Hindusim & Brahminism under Fire Test

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Originally uploaded by theiyer.

Hinduism under attack?


World's oldest religion , with origins dating back to 2500 BC (the Indus Valley civilisation time) is going through one of its bad phases - probably the most trying times of its existence.

How else would you describe the shocking and appalling incident of a seer from one of the world's most orxthodox seat of learning and Hinduism's foremost mutt set up in 482 BC, being arraigned today by the political bosses of the country in a way that is completely unwarranted.

Shock Waves. Thats what has been sent across the Hindu community and more so among the Brahmin fraternity on hearing the arrest of the top seer of the Kanchi Mutt, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. The point to debate is not about the incidents leading to the episode but the way in which the episode was handled.

A 70 year old seer who is respected across the world as a great scholar , vedic Pundit and a pious and religious god man in the truest sense of the term, has now been accused (hate to use the term) of a heinous crime that even an ordinary person would not dream of. To add fuel to the fire, the police displayed its high handedness - a posse of cops went to the nearby state and arrested the sage at unearthly hours on the Hindu festival day of Diwali . If the Acharya had to be questioned, he had to be just asked to stay within the sacred precincts of the Mutt till all clarifications resolved. Instead the more controversial route was adopted.

Will the Imam Bukhari, the Imam of Jama Masjid with numerous cases to his name, be arrested on Ramzan? Will the Pope be arrested on Christmas Day?

What is even more shocking is that Syed Shah Geelani who has been charged with rape is supposedly under house arrest in Kashmir? This can happen only in India and to the minorities alone.

The question that is now nagging every member of the intelligentsia is "whether the cops had sufficient evidence of the involvement of the seer" or is it yet another case of a political vendetta???...the million dollar question

The first emotion that strikes every Hindu and more so Brahmins is the fear of the Mutt's credibility coming under attack. And probably even a sense of frustration that this whole episode will be effectively used by the politicians to target the seer, the mutt and the Brahmins in general. And probably also usurp the Mutt's fund.

The mutt with a track record of 2486 years of yeoman's service to the religion and community , can never be shaken by the political machinations of the megalomaniacs in power and the politically arrogant. I have closely interacted with the mutt , the acharyas and the people associated with the mutt which includes erstwhile bureaucrats and technocrats who have carved a niche for themselves in every sector that they have worked in. The level of involvement in healthcare and education activities by the Mutt across India under the guidance of the two current seers are clear examples of the increase in societal welfare measures of the mutt. The number of medical, engineering, arts & science colleges and schools apart from turning around sick hospitals remain unparallelled. (On obeisance to the younger seer who had asked me to take up social support ativities , 13 of my Symbi friends have come together to sponsor the education of two students at the Sankara Vidyalaya in Chennai. If you are interested also, please do reach out to me)

Just like every other thing in this world, this problematic phase is also transitory.

But how much the mutt and the pontiffs come out unscathed it to be seen. But there are going to be far reaching consequences which might change the face of the Mutt. But then , the mutt itself will regain its lost glory with the passage of time. Or atleast lets sincerely hope it will.

Also check out the following sites for more knowledge on Hinduism.
http://www.kamakoti.org/ (official website of the Kanchi Mut)
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/hinduism.html