This is a methodical approach to influencing Indian villages so that they might join the potential nationwide spiritual revolution. Why should we care about the villages? According to the 2001 census, India’s population has surpassed 1 billion people. More than 500,000 communities, most of which are dependent on agriculture, are home to 72.2 percent, or nearly three-quarters, of the country’s inhabitants. Its 285 million urban residents, or 27.8% of the overall population, are almost as many as there are in the United States. Nonetheless, it is clear that the vast majority of Indians reside in rural areas.

The peasants are also the most susceptible to the conversion strategies introduced by outsiders because they are simple, religious people. This is also the reason why Christian missionaries are preaching and erecting churches in the villages more frequently. And for this reason, we should put more of an emphasis on meeting the spiritual needs of the peasants.

 

This method can work in many other places around India as well. The steps include:

1. Ways of reaching out to the villages.

2. Doing Padayatras by Swamis and Acharyas

3. Organizing and teaching villagers

4. Building little temples in each village

5. Establishing an open-door policy of sharing culture and traditions

6. Providing spiritual education and practice

 

ADDITIONAL POINTS

7. Book distribution

8. Retraining for temple priests in the villages

9. Providing assistance for medical concerns

10. Rallies for people to protest government’s ill-actions

11. Follow-up actions and organizing villages

 

SWAMIS AND OTHERS’ MEANS OF CONNECTING WITH THE VILLAGES CONDUCTING PADAYATRAS

The most effective method of connecting with the bulk of individuals, who are the ones

 

enhancing the spiritual culture of the villagers, determining whether they wish to deepen their connection to the Vedic tradition, and assisting them in doing so through:

A. Visiting the villages in a pleasant manner.

B. Visits and lectures by local Swamis and Acharyas who lead community-engaged group activities.

C. Padayatras, which are walking tours or pilgrimages led by local Swamis and Acharyas who go through the hamlet with other devotees or followers and stop to hold communal events.

 

Instead, the Swamis and Acharyas are only 50% effective if they simply sit around in their mathas, ashramas, and temples waiting for people to come to them. Swamis must participate in outreach initiatives when they visit the communities to demonstrate their concern for the locals and their desire for them to feel a part of India’s spiritual legacy. Such Padayatras can be carried out in a number of different ways, such as informally with small groups of people walking, or more formally with bulls pulling carts containing idols for puja, leaflets and flyers to be distributed in the local language, or even with an elephant, etc. even with trucks and cars hauling supplies. In this manner, a festival-like appearance is created. Villagers will, however, also value the close-knit atmosphere of a small group.

 

The Acharyas and Swamis should hold very basic activities in the villages. Villages are frequently not well educated, and few may be readers, but this is improving. We must therefore take this into account.

 

Because of this, relying on the dissemination of books or literature may not always be as beneficial in such locations, however it is still worthwhile to use when possible. Nonetheless, the people are frequently incredibly earnest and easily moved. The event could begin with prayers and mantras before telling people-friendly stories from the Puranas, Ramayana, or Mahabharata on the significance and value of worshipping God and the deity. These tales can also demonstrate the importance of the custom and the fact that followers of the deity—God or Goddess—can develop a relationship with them. Since such happenings frequently start to happen when a person starts to form a strong relationship with the deity, other stories of miracles or reciprocation between the devotee and God or the deity can also be stated.

 

Source: Crimes Against India by Stephen Knapp

 

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