hinduism 5

8.Criticisms Galore

In spite of its most sublime theories, universal doctrines and an unlimited capacity for tolerance and adjustment, no religion on earth has perhaps been so much misunderstood, deliberately distorted and mercilessly criticised as this 'Mother of all religions'. Brushing aside all unjust criticism based more on spite than on solid truths, it is still worthwhile considering some of the more common, apparently reasonable and sometimes genuine, criticisms in the spirit of an honest enquiry after truth.

1.FIRST OBJECTION: There are innumerable gods and goddesses in Hinduism as also countless religious works leading its adherents to utter confusion and bewilderment.

Well, this may appear so to one who has not understood the spirit of Hinduism. But to one who has understood that it is one and the same God that has manifested Himself through all these forms, there is no problem, no confusion, much less any bewilderment. One who has known the nature of water will never be confused or bewildered if he encounters ice, bubble or steam. Rig Veda itself has unequivocally declared that the Truth is one and the sages call it by various names. As regards the countless religious works, they are meant for different types of people who are in various stages of intellectual and spiritual evolution. A post-graduate student and a higher secondary student are not supposed to exchange their text-books and thereby get bewildered! It is here that a correct understanding and appreciation of the doctrine of Adhikára Bheda comes to our aid.

2.SECOND OBJECTION: Hinduism preaches rank idolatry and encourages superstition.

Idolatry means worship of idols considering that they themselves are God. No Hindu ever worships a stone or a metal image with this attitude. He always worships God through them. If an objection is raised even against this, then there is no reason why the Christians who worship the image of Jesus and the Bible or the Mohammedans who kiss the Kaaba stone or the patriots who salute the national flag, should not be dubbed as idolaters!
Even Hinduism considers image-worship as only the primary step–like using an abacus to teach arithmetic to children–and exhorts its votaries to rise gradually to the highest level wherein they will have the direct experience of the all-pervading Supreme Power.
As for superstition, the less we talk the better. The merciless witch-hunting carried on in Europe during the middle ages or the considering of number thirteen as unlucky even during this twentieth century by the Western society, are just two concrete examples which reveal who is really more superstitious. Actually most of the Hindu practices dubbed as superstitions have deeper philosophical and psychological truths behind them than meets the eye. Even granting that superstitions do exist, they are all harmless. It is for better to have harmless superstitions than nurture such ones which have been responsible for the reckless killing of old women or chameleons! Lastly, the blind belief of the modern man in science and technology, as if they are omnipotent, forgetting that they have miserably failed to give him peace of mind (which alone is the aim of life) is the greatest superstition of all!

3.THIRD OBJECTION: The caste system has divided the Hindu society into numberless groups engaged in mutual hatred and fighting. A religion which shelters such a system is no good.

There is no country, no race or society in this world which is free from caste system in some form or the other. Even in the so-called socialistic countries, where all are supposed to be equal, it is an open secret that some are more equal than others! A society based on the division of labour is far superior to a society divided on the basis of wealth or colour of the skin. What is to be condemned is not the caste system as such, but the claim to privileges by certain castes or the hatred and ill-will towards the other groups. The division of an office into several departments is only a matter of administrative convenience. That does not mean that these departments should fight one another. If it is remembered that there is no bar on practice of true religion by any member of any caste, all this fuss becomes meaningless. Hence a religion that has invented such a wonderful social institution is not only good but has also rendered signal service to mankind by showing the right path. It is interesting to note that both Swami Vivekananda10 and Mahatma who themselves did not belong to the highest caste, have upheld and admired the caste system in its true form.

4.FOURTH OBJECTION: The doctrine of Karma has introduced fatalism and lethargy, and has killed the initiative among the Hindus.

The alternatives to the doctrine of Karma and Rebirth are: the positing of a partial and unjust God or to accept the theory that the origin of this universe lies in an accident or chaos. These alternatives satisfy neither the theologian nor the logician and much less a scientist. As already pointed out, this theory of Karma is the most sensible and reasonable hypothesis which helps not only explaining the gradation and variety in the universe but also in leading a good life.
As regards the objection as such, we say that quite the opposite effect will be produced if the doctrine is properly understood and applied. ‘If my present state is the result of my previous actions, that gives me a tremendous hope and opportunity for shaping my future by my present action’–this is the Hindu attitude. Consequently a Hindu who has understood the spirit of the Karma theory is a dynamic believer in himself. Of course, fatalism and lethargy have often crept in to the detriment of the Hindus. But this is solely due to the misunderstanding of the Karma theory. Ignorant and half-baked people who misunderstand and misapply even sublime theories are not confined to the Hindu society alone but will be found all over the world.

