By K.V. Paliwal, Ph.D
Scanned and reproduced with the author's exclusive permission
What Hindus Should Do - Part IV
.... continued
from Part III
4. Bringing back the Hindu converts to Hindu Dharma should be
the main agenda today of every Hindu Dharmacharya and Hindu
religious and social Organisation.
5. Arya Samaj,
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram etc. should play a
leading role in these activities, and motivate more workers to
join this campaign.
6. Free thinking
Hindu converts be motivated to join back Hindu Dharma, and this
movement be strengthened on priority because independent
judicious thinking and action according to one's consciousness
is permissible only in Hindu Dharma, and not in Islam and
Christianity.
7. The Hindu
society should not discriminate between born-Hindus and those
re-entered to Hindu Dharma in customs, marriages and social
ceremonies.
8. The re-entered
people should be respected on the basis of equity, cooperation,
compassion and harmony. They should be provided special full
security as re-conversion from Islam to other faiths is
prohibited, and such people deemed to be killed.
9. All possible
financial assistance be provided to the re-entered Hindu
converts in relation to their education and employment.
1 0. Every Hindu
adult should spare a minimum of ten days for such activities and
small groups be organized even at village level.
While acknowledging
that reconversion is a challenging job which requires a strong
will of change in attitude both of born Hindus and Hindu converts.
But certainly, this movement will help reversing the trend of
Hindu conversion.
13. Donate Generously for the
Protection of Hindu Dharma
The propagation,
promotion, preservation and protection are the essential features
of any religion to survive and flourish. These are of vital
importance for our Dharma and culture in the prevailing political
situations whore distorting of Hindu culture is on top priority of
the political parties in power. The conscientious Hindus are sore
about the present developments, and are convinced for an urgent
need for concerted, organized and immediate efforts to protect and
preserve the sanctity of Hindu Dharma, and culture, check
conversion of Hindus, propagate the true Hindu Dharma based on
love, equality and humanity and provide service to poor, disabled,
down-trodden, oppressed and all round development of children and
women.
This needs money,
man power, and management of well- planned projects and strategies
at national level. Hindu Scriptures give top priority for
donations and appeal people to contribute the maximum for
preservation and propagation of Dharma. "You donate with
both hands" (Ath 7.26.8) "Donate with dedication and
love even sometimes under compulsion" (Taitt. Up 1.1 1.3).
Donation and truth are the roots of Dharma (Cha. Sutra. 237). "No
pious act equals donation" (Maha. Bh. Anu.). "The
Doner bigets Amratam or Moksham" '(RV. 1. 1 25.6). 'One
who enjoys alone is a sinner" (RV. 10.1 17.6). According
Gita (8.5). "One should not give up yagya, religious and
social welfare, penance and donations as these are purifires.
" And Manu says "For noble and pious acts and Dharma,
people should generously donate- w;w# F#O@-a (Manu. 4.227).
Hence donation for social and religious causes is the religious
duly of each Hindu. But we do very little. On the contrary crores
of rupees legally and illegally have been pouring in India since
independence into Islamic and Christian organizations as
assistance by 55 Islamic and 66 Christian countries to wipe out
the Hindus at the earliest. Besides this, Hindus themselves are
contributing cores of rupees annually to Christian educational and
other institutions, by sending their children to the Mission
Schools. And the same money is being used by them on the
conversion of Hindus besides converting and/ or poisoning the
minds of young Hindu children against Hinduism in the Mission
schools. Not only this,. by money power, the Missionaries lure
poor people even to attend their prayer-services on daily or
monthly basis. Recently tribals from Sanswara, Rajasthan told that
Missionaries paid to them Rs. 1 50 to 200/= per month. (Panchjanya
27.4.97). The Church admits that they buy, converts through money
(B.D. Bharti, Vatican-Teresa-Sonia-R7):
What a shame that
the foreign Christian Missionaries through Indian converts are
performing our religious conversion with the help of crores of
dollars brought from abroad, and by our own money; and we, living
in our own country are watching helplessly the conversion of our
own brothers and sisters due to paucity of funds and lack of a
vigilant, effective and strong anti-conversion program of the
Hindus. The Dharmacharyas have no moral right to ask for donations
from the Hindus, if they take no pains and fail to save the
religion particularly of, poor, down-trodden, illiterate and
ignorant Hindus.
