Proud to be a Scientific Hindu
BY:- Sanjay Pattnayak
I often come across a well educated married couple revolving around a Peepal tree, performing religious ritual in the morning everyday, religiously, as the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun. They have adequate knowledge of science, but they are not wise enough to deal with their religious belief scientifically. Not only there are unscientific Hindus but also there are unscientific Muslims and Christians too. All religions are full of unscientific beliefs. However when it comes to India, the dominant religion is Hinduism. Hence, our country's fate is directly tied and most affected by the beliefs of the Hindu population. Also, as a Hindu myself, I think it is better to self-reflect about my own community first.
Hinduism never had the concept of 'false gods.' Every God is valid, which is why even Shitala, the goddess of smallpox and cholera, is worshipped, and not treated as demon. It’s also why Hindus have no problem praying in a church, synagogue or mosque. God is seen in limitless, ever expanding, inclusive of diversity. Hence God can be rock, plant, animal, male, female, neuter and even formless. Hence the words used to describe God are bhagavan, one who includes all portions (bhaga) and brahman, one who has infinitely expanded (brah-) the mind (manas).
It suggests God is omnipresent, God is present everywhere around us; living or non-living. God is present in Peepal tree also, so we should worship Peepal tree, offering flowers, chanting mantras by revolving around it. It is a popular belief, which is unscientific. Peepal tree provide us oxygen, shade and it has got so many medicinal values, so Peepal tree should be respected by taking care of it and planting more of its kind; which is scientific.
Millions of people went to take a dip in the Kumbh Mela, even when the second wave was well established. The world laughed at us, as images of record cases and chocked hospitals contrasted with lakhs of people at the river banks. We were quick to blame the Tablighi conference, but when are we going to gaze inwards ? Cases have been steadily rising since February, but it is only in late April that there is seriousness about a vaccination plan for everyone.
In some countries neither cows nor women nor rivers are worshipped. In such countries there are no godmen or godwomen to determine people's future.
In such countries cows are giving more milk, women are much independent, rivers are free from pollution and they are producing a large number of scientists.
There are of course, scientific Hindus - and we have many Nobel Prize winners to prove it. Unfortunately, there are also too many unscientific Hindus who dominate the country's politics and public opinion today. Worse, some of them mix some fake science in their unscientific beliefs.
The pandemic and our response to it have raised questions about something that plagues our community - a large number of unscientific Hindus. The unscientific Hindu, in fact has been a bane of our land for the past millennium. It is the reason why the Indian sub-continent has been ruled by outsiders for centuries. It is the reason why we are witnessing record deaths from corona even as China and US seem to have put the pandemic behind them and are moving towards economic growth again.
Love your religion. Follow and respect traditions. However; be scientific - curious about new discoveries and willing to change your mind because of it. That, and only that, is what will make us create a golden era for India again.
I respect my religion and I am proud to be a scientific Hindu.
