Hindus Shradha:” An Unbreakable Faith Of Hindutva” (Part 5 Of 5)
This is in continuation of my article ‘Hindus Shradha:” An Unbreakable Faith Of Hindutva”. Part 1,2,3,4 was published on September 12th,13th,15th, and 17th 2021.
Nobody can be without Sharada/Faith, for it is an inseparable aspect of the human personality. Those who do not believe in the scriptures are also not bereft of Sharada/Faith. Their Sharada/Faith is reposed elsewhere. It could be on the logical ability of their intellect, or the perceptions of their senses, or the theories they have decided to believe in.
When people say, “I do not believe in God because I cannot see him,” they do not have Sharada/Faith in Bhagwan/God but they have Sharada/Faith in their eyes. Hence, they assume that if their eyes cannot see something, it probably does not exist. This is also a kind of Sharada/faith.
Others say, “I do not believe in the authenticity of the ancient scriptures. Instead, I accept the theories of modern science.” This is also a kind of Sharada/Faith, for we have seen in the last few centuries how theories of science keep getting amended and overthrown.
It is possible that the present scientific theories we believe to be true may also be proved incorrect in the future. Accepting them as truths is also a leap of Sharada/faith.
In my previous articles, I cited how Sanatani Hindu Shradha is different from the Western Abrahamic religion’s Sharada/Faith.
Although our Scriptures describe three types Of Sharada/Faith it also gives the liberty to every Sanatani how to practice due to its liberty. However, on other hand, Abrahamic religions of Islam and Christianity want to hold “Only One” belief system. And, if someone didn’t follow their belief system, he is surely going to face severe punishment or even persecution.
Shradha/Faith helped Sanatanis to survive the worst of calamities and adversities. Whether it’s the persecution of Hindus by Mughal or Christians few hundred years ago or the recent Bangladesh / Kashmir Hindus Genocide, they have fought it and come over by virtue of its Shradha. This has only been made possible only because of Sanatani’s strong Sharada/faith in our scriptures.
I mentioned in my previous articles what Bhagwan Krishna has preached to Arjun about Shradha/Faith. Here too I will continue Shree Krishna teaching about Shradha.
In Chapter 17 (Shraddha Traya Vibhag Yog) Bhagwan Krishna stated that one who disregards the injunctions of the scriptures and instead foolishly follows the impulses of the body and the whims of the mind, will not achieve perfection, happiness, or freedom from the cycle of life and death. He thus recommended that all people should follow the guidance of the scriptures and act accordingly.
Arjun desires to know the nature of the Sharada/Faith of those who worship without reference to the Vedic scriptures. In particular, he wishes to understand the answer in terms of the three modes of material nature.
अर्जुन उवाच |
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विता: |
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तम: ||17.1||
arjuna uvācha
ye śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ
teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ
Arjun said: O Krishna, where do they stand who disregard the injunctions of the scriptures, but still worship with Sharada/Faith? Is their Sharada/Faith in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance?
Shree Krishna said to Arjuna “Those who know the rules and regulations of the scriptures but out of laziness or indolence give up following these rules and regulations are governed by the modes of material nature”.
According to their previous activities in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance, they acquire a nature that is of a specific quality. The association of the living entity with the different modes of nature has been going on perpetually; since the living entity is in contact with material nature, he acquires different types of mentality according to his association with the material modes. But this nature can be changed if one associates with a bona fide spiritual master and abides by his rules and the scriptures. Gradually, one can change his position from ignorance to goodness, or from passion to goodness.
Bhagwan Krishna concluded that “Blind Sharada/Faith in a particular mode of nature cannot help a person become elevated to the perfectional stage. One has to consider things carefully, with intelligence, in the association of a bona fide spiritual master. Thus, one can change his position to a higher mode of nature”.
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा |
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ||17.2||
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
tri-vidhā bhavati śhraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā
sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī cheti tāṁ śhṛiṇu
The Supreme Divine Personality said: Every human being is born with innate Sharada/faith, which can be of three kinds—sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic. Now hear about this from me.
