THOUGHTS ON EVOLUTION OF HINDU RELIGION AND IT’S TIMELESS RELEVANCE – By N.S.Venkataraman
If there would be discussion on art of living , several persons would enthusiastically participate and listen to the views of the experts. On the other hand, if there would be discussion on art of dying, very few people would be listening. The ground reality is that no one likes the word death and would try to avoid any thought on the subject. When a close relative or friend would pass away, the mourners and loved ones would feel sad .However, they would think that their end would not happen anytime soon. Nevertheless, in sub conscious mind, the fear of death remains all the time.
Origin of religions :
From time immemorial, deep thinkers all over the world have been pondering over the process of death and they have strived to get clarity about the purpose of life and as to from where one is born and where one would go after the end of life . Over the last several centuries , based on the thought process of such deep thinkers , several religions have been founded.
While the founders of religions such as Christianity , Islam, Buddhism , Jainism are known and when the religion was founded is also broadly known, no one knows as to who founded Hindu religion and when was it founded. It is vaguely believed by ardent followers of Hindu religion that the Hindu religion must have been bestowed by God Himself.
What is clear is that the basic philosophy and approach stated in Hindu religious scriptures and explanations contained in them have been evolved over several centuries by deep thinkers ( who are known as saints and rishis in India ). They have been further fine tuned and explained by several deep thinkers generation after generation. While it is universally agreed that the evolution of Hindu religion has taken place over several centuries , some people think that it is still being fine tuned in tune with the science, technology and other development around the world from time to time . Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s call to everyone to introspect “Who am I” is one of such fine tuning exercise.
However, it is very clear that basic tenets of Hindu religion remain unchanged and uncorrupted over the last several centuries .
Tenets of Hindu religion :
Scriptures such as Vedas, Upanishad explain the basic tenets of Hindu religion very firmly and very clearly without any ambiguity. . Such tenets have been further elegantly explained in the two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha, which were written by deep thinkers with extraordinary understanding .
These two great epics describe the human behaviour in different circumstances and highlight the essence of Hindu philosophy ,marked by thought process and actions of Lord Rama and the pronouncements of Lord Krishna in Gita during the time of the war between Pandavas and Kauravas. These two epics based on the basic concepts of Hindu religion lay guidelines for humans as to how one can lead life of bliss and eternal happiness.
In the subsequent periods , the great Hindu saints such as Adi Sankara, Ramanuja , Madhvacharya and several others who have written in vernacular Indian languages such as Manickavasagar, Thirunavukkarasar in Tamil and quite a few others in other languages , have further stressed the lofty principles enunciated in ancient Hindu scriptures and facilitated the understanding of the concepts even by uninitiated persons
In recent memory , great Hindu philosophers like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Kanchi Paamacharya have explained the basic concept in tune with the developing socio economic conditions and emerging aspirations of the common man.
Hindu religious scriptures discuss about the existence of Paramatma ( God, Almighty ) and Jeevatma ( individual ) and stress that Jeevatma has to ultimately become one with Paramatma and that should be the ultimate goal of every individual.
Hindu religion stress that a life of detachment , goodwill for everyone, adhering to moral and ethical values and avoiding ego and hatred would inevitably lead one to meditate and realise the God within oneself. These attributes are termed “Sanatana Dharma”
What has been consistently stressed over the last several centuries by saints and deep thinkers is that one has to surrender himself / herself to Almighty ( God ) . God has to be realised within one’s mind and it can be a simple process of realisation within by an earnest seeker, who should have sustained interest to meditate and introspect about purpose of life. This would lead to mental bliss within oneself. Hindu religion explains this state elegantly as state of Ananda ( Mental Bliss) .
Critical views
Hindu religion describe God by several names and forms associated with several stories and events. While some critics raise queries about this , those with deep understanding of Hindu philosophy can know clearly that Hindu religion does not suggest multiple Gods but only one Almighty.
Obviously, God in multiple names have been mentioned in Hindu religion in response to the different types of mental make up of individuals , who can choose a particular name or names with different attributes to focus their mind on God and fervently pray and lead life of piety . If one would pray to Lord Rama, he would realise Lord Rama in his mind as the Almighty. Similarly, if one would pray to Lord Krishna , he would realise Lord Krishna In his mind as Almighty. This image is carved deep in the mind all the time permanently.
There are also a few critics who have questioned whether Ramayana and Mahabharatha and so many other mythological stories mentioned over several centuries could have really happened., This question is unnecessary and would lead to nowhere.
What is important are the ideas and morals explained in Hindu scriptures and two great epics which lay down the approach that everyone should adopt in life. Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are deemed to be Almighty by devotees and that is what is significant and important.
Origin and end of human life :
A few religions state that at the end of life, one would go to hell or heaven depending on the actions during the life time. On the other hand, Hindu religion states about births and rebirths
Hindu religious concept centre around the concept of Karma ( actions of individuals ) and explains the process of birth and death by stressing that the multiple births that one would take based on one’s deeds in life. By leading a blemishless life with Sanatana Dharma as the focus . it can be ensured that the Jeevatma ( individual) would take no more births and merge with Paramatma ( God) Will stand the test of time Great concepts in the of Hindu scriptures evolved over several centuries has stood the test of time and will continue to stand the test of time
They have satisfied billions of people around the world, who crave for understanding of the life process and the daunting question as to from where one would go after the end of life .
Billions of people have realised that such advocacies and thought process are the only and ultimate and well researched explanations for the life process.
