Hinduism and Hindutva

In India now a complex situation has arisen in relation to Hindu religion. Dr. Radhakrishnan has long time back named Hinduism a way of life and did not say about religion in relation to it.
But now in all media and society and nation, Hindu religion is equated with Hindutva - what is this Hindutva, who coined this word I do not know - and every one is expressing oneself against or for this Hindutva, completely forgetting or ignoring Hinduism which is also a way of life and not merely a religion - as any other religions. Unfortunately it has become very difficult now to release HInduism from the clutches of Hindutva - whatever it is - and declare again its brilliance and usefulness to the nation and society.

HIndutva as understood by, RSS or its affiliates who are intent on their "superstitions and fundamentalism"; and the rationalists, communists, Indian media of all colors and means, atheists (interestingly, annoyingly and amusingly atheists of India denounce, abuse, and find fault only with "Hinduism" as they call and understand and not other religions which are equally faith-based - why it is so unknown -) and other modern and elite cultured individuals who are against; the word Hinduism is completely and ignorantly misinterpreted and wrongly communicated in biased way - never represented, represents or will be representing Hinduism - the human and humane system of spirituality, culture, social organization, rituals and other associates..

Hinduism is universal for its spiritual basis. Rituals vary from region to region, state to state, ult to cult, philosophy to philosophy - are all united by Upanishadic insight.
This is Hinduism as represented by Upanishads and not as propagated by later theological schools or atheist isms.

The social wing of Hinduism, the caste system is now being misused and blatantly used to meet selfish ends and not to get justice of some communities. Caste divisions and caste system as was praacticed is criticized by all isms and all self-proclaimed scholars and intellectuals; but is getting patronage from citizens, political leaders, political parties and governments. It is now an unresolved puzzle for many objective thinkers whether in India people are working for or against caste system, its divisions, advantages, disadvantages, the benefits it is showering.

It is seeming that now most want the caste divisions, though they lost their relevance and use to present situations, to remain because of the inherent benefit being provided to many communities who are considered for things in which they may not be suitably efficient and are economically sound too. Thus these communities are getting double advantage in many ways.

So caste system is simultaneously abused, used, and also criticized and its originator - who are these originators none definitely knows - are put to sword by mistaking them to be Brahmins.
Thus Hinduism as is present and "practiced" today is spiritually, culturally, rituals-wise, faith-wise and socially not a coherent and emotionally or intellectually integrated block, group or ism.
Thus now there is no proper claimant for Hinduism. Thus many cults, cultural entities, philosophies, individuals specific maths, ashrams, are getting away being called Hindu. But many cults, individual-specific organizations and like groups are both bringing good and bad propaganda to HInduism proper.

Thus Hinduism is not just Hindutva as is misunderstood and many in India are in battle for and against such Hinduism - the Hindutva.

Hinduism is sublime as spirituality-wise, faith-wise, rituals-wise and socio-economic and cultural aspects wise. Hinduism or we can call it as ancient Indian insight and tradition is liberal, and individual's freedom is put above every ideology, thought, ritual, cult-formation or like things. Individual is supreme and not the other entities.

That is why one ancient Indian saying says:
"An individual is to be sacrificed for the sake of the family; a family is to be sacrificed for the sake of the village; a village is to be sacrificed for the sake of Kingdom (country), and a country is to be sacrificed for the sake individual's dignity - the individual's spiritual aspirations and faith".

The famous example for this is the case of Sri Ramaanuja, who moved to Karnataka to be able to practice and preach his faith , the  Vaishnavite Philosophy  which was obstructed to by the Chola Kings.

Liberal attitude of and in Hinduism:

Individual is the supreme in Indian spiritual world. If the Individual does not like or is having a different interpretation because of his experience / intellect / emotion he will do it without caring for what was expressed by the earlier great people. This aspect in Hinduism is very dear to me. And this aspect can be easily explained by the famous example of Madhvaachaarya. Before Madhvaachaarya, Adi Sankaraachaarya, and Ramanujaachaarya haave interpreted the prasthaanatraya (the Upanishada, the Bhagavadgita, and the Brahma Sutras) from advaita and visihtaadvata points of view. But Madhva differed from them and boldly proposed his Dvaita view though it is not in tune with the earlier famous systems. Many more such examples can be cited which happened during these many centuries in India - in relation to jnaana, karma and bhakti margas. And any capable one can now interpret not similarly as the three aachaaryaas and can give one's own interpretation.

Supremacy of grishasthaashrama - Householder-ship:

Family is to be taken care of in Hinduism. House-holder is superior to any ashrama people. There is no spirituality without being in family. Being in family only we have to strive for spiritual excellence. Monkhood is later addition by Buddhism, Jainism and like isms which are antagonistic to Hindu way of life and practice. Vaanaprastha is the final stage of life together with the spouse. Spouses are separated only by death.

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

Religion and spirituality are not one and the same. One can follow a religion and may not be spiritual. Religion concerns mostly with rituals. Religion is an established and community nurtured and oriented institution. Spirituality is individual specific and nurtured and lived by individuals. Religions are mass -specific. Spirituality is individual and Divinity-specific. Religion can be dogmatic but spirituality is enlightening. Blind faith or superstition may be the part of religion. Faith is the essence of spirituality. Faith in oneself and one’s SELF is the life-line of spirituality. Religions may denounce other religions. Spirituality never denounces religions. 

