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Breaking the shell of untoward traditions (Pratigamita Ka Kuchakra Aaise Tutega): Vangamaya Vol-59

Healthy traditions and customs which are justified on the grounds of prudence and unprejudiced relevance and which have passed the test of changing times, provide stable support, guidance and continuity to the progress of a society or nation. These also help establishing perennial norms of discipline in public life and serving the purpose of conditioning the minds of people in specific direction. However, lot of firmly rooted religious and social customs prevalent in different societies, appear to be mere demonstrations of rigidity. People follow them more because of convention, compulsion or orthodox beliefs.
Orthodox traditions, superstitions and customs followed because of blind faith deteriorate the foundation of a society and prevent its progress on economic, political, scientific and technological fronts too. Post medieval Indian society is the best illustration of this negative effect….. Acharya Sharma has analyzed the status and impact of such untoward customs and traditions in the human society in general. The Indian society of today, has been the major focus of his “Yug Nirmañ” mission of initiating a new era of ideal developments….
Mass education through religious platform and constructive integration of science and spirituality – are propagated by Acharya Sharma’s mission in consonance with the social reformation programs, with special emphasis on improving the day-to-day life of people…. These also aim at inspiring elevation at personal, social, professional, intellectual and spiritual levels…. This volume presents the unique features and details of implementation of his ideas of comprehensive social reformation via refinement of people’s thinking.
Although, a significant rise in social awareness is noted in the Indian society with the increase in literacy, education and scientific developments, lot more needs to be done here. Despite the dedicated efforts of some eminent social reformers of the pre- and post-independence India, the Indian society has not been able to get rid of the pernicious convictions of orthodox mentality, superstitions and exploitation in the name of religion. The influence of castism and communalism is indeed a curse on this society. Inequality between man and woman, the system of dowry attached with girl’s marriage, extravagant showoff in wedding ceremonies, feast as part of the ‘religious’ rituals performed after the death of near relatives, sacrificing animals to ‘worship’ the imaginary Gods…, etc, are like the ulcers of leprosy on the body of the Indian society, which has been weakened and deprived of healthy development since the medieval era of cultural and moral decline. Eradication of these social evils through their roots is a must if we want to see the brilliant dawn of the new era.
No economic, political, educational, or even social-revolution can grant desired and viable changes in a nation or society unless its people are aware and ready to accept those changes through heart. Before attempting the elimination of social evils and wrong traditions in the ‘backward’ society like the Indian, one must investigate the causes and depths of their roots in the life of common people. Acharya Sharma has adeptly analyzed these aspects and offered detailed guidance for collective efforts of the individuals and the organizations, which care and work for the development and prudent enlightenment of every unit of this society.
Acharya Sharma’s thorough knowledge, acumen, and deeper reach up to the inner cores of human mind and heart and his sagacious understanding of the mutual intimacy and interdependence of religion, spirituality and human psychology, have made his approach most comprehensive like that of the ancient Indian sages (rishis). His serene love for all living beings and his intuitive realization of the divinity existing in each one of us – makes his deliberations more vivid, prudently reasoned and realistic…
The religious faith and spirituality of Indian mind was the source of its strength and divine culmination in the ancient times.… The gradual confinement of the philosophy of religion, and the science of spirituality, in the narrow domains of abstract intellectual thoughts had over-shadowed the nitid glow and blocked the ever- expanding flow of religious spirit in the latter ages….
The selfish motives of the mighty ‘religious masters’ or ‘community leaders’ in the medieval era had worsened the situation to the worst possible levels. Exploitation of the faith and simplicity of the masses, on the one hand, and the widespread ignorance and near total absence of prudence in the minds of the oppressed ones, on the other, had led to the misuse of religion in this period. Moral decline on the social front was a natural consequence. The religious hypocrisies, castism, superstitions and customs nurtured in this dark phase of Indian history had practically ruined the structure of the social as well as the religious system.
While discussing the inherent difficulties in achieving social elevation, the author reviews the complications of the highly diversified, constitutionally liberal but mentally enslaved, society of India. He focuses at the root cause – hidden in people’s mentality. He has propagated a three-fold solution targeting refinement and development at personal, familial, and social levels. For the first level, he has emphasized change of attitude, inculcation of righteous thinking, and creative orientation of sentiments by way of self-analysis, sincere swadhyaya and motivating satsanga. The volumes numbered 2, 20 and 21 of this Vangmaya series cover these aspects in detail with his practical guidance and live examples.
The importance of righteous development of the family institution in the modern times is described in the volume no. 48 of this series. A crucial basis for the familial and social development, is the marriage institution. The evils of dowry, extravagant celebrations and a large number of absurd customs associated with traditional marriages in India have been identified by the author as the major obstructions in proper progress of this society. These untoward customs have destroyed the high ideals of the marriage institution which were established under the divine culture of ancient India and have maligned the inherited glory of this great country. Analysis of the factors responsible for such aberrations and detailed information and guidance on the effective programs for elimination of these social curses – are covered in detail in the next volume. The other illogical customs and traditions associated with the marriage institution, such as – the abominable practices of child marriage, ill treatment of widows etc, are criticized in the present volume as these are propagated in the name of religion.
The author’s critical analysis and rational discussions are so realistic, so effective, that, even the ardent supporter or faithful followers of above kinds of untoward traditions would have to rethink and realize their own ignorance and prejudices…. Implementation of the social reformation programs of his mission – aimed at uprooting such wrong customs and traditions from the religious and social system, are also highlighted in this volume.
Notably, Acharya Sharma is among the rare saints and spiritual masters, who had supported the ideas and practices of remarriage of widows, prohibition of child-marriages, strict control over population growth, etc, and propagated these progressive trends from the religious platform. The dowry-less and non-expensive marriages arranged and conducted under the banner of his mission have been a great success. These marriages are performed according to the original vedic traditions and there is no place for discrimination in terms of caste or social status etc.
The present volume elucidates the malice of the religious misconceptions associated rituals and rites followed in the Indian society…. The superstitious practices and blind faith prevalent among the masses are discussed here with special attention on the weaknesses and complexities of human psychology behind them. Such is the influence of psychological makeup and assimilated tendencies, that, even the erudite scholars and scientifically progressive people are sometimes seen driven by superstitions and blind faith in one way or the other.
In the above context, Acharya Sharma has also unmasked the ‘skills’ of the so-called ‘astrologers’, ‘swamis’, ‘religious masters’, etc, who have been exploiting people’s faith and adding to the misdeeds of the medieval era. The unscientific and illogical (mis) interpretations propagated by such people have given bad name to the Hindu religion and the ancient sciences of yoga and spirituality.
The misinterpretation of religious scriptures and the insane traditions emanated there from gravitate the dejection of awaken minds for the ancient streams of knowledge and invites more absurdity in the name of traditions. The vicious cycle so generated also widens the distance of the wise and forward ones from the so-called backward sections of the society. The latter thus have less opportunities of coming out of the well of ignorance in want of proper guidance and learning by interaction with the formers.
The author’s prudent arguments, lucid style of presentation, and intimacy with the people’s psychology, make his views and guidance more effective. He enlightens the mind with the knowledge of – what is wrong and why? What is true and what is not? Most importantly, he inspires courage and motivation in us to fight against our own weaknesses, wrong convictions, illusive faith and superstitions which often keep us abide by the wrong traditions and practices.
May this volume inspire each one of us to participate in reversal of the backward and wrong traditions into forward and righteous ones on the social and religious fronts of our lives and thus prepare to welcome the revival of the divine culture.