Deivathin Kural Series - 28

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 28 of 17 July 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'.

2. To-day's e-mail is the translation of what is given in pages, 112 to 115, in volume I, under the heading, 'Madangalin Orrumaii' ie., 'Oneness of Religions'. (As you know Man herein includesWoman.)
3. All religions have come in to being, for the purpose of praying to God. All of them say that God is one. That One God will accept your prayers, whatever be the Religion, through which You approach Him. So, there is no need for anyone to leave his religion and convert to another religion. Temple, Church, Masjid,Vihara, etc, can differ in their structure, the Idol or symbol, procedures, ceremonies and approach. But there is no difference in the God, who answers Your prayers. Depending on various habits, cultures and compulsions of the environment; of different Nations and Societies, various Religions have evolved. They are all meant to bring Man closer to God. So, it is clear that, there is no need to change your religion. Those who convert to another religion, somehow insult the religion in which they were born, the one converted to and God!
4. You may say, "Why is Swamiji saying this? Anybody leaves the religion to which born, only because, they would have found some deficiencies, in their own religion. Why is he saying that such people insult the religion to which they are converting?" Let me answer. Without the understanding that God is universal, only a narrow perceptive, can lead to convertions. Thinking their own God to be useless, they leave one religion and change to another. Do they think of the God to whom they are now getting attached to, as encompassing all? No. Because, if they think of the New God, (let us call Him New God! for ease of understanding,) again ther is no need for convertion. Because they think that their New God will protect them, only if they leave their old religion and come to the new religion, they decide to convert. So they have made the New God, a parochial fanatic. So, they have now constructed a wall between the old and new religions. Despite wrongly assuming that religions have a sense of respect, they end up disrespecting the new. ( To say that, 'Islam ko khatra ho gaya or Hinduism ko khatra ho gaya or your religion is at peril!', is all rabble rousing only.)
5. I must point out, an important difference, between Hinduism and other religions. This is the only religion, which does not say, that this is the only religion! capable of taking you to God. The Sanathana Vaidika Dharma, does not believe in convertion. There have never been any instances, in the recorded history, of any forcible convertion, in to Hindu religion. Because a true follower always respected the fact that there is not only one route to truth. The great thinkers of this religion always believed that, there are more approaches to the same goal. They believed in 'emmadamum sammadame'. Everyone born as a Hindu can be proud of this broad and liberal mentality. Veda declares, 'the one truth is spoken about by the learned in many ways'. In Gita, Krishna Bagawan says, 'Whosoever prays in whatever form or method, I reinforce his concentration, in that process'. One of the Alwars says, 'avaravar tamadama darivari vagaivagai avaravar iraiavar', meaning, everyone to his own understanding and methods and God. So Hindus have never resorted to conversion, but inversion. They have never come down to Proslytisation, Crusades and Jehads. This is a Historical fact. The Vijaya,
Chera, Chola, Pandya and Pallava Kingdoms did foray into portions of South East. Some of them were trade and commerce, while some of them were military adventures. But never on religious grounds.
There have never been any forcible conversions. Many have been attracted towards Hindu beliefs and doctrines.
6. In my opinion, in olden times, the Vaidika Madam, was spread all over the world. Later other religions have come in to being in the past 2000 years. The fact that Hinduism was there, is available as relics or ruins, in many parts of the world. Even researchers, who may not agree with me totally, do agree that, Hindu religion and culture, have spread to many parts of the world, not by force, but by the acceptance voluntarily.
7. To convert a Man to a new religion, there has to be a ritual. Some ceremony such as Baptism, has to be there. But it is interesting to note that, in a religion well known for having many 'rituals',
more than other religions, there are no rituals, for convertion. This is proof enough to show that, we do not believe in conversion.
8. When we get down from the Train in a Railway Station, it is but natural, for some drivers of Riksha / Jatka / Taxi / drivers to approach us to give us a lift, at a price. In whosoever vehicle we may get in, we will anyhow reach the destination. There is nothing wrong in their competitiveness, to earn their living. But to compete with each other, in trying to expand one's own Religion, and do convertion through offer of financial benefits, is completely objectionable and meaningless. While the aim is to take us closer to God, this competetiveness in convertion, is only an effort to dominate at the cost of free will. Anyone can believe in any God. That is free will. Luring people from other religions, for the sake of hegemony is what is not required and objectionable.
9. Among religions, there is nothing wrong, in their being some differences, in procedures and functions and rituals. But there is no need to make them in to one. Between people of different religions, Uniformity is not required. Unity is essential.
Sambhomahadeva.