Jai Hind, Splashes from Hindu Mahasagar - 5/72
Secularity of Hinduism >From its evolution, Hindu Sanatna Dharma has taken in its fold all that has been created by The Master Creator. One may worship rivers, lakes, trees, and stones. One may opt to worship living, non-living things, or none at all! One may believe in formless God or symbols, idols, or human manifestations. Even atheists are accepted within its fold. Hinduism visualized every thing as manifestation of God, and there are no evil creatures. Snakes and pigs are also close to Him. Hinduism neither bound itself to monotheism, nor with multiplicity of Gods and goddesses. The Supreme Being is not remembered by any particular name, but more than thousands names have been attributed to identify Him, and even many more may be acceptable. There is a vast catalogs of scriptures to choose from in Sanskrit, the mother language of the universe. Genuine translations in other languages are also regarded as valid. The wisdom of learned sages compiled in scriptures and ancient scientific literature has been a source of inspiration for the entire humanity and has more to offer, once it is deciphered and made use of. But even those who have not read any of the scriptures, are also as much Hindus as those, who compiled them. Hindu Sanatna Dharma is a timeless faith, spanning the entire cosmos. It has most fascinating mythology to offer to all the nations of the world to identify their roots within its fold. The most abstract philosophy of Vedas and Upanishads is universally applicable to the entire mankind ,cutting across national barriers of race, color and creed. It sees ‘one-ness’ in entire universe, and encourages every one to attain total contentment – as perceived by every individual according to the attributes of his personality, while remaining committed to the norms of society and environment, where one lives in. It is the faith that practices ‘live and let live’ in letter and spirit. Hinduism is Religion of Total Freedom Without any compulsion one may perform rituals at any place, facing any direction, at any time, and in any manner. A Hindu is free to eat, wear and adopt any form of life style according to individual traits. There are no fatwas or dictates from the clergy. Hinduism never indulged in destruction of non-believers, or conversion of others to its fold. It has been the religion that preferred religious identity of a person on the basis birth, but its doors are open to all those who volunteer to assimilate. It is a faith that propagated “Vasudeva Kutambkum” and treated entire universe as a large family, much before various nations actually knew the existence of each other. Hinduism is not restricted to any particular geographical area, or period. Hinduism has always been open to introspection, adoption and tolerance towards dissent. From time to time, sages have questioned the old dogmas, interpreted thoughts and have made additions, but all of them originated on Indian soil within the framework of Hinduism. This is the foundation of our mixed culture. It is a dynamic faith constantly in pursuit of Truth. With all the diversities allowed to its followers Hindu Sanatan Dharma qualifies to be the true religion of the mankind. In brief any one who subscribes to the philosophy of Live and Let live within the constraints of local conditions is regarded as Hindu and is expected to preserve and replenish the natural resources for the use of coming generations. The Hindu culture that has been founded on this most secular and universal concept of has the following salient features that are common to all the off-shoots of Hindu religion:- God is one. Though God is formless but God can be identified with some icons as well. God appears on Earth in some form or the other. All forms bear His reflections. At least one among Lords Shiva, Ram, Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira, and Guru Nanak is regarded as their life models to be adopted. Hindus do not indulge in the destruction of symbols of any other faith. Hindus do not declare any holy war against non-believers. Hindus treat whole world to be one family. They revere noble persons as saints. River Ganga in particular is regarded as a sacred river but all rivers are respected. Regard Tulsi plant to be sacred. They associate Saffron color with wisdom, sagacity and spirituality. Refrain from eating beef. By and large Practice monogamy and do not divorce their spouse. All of them are subjected to same civil code. People all over India cremate their dead bodies and immerse the remains. They believe in re-birth after death. Their pilgrimage places are situated in pre-partitioned India, Nepal and Tibet. Their festivals are related to climatic changes, events and personalities within India. There are no festivals for crying or breast beating in public. All the versions of Sanatan Dharma harmoniously co-exist. There is a free movement of individuals and no one persuades other to convert. Conversions are not sought. Sanskrit is the mother of all Indian languages. Hinduism has always kept itself updated with the changes in the environment. Reformers emerged within Hinduism and we never imported any saints from abroad. Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are the reforms on Hinduism. It was thus natural that interpretations some times differed, but these sects stand as extensions of Hinduism. The idols of reformers have also been installed in Hindu temples. This is the unity in diversity of Hindu culture and secularism. It is history that Christianity and Islam intruded to clash with the main stream of Indian culture. They did not believe in the concept of secularism, tolerance, co existence, and even today they are busy fighting like cats and dogs. As they were never a part of mainstream, they remained aliens to Indian culture. There is one more reality in lighter vain! Due to this behavior, even God was also biased against non Hindus. He is merciful and beneficial to Hindus. He sends back Hindus to be re-born immediately after death to enjoy another spell of life, and do atonement for the faults of previous birth. Even to the defaulter Hindus He gives them another chance to be reborn as Muslims, Christians, or even birds and animals. They get a chance to do some good work and get converted to Hinduism in their next life and to be re-born as Hindus after death. But for non Hindus, there is no second chance! They remain confined to graves after death till dooms day. And there is no life after dooms day as some of alien scriptures say. Unless one does not opt to lie under a grave till doom’s day it is better to live Hindu way of life! There is unity in diversity among Hindus only and Hindus let others also live in their respective environments. They do not encroach, convert or kill others. Jai Hind, Athish Ravikanth 9379030409, 09426349462, 9916110231, 9945969917 [email protected] http://groups.google.co.in/group/bharat-jagruti-morcha?hl=en -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OWNER : [email protected]; [!! Sriram Savarkar ¡¡] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sriram Savarkar" group. To modify your list subscription, please send a blank email to: For posting Messages: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] Visit Group : http://groups.google.com/group/sriram-savarkar?hl=en
