidly expanding its base world over. Second, the Ayyappa cult is making waves in our domestic context. Every colony in many urban areas in the South has Ayyappa societies. Although Lord Ayyappa is a Hindu God, yet people of other religions are also developing their faith in Him. Its form is based on the Bhakti cult.

But, it is the third issue, that is, the rise of both Hindu fundamentalism and communalism which holds dangerous portends. What is, therefore, vital for the Nation is to formulate and effectively implement a dynamic refinement of Hinduism, Vis a Vis, reform. Of course, status-quo is self-defeating. To suggest revival or reassertion or reformation of either Vedic or Brahmanism philosophies is equally self-defeating due to their archaic caste-orientation. In fact, the suggestion of Mr. Paul Gregarious that the “secular tradition developed by “Nagarjuna, Dharmakirti and Dinnaga” needs to be reviewed. Alternatively, the philosophy preached by Shridi or Satya Sai Baba or Sri Aurobindo Ashram needs to be rapidly spread. They preach casteless and secular philosophies, but yet provide necessary spiritual satisfaction and security. But, if true secularism is to be a reality, even other religions too must practice such philosophy. Should we fail to adopt a new form, politico-socio-economic conditions are ripe for Hindu reassertion based on majoritarianism to replace pseudo-secularism in vogue in modern India? Such are the harsh problems and prospects of emerging Hinduism in India – harshly fundamental in nature, scope and content.

(Continued Part 2 – Islam)