Catholicity
of Hinduism
CATHOLICITY:
1.
broad-mindedness or liberality, as of tastes, interests, or views.
2.
universality; general inclusiveness.
(Dictionary.com)
It is an irony that we live in a
land where the beliefs and traditions followed by the majority of its people
are ridiculed, criticized, harangued about on a day to day basis by all sorts
of people who are either ill informed, misguided or driven by personal agendas.
Add to these the so called scholarly Indologists from abroad who with a limited
knowledge of the ethos of the land can only point out all the negative aspects.
Among all the nay-sayers, the worst are the home bred Academicians/Historians
who wear their leftist chips (we don’t believe in religion, you know)
arrogantly on their shoulders, most of them not realizing that it is the fact that
they are considered Hindus they have the freedom to dish out all manner of
drivel without the fear of their limbs being cut off.
The bogey of Hindutva is raised now
and again as if it is imminent that a great misfortune will descend on all of
us if we even whisper Hindutva. These fear mongers decry that Hindu Nationalism
will ultimately destroy the country. They despair that India is becoming more
and more intolerant and freedom of speech is being denied to its citizens. The
worst aspects of behavior from some rogue elements are highlighted to denigrate
the whole lot of the innocent majority not realizing that the majority does not
subscribe to any form of violent behavior at all. This silent majority has its
hands full grappling with carving out a decent living for itself not having the
inclination or the time to indulge in violence or even demagoguery about a
social or political issue.
Nationalism is a recent phenomenon
as far as India is considered. Not too far back in the past, most people owed
allegiance to the local Raja or Chieftain and had a sense of belonging to the
surrounding area which could be quite small. With a plethora of languages
spoken and difficulty in moving from place to place, the idea of a nation
seemed a difficult proposition. Yet, and yet, there was and is the sense of
oneness from Kashmir to Kanyakumari regardless the language spoken. The binding
factor for this amazing oneness is very importantly the culture and shared
values common to the whole region. These have emanated undoubtedly from the
Epics of Ramayana and Mahabharatha, stories of Puranas and to a smaller extent
the Upanishads. The oral tradition of transmitting stories and values ensured
that even an illiterate person could assimilate them. The values of Dharma and
Karma are in the blood of everyone whether you are a tiller in Punjab or a
wealthy Chettiar from Tamilnadu. The lessons of Bhagavadgita are known to
millions and millions irrespective of their level of education. Names of Shiva,
Narayana, Rama, Krishna, Ganesha, Hanuman, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali are
everywhere and have become part of normal conversation wherever you go. A
feeling that ours is Dharma Bhumi and that
Rama Rajya is an ideal is all prevalent. This feeling of oneness goes
much beyond the recent concept of Nationalism as defined by Western nations. The
fact that Mahatma Gandhi could influence millions of the literate, illiterate
masses across the vastness of the country with his message of Satya, Ahimsa and
Ram Rajya proves the point of oneness of the nation.
Hinduism is not an institutionalized
religion and is essentially non-doctrinaire. It is inherently an individual’s
religion with everyone having the freedom to pursue one’s own goals treading
one’s own path. One is urged to look within oneself to achieve
Self-Realisation. One can go to a Guru for guidance or follow a religious
leader’s teachings but the journey is one’s own individually. A Hindu is
supposed to be one who accepts the validity of the Vedas. Vedas are the root of
Dharma the concept of which is firmly entrenched in the Hindu psyche. From the
four Vedas emerged Upanishads and the different schools of philosophy with
their incredibly sophisticated thinking. Many sceptics will be surprised to
learn that Mundakopanishad says that there is a greater knowledge than that
included in all the Vedas and other scriptures! What can be more liberal and less
dogmatic than this? This liberal stream is what led to emergence of schools of
thought such as Charvaka which propagates a totally materialistic view of life
not acknowledging Dharma, Karma or Moksha. Many of the other philosophies
including Sankhya are atheistic. You can say even Advaita with the concepts of
Nirguna Brahman and Mayavada is Non-Theistic. One has to understand that there
are no absolutes in Hinduism and one is free enough to question all aspects of
Hindu traditions or schools of thought. No one said Hinduism is flawless and
beyond reform. There have been many reformers over time who have fought against
injustices in the tradition but they have had the freedom to propound their own
thoughts without fear. Hinduism is not a proselytizing religion by any stretch
of imagination. There is nothing in it which exhorts Hindus to take to the
sword and kill non-Hindus if they do not become Hindus.
The two major points used commonly
to belittle Hinduism are the Caste system and Rituals. While discrimination on
the basis of Caste is certainly abhorrent, one has to understand that we are
prisoners of history and that man is imperfect. Over centuries, each Caste or
Social group has tried to gain power and money by hegemony and deviousness
using all means including Casteism. Oppression is more a social problem than
one induced by religion. With education becoming more universal, one can see
the diminishing importance of Caste. In places like Mumbai where work is
supreme, one can see the emergence of an egalitarian society where what one can
do is more important than who one is socially. The same goes for gender
equality. It has always been a male dominated society not only in India but all
over the world. Again, with the emergence of universal education one can see
the gap narrowing. Again, it is not the religion but social values which
created have the gap in the first place.
When we talk of rituals, all
societies have rituals in one form or another. If one believes in a supreme
being and one wants to propitiate him/her, one has a tendency to do it
ritualistically. There are people in our society who believe that following a
ritualistic way of life, one can attain Chitta Shuddhi and Moksha. Most people
who practice prescribed rituals assiduously are Brahmins and they believe that
observing rituals, Karma Marga, is one of the three paths to salvation, the
other two being Jnana Marga and Bhakti Marga. But Brahmins constitute less than
10% of the population. Others observe all sorts of rituals, mostly to please
their Gods, which have evolved as per their needs and customs. Trashing the
observance of rituals is denying one’s right to one’s faith and way of life.
The critics of ritualism are those who shout themselves hoarse about individual
liberty! But the most important point to
note is that no one is punished for NOT observing rituals. One can shun rituals,
be an atheist and talk ill of orthodoxy, one is still not expelled from the
Hindu fold.
Rig
Veda -Mandala 1.1.89 says
Aa
No Bhadra Kratavo Yanto Vishvataha
Roughly
translated it means
May
powers auspicious come to us from every side, never deceived, unhindered, and
victorious
Shubhashita says
Ayam Nijah Paro Veti Ganana Laghuchetasam
Udarachritanaam tu Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
“This person is my kin and that one is not” such a thought
occurs
only to the narrow-minded. To the broad-minded the whole earth is one family.
only to the narrow-minded. To the broad-minded the whole earth is one family.
One wonders if such things are taught in Delhi Universities.
One needs to wonder how the Hindu way of life has survived
for thousands of centuries despite having marauding invaders and scheming Europeans
ruling the land. The answer can only be in the liberal and broadminded traditions
of the Hindu.
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