What a shame that
despite of Hindus being relatively richer, in general, not only in
India but also in U.K., USA and elsewhere have not been able to
defend the religion of their poor brothers and check conversion of
Hindus simply because lack of money available for the
anti-conversion activities, even though we are wasting crores of
rupees annually on marriages of our children on the pomp and show
and satisfaction of false self ego of high status, spurred by
evils as that of dowry system. O Hindus! You are busy in earning,
minting and hoarding of enormous wealth all the time without
caring for your very survival and existence! If you do not,
politically and demographically survive, your wealth will not be
with you either. You have already lost one-third of territory of
India and 20 crores Hindus to Islam in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Can any civilized community of the world, knowing and seeing
everything, bear its total collapse, destruction and annihilation
before his/her own eyes except the Hindus? That too due to lack of
funds! Have you forgotten Bhama Shah of Mewar! 0 Hindus! Be aware
of the ensuing danger! Think a little about your own plight, your
own future! Your own destiny and progeny! Hence, attend the call
of the time and act as follows:
A) Every Hindu must contribute a
minimum of one per cent of his daily income for preservation and
protection of Hindu Dharma.
B) All charitable Hindu organizations
and rich Hindus should liberally donate regularly to such
individuals and institutions; (i) which are engaged in printing
and publishing literature on comparative religion helpful in
checking conversion of Hindus and bringing the Hindu converts back
to Hindu fold; (ii) which are working in villages, remote areas, labor
colonies and amongst laborers, tribals, financially and
educationally backward people etc. to promote, preserve and
protect Hindu Dharma and the conversion of Hindu converts, and
(iii) which are engaged in establishing the re-converts to
Hinduism in relation to better educational facilities, marriages
of their children, employment, social security and other problems
etc.
C) The rich Hindus
should ensure that not a single Hindu is converted due to paucilly
of funds.
D) The Hindus, at
religious ceremonies and auspicious occasions must generously
donate to Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Keshav
Kunj, Karol Bagh,
New Delhi or Janseva Sansthan, V.H. Parshad, R.K. Puram, N. Delhi
which are doing commendable work among the tribals. Donations may
be on monthly basis also, through local agencies organised
through-out the country. Sometime a pamphlet, read and printed by
your donation, could save vunerable convert. Lastly "one
who donates and protects the Dharma, is protected himself" (Manu
8.15)
14. Organise Your Own Religious
Education
Hindus do not have
the right to receive the education of their religion and culture
through government and recognised schools(Art.26). On the
contrary, the Muslims and Christians, being minorities are
absolutely free "to establish, support and manage their
religious educational institutions' (Art. 29-30) without any,
governmental interference. Not only that, the state and central
Governments provide financial assistance to these minority
institutions. This amounts to that the Hindus, though account for
85 per cent of the population of the country, are constitutionally
debarred from getting their religious education, which is a clear
cut injustice with the Hindus. This should vehemently be opposed
by each and every Hindu, individually and institutionally.
Furtherthe
education is a state matterand therefore, as weare already
witnessing in the educational system in the states of Kerela and
N-E. Region. So the only alternative left to the Hindus is either
to control the political power in the states and central
government and amend the constitution or organize their own
educational system for their children or keep their children
unaware of their religious tenets. A few suggestions for organizing
our religious education are presented below.
Organizational Set-up for Imparting
Hindu Religious Education
First of all, a
Supreme Hindu Dharma Academic Council or Hindu Dharma Shiksha
Parished, be constituted. It should comprise of scholars, and
Dharmacharyas drawn from all premium religious sects of the
Hindus. This should be the highest policy making body and
executive Organization with the following main activities.
