Religion on Trial

It was less amusing and more shocking, to read a recent news item, about two sections of the pacifist Jain community in Bombay having gone to court on a matter, which to my uninitiated mind would not bring credit to any religion. One sect, the 'ek-aangis' maintain that the idol of Mahavir should be worshipped by applying one small sandalwood tilak, on the forehead. The other sect styling itself as 'nav-aangi', maintains that the proper worship of Mahavir consists of applying sandalwood tilak on nine places on the idol's body. How strongly the devout are divided and adamant, is evident from the fact that the case was filed in 1998, and still continues to be ardently fought. The nav-aangis submitted in court 126 voluminous documents to support their contention. The case was referred to High Court in July 2005. In the meanwhile, the matter has become so complex, that it is now before a full bench of Bombay High Court.

This shows how all religions gradually morph far away from the precepts of their original founders, and degenerate into rituals. The simple message of Love, Compassion, Tolerance and Non-violence (both in thought and action) is totally forgotten. Besides, can we afford to burden our already over-stretched judicial system with such matters? In the spirit of true the religion, the matter should have been settled amicably between the spiritual mentors of the two sects. Otherwise, where is the Jain precept of 'anekantavad', which advocates the tolerance of other's point of view? In this specific case, it should be remembered that neither Lord Mahavir nor the Tirthankars before him, advocated idol worship. So it is ironical that there is a fight on how Mahavir's idol should be worshipped? Keeping in mind, that Jainism lays great stress on minimalism and abhors conspicuousness, one should prefer one tilak over nine tilaks, if at all we concede idol worship. Jain savant and humanist, Chitrabhanuji whom I consulted stated that the purpose of having an idol of Mahavir at home or in the temple, is not to worship the idol, but to recall the precepts of Ahimsa (non-violence), in all its manifestations and try to internalize the same, in our daily lives.
The above account is just a small example of how all over the world, the votaries and preachers of different religions mindlessly encourage division, hatred and violence and no attempt is made to shepherd the common man towards Universal Brotherhood, Peace and Compassion. Possibly, Dalai Lama is the only religious leader, who preaches his flock to keep its cool, in spite of all provocation and sometimes dissent from his younger followers. I am also disappointed, that while all the religious TV channels keep on broadcasting sermons from different gurus and godmen, but when there are communal riots, not one of them comes on air, to admonish the people to stop this mindless violence.

A story brings this out very graphically: During a ritual in a church, one section of the faithful was sitting. The other half was standing. They were heckling each other vociferously, to sit down or stand up; depending on to which side they belonged. Due to the ruckus, the ritual could not proceed further. The priest decided to take the leaders of the 'sitters' and 'standers' to the old, ailing patriarch of the church. "It is our tradition to keep standing during this ritual. Are we not right?" asked the 'stander'. "No, standing is not our tradition!" said the elder. The 'sitter' countered, "It is our tradition to keep sitting during the ritual. Are we not right?" To this also, the elder replied, "No, it is not our tradition to keep sitting during the ritual". "But we are fighting about what is our tradition!" To everyone's shame, the patriarch replied, " Yes, fighting is our the tradition!"

This apocryphal story sums up the tragedy of division, hatred and violence, which the entire mankind is reeling under, in the name of religion. When will we hear sane voices, which can bring us together? All religions seem to suffer at the hands of their votaries, rather than from atheists and agnostics!