Religion: Unites or Divides?
“Religion is true for the common people, false for the wise and useful for the rulers.”
Religion in India
Religion is an inherited belief for most people and a culture that is passed through generations. For others, it’s a deep connection of the inner being with the ultimate being. However, for a few, it is something to be avoided entirely. Each is a completely valid response to religion, and that’s one of the reasons why we have secular spaces like educational and governmental institutions which are meant to function outside the bounds of religion and avoid pushing any one religion on others against their will.
The religion census of India held in 2001 has stated the composition of religion as follows: Hindus 80.50%, Muslims 13.40%, Christians 2.30% , Sikhs 1.90%, Buddhists 0.80%, Jains 0.40%, others 0.60%
Source : Religion, Census of India 2001
https://censusindia.gov.in/census_and_you/religion.aspx
According to the 2011 census, 79.8% of the population of India practices Hinduism, 14.2% adheres to Islam, 2.3% adheres to Christianity, 1.7% adheres to Sikhism, 0.7% adheres to Buddhism, and 0.4% adheres to Jainism. Zoroastrianism, Yungdrung Bon, the Baháʼí Faith, Sanamahism, and Judaism also have a history in India, and each has at least several thousand adherents in India.
A lot of change must have undergone in the past decade and the recent census data is still awaited.
Why religion?
Humans realized their limited potential. They learnt the cause and effect relationship. Karma or action is the driving force of life and every karma has consequences. The definitions of good and evil shall change with time; yet the consequence of karma is inevitable. Whatever karma seemed beyond the possibility of human capabilities, were assigned to the unknown superior intelligence called God before whom the humans with limited capacities bowed and revered in awe. God represents the Alpha & Omega and is omnipresent; this universal truth is popularly referred to as ‘Nirguna’ or the formless. The Vedas tend to use the pronoun ‘kasmai’ (who?) that depicts the inconceivable God. Even though this is the heart of Hinduism, worshipping the ‘nirguna’ Brahman was not enough nor easy hence it compelled the worshippers to design a form which can be recognized as ‘Ishvara’ or ‘Bhagavan’.
The mystery of Indian culture has always been quite a thorn in the flesh of the western invaders, who wanted to label Indians one way or the other. They soon learnt that cultural diversity and mysticism is widespread, which goes against the conventional classification of a group, sect or religion, yet they did their best to classify and divide and label the Indian culture into religions, castes and creed. Notwithstanding that Hindu means the culture that thrives between the Himalayas in the North and the Sindhu Saagar (Indian Ocean) in the South, they also determined that Hinduism is a religion and tried to draw parallels and deviations against their own. One of the oldest settlements were along the banks of the Sindhu river (or the Indus), hence they arrived at the term Hindu. The fact is entirely different.
Multiple Gods
I grew up observing that my grandparents of both sides, worshipped different Gods and visited entirely different temples, yet were one as Hindus. Subsequently, the daughter in laws that came into their families, brought their own deities and beliefs and the girls that went into the homes of their husbands, started practicing different rituals. This was exciting to observe that all along, I discovered different Gods and rituals and the list was endless. What I concluded from this was that every individual is entitled to design one’s own God and worship in one’s own way and this was completely acceptable to all others around. This kind of inclusive tolerance and mutual respect to all faiths is Hinduism. Indian philosophy had no place for the term ‘Hindu’ until Europeans brought it up. I never came across the word Hindu in the Bhagavad Gita. This term was used to classify the society which they wanted to conquer and later, the Indian people embraced.
The problem began when people came from outside India and declared that their monotheist God is the ultimate one and all others were barbaric, uncivilized and kafirs, who should either covert or run away or perish. Voluntary conversion of faiths was rampant in India before these invaders came, but this kind of enforcement was curtailing freedom and hence resisted.
Hinduism and Democracy
The main driving force of being a Hindu is that Hinduism, unlike other religions, doesn’t profess false claims to gain popularity or add to their following. This is one principle reason why their percentage share is fast depleting. It is a great relief to have insights about a faith which allows you to stretch your imagination, without being subjected to hostile treatment. Hence, a Hindu couldn’t be a heretic. There’s no worship policy, no thought-police; but a flexible system lacking rigid principles. Without adhering to prescribed rules, one can apply one’s own thoughts to anything. Indians are taught to be respectful towards others and this the core of diversity. Deviation from the singular track is encouraged, and one can rightfully choose the means to take one towards the goal.
The monotheistic faiths such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam don’t have a divine source equivalent to ‘Brahm’. In layman’s terms — the Hindu’s ‘Ishvara’ is the closest these religions can get regarding their knowledge of the universal power.
Hinduism spontaneously absorbed all other tribal faiths, religions and forms. Numerous thinkers evolved their philosophies across time; people who agreed with their thoughts, became their followers and they behaved like a different sect with their sectarian head as Guru or Bhagavan. They society embraced the doctrines of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, who was an exponent of Ahimsa (non-violence), tolerance, and upholding others before self. He professed upon giving up desires and adopt simplicity in life. Similar was the response to Buddhism. Hindus turned the table around by attempting to assimilate Buddhism while referring to the Buddha as the reincarnation of Vishnu. Buddha said that human is nothing but a bundle of desires. Once we give up all desires, we are liberated. Hindus, unlike its counterparts have no monopoly over a path one should take in order to get to the truth.
Hinduism revolves around agnostic philosophies that can bring one closer to realization. A spiritual path will be formed in accordance with one’s cultural environment, place of birth, social conditions, and the material nature called ‘Guna’ which determines the nature of karma. Salvation, Moksha and Nirvana are different concepts and shall be discussed at another time, but any form of liberation is not predetermined by the group or higher religious authority like a priest. It lies within the person; whose actions define the religious conviction.
India as a world leader
Westerners and Indian Scholars believe that Hinduism is the only religion worldwide which doesn’t discard the invisible portrait of “God” introduced by other faiths. This very attribute depicts Hindus as henotheists; a group of believers which doesn’t underestimate other religious doctrines.
India’s economy lacks behind its Western counterparts, but when it comes to psychology and tolerance it is still years ahead of time. From the ancient scripts to modern-day interpretations of life, we can see that Indians have immense broad acceptance in their perceptions. Hinduism incorporates various forms and allows its believers to seek liberation in the way they deem fit. Unlike most other faiths and doctrines, Hinduism empowers one to be oneself. Indian national identity cannot be defined easily akin to most other countries. The main reason for this disputed point is the different understanding of being.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vikram Khaitan is four times Amazon #1 bestseller author. His latest book “SEEDS OF ADVICE TO SAIL THROUGH HARD TIMES” is wonderful resource to use the specific problem solving techniques from the age old tried and tested Bhagavad Gita to deal with the negative emotions and strengthen the inner self. Click Here to read more.