1. To organize,
establish, support and administrate the religious education of
Hindus in India and abroad.
2. To establish a Central Hindu
Dharma Educational and Training Institute (CHDETI) with branches
in each Indian state to impart religious education in the
regional language and at a few places in abroad.
3. To establish a Research
Institute of Comparative Religion particularly in relation to
Islam, Christianity and Hindu Dharma.
4. To establish a Central
Publication Organization to publish authentic Hindu Religious
Scriptures in Sanskrit, Hindi and English while for regional
languages similar publication units be developed in different
states.
5. To develop policies on the
coordination among Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other sects
and sub-sects of Hindu Religion on philosophical and cultural
basis.
6. To develop a comprehensive
book on Hindu Dharma giving basic tenets and code of conduct
based on authentic Hindus Scriptures.
7. To
develop guidelines for preparing authentic, logical and non-
controversial editions of Hindu Scriptures free from
interpolations, omissions and additions.
8. To develop guidelines for
preparing research monographs, popular books and text books
which should be developed at CHDETI and regional institutes.
9. To develop policies on
awarding degrees and Training Diplomas on Hindu Dharma and
culture.
10. To develop policies on
preservation and management of Hindu Temples and to f rame rules
and regulations for the maintenance and construction of new
temples.
11. To develop guidelines for
imparting training to priests and women-priests on rituals and
worship in the temples.
12. To develop policies and
guidelines for coordination between Central and Regional
Institutions and their activities.
Develop
One Comprehensive Book on Hindu Dharma
At present a large
number of Hindu Religious Scriptures are in vogue, and if their
commentaries by distinguished scholars are also included, their
number would be too huge to be read, understood and practised. To
be brief we have, in Hindu religion, 4 Vedas, 6 Vedangas, 6
Brahmanas, 6 Darshan Shastras, 200 Upnishads with 13 as
mains, I 8 Puranas, 1 8 Up-Puranas, 57 Smrities, Mahabharat,
Ramayana with various versions, Gita, several Aranyakas, a few
Pratishakhyas, many Dharma Shastras, Shulab Sutras, Grihya Sutras,
Shrout Sutras, Dharma Sutras and Agamas. Then in Buddhism there
are many scriptures as Vinaya Pittaka, Tripattika and their
associated texts. Similarly there are 50 Agamas and about 8 Jain
Puranas; and Sikhism has Shri Guru Granth Sahib. In the present
editions of these texts there are a lot of interpolations except
in the Vedas. It is therefore, impossible for a common Hindu to
read and practice all of them in daily life. However, it may be
justified for researchers, orientalists, lndologists, specialists
and senior Dharmacharyas to read, preach and conduct research on
them from the view point of ancient knowledge. But what is
essentially required at present for an average Hindu, is the
compilation of one comprehensive book on Hindu Dharma. This should
contain exhaustively main non-controversial, common and
humanitarian tenets and a common code of conduct.
The basic
principles of the Hindu Dharma should be compiled strictly on the
basis of the Vedas because they are our authentic religious
scriptures, as acknowledged by our Rishis, and all the other Hindu
scriptures. Moreover, they are free from interpolations being
learnt by heart in thirteen different ways and have been
preserved, in their original form since times immemorial, while
such a case is not with other Hindu Scriptures in which there are
ample interpretations. The common Hindu code of conduct should
also be Veda based, but it can incorporate the vedas-supported
conducts from other scriptures such as, Brahmanas, Upanishads,
Darshan Shastras, Smrities, Mahabharat etc. The Valmiki Ramayana
can be taken for infusing inspiration and ideals in human life.
