| The comparative study of religions has never been | | | | today in all the Hindu shrines ... |
| merely an academic concern for | | | | My zeal never takes me to the rejection of any of |
| Mahatma Gandhi, the great Hindu spiritualist and | | | | the essential things in |
| leader. Since the days of his youth | | | | Hinduism." (6) Hinduism according to Gandhi, did not |
| he has been existentially in the search of such | | | | have one central book for |
| studies as has been evident from his | | | | reference, no particular God of worship nor one |
| famous book "The story of my experiments with | | | | particular way of God realization. |
| truth."India is a country where people are | | | | Whether he is a theist or an atheist, he is a |
| predominantly religious. Religion and spirituality | | | | Hindu.Whether he believes in one absolute or many |
| are firmly rooted in the minds of the Indian people. | | | | Gods, he is a Hindu. Whether he |
| Some countries are well known | | | | believes in Vedas or not, he remains a Hindu. Gandhi |
| for their political institutions, others for their | | | | was therefore liberal enough |
| economic prosperity while some | | | | to take idol worship as a part of human nature, |
| others for their social advancement. India is well | | | | though he did not believe in idol |
| known for her philosophy and | | | | worship as such. Gandhi, was, however, deadly |
| religion. According to Max Muller the study of religion | | | | against untouchability, the greatest |
| is incomplete unless it is | | | | plague of the Hindu society according to Gandhi, |
| studied with reference to India. To quote him, "Take | | | | which is the duty of every true |
| religion and where can you | | | | Hindu or combat. Gandhi was also against animal |
| study its true origin, its natural growth, and its | | | | sacrifice though prescribed in the |
| inevitable decay better than in India, | | | | Vedas as it went against his concept of |
| the home of Brahmanism, the birth place of | | | | non-violence. Instead he advocated the |
| Buddhism and the refuge of | | | | sacrifice of animality in us in the form of lust, greed, |
| zoroastrianism even now the matter of new | | | | anger, hatred, ill-will etc. |
| superstitions - and why not, in the | | | | Referring to Rama and Krishna, the most popular |
| future the regenerate child of the purest faith, if | | | | Gods of Hinduism, Gandhi said, |
| only purified from the dust of | | | | "My Krishna is not the historical Krishna. I believe in |
| nineteen centuries?" (1) . To others, Religion is one | | | | the Krishna of my imagination |
| condition among so many other | | | | as a perfect incarnation, spotless in every sense of |
| countries, but to the Indian people it is one great | | | | the word, the inspirer of the Gita, |
| sustaining force, pertaining to all | | | | and the inspirer of the lives of millions of human |
| the spheres of their lives. Mahatma Gandhi who was | | | | beings. But if it is proved to me ... |
| born and brought up in India | | | | that the Krishna of the Mahabharata actually did |
| could not escape this strong influence of religion in all | | | | some of the acts attributed to Him, |
| his activities.In ancient times it was a common belief | | | | even at the risk of being banished from the Hindu |
| that religion is a matter of individual | | | | fold, I should not hesitate to |
| experience. But modern psychology has shown that | | | | reject that Krishna as God incarnate." (7) Though |
| there is no such thing as a | | | | deeply religious by nature, Gandhi |
| merely individual experience, which is absolutely cut | | | | did not believe in rituals, customs, traditions, dogmas |
| off from the society. There is | | | | and other formalities |
| an important element of truth in the views of | | | | observed for the sake of religion. Like Swami |
| Durkheim and other members of the | | | | Vivekananda and Rabindranath |
| French Sociological school, who maintain that religion, | | | | Tagore, Gandhi's religion was not confined to |
| is essentially a social | | | | Temples, Churches, books, rituals and |
| phenomenon. The views of Jesus: "Render to | | | | other outer forms. Thus Gandhi's concept of religion |
| Caesar the things that are Caesar's and | | | | was not bound by any |
| to God the things that are God's" did not find much | | | | formalities. His God may be a personal God to those |
| favour in Gandhi. Rather his | | | | who needs his personal |
| view was more in accordance with the writings of | | | | presence. He may be a law to those who |
| H.G. Wells, according to whom | | | | concentrate their minds on the orderliness |
| "the doctrine of the kingdom of heaven as Jesus | | | | of the universe. He may be an embodied being to |
| preached it, it was no less than a | | | | those who need his touch. |
| bold and uncompromising demand for a complete | | | | According to Gandhi God may have a thousand |
| change and cleansing of the life | | | | names as Ishwara, Siva, Vishnu, |
| of our struggling races an utter cleansing without | | | | Rama, Krsna, Jehovah, Christ, Allah etc. according to |
| and within." (2) . Gandhi's religion | | | | the traditions in which a man is |
| was spiritual humanism because he declared that the | | | | brought up. In the words of Gandhi, "Is there one |
| service of the poor whom he | | | | God for the Mussalmans and |
| called "Daridranarayana" is a true service of God. In | | | | another for the Hindus, Parsis, and Christians? No, |
