each person could reach out to the supreme divinity through the path he would prefer.

 

One of my enlightened friends messaged me two videos where some so called rationalist speakers were pouring vitriol over Hindu faith and rituals.

Of course, I feel I am mature enough and such speeches will not enrage me, and I would not turn violent listening to such tongue-lashes.

Still I would like to express my reaction on the issue.

"I have heard and read about such vitriolic outbursts against brahmanyam and Hindu faith too many times.

So watching these two videos has not affected me much.

Regarding some of the interpretations of some mantrams, I can say that the speakers have taken extra pains to ascribe meanings that were not there nor did anyone ever intend to ascribe.

That is up to them.

Actually, the basis of our faith in God actually does not depend on chanting certain mantrams.

Our ancestors have designed the mantrams just as a sort of auto suggestive reinforcements.

The human mind is very sensitive and susceptible to negative vibes and desperation. In this connection words of reassurance just boosts up the spirits that are on the decline. They are similar to medicines and not staple food

In addition, those who created or discovered the mantrams and procedures for worship contained in Karika, Brahmanams etc., knew the language and the meaning of the incantations very well.

They were not under any illusion or influence of any voodoo practitioners.

Moreover, the Brahmin priests never conducted any rituals in any houses if such practices were not good enough or established enough to perform in their own household, be it the houses of their own people or be it the houses of non-Brahmins.

Just like any other professionals, they too received the wages or compensations, and this activity of receiving wages, which no one can term as sin.

The vilification comes from others and causes hurt, mainly because the so-called practicing Brahmins and Hindus of the present do not really know, and do not care to know the meaning, purport and spirit of the rituals. However, many of them act with some sort of enthusiasm to defend, but making futile attempt to defend without proper equipment.

Many of them are like students trying to write Doctoral thesis when they have not passed even the kindergarten stage.

True, the religion of Vedas did not portray deities as perfect. Moreover, based on the belief and experience of the people of the time when the rituals started, they sought to influence the deities through praise, offerings, and so on.

However, they were realistic under the conditions prevailing then.

They did not propagate anything about which they could not convince themselves first hand.

Later on the same religion developed ideas like advaitam, and some votaries portrayed faith in a different plane.

Ultimately, the religion is so catholic that it veered around to the idea that each person could reach out to the supreme divinity through the path he would prefer.

Even Gita sounds like that.

After all, we see such varying levels of practices in any religion, which is in practiced among human beings.

And in public meetings or private gathering, people worship, praise, flatter and even offer bribes too to the men in power, the men who can be of use, are praised, flatter in so many ways. That is because of the human nature- the base contents of the human nature.

It is definitely not the fault of the religion or faith.

Sorry I had to respond against the vilification.

I am a genuine believer. However, I keep my views on religion to myself, as an intensely private person. Religions gives me an article of faith and definitely, it is not a means of propaganda as far as I am concerned.

But it is painful that some people use that faith as a material for propaganda and character assassination against the believers and hurt the sensibilities of those who have such faith.