Thus Spake the Divine - Unity Among Different Religions

Thus Spake the Divine

Unity Among Different Religions 

All religions of the world have emerged with the main objective of worshipping God and all religions maintain that there is only one God. That one God will agree to accept the worship of devotees irrespective of their religion. Therefore, nobody is required to embrace any other religion other than his own.

In this chapter, Poojyasri Maha Periyava expresses His concern over conversion of individuals from one religion to another. He categorically states that any religion in this world aims only at reaching that One Paramatma in different names and ways of their own. He emphasises that there is absolutely

no need for anyone to embrace another religion other than his own. He also explains the reasons for the same.

There may be differences in structural aspects of a Temple, Church, Mosque or Viharam. There may be differences in the form of the idol or symbol positioned inside the sanctum sanctorum of such structures. But there is no variation in the Paramatma who pours out the grace and benevolence. Different religions have emerged depending on the culture of the countries and attitudes of the people living there. But all these religions aim to facilitate people in worshipping the same Paramatma within their own outlook with the aim of unifying the devotees within that Paramatma. Hence, nobody needs to disown his religion and embrace another religion. Such people who embrace another religion not only demean their own religion, but also demean the religion that they embrace anew. They also demean God Himself.

“A person disowns his own religion only on account of deficiencies prevailing therein. In that case, why does the Swami say that the person embracing another religion also demeans the other religion being embraced?” This question might occur to you. 

Let me answer you. A person embraces another religion only because he does not have the conviction that God is common to all religions. Thus, he confines God’s supremacy within a narrow boundary. He also thinks that the God of his religion is of no use. Does he at least believe that the God of the other religion, which he will embrace, will bestow compassion on all? If he is convinced of that, then he need not move to another religion at all. The necessity to embrace another religion occurred to him only because he did not have the conviction that the God of the other religion, which he wants to embrace, will bestow benevolence on him even if he worships Him staying back in his own religion. That means the converting person has built a narrow boundary even within the new religion and it’s God! While such persons think they honour the other religion, in reality they only disgrace the other religion. 

The main distinction between Hindu religion and other religions is that it is only the Hindu religion, which does not propagate or draw any boundary that “This is the only way to Moksha”. It is our religion, which does not convert people of other religions to our religion. This is because our ancestors have realised that different religions have paved different paths for attaining that one Paramatma. Those who are born as Hindus should feel proud for this comprehensive outlook. Vedas say that all sages and saints speak about the same absolute truth in different names. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, “Whichever way and in whichever form that one worships Me, I will enhance his commitment and uphold him in the same form of worship”.

This is the reason why followers of Hindu religion have never proselytised (evangelised) or forcefully converted victims of war into their religion by way of persecution, crusade and jihad and  so on. Our ancient history stands as staunch evidence for this. All research scholars also openly agree with this. History speaks that even when Vijayanagara Empire established its rule in Far East countries, there were no forced conversions. On the contrary, people of those countries were so impressed by our philosophies that they embraced Hindu religion on their own will. Our philosophies got spread in other countries through only our trade and business activities and not through any war, force or any other compulsion.

In my opinion, in the ancient times, there was only the Religion of Veda that prevailed all over the world. Though different types of religions emerged in different countries, the characteristics of our religion, at minimum, are still exhibited in forms of ruins and relics in several countries. The researchers, who don’t agree with my statement, will, however, still agree that foreigners embraced our religion on their own will and not out of compulsion. 

To convert a man to a new religion, certain authentic rituals have to exist. Religions, which engage in ‘conversions’, do possess such rituals, for example, there is baptism in case of Christianity. But if you look at Hindu religion, which claims to possess a plethora of rituals as against other religions, you cannot see any ritual that denotes conversion.

Once we get down at a railway station, we are surrounded by drivers of horse-carts, rikshas and taxis. Irrespective of the type of vehicle we choose, we can reach our desired destination. There is nothing wrong about these drivers competing with each other to get their part of business earnings. That is their livelihood. But to reach the only destination, which is God, it is meaningless if religions compete with each other and engage in forceful conversion of people of other religions.

Say there is a bridge over a river. There are many curves on the bridge. All curves are of the same measurement and dimension. But for one who is nearer to a curve, that curve looks bigger and other curves smaller. Similarly, to Heads of respective religions, only their religion looks greater. Thus they call for conversions from other religions. However, just as all curves on a bridge are identical, there is actually no need for anyone to disown their own religion.

There is no harm if there are some distinctions in rituals and codes among different religions. There is also no need to create uniformity among all religions. Despite not having such uniformity, people of all religions can be united at heart. What is required is not uniformity but unity.