5.FIFTH OBJECTION: In the name of the doctrine of Adhikára Bheda, Hinduism has meted out very unequal treatment to its adherents and has done great injustice to them.

Whenever understood properly and practised sincerely this doctrine has always helped, and not hindered, the material and spiritual progress of the Hindus. To say that all men are born equal or made equal, is a blatant denial of facts and experience. But this does not mean that people should not be given equal opportunity and scope for self-development. In fact Hinduism has been more liberal and generous towards the weaker sections of the society. As in every other society, there have of course been a small minority of black sheep who have exploited and wronged the masses. However, taking the Hindu religion and society as a whole and comparing it with others, this doctrine has worked more as a blessing than as a curse.

6.SIXTH OBJECTION: A religion which confers the status of the highest incarnation of God on a mythical and immoral person like Sri Krishna is paving the way for the whole society to become likewise.

Bitter criticism and ridicule of Hinduism as also malicious propaganda against it, very often centres round the life, personality and doings of Lord Sri Krishna. A dispassionate study and analysis will however reveal the hollowness of these arguments.
At the very outset, let it be known that Sri Krishna's historicity has been established beyond doubt by several scholars including Sri Aurobindo. On the other hand it is the historicity of Jesus himself–upon whose personality the mighty Churchian empire rests–that has been called in
question by several European scholars.12 This mighty Churchian empire will collapse like a house of cards, the moment the historicity of Jesus is conclusively disproved, whereas the mightier river of Hinduism will continue to flow on irrespective of the historicity of Rámas and Krishnas (who are just ripples in this river) because it is based on eternal principles and not on personalities.
The earliest reference to Sri Krishna and an unfoldment of his true personality occurs in the great epic and history of the Hindus viz., the Mahábhárata. Curiously enough, this epic has always treated him as a Kshatriya King. Not even his bitterest enemies like Shishupála, who figure in this great book, ever allude to his so-called immorality. In fact, Duryodhana, another critic of his, has all admiration for his wonderful personality and even admits of his divinity! It passes one's understanding how a genius like Sri Krishna who bequeathed a most wonderful bunch of universal spiritual teachings could ever have been a moral wreck.
The secondary scriptures like the Bhágavatam which deal with Sri Krishna's story in greater detail, were actually written several centuries later and hence need not be taken asliterally true. Even according to these scriptures, Sri Krishna was a small boy at the time of the Brindávan Læla. Again, the tradition of considering oneself as the hand-maid of God and love Him as one's husband (whereby the baser instincts are sublimated) is not peculiar to Hinduism alone. It exists among the Christians and the Sufis also. The reference to brides of God in the Bible or the Christian nuns considering themselves as brides of God does not certainly warrant us to brand either God or Christ as polygamous or immoral!
Moreover, the very same scriptures that describe his Rásakræda also describe the innumerable miracles performed by him. Why don't then, these wise critics, accept these miracles also as true? If these are accepted, it will be established that Sri Krishna was God Himself, since no ordinary being can ever perform them. And God's actions are above all human logic and comprehension!
The critics often jeer at Sri Krishna because he had sixteen thousand wives. Perhaps, it is more due to jealousy than any moral sense because he could manage sixteen thousand wives whereas they can hardly manage one! Since these poor girls had been deserted by their own people just because they had been in the captivity of the demon Narakásura, Krishna the rescuer, had no option but to legally accept them as his wives so that he could shelter them. This is one explanation.
Then there is the other, the real explana-tion, which describes the esoteric significance of this. Sixteen thousand really represents Sixteen. The mind, the five senses of cognition, the five organs of action and the five fundamental elements (like the earth etc.)–these are the Sixteen. The zeros signify the numberless products, variations and manifestations of these sixteen. Sri Krishna is the Purusha or the Self who liberates them from hellish ignorance (Naraka) and redirects them unto Himself.
Contrary to the objectors' contention, Lord Krishna has been the unseen dynamic power guiding the Hindu religion and society in the right direction through his Gætá ever ringing its message for thousands of years. He is the greatest national hero and guides, and it is a pity that the sons of our own soil often disown Him!