How Arya Samajists have differently (mis) interpreted many Vedic rituals:
It is evident that without the explanation furnished in the Puranam, the whole
passage quoted from the Vedas would be ridiculously absurd if literally
interpreted. The condemnation of the sacred Itihasas and Puranas without
understanding their technical character by the Arya-samajists who pose
themselves as the followers of Vedic religion in its pristine purity,
displays their utter ignorance of the true import of the Vedas themselves.
Their
interpretation of the Agni-hotras and other religious rites as mere
physical acts to purify the atmosphere seems to be silly and destructive. It is
simply a foolish idea borrowed from the Anti-Hindus like the modern Theosophists.
A sanitary department provided with up-to-date disinfectants might then prove
more useful than all the Homas prescribed in the Vedas. Whatever may be the
political aim of this Samaj, no Hindu could accept its whimsical elucidations
as in any manner useful to Hinduism.
They
mistakenly thought that it was somehow necessary to prove to the satisfaction
of the alien religionists who criticized the Hindus as idol worshippers,
that the Vedic Hinduism did not prescribe idol-worship. They did not understand
that the Vigaraha-aradhana prescribed for the less qualified is no idol-worship
at all.
ivze;e[ g&ýte #it iv¢h>, Viseshena Grihyathe Ithi Vigraha. The spiritual
idea intended to be conveyed by the symbol is alone required to be meditated
upon in the performance of the Poojas at home and in public temples.
They
foolishly took it into their heads to improve upon the wisdom of our ancients
and turned out to be worse lconoclasts than the Mohamedans and
Christians. Their mistaken theories and propagandas could never appeal to any
sensible Hindu. To establish their perverted Iconoclasm, they hesitate not to
misinterpret even the contents of the Vedas in a ridiculous style.
n tSy àitma AiSt ySy nam mh*z>. Na Thasya Pratima Asthi Yasya Nama Mahadrisha
This
for instance simply and clearly means that there is nothing to be compared with
eternal Brahman. The word Pratima is irrelevantly interpreted by the
Arya-Samajists as referring to an idol, and Vigraha-Aradhanam is explained as
condemned by theVedas. If the idol-worship did not belong to the Vedic period
as the Samajists contend, how could it be condemned in the Vedas? Let me reproduce the famous couplet from the Sootasamhita: -
ywai¶manyeTyuKte JvlTkaóa†te Svymœ, na=i¶ranIyte tÖTpUJyae mUTyaRTmna izv>.
“When fire is
asked to be brought, it is brought only through the medium of a burning piece
of fuel, but not fire by itself. Similarly, Siva could not be worshipped except
through the medium of a Moorthi or Vigraha.”
It is now
certain that the Arya-samajists have misinterpreted the Vedas to suit their
political objects and that in the quotation under reference regarding the
Sandhya-Vandanam, they are compelled to admit the importance of Itihasas and Puranas
which they have completely abandoned. Evidently they throw away similar
passages from the Vedas which do not contribute to the advancement of their
political propaganda. Their work is therefore not propagation of Hinduism but
prostitution of it.
Before translating
the above it is desirable to remind you that the Upanishads never contain any
human histories. Stories are seldom introduced even as Itihasas. The apparent
personalities and incidents occasionally found, have however their Itihasic
meanings directly relating to the subjects dealt with. Unless they are understood at the outset, the
exact import of the Upanishads could not therefore be completely grasped. The
very name
mEÇay[I Upanishad
suggests that it is intended for the edification of high class religious
students who have attained a stage of development in which they look at all
living creatures with the feelings of universal brother-hood mEÇI. (Maithree)
Besides, the
Upanishads as a rule are meant to be understood as dialogues between competent
Gurus and qualified Sishyas, whether any Itihasic names for them is mentioned
or not. The Upanishad must thus be taken
to be addressed to those who have developed the feelings of Ahimsa and
universal love and sympathy (Mytri) not only towards mankind but towards all
living creatures. The modern political
trick of the Aryasamajists in pretending to teach and preach the Gayatri-mantra
without regard for its sanctity could not but appear as a meaningless farce to
the discerning eye of every earnest student of the sacred religion.
Conversions and
reconversions to Hinduism do not require insulting and degrading perversions
which virtually destroy the very essence of the religion (read dharma) itself.
The important use of the Gayatri-mantra has been found described in an Itihasa within
the Vedas themselves. Its meaning and
application have also been found clearly explained in the sacred Puranas.
Ø How could the
Arya-Samajists pretend to have understood the Vedas without the help of their
legitimate and ordained commentaries the Itihasas and Puranas?
Poor Gayatri
forsaken as it is by its owners has also fallen into unwelcome hands. The so-called conversions and reconversions to
Hinduism by the Arya-Samajists with the use of cotton thread and Gayatri virtually look to be a meaningless farces.
Many
pious and true Hindus already exist without them; in fact they form the
majority in the land. Whatever might be the ultimate object of the
proselytizing work of the Arya-samajists, the rituals adopted for conversion
with a promiscuous use of the cotton thread and the muttering of Gayatri, are
unnecessary and unmerited insults to Hinduism and to its scientific philosophy.
HariOM
hari vishwanathan
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