A note on Hindu Fundamentalism from the life of Ramanuja

[Guest guest]

We recently had a debate on what amounts to the Hindu fundamentalism in our

temple news letter Aradhana. I thought this might be of interest to the

Prapatti net work.

HINDU FUNDAMENTALISM

-Submitted to Aradhana (8/11/95)

 

Raj, I have addressed the Hindu fundamentalism debate in two sections. You

may

choose to publish both the sections are just section 2. My thoughts are not

much different from yours. Sincerely -- K. Sreekrishna

 

Section 1

 

What constitutes religious fundamentalism with respect to various other

popular

religions?

 

 

Let us analyze religious fundamentalism in a broader sense so that we may

arrive at what the term RHindu fundamentalismS really means. The major world

religions and philosophies are as follows:

 

Western religions : Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoarastrianism, and Bahai

 

 

Indic religions (Philosophies): Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism

 

Eastern religions (Philosophies): Taoism, Shintoism, Confucianism, and Zen

 

Aboriginal religions : Numerous local faiths around the world

 

Atheism : Around the world- also an element of Communism

 

Secularism : Around the world- also an element of modern day progressive

administrations

 

This is a rather naive classification, because each of these faiths has many

sub

groups and not only that, as the saint Ramakrishna said Ras many people or so

many faiths is!S Nevertheless, this classification gives us a frame work

within

which we can analyze what fundamentalism means to each of the various faiths.

 

The original meaning of fundamentalism is Rbelief in literal truth of the

Bible.S If strictly followed, it would amount to converting the entire

humanity

to Christianity with total disregard towards all the other faiths. Koran

holds

a slightly broader view than the Bible (Koran refers to Jews and Christians

as

people of the Book and others as infidels), still the meaning of

fundamentalism

as understood above is applicable. Because, Koran also proclaims itself as

the final revelation of God and has the mission to bring the entire world

under its truth. Thus, both Christian and Islamic fundamentalismUs are a

threat to each other as well as to the other faiths.

 

It is no surprise that these two faiths have spread with much vigor and have

devastated many faiths and cultures. Together these two religions account for

most of the tears and bloodshedUs since their inception. The cruelty they have

shown even towards the followers of their own root religion Judaism, is a

testimony to their power of destruction. This is not to say that they do not

have the power to heal. But, as far as I know healing has come only after

they

have brought down a pre existing peaceful and a viable situation (hold back

the

perfect, because there is no such thing). Even so, much of this rejuvenation

has

happened because of the natural divinity that exists in all peoples including

the Christians and the Muslims (an Indic thought)!.

 

Fundamentalism as applied to Judaism would mean that only the Jews are the

chosen people, and their God is the only true God. It would also mean that the

frontiers of Israel (Promise Land) as described in the Old Testament belong

exclusively to them. Because they do not seek converts, Judaic fundamentalism

has no direct threat to the faiths that are outside the Biblical promise

land.

Fundamentalist Zoarastrianism and Bahai pertain largely to retaining their

identity and unique customs. They do not seem to pose any threat to other

religions.

 

Buddhist and Jain fundamentalism would mean denying the existence of God (in

the

sense of the other religions of faith). Because of their difference with the

religions of faith, they are a potential threat to religion of faith. The same

is true for all of the Eastern religions and Philosophies as listed above.

 

Sikhism believes in one God and does not aggressively seek converts. Thus, it

would appear that Sikh Fundamentalism is not a threat to other religions per

se. Most of their fundamentalism focusses on retaining the Sikh identity and

fighting for a Sikh nation. Recent history has shown that this nationalistic

zeal can be a threat to Sikhs as well as to others specially the Hindus.

 

The impact of fundamentalism in the various aboriginal faiths pertains to

their

locale and most of the threat is against all those who may have exploited

them.

Their fundamentalism takes the form of retaining their identity and regaining

their territories.

 

Communistic ideology has the mission to annihilate all religious faiths. The

way

China has extinguished Tibetan order is a prime example.

