Shastra Puja: An archaic and dangerous tradition

Shastra Puja must have had its relevance in the distant past. However, in the present volatile atmosphere of our country this practice seems more to frighten the minorities rather than appease the Gods or deities of arms.

CJ: Naim Naqvi

Tue, Sep 29, 2009 17:23:20 IST

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Religious Traditions India :

I HAVE the highest regards for all the religions and I fully appreciate their traditions. However, reading two news items recently, I am at a loss to comprehend the logic, relevance and continuance of many practices followed by them.

In one case, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed a ‘Shastra Puja’ (weapon worship) on the occasion of Dussehra at his house in Gandhinagar. Weapons worshipped in this Puja were those used by Modi’s security jawans. Modi also gave a pep talk to personnel of various security forces present at the ceremony.

In the other, Naresh Motwani, a 50-year-old flour mill owner, was participating in a ‘‘Shastra puja (worship of arms)’’ as part of the RSS’s foundation day programme. According to the police, a bullet from a pistol went off accidentally and shot through his throat killing him instantly. The incident occurred in RSS-run Saraswati Sishu Mandir school under Kamla nagar police station.

If RSS exudes with so much love for weapons, it should demand the government to make at two to three years compulsary military training of all youth of both the sexes with an attractive stipend. Rather than these provocative demonstrations of belligerence, they should devote their energies to teach the masses about keeping our rivers clean.

They should inculcate the virtues of honesty and integrity in every walk of life in our society. Let our smart Indian Army handle these games of arms. Let all the citizens of the country live in peace and friendship. Will someone tell these religious vigilante that their venomous Prachar and sowing of the seeds of religious hatred is no more acceptable to emerging India? These putrid policies have lost much of its sting.

Secularism in the Indian context connotes the eradication of all attitudes and practices derived from religion which impedes the development and retard the growth of India as an integrated nation. Can’t we learn something from the cataclysmic dismemberment of Pakistan? It was a country founded on negative philosophies and ideologies. It was sewn and held together for a brief period on a questionable religious homogeneity. This homogeneity is nothing but the same as Cultural nationalism of RSS.

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Posted comments (13)

	With due regards to all whose feelings are hurt on my comments on so-called Shastra or Ayodhya Pooja I am reproducing the comment of an enlightened friend:Why Ayudh Pooja for Children?By: N Raju \| Saturday , 3 Oct '09 22:20:37 PM . But why Ayudh Pooja should be prescribed for the children in "Shishu Mandirs'? Is it to introduce them to the gun culture as in the West? Of course some 'intellgent persons' would say that "Ayudh" means Discriminating, Sharpness of Mind and Using force against evil.But glorifying weapons in children's minds at Schools would make them only 'Intelligent Monsters' and produce more Nathuram Godses. What a different approach than singing "We are the Children; We are the World"?
	\| 04 October 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	Shastra or Ayudha Pooja is an age old tradition in hinduism and is present all over India. To ask everybody to wish it away is simply asking us to forgo all our past traditions. Traditionally it has involved paying reverance to weapons this includes all weapons of one's own trade and is a way of dedicating oneself to his or her karma and dharma...which is the underlining feature of Hinduism. I think whosoever was writing this article had no clue as to what hinduism is about and what it has stood for during the centuries. Let me point out, this is one religion which has never ever waged a war against another and defending oneself against any terror or adharma is the primary right or duty of one...as per Bhagavad Gita.
	\| 04 October 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	Shastra Puja is an ancient Hindu custom. It predates Budhist philosophy of suicidal pacifism even when one is attacked by criminals or jihadis. Restarting this ancient ritual is necessary if India is to win the war unleashed aginst innocent citizens by jihadis. It is a purely defensive philosophy. No peaceful Indian fear it. Jihadis, however, will have to reckon with shastra pujak Hindus. Pl. remember that 'Ahimsa parmo dharmah' as propagated by Gandhiji is only half portion of the shloka in Mahabharata. The full shloka says 'ahimsa parmo dharmah, dharama himsa tathaiva cha. It meeans that alhough ahimsa is the best dharma, recourse to violence for protecting dharma is equally important duty. That means use of weapons to protect dharma is as sacred as ahmisa.
	\| 29 September 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse