Why there is a serious need to reform Hinduism

08 February, 2013

Hinduism faces an unprecedented threat of evils dominating in the society. Maha Kumbh presents an unprecedented opportunity to set right lots of wrongs. The Dharam Gurus have the opportunity; the gathering; wisdom; moral cum spiritual force and unprecedented control of followers' mind. There is a need for fresh guidance, which can rejuvenate and restore the religion to its pristine glory.

Maha Kumbh, the greatest congregation of human beings anywhere in the universe, is in progress. It’s one event where all the learned Hindu spiritual leadership assembles at the holiest of time and place, as dictated by astro factors. The environment all around the place is totally pious; people visiting are talking and thinking about the future beyond the materialistic world and they come with a promise to erase the past sins and go back as better human beings.

The powerful gathering of saints with massive following controls the mind and has the potential of mega changes in our society and thought process. Hinduism, believed to be the oldest religion in the world, has developed major fault lines over a period of time, and this needs to be addressed. Failure to do so will lead to decay and conversion to other religions, which is resented by the vast majority.

Evolution

Our forefathers were extremely learned people and gave the world modern tools providing the basic foundations of science; spiritual thought; mathematics; palmistry; planetary and astro-sciences. However, somewhere down the times knowledge seeking was replaced by superstitions for the masses and interpretation of wisdom left to the educated Brahmins. But, they failed to modernise or add to the basic knowledge and propagated blind faith and superstitions to control masses through fear-cum-appeasement of gods as a panacea for curing all ills.

Castes

It’s a shame that this menace continues unabated. Rather than going down with education, it is rearing its ugly head, kind courtesy of the vote bank politics and the inability of the religious leaders to fight this evil. Since the gurus have a hold at grass root levels they are the most effective force to usher this change. If Hindu is divided today, this is one of the root causes and unless addressed the future is not too great.

Mandirs though wealthy, but poorly maintained

Our mandirs are wealthy because of devotees, but the management of mandirs, to say the least, is pathetic. Filth, beggars, greedy pundits, touts, inadequacy of basic amenities, corruption, mismanagement of funds are the hallmarks of most of them. There is a need to coordinate the minimal give back to people in terms of feeding/sheltering the hungry; providing basic amenities and CSR. Take a look at Gurudwaras’ maintenance. They provide free langars and shelter to devotees. In case of mandirs, reasonable amenities and charity could be the way ahead. There is a need for a centralised body to monitor implementation of this aspect.

Self over society

Charity amongst all religions- Islam/Sikhism/Christianity is well known and this needs to be incorporated wholeheartedly by Hindus as well.

Dowry and women status

The low status of women in our religion has taken deep roots in the modern day society. The day to day treatment of our women-folk needs serious attention. Dowry and may be equal property for girls may be a starting point. It’s not the way the great religion has taught the society to treat its women. Social ban on dowry can be imposed by the dharma gurus and society.

Ills, incidents and failures are all blamed on God

All ills and failings are ascribed to past karmas and in spite of teachings in our Vedas and Swami Vivekananda that we need to take charge, we refuse to accept responsibility by misinterpreting the philosophy of Gita. That we make our destinies needs to be taught to the people.

Knowledge and pride in past, future little bright

People who led the world in knowledge are laggards today. We have stopped learning and expect the west to tell us even about our ancient wisdom, what is good or bad before acceptance. Pride in our knowledge and past has been traumatised by the slavery that the nation was subjected to for so long. This needs to be brought back by making the wisdom available in the language which people understand and supporting/refining those pearls with modern scientific tools available to us today.

Diversity harming the cause

Ram, Shiv, Kumbh, Krishan, devis have got associated with Ram mandir, Amarnath/ Kailash-Mansarovar/Dwarka-Vrindavan- Tirupathi-Puri; vaishnavo – chintapurni etc. and Peeths have all become autonomous entities with no centralised coordination. Problems are being addressed individually with little synergy whereas the basic problem is same.

Hinduism is the only religion in the world which does not have Vatican/Golden Temple/Mecca – Medina. There is need to defend together when it comes to the basic thought. Hindus are being converted by allurements because of in-house follies. There is a need to have a centralised body which should combat the threats.

Way ahead

There are other issues and not all can be addressed here. What needs to be done is the issue. The Dharma Gurus assembly at Maha Kumbh should address the issues which are threatening our religion and society today. The government and laws cannot change the mind-set but the Dharma gurus have the clout and where with all to take on these veils head on and force a change for the good. Once we revert to the values and wisdom of the past and simultaneously evolving/ refining the sciences, we can become the religion which was once proud of its thought, traditions, socio-economic fabric and self-sustaining communities living in harmony. Soft power or smart power or mind power or knowledge society whatever one may call it – this is the way and these are the tools.

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COMMENTS (2)

Guest

Hitesh Lav

Reform of Hinduism is impossible because, the Dharma of our heritage is not Hindu dharma. It is Sanatana Dharma. The word Hindu is coined by Travellers of Mughal and British Era who could not pronounce Sindhu or people inhabiting the plains of Sindh River (Modern Indus). Hence our rituals and a religion based on these was colloquially called Hindu Religion. Once we correct this, the entire perspective gets corrected and everything falls in place. The Sanatana (Eternal-Without beginning or End) Dharma (Duty) of every Human Being is to understand that he/she is the Soul (Atma or Self) in relationship of Love with Supersoul (Param Atma or God) and the only Marga (Path) is to develop the relationship of love to unite with God (Prema Bhakti Yoga) till the God accepts that Soul. Rest every other path to reach God viz. Karma Yoga (Unison through Selfless Work), Gyana Yoga (Unison through Knowledge of God) Raj Yoga (Unison through Control of Mind) or lowly Karma Kanda (Rituals of Vedic Sacrifice) is fraught with danger of failure and falling with no accumulation of credits for the efforts made under each. This the reason that, Hindus following these paths have fallen, whereas the purest lovers of God neither fail nor fall. Should Hinduism need reform, it must change its name to Sanatan Dharma and call the Hindu as Sanatani. Each Sanantani must realise the true Dharma and become Prema Bhakta with Love for God and see him in each other Soul irrespective of Body, Caste, Creed or Religion they are currently stuck in without criticism, questioning or opposing his/her birth, status or belief. A true Sanantan Bharat instead of Hindustan would soon emerge.

0 Replies

Alok Asthana

Totally wrong. Hinduism has no 'faultlines'. We have lived with caste-system, poorly maintained temples, diversity, dim future etc for centuries and done a better job of if than most others, particularly Islam, Christianity and Sikhism. The actual faultlines lie elsewhere which are not even mentioned in the article. They lie in the unionization of the sants and mahants. In Islam and Christianity, there is a central union leader type of a system ( Imam, Pope ) which has social power over the people. In Hinduism, there is no central power. I don't have to care what the Shankaracharya says. I can eat meat or potatoes, go to temple or not do so, choose between 33 crore devi-devtas or even none and still be a Hindu. In Christianity and Islam ( also in Sikhism ), you dare not do that. They have a rule book for your personal life too. Beware of institutionalized power coming to the Hindu religious heads. That is the real faultline. Keep them in their place. Have them hanging around clients, rather than the other way around.

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