Shree Krishna states that the “Quality of our Sharada/Faith decides the direction of our life. In turn, the quality of our Sharada/Faith is decided by the nature of our mind”.
Where we decide to place our Sharada/Faith and what we choose to believe in practically shapes the direction of our life. Those who develop the conviction that money is of paramount importance in the world spend their entire life accumulating it. Those who believe that fame counts more than anything else dedicate their time and energy to chasing political posts and social designations. Those who believe in noble values sacrifice everything to uphold them.
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत |
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्ध: स एव स: ||17.3||
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārata
śhraddhā-mayo ‘yaṁ puruṣho yo yach-chhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ
The Sharada/Faith of all humans conforms to the nature of their minds. All people possess Sharada, and whatever the nature of their Sharada/Faith, that is verily what they are.
Sacrifice in which such injunctions of the scriptures are ignored and a self-determined process is followed, due to laziness, indifference, or belligerence, is in the mode of ignorance. Such Sharada/Faith is actually a form of faithlessness in God and the scriptures.
At every moment in life, individuals have choices regarding which actions to perform. There are proper actions that are beneficial for society and for us. At the same time, there are inappropriate actions that are harmful to others and us. However, who is to decide what is beneficial and what is harmful? And in case a dispute arises, what is the basis for resolving it? If everyone makes their own decisions then pandemonium will prevail.
For this reason, the injunctions of the scriptures serve as guide maps and wherever a doubt arises, we consult these scriptures for ascertaining the propriety of any action. However, those in the mode of ignorance do not have Sharada/Faith in the scriptures. They carry out religious ceremonies but disregard the ordinances of the scriptures.
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् |
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ||17.13||
vidhi-hīnam asṛiṣhṭānnaṁ mantra-hīnam adakṣhiṇam
śhraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ parichakṣhate
Sacrifice devoid of Sharada/Faith and contrary to the injunctions of the scriptures, in which no food is offered, no mantras chanted, and no donation made, is to be considered in the mode of ignorance.
Shree Krishna delineated the austerities of the Body, Speech, and Mind and mentions their characteristics when they are performed in the mode of goodness. He says that “An austerity loses its sanctity when material benefits are sought from its performance. It must be performed in a selfless manner, without attachment to rewards. Also, people Sharada/Faith in the value of austerity should remain steadfast in both success and failure, and its practice should not be suspended because of laziness or inconvenience”.
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरै: |
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तै: सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ||17.17||
śhraddhayā parayā taptaṁ tapas tat tri-vidhaṁ naraiḥ
aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yuktaiḥ sāttvikaṁ parichakṣhate
When devout persons with ardent Sharada/Faith practice these three-fold austerities without yearning for material rewards, they are designated as austerities in the mode of goodness.
In Chapter 18 (Moksha Sanyas Yog) Shree Krishna reassures that if such people merely hear with faith, they will also benefit as not everyone has the intellect to comprehend the deep imports of the dialogue between Shree Krishna and Arjun. Bhagwan/God is seated within them; he will note their sincere endeavor and reward them for it.
श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नर: |
सोऽपि मुक्त: शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् ||18.71||
śhraddhāvān anasūyaśh cha śhṛiṇuyād api yo naraḥ
so ‘pi muktaḥ śhubhāl lokān prāpnuyāt puṇya-karmaṇām
Even those who only listen to this knowledge with faith and without envy will be liberated from sins and attain the auspicious abodes where the pious dwell.
In Bhagavad Geeta, Lord Shree Krishna patiently answered the queries of Arjuna, but he never forced him to follow as he said. He left the final decision to him so that he can proceed as he wished. If he would have forced him or made him scared of the things, there are fair chances that Arjuna would not have followed anything he said. This is the beauty of our Hindutva.
When we have Shradha and strongly believe in our scriptures, then it is no longer an uphill task to feel a connection with Bhagwan who is continuously trying to guide us in our dilemma. We hope that all Sanatanis Shradha stays strong and we will find answers, we seek without any hassle in our scriptures. HARE KRISHNA!!!
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