Culture, tradition and manners guide religions. Spirituality defines them. Spirituality stands for universal love and peace. A religious person transforms into a spiritual person. A spiritual person is an ever ready source of tranquility and bliss. Steeped in silence without egoistic thoughts in the form of happiness or unhappiness, they live in peace and let live others live in peace.  Their mere presence will be beneficial to the world as the mere presence of Sun helps acctivites on earth. Spirituality sets in when religious dogma sets. Spirituality is liberty, freedom and independence. Religion is unquestioning adherence and following. Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Jiddu Krishna Murty and such eminent personalities are spiritual persons. People experience peace and calmness in their presence. This is the acid test to know whether the Guru is spiritual or not. Ecstasy and joy are not symbols of spirituality. They are symbols of devotion. Devotion is more emotional and becomes calmness gradually.

Present day commercial spiritual masters are not spiritual, they are worldly. They do not represent any religion or tradition. They represent themselves. They aggrandize themselves quoting sacred religious and spiritual texts. They enslave than enlighten. They themselves are not enlightened. If they are enlightened and are sincere and genuine they do not do the things they ask us to shun. Especially their love and lust for money and related aggrandizement, show, pomp and money-oriented empires are deterring to their attainment of spirituality. They are like the wooden spoon in the sweet-dish which always remains in touch with the sweetness but never tastes it or can taste it.  Not only they, but also the political and cultural groups claiming a particular religion or ideology are also like these wooden spoons in the sweet dish. They neither know about nor experienced in spiritual or religious traditions of respective religions and do not deserve to represent the religions they claim to represent. They represent the trait of fundamentalism and use religion for that purpose and exploit our regard for religion to their selfish ends.  They represent themselves and their vagaries.

Scientists, Philosophers, poets, writers, musicians, dancers, artists, sculptors, artistes and the like are all spiritual persons. All these people absorb their identity in the knowledge they acquire and spread or art form they cultivate and present. Such absorption of individual’s identity in one’s Inner Self is spirituality. Any person doing his duty whole-heartedly, sincerely and efficiently is spiritual. He can be a cook, a barber, or a laborer. That is why in our country we have been having spiritual persons in every step of our social ladder. Just visiting religious places or reciting Holy Books and the like does not make a person religious and spiritual. Compassion for fellow beings and concern for nature are essential. One can start in religion to evolve into a spiritual being. But it is not absolutely necessarily essential to follow a religion to become spiritual. A non-believer or an atheist can also be a spiritual person. Sincerity is spirituality.

Spirituality is oneness with one’s Nature and the nature around. The ability to live in the present, sans thoughts relating to past or future in the form of pains, hurts, happiness, unhappiness, worries, sorrows, joys, fears, doubts, imaginations, anxieties, anticipations and the like, is spirituality. We are a flow of present continuous in the present in bliss, peace and silence and not past or future. Cultivating spirituality and being a spiritual person helps us to perform our duties and tasks with equanimity of mind sans ego. Such performance makes us confident and self-reliant and helps our near and dear by our not bothering them with our in-built insufficiency, inadequacies and negative traits. Spirituality is for our and society’s wellness and well-being.

A spiritual person can be religious, follow a religion and also can transcend religious dogma. Spiritual persons are path-makers and path-breakers depending on social situation and necessity. Religion is part of social life. Spirituality is its breath.

Persons, militant religious, ideological, radical or cultural groups may or may not believe in the Omnipotence, Omniscience or such natures of God. In their limited understanding of God and His capacities they try to influence or thwart the Divine plans and turn problematic. They never are religious and do not represent the religion, and merely represent their inherent destructive tendencies by hijacking religions and ideologies.  We erroneously blame religions for such destruction. Also a person can be merely belonging to a particular religion for statistical purpose only. The profound nature of the sayings of the Prophets and Holy Books are never understood or followed by them. They become a nuisance and danger to the society with their fundamentalism.

And when many religions have to coexist in a society, these “religious” people develop and nurture discord among various religious communities for their selfishness and self-aggrandizement. They hijack the religions and interpret them barbarically. Certain groups or parties claiming protectors of such and such a religion or culture actually exploit the affiliation of ordinary people to respective religions, cultures and ideologies. Their self-serving and foolish deeds are mistaken as representing and belonging to their respective religion and religion gets bad name. 

 Adherence to ethics and morals is not spirituality. But such adherence over a period of time makes one spiritual. Spiritual persons never harm or hurt fellow beings. They may also appear not adhering strictly to the norms of the society. They are never touched by any immorality.  

One can attain spirituality through loving – falling in love, loving fellow beings or Divinity. The ups and downs while loving makes one matured, composed, wise and equanimity of mind sets in. Falling and failing in love can also give a genuine spiritual transformation. Dispassion results in. Dispassion with a positive attitude is spirituality. It improves clarity of mind and the individual never gets confused and clumsiness never touches him. He will never be dogmatic. 

Ordinary Indian citizens are spiritual persons. They are not allowing the militant religious, cultural and ideological organizations to provoke them. They are absorbing all their onslaughts and are not allowing blood to flow despite the heinous, dastardly and despicable acts committed by the fundamentalist organizations. They are keeping their cool and are leading by holding the flag of spirituality.