THE RENAISSANCE
OF
HINDUISM
(Part 1)
Hinduism is not a Religion in the western sense. Western religions are unable to digest this fact, even after so many great Hindu authorities have stated this in unequivocal terms.
Anybody born on this land can believe or not believe anything in the religious sense and yet be a Hindu. India is incapable of hating any religious-ism, unlike the non-indian religious-isms, which, in practice, are 'born to hate' all other religious-isms except 'itself'. 'Be Us' and we leave you no other way - is their dictum. That is not how Hinduism ever existed or operated in India. Whatever you believe in - be a Good Human. This has been the way in India all along but,unfortunately, not any more, due to the aggressive presence of the external isms.
Many great scriptures evolved on this soil from historically unknown and obscure times. Vedas evolved millions of years ago. Vedas are proof that highly civilized humans existed on this land when no proof of cultured humans existed anywhere else on earth. Vedas may or may not be the repository of all spiritual wisdom. But, they contain extraordinarily great thinking in many ways, even in those obscure times, which no one today can deny.
I am not claiming completeness or infallibility for Vedas but, spreading through word of mouth from one sage to his students, they always seem to have marched with times. Every Great Sage seems to have added to their great flavour - which is clear from the fact that Vedas themselves speak of so many great sages.
When anecdotes of so many great sages exist in them, we can't say, that those sages made no contribution to Vedas and only God made them. The Greatness of Vedas, which are the most ANCIENT BOOKS ON EARTH (and which I feel were definitely changing with every great sage) is unquestionable. When we talk of Vedas, we must keep in mind the most ancient times during which they came into existence.
Other religious scriptures which came in the last 2000-2500 years ago all over the earth are in no way better than Vedas, which came millions of years ago. That is the Greatness of the Vedas and this soil.
Upanishads evolved just a little later than the Vedas, partly from Vedas themselves and partly from the minds of Great Sages over a period of time. Upanishads talk of so many sages and so many Yagnas, sacrifices etc. We can't say that the sages mentioned in them or the sages who spoke of them made no contribution to them. Essentially, the Sages propagated the best of wisdom through Upanishads.
Ramayana and Mahabharata are not scriptures but are chronicles of contemporary History of the times they were written. Their authors wrote partly their own History and mostly, the History of the Greatest people of their times. They contain a lot of living wisdom of those times. These Books are extraordinary by our standards of today.
Mahabharat is undoubtedly the Biggest and the best chronicle of History of all time anywhere in the world. Because we don't possess the weapons of those days, we may dispute their very existence today. But, who can dispute the the greatness of the art of fighting, art of ruling and art of living which existed in the Mahabharat days? These were the best of all time.
Some may dispute Mahabharat as History but Gita is living proof of Mahabharat. During the last 5000 years, Nobody has produced a book greater than either Mahabharat as History or Gita as the source of the greatest Scientific knowledge.
If 21st century world in general and India in particular does not explore the whole gamut of sciences Krishna revealed in Gita, it would be one of our Greatest failures. I as a born brahmin, but not particularly identifying with any caste myself, feel that in the hands of Brahmins, Brahmin priests and Brahmin sages, Gita remained largely a Prayer Book and a religious scripture instead of the scientific treatise and an inspiration for action that it was meant to be. Not much investigation has gone into the sciences revealed in Gita.
Rama, the personification of Dharma was a Kshatriya. Krishna the exponent of the Extraordinary book of Gita was a Kshatriya. We need such Great Kshatriyas today, to explore and interpret our vedas, Upanishads and the Gita. Otherwise, we will always be confusing inaction as action. Guarding Dharma on earth is ACTION, even if seeking Moksha may be largely non attachment and inaction. Gita is capable of giving different meanings to different people and different solutions to different problems.
Puranas are also not scriptures but are meant for small story telling to disseminate ancient wisdom in colloquial idiom. Puranas are perhaps meant to tell Dharma to the unlettered people in many ways.
The Greatest and the latest Book of wisdom is of course, the Bhagavad Gita, told by Lord Krishna himself, more than 5000 years ago, as a summary of all ancient wisdom. A lot of Gita is devoted to many unexplored sciences. Basically, Gita is meant to spur the man into action. Excellence in Action is Yoga, says Lord Krishna himself.
In contrast, Patanjali says, Yoga is controlling the mind. Both are correct. But, Gita is the way on earth for 99% of people. Patanjali is the way for 1% of people. Both are great.
The last sloka of Gita is - where Krishna the Yogeswara is, and where the mighty armed Arjuna with his Gandiva is - there, victory , happiness and riches of all types is definite to accrue. Can you forget this and take to sanyas, when the calling of duty is - ACTION? Especially to protect Dharma?
Unfortunately, for the last 5000 years, after Lord Krishna left the earth, India has not tried much to - march with the changing times, renovate itself, re-present itself and re-form itself to withstand external and internal attacks.
The Indian religious leaders are still rooted in the pre- Bhagavad Gita times and are not recognizing the external and internal dangers annihilating Hinduism everyday. Lord Krishna did not teach this type of and this level of Karma sanyasa and inaction in his Bhagavad Gita. He asked Arjuna to take up arms and annihilate Adharma with complete detachment. This core teaching of Gita is totally absent in
actual practice of our religious leaders and people today.
There are many things missing in today's India - for victory of Dharma over Adharma. Where are those fearless warriors of the Mahabharat days who will fight for Dharma today?
Today, we have Brahmins, Vaisyas and Sudras but where are Kshatriyas? They are almost totally absent in Hinduism today and Hinduism is paying a very heavy price because of their absence. 40% of population must be kshatriyas who will guard the others and guard Dharma. Today, people who identify themselves as Kshatriyas are just about 1%. that is the greatest problem of today for Hinduism in India.
Today, the greatest need for Hinduism is to resurrect the Kshatriya clan. Every Hindu family must contribute one child to the Kshatriya clan, whatever may be their caste right now, and make that child a great, fearless warrior, ready to defend India, ready to defend Hinduism and ready to defend Dharma.
Let there be no sub-castes, sub-groups etc among Kshatriyas, which must exist as a single caste, drawn from all other castes, to protect Dharma.
If Dalits can be anointed as priests after due training, and this is a most welcome measure, why not create a Kshatriya clan, which must be about 40% of population, which is proud of our ancient Dharma and is ready to protect India and the great civilization that existed in this land.
Will YOU identify yourself with the Greatest Kshatriyas like Rama, Krishna, Arjuna, Bhishma and so on, now and try to emulate their fearless greatness? Do not create any sub castes etc within Kshatriyas. Let it be a great unified clan created out of Dare devils drawn from all other castes.
It can be optional today. It is up to each Individual to identify himself as Kshatriya. Let it be encouraged. Let us give all out support. Let it be given legal recognition. Let us not place any hurdles for any deserving person. Let no coward be recognized as Kshatriya.
India really needs Great Kshatriyas today. Let the Government support this measure in greater measure just like it is coming forward to create Dalit Archakas. let Hinduism be revitalized and united by such measures.
Krishna said - caste is based on Guna and Karma - and he did not mention birth as a major criterion. He himself was born as Kshatriya but grew as a Yadava, and befriended Kubja, Vidura, Sanjaya, Kuchela and so on. He has shown the way. Let us take the cues from him for solving our today's major problems.
Jai Bharat ! Jai Hind !