Logical, humanitarian and inspiring episodes and examples can be
taken from the Puranas and Mahabharat. In brief, in this text on
comprehensive Hindu Dharma, primacy should be accorded to the
broad, lofty inspiring ideas and ideals and be free from sectarian
and complex outdated rituals. This broad based Text be got
approved by the state units and finally by the Supreme Hindu
Dharma Academic Council. After that, both of these should be
translated into the regional languages. This Text on Hindu Dharma
and Valmiki Ramayana should be treated as authentic Hindu
Religious Scriptures and be made compulsory to each and every
Hindu. Needless to say that such a job is difficult, and
controversial and, but is intact of urgent need. This will
lay a standard of tenets and code of conduct and will give a
positive, creative and inspiring outlook of comprehensive Hindu
Dharma. It will help in propagating pure Hindu Dharma and avoid
conflicts, controversies and contradictions mainly caused by
interpolations and sectarianism. Then, the Hindu Dharma in a pure
form will emerge with more vigor, will create staunch faith, will
invite wider acceptability and will prove more practical in daily
life. Being based on freedom to act according to ones own
conscience will encourage non-Hindus, and Hindu-converts to come
back to Hindu fold. Such a book is the need of the day.
Management of Religious
Education and Training
I .The CHDETI,
established by the Hindu Dharma Academic Council should prepare
a three-tier Religious Education curriculum for Diploma in Hindu
Dharma Shastra (HDS), BA in HDS and MA in HDS level studies and
these degrees be awarded to the successful candidates like any
university degree. This curriculum should be on the basis of
Hindu Philosophy, culture, history, rituals, sanskar, and code
of conduct after incorporating the principles and practices of
various Hindu sects and also of Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
The students also be exposed to tenets of Islam and Christianity
on comparative basis.
2 Similar
Institutes be developed in the states to impart religious
education and training in the state language, so that people
could get religious education in their mother tongue.
3. All Gurukuls,
temples and centers of learning Sanskrit be coordinated and
affiliated to the Central Institute and Religious Education and
be made an essential part of their studies. They can get degrees
both in Sanskrit and Hindu Dharma Shastras, simultaneously.
4. The priests
and women priests should be trained in conducting Sanskar and
other religious rituals both at Central and State Institutions.
5. The religious
preachers, Priests, Purofits and Dharma-charyas educated and
trained in Hindu Dharma Shastras be preferred to preach and
teach Hindu Dharma and conduct rituals and ceremonies.
6. Besides the
fresh candidates, the priests already working in the temples
should also be given a refreshing training course.
7. The
personnel trained at the above institutions should act as
trainers and train the existing priests and Purohits through-out
the country. This will help in conducting uniform and correct
rituals as per the Shastras.
8. Religious
training camps be organized in schools and temples during the
summer vacation for 15-20 days for students and conveniently for
others at appropriate time.
9. Emphasis
should be laid to publish authentic Hindu Religious literature
for different age groups with their translations in the regional
languages.
10. A cell of the
CHDETI should arrange training for Hindus living abroad, both in
India as well as in foreign countries.
11. All possible
arrangements be made to impart religious training in each
village, town and city for various age groups of Hindus.
12. All possible
efforts be made to strengthen Hinduism rather than sectarianism
by minimizing internal and intra-sectarian differences.
13. Scholars and
Dharmacharyas should convince the Hindu masses emphatically that
birth-based castes, casteism, untouchability and social
discrimination etc. are quite unauthentic and unacceptable in
pure Hindu Dharma, and therefore, such evils should be
abandoned.
14. The
Dharmacharyas should rise above their sectarianism, work to
strengthen the consolidated Hindu Dharma, condemn social evils,
expose false claims of non-Hindu religious organizations and emphasize
on national issues, and also motivate Hindus for political
awakening besides spirituality.
15. They should
try to find out the solutions of current problems being faced by
the Hindus, on the basis of Hindu Scriptures.
16. The Dharmacharyas, for the
next five years, at least, emphatically ask people to worship
Godess Motherland and save her dignity, security and sovereignty
from the onslaught of Islam and Christianity.
17. Checking
of conversion of Hindu to Islam and Christianity and bringing
back the Hindu converts to Hindu-fold should be the only agenda
of lakhs and lakhs of Sadhus, Munis and Sanyasis who are
supported by the Hindus.
