“God is one-alone;
not multiple”
Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Achaarya
[A
great authority of Hinduism and founder of Gayatri pariwaar]
Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya [died
1990] was one of the greatest Sanatan-dharmi
scholar of Vedas and Hindu scriptures. He was the founder of Gayatri parivar – haridwar based
religious organization / sect that have millions of followers. Below are his
writing from akhand-jyoti magazine
[official magazine of Gayatri parivaar]; june 1985 edition.
Hindi version: https://khurshidimam.blogspot.com/2016/08/blog-post.html
Hindi version: https://khurshidimam.blogspot.com/2016/08/blog-post.html
“The Creator of this universe is just one. It is only He, who generates, proliferates and causes all variations as per His plans. Neither has he any associate nor any helper.
All people have their interests related
together [in the matter of God]. The kingdom of the One God was considered to
be divided between different gods and people started thinking that they will
worship and support their own selected god. And they didn't stop here; later on
they started believing in opposing and causing loss to the other parties [those
who worship other gods]. This is the belief system of today’s polytheism. In this way not only one true
God got divided into many groups, but also each lineage, village and locality
got its own god and goddess.
The One God was divided into several god
and goddesses. Theses god and goddesses not only possessed different shapes but
also these gods were given different nature; and they were attributed such
nature as if they were angry over the one who didn't worship them and
worshipped the others. These gods started giving miseries to those who did not
worship them.
In the starting days of polytheism,
there were only three gods: Brahama,
Vishnu and Mahesh and their wives
– Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kaali. From thereafter, daily new gods started coming into
existence. The number of gods and goddesses became as high as to be countable.
Their diverse and amazing wishes were also fabricated. From among them some
were vegetarians and some were non-vegetarians, some furious and some cool
minded. Sometimes even ghosts and forefathers became gods and goddesses. And
their number increased to thousands and hundred-thousands. In this respect, the
backward classes made god with great zeal. It was believed that physical and
psychological diseases were due to the wrath of these gods. And the treatment
of all such diseases was some intermediary ‘ojha’
[religious doctors] and his bribe fee. Very often, in this treatment, food
items were used. Especially the sacrifice of animals and birds was done. Such
things [sacrificed animals and birds] were used as offering [‘chadhaawa’].
Whenever a new daughter-in-law entered the house or a new baby was born, it was
deemed necessary to visit the [family god; god specific to this family] ‘kuldevta’. In this way, it became necessary to keep the mood of the
respective god in the right order. This aspect was important feature of
those groups/tribes considered to be lower class level. Gods of higher classes of
society were relatively more prestigious and honourable. Wealthy people thought
that their prestige lies in becoming the worshipper of these higher gods. Pandits, purohits [religious
authorities] would do rituals related to worship of these higher gods. Things
like Durga Shaptshati Paath, Shiv mahima,
Rudri etc path, hawan, poojan [worship
related rituals] were invented. With the polytheism, several stories and
legends were attached. Several stories were fabricated so that people could
understand benefit of worshipping these gods and wrath incurred by these gods
[if they were not worshipped]. Numerous gods were attached to festivals. It was
made compulsory to visit places of these gods. Some of these old gods sustained
and several new originated. Several of the old gods were forgotten into oblivion
and several new came into existence and became famous.
On the basis of reason, rationality and
intellect, it is unavoidable to accept that God is one. His being and His
attributes and His laws cannot be as per wishes of different sects/sampradaay. Their own beliefs are their
own personal matters.
The Omnipotent power should be formless
(niraakaar). The one having some form will be confined to some country
and he will be limited. And it is said ‘न तस्य प्रतिमा अस्ति” [Na tasya pratima
Asti- yajurved 32:3] meaning that he does
not have any idol/shape/form. And at one place it is said ‘एकं सद्विप्रा वहुधा वदन्ति’ [Ekam sadvipra bahudha wadanti. Rigved 1:164:46] meaning that the scholars have called the same one God by several
names. Ultimately – it will be wise decision and highly recommended to
turn away from those false gods who are considered to be associated in any way
in the creation and running of the universe and its affairs.”
----
Pandit
Shri Ram Sharma Acharya, Akhand Jyoti, June 1985
***************************************************************
Source: Hindi to English
translation of the below content.
****************************************************************
No comments:
Post a Comment