THE  MODERN  RATIONALIST

The State and administration have become subordinate to Brahmins out of selfishness. The brahmin has also subordinated himself to evil things. He simply concentrated, his being to be recognised as superior by birth. For the sake of it he protects god. Yet, he does not endeavour to rise up above others in any quality He is not worried at all to be superior in the display of virtues in life.

Similarly, those who attribute greater qualities to god say that god is the supreme being. But they do not come forward to prove anything greater in god than in men.

For a religion there must be a god, heaven, hell, divine powers, incarnation of religious heads, priests, symbols and caste marks. Without these there can be no religion in the world. Even these are not sufficient for the Hindu religion. Hinduism needs innumerable gods; variety of heaven; different hells; different births; sufferings; different 'Gurujis' and so on. The devotees who have attained 'Moksha' (Heaven) personally contact ing god are also needed for the spread of Hinduism. These are the same with Vaishnavism and Saivism which form the two wings of Hinduism. There may be differences in names. But so far, as the functioning is concerned it is almost identical. It seems as though one has copied the other. To cite an example, in Vaishnavism, the reason for Ramayana is almost similar to what is said of Kandapuranam in Saivism.

The intercourse, god Vishnu had with his wife is said to be the cause for Ramayana. The intercourse, Siva had with Parvathi is said to be the cause for Kanda puranam. Let me illustrate further.

It is said in the story that Rishis came to meet Vishnu in day light. It seems Vishnu was with his wife Lakshmi in bed during day time. The gate keepers who had the knowledge of what Vishnu was doing with Lakshmi during the day time, did not permit the Rishis to enter the private chamber of god Vishnu. Getting angry the Rishis cursed the gate keeper. To rid them of the curse, it is said that Ramayana took place.

Similarly the worshipful god Shiva is said to have had intercourse with his wife Parvathi at a stretch for more than hundreds of years. The Devas in the Indralokam were very much worried about Parvathi. They thought that the semen of Siva excreted into the womb of Parvathi would cause great havoc. So they thought, it was their foremost duty to separate the couple, even before their act of intercourse was completed. They somehow succeeded in their attempt. But the semen excreted from the penis of Lord Siva created a number of inexpressible ugly scenes and at last resulted in the birth of another god, the son of Shiva, Lord Muruga. Yet some people attribute that Murugan was born to get rid of the 'Rakshasas'.

For the birth of Rama, Devas prayed to Mahavishnu. For the birth of Muruga, Devas prayed to Paramashiva. Rama killed the Rakshasas and Murugan killed the Asuras.

When Rama was engaged in killing the Rakshasas, some how the number of Rakshasas went on increasing suddenly. When Arumugan was engaged in killing the Asuras, they too are said to have increased in number all of a sudden.
Rama's wife Sita was an adopted virgin. Similarly Murugan's wife Valli devi was also brought up by others.

Even in the stories related to the Acharyas of Vaishanavism and the Nayanmars of Saivism there is practically no major difference. The way in which they lived their life, the way in which they attained salvation are almost identical.

The book titled ‘Baktha Leela’, which is the puranic literature of Vaishnavism and the book titled ‘Periyapuranam’ which is the puranic literature of Saivism are almost similar.

If there is a story about a potter in Vaishnava purana, there is a potter in the Saivapurana also. The Vainava potter was called Gora Kumber. The Saiva potter was called Thiruneelakantar. Their stories are also similar. Gora Kumbar was not in terms with his wife. Thiruneelakantar was also not in terms with his wife. Mahavishnu brought Gora kumbar and his wife to terms. Similarly Paramasivan brought Thiruneelakantar and his wife to terms. In Vainavism there is the story of an untouchable called Swarga Mala. In Saivism you have the story of an untouchable called Nandanar. Vishnu appeared in the dream of Swarga mala. Paramasivan appeared in the dream of Nandanar. Swraga Mala had the 'darshan' of Vishnu. Nandanar had the darshan of Paramasivan.

What we have to keenly observe in the puranic literature of Saivism and Vaishnavism is the role of the brahmin is ever kept high. Where as all others are treated as low and contemptible. The evil caste system is safeguarded in both.

Unless one undertakes a close study and research of these stories, we cannot say categorically as to who imitated whom. I do not deem it a useful work for me. Moreover, Saivism is dominant only in the South and is very obscure in the North. There only Vaishnavism is predominant. In North India if you say Vainavite, then only you are considered a vegetarian. The religious books, stories, their devotees, gods are almost identical. This is possible only when one imitates or copies the other. Otherwise both the Vaishnavites and Saivites should have met together and conspired together in the creation of all these identical things.

While there are a number of living beings on earth such as grass, herbs, plants, insects, worms, birds and animals it is only the man that is made to believe in god.

But all other living beings eat, grow, reproduce and die away-just as men do.
In the matter of birth, death and disappearance, there is no difference between man and other living beings. The differences are seen at the time of birth itself. Those who have conducted research in the origin of living species, categorically state, that the man and other living beings lead lives of ‘almost the same identity and similarity’. Amongst, the living beings it is only the human race that is endowed with wisdom in nature and as that wisdom had its own impact on the human mind in later years, the human race fell a victim to desires and it led to multiple types of sorrows and sufferings in life. These desires and ignorance together made man a subordinate to god. This belief in god, made in the human race unthinking, irrational and a prey to difficulties and hardship. If the evil thought of god has not been foisted on the human kind, the status of the human race would have been very much advanced by this time.

Mankind would indeed be free from worries, difficulties and sorrows. Today you cannot come across a man free from worries and sorrows in whatever state he might be. Every one is worried. To those who are atheists; who do not have any belief in god, everything appears to be natural. If one considers god as mere myth he may not have to worry about sorrows or difficulties ; such people are the real 'Gnanis (Wisemen). To attain such a state and renounce everything is not an easy task. He may get wisdom, he may be a perfect renouncer, yet, he may slip and flatter just because he is amidst others.

The state of one being free from worries and misery is the real meaning of salvation (Moksha). As such, those who call themselves the idols of renunciations, can never have belief in god. The more a man has belief in god, the greater will be the burden. Such a man will have no end to his desires and deeds.

Why do people worship god nowadays? Generally the belief in god is due to the personal problems. Whether one is intelligent or not, he expects something from god and in anticipation of getting his objectives fulfilled he reposes stronger faith in god.

Even those who proclaim that, they have renounced everything, want to get into Heaven, I would only say that such people are like those who pray for a third eye on their back.

It is only to fulfil, some want that, devotion, prayer, faith, pooja and other religious rituals arise. What business have you with god, if you really have no desire or want? It is no wonder that the faith in god is deeper and quite congnisable particularly amongst those who commit mistakes, blunders, illegal and unlawful acts. The cheats in society, the fraudulent elements and the avaricious sections are generally seen to worship god with sincerity and devotion and with pomp and show.

I have my experience as a prisoner in more than ten jails where I saw the murderers and ordinary prisoners keep pictures of god in their cells. Some had religious books. I came across a murderer who had regular baths in the morning and prayed for half an hour daily in the Rajamundry jail. He used to chant something. In fact, he was an educated rich fellow before he came to prison. When I asked him what he was doing and why he did so he replied that he wanted to get out of the prison early.

You can find a number of corrupt people in Vainavism, Saivism, Islam, Christianity perform pooja, chant something, and offer regular prayers to god. They will not miss or forget god anytime. I need not say much about the business people who offer prayer with greater a show.

It is nothing but the existence of desires and unfulfilled wants that is responsible for the faith in god. Belief in god is not in any way useful to help others.