 

Secularism per se is not a threat to any religious institution. It advocates

an

ethical and a moral code independent of all religious considerations or

practices. This is perhaps the most reasonable, desirable and rational system

to have for coexistence in a multi-faith (or no faith) world. A threat to

secularism is in short a threat to all religions as well as to basic human

freedom and dignity itself.

 

Section 2

 

What amounts to Fundamentalist Hinduism?

 

Hindu fundamentalism in the strict sense would mean: Respecting, assimilating

or tolerating all faiths and philosophies. Thus fundamentalist Hinduism

would

let every faith there is, there can be, there may be and there will be to

prosper. Hinduism recognized that multiple faiths are inevitable, long time

ago. This view should not be confused with cover up, submission or surrender

or

putting up sheepishly all abuses and atrocities committed on Hinduism.

Generally

, Hindus practice indifferentism (reasoned disregard) or indifference in

matters

of defending their faith. However, many have given their life to preserve for

us

the Hinduism that we cherish. At times these souls may have violated the

fundamental tenets of Hindu principles, just so they can preserve them from

total onsalught. If not for their efforts, perhaps the India we know today

would

not be any different from Pakistan, or Bangladesh in terms of religious

freedom

and thought.

 

Does this mean that the Hinduism does not pose any threat to other faiths.

Sure, it does. The one major threat, if you like to call it so, is that the

various faiths and philosophies MAY lose their original identity and merge

into

Hinduism (or any new name you may choose to give: Because the important thing

here is not the name but the principle). Another threat is that the Hinduism

may be making a subtle and unintended mockery of other faiths for their rather

narrow and rigid focus. Further, most Hindus fail to acknowledge the

differences

that exist between religions and say all religions are same, which by

definition is blasphemous to several religions. A final but valid threat is

that many from other religions may voluntarily take up Hinduism.

 

Now come the great dilemma, how to prevent Hinduism from the onslaught by

other

religions? Because of a fundamental difference between Hinduism and the other

systems (except for secularism), at times it becomes essential for Hindus to

violate the basic principles of their own religion for the sake of self

preservation. Here is one self preservation story from my Hindu

Sri-Vaishnava

sect.

 

About 900 years ago, Ramanujacharya, a Vishnu devotee was about to be killed

by

the Chola King Krimikantha, just because Ramanuja refused to acknowledge Shiva

as the supreme God. This Chola king had earlier drowned the idol of Govinda

Raja

(Vishnu) in the Sea. Ramanuja recovered that idol and installed it in a temple

at the foot hills of Tirumalai. Even to day this place, popularly known as

Tirupati or Govindaraja Puram is in the itinerary of people who visit the

famous

Venkateswara (Balaji) temple on the hills.

 

When Ramanuja was ordered to appear before the monarch, one of his disciple

Kuresa took his place, while Ramanuja escaped into Karnataka. Therein he

converted the Jain King Vittala Deva to Sri Vaishnavism and reestablished the

Temple at Melkote (Tiru Narayana puram, near Mysore) which had been previously

raided by a Muslim chieftain. Ramanuja walked all the way to North India,

haggled with the Sultan and recovered the idol of Cheluva Narayana for the

Melkote Temple. SultanUs daughter Bibi Lachimar followed him to Melkote,

because

she loved that idol. She lived there for many years and when she passed away,

the Sri Vaishnavas made an idol of her and placed it at the foot of the

Cheluva

Narayana idol. Even to day she is worshipped as Bibi Nacchiar along with the

other idols. Apparently, her idol has been duplicated in numerous other

temples

in South India. This is what Hinduism is all about- just as sandal wood,

gives

fragrance to that very same ax that is used to cut it!

 

Thus, Next time, if we encounter the term RHindu fundamentalismS in the

popular media, we should remind ourselves that it is a misnomer. What it

actually means is that some Hindus have deviated from the basic tenets of

the

Hindu Dharma, perhaps for self preservation!

 

K. Sreekrishna