18. Since politics is a main part
of Hindu Dharrna, Dharmacharyas should in their religious
discourses give top priority on the impact of present day
politics on their Dharma and their survival.
19. There
should be a section of C H D E T I to look after the affairs
of Hindu temples and to provide detailed guidelines on temple
management, their security, mode of worship and construction
of new temple. All temples be registered in the central Organization
and no new temple to be constructed without due approval by
this body of temples.
20. The gates
of all Hindu temples be thrown open to each and. every human
being irrespective to their castes as God created the human
beings without any discrimination.
21. Animal
sacrifice in the temples be strictly stopped as it is against
the Vedic rituals.
22. The temples
should spend at least 50% of their income on religious
education and training, religious literature and publicity of
pure Hindu Dharma and also on the development of poor.
23. Every Hindu
should compulsorily devote 15-20 days per year, in groups to
promote and propagate religious education or devote in any of
their related projects.
24. Authentic
books be developed on the significance of religious ceremonies
and festivals and their mode of celebrating them. These should
be made available in all regional languages.
25. Ail the
main Hindu festivals be celebrated by all Hindus together as a
community festival with a religious duty. However distortions,
as we see in Holi festival, be removed. This will create harmony
and unity.
26. Every
saint, sanyasin and vanprasthi who has taken a vow to serve
the Hindu religion should carry the message " Defense
of religion is the defense of the county" to every
home and should not accept alms and even food from one who has
not served the Hindu community in anyway.
The Dharmacharyas
should strengthen the whole Hindu religion,instead of working
for the progress of their own Math, Ashram, sect or
institution. The Hindu Community expects a drastic change now
from them to lay emphasis on worldly matters also including
economic, social, political problems of youths, women and those
of down-trodden and backward classes. Creative, constructive and
nationalistic approach to synthesise Hindu Dharma and strengthen
the Hindus, is the demand of the day. Let the awakened,
enlightened and devoted people from all walks of life come
together for awakening and strengthening the Hindu masses. This
is the call of the Vedas.
15 . Unite Yourself
Hindus, despite
of their inspiring, lofty and national ideology , have been
reduced to an insignificant status simply because they are not
united politically. Swami Vivekanand applealed to Hindus to
unite as per the call of the Vedas because being of one mind is
the secret of strong society viz. " Be thou all of one
mind, be thou all of one thought, (RV. 10. 1 91.2). This is
the secret of power.
Swamiji called
upon the Hindus to give up their sectarian approach thus:-
"It is not only true that the ideal of religion is the
highest ideal, in the case of India it is the only possible
means of work, work in any other line, without first
strengthening this would be disastrous. Therefore, the first
plank in the making of a future India, the first step that is to
be hewn out of that rock of ages is this unification of
religion." " All of the us have to be taught that the
Hindus-dualists, qualified monists, or monists, Shaivas,
Vaishnavas or Pashupatas to whatever demonination we may belong,
have certain common ideas behind us, and that the time has come
when for the well being of ourselves, for the well being of our
race, we must give up all our little quarrels and
differences."
"National
union in India must be gathering up of its scattered spiritual
forces. A nation in India must be a union of those whose hearts
beat to the same spiritual true.' Therefore to make a great
future India, the whole interest lies in Organization,
accumulation of powers, and coordination of wills '(Swami
Vivekananda's Rousing Call to Hindu Nation Eknath Ranade
p.82-84)
Swamiji again
says " This is the time to decide your future-while you
possess the energy of youth, not when you are worn out and
Jaded, but in the freshness and vigor of youth: work! this is
the time, for the freshest, untouched and unsmelled flowers
alone are to be laid at the feet of the Lord, and such he
receives - ---------- Let us therefore, take up a great ideal
and give up our whole life to it. Let this be our determination
and may He, the Lord bless us and lead us to the fulfillment of
our aims." (ibid p.98).
Hence 0 Hindus
'Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is
reached.'(Kathop.1.3.14)
JAI HINDU RASTRA!
BHARAT MATA KI JAI!
The End.
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