| other words, Gandhi found God | | | | there is only one omnipresent |
| amidst his creation; this creation is confined not only | | | | God. He is named variously, and we remember him |
| to India, his own land and not | | | | by the name which is most |
| Hinduism alone, the religion to which he belonged. It | | | | familiar to us."Gandhi also advocated his views on |
| consisted of men belonging to | | | | Islam, another great world religion. Islam is a |
| different land and different religions. Therefore the | | | | religion of strict monotheism and rigorous ethical |
| study of comparative religion | | | | discipline. Gandhi had a very high |
| was important to Gandhi. The best principle of | | | | esteem for this religion and regarded it as a religion |
| different religions, he felt, should be | | | | of peace, love, kindness and |
| assimilated for the advancement of our society.In | | | | brotherhood of all men. It may be true that |
| India the word 'Dharma' is used to mean 'religion'. But | | | | sometimes the followers of Islam often |
| it should be noted, that the | | | | took to sword for the spread of their religion, but |
| word 'Dharma' in Hinduism has a much wider | | | | this was not in accordance with |
| connotation that what we ordinarily | | | | the teachings of Koran. As Gandhi himself said in this |
| mean by the word religion. The word 'Dharma' | | | | connection, "I do regard Islam |
| comes from the root 'Dhre' which | | | | to be a religion of peace in the same sense as |
| means to 'sustain'. 'Dharma' is thus the greatest | | | | Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism |
| sustaining force or the binding | | | | are." (9) The charges of fanaticism against Islam |
| force of the society. The goal of 'Dharma' is to | | | | cannot be justified, according to |
| create mental and spiritual fellowship | | | | Gandhi as there are several passages in the Koran |
| among all men and to regulate its relation with all | | | | which speak of religious |
| living entities. It thus tries to | | | | toleration. Of course, there is a place for Jihad in |
| keep the world in perfect equilibrium. It is thus clear | | | | Islam and this Jihad is generally |
| that the word 'Dharma' was not | | | | interpreted as aholy war against those who are not |
| used in connection with any particular religion. Any | | | | the followers of Islam. But |
| religion, any custom, any creed | | | | Gandhi justifies the true meaning of Jihad by saying |
| could be brought under its fold and was thus out | | | | that the conditions laid down |
| out secular. Gandhi's concept of | | | | for the Jihad are so strict that they are not capable |
| religion, therefore, brought under its fold people | | | | of being fulfilled by everybody. |
| belonging to different religions.The broad outlook of | | | | To quote Gandhi, "where is the unerring general to |
| Mahatma Gandhi, the progressive interpretations of | | | | order Jihad? Where is the |
| the | | | | suffering and love and purification that much |
| various ideas and concepts in the domain of religion, | | | | precede the very idea of drawing the |
| made it possible to facilitate | | | | sword? We are too imperfect and impure and selfish |
| the study of comparative religion. Gandhi refers to | | | | to resort to an armed conflict in |
| 'God' as 'Truth' and this has very | | | | the name of God." (10)Gandhi was also impressed |
| important bearings. The word 'Truth' has a much | | | | by the personal and social codes of behavior that |
| wider connotation than the term | | | | Islam |
| 'God'. There may be non-believers in God. But no | | | | prescribes. In the Koran there are rules and |
| one can deny 'truth' for even the | | | | regulations for virtues like obedience to |
| atheist must accept the power of 'Truth'. Gandhi's | | | | parents, avoidance of adultery, cheating and lying, |
| description about 'God', again, | | | | refraining from theft, murder etc. |
| points out that it is something, which can be | | | | The five pillars of Islam, which prescribes prayer, |
| accepted by all men in the way he | | | | fasting, alms giving and hospitality |
| likes. The following statement of Gandhi regarding | | | | are the duties that every Muslim has to perform. All |
| God would make it clear. "To me | | | | these aspects of Islam |
| God is Truth and Love. God is Ethics and Morality. | | | | influenced Gandhi, a great deal.Amongst religions, |
| God is Fearlessness. God is | | | | other than Hinduism, no other religion inspired, |
| essence of life and light and yet He is above and | | | | impressed and |
| beyond all these. God is | | | | influenced Gandhi as Christianity. In the concept of |
| conscience. He is even the atheism of the atheist. | | | | Satyagraha, Gandhi was deeply |
| For in his boundlessness, God | | | | influenced by the teachings of Jesus particularly the |
| permits the atheist to live. He is the searcher of | | | | sacrifice Jesus had to undergo |
| hearts. He is a personal God to | | | | during crucification for a noble cause. The teachings |
| those who need his personal presence. He is | | | | of the New Testament specially |
| embodied to those who need his | | | | the Sermon: "You have heard that it hath been said: |
| touch. He is the purest essence.... He is all things to all | | | | An eye for an eye and a tooth |
| men. He is in us and yet | | | | for a tooth. But I say to you not to resist evil; but if |
| above and beyond us." (3)Mahatma Gandhi's mission | | | | one strikes thee on thy right |
| was not only to humanise religion but also to moralise | | | | cheek, turn to him thy other also" impressed Gandhi |
| it. | | | | very much. Satyagraha, in the |
| He would reject any religious doctrine, which was in | | | | hands of Gandhi had been a weapon of conquering |
| conflict with morality.According to Gandhi religion and | | | | evil by good. Gandhi said that he |
| morality are inseparably bound up with each | | | | had the same liking for the Sermon as he had for |
| other. To Gandhi, "There is no religion higher than | | | | the Gita. To use Gandhi's words, |
| truth and Righteouness." Morality | | | | "Today supposing I was deprived of the Gita and |
| is prized by almost all the great religions of the | | | | forgot all its contents but had a |
| world. The emphasis on morality, by | | | | copy of the Sermon, I would deprive the same joy |
| Gandhi helped his ideas to acquire a universalistic | | | | from it as I do from the Gita." |
| outlook.Gandhi's religion was a federation of different | | | | "Gandhi loved Christianity because of its absolute |
| religious creeds, theological schools | | | | emphasis on love as the most |
| and sectarian faiths that have survived in India from | | | | ethical virtue. But Gandhi disliked the claims of |
| ancient times. People belonging | | | | Christianity as superior over all |
| to different religions would go to him for his advice | | | | other religions of the world. But though Gandhi had a |
| and blessings on different | | | | deep respect for the different |
| matters. All through his life Gandhi devoted much | | | | religions he was against proselytisation. He was |
| time and energy for the | | | | against certain forms of missionary |
| promotion of Hindu Muslim unity and also fasted for | | | | activities specially those relating to conversion. |
| his cause on many occasions. | | | | Gandhi was not opposed to |
| In the wake of the partition of the country, | | | | conversion if it was based on one's will but he was |
| hundreds and thousands of Hindus and | | | | against any use of force or |
| Muslims were killed in Punjab, Bengal and Bihar. | | | | propaganda in the matter of conversion." As he |
| Gandhi threw himself into a | | | | remarked, "A rose does not need to |
| struggle to heal the breach between the two | | | | preach. It simply spreads its fragrance. The |
| communities. Gandhi wanted | | | | fragrance is its own sermon. The |
| communal harmony and peace not only between the | | | | fragrance of religion and spiritual life is much finer |
| Hindus and the Muslims but | | | | and much subtler than that of a |
| between all sections of the people who believe India | | | | rose." (12)From the comparative study of religions, |
| to be their home, no matter to | | | | Gandhi was convinced that a mere |
| what faith they may belong. Gandhi had the good | | | | doctrinaire approach in the field of religion does not |
| fortune to have as his colleague's | | | | help to create inter religious |
| people belonging to different religions. Two | | | | fellowship. Dogmatic religions do not help to promote |
| important examples are those C.F. | | | | creative dialogue. The |
| Andrews and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The Ashram | | | | religions dogmas directly or indirectly breed an |
| prayers of Gandhi had | | | | attitude of dislike towards other |
| passages from holy books like the Gita, the Bible | | | | religions. Such an attitude does not help to provide |
| and the Koran. This tradition still | | | | any meeting grounds for |
| continues in India in most of the public meetings and | | | | religions. Gandhi realized that true religion vitalizes and |
| prayers. Gandhi also | | | | elevates the inner life of |
| maintained that a reverential study of the different | | | | human beings. The progress of any religion depends |
| religious tradition is necessary. | | | | on how effectively one has |
| He felt that it is the duty of every cultured man and | | | | been able to realise the inner spirituality and |
| woman to read sympathetically | | | | convictions in his day to day life. The |
| the scriptures of the world. To respect other | | | | rituals, the symbols, the churches, the temples or |
| religion, a study of their scriptures, is a | | | | the mosques are aids so long as |
| sacred duty according to Gandhi. To understand the | | | | they help to nourish and fertilize the inner spiritual life |
| point of view of another faith | | | | of their followers. In their |
| requires tolerance, sympathy, broad mindedness, | | | | true aspects all religions call for peace and |
| humility and willingness to | | | | brotherhood amongst man. The great |
| recognize Truth wherever it is to be found. If we | | | | religions of the world should strive, according to |
| posses these qualities we can | | | | Gandhi, in promoting a life of self |
| appreciate other's faith, traditions, customs, culture | | | | control, sacrifice, harmony, peace and understanding |
| and way of life. The prophets | | | | amongst its followers so as to |
| and seers of different religions have brought to | | | | create a heaven on earth. We may conclude here, in |
| mankind the consciousness of the | | | | the words of Swami |
| unity underlying the whole universe and a deep | | | | Vivekananda, one of the greatest champion of |
| sense of brotherhood of man. | | | | peace and understanding of religions, |
| Gandhi therefore felt a need of the comparative | | | | which Gandhi also supported : "If any one hopes |
| study of religions to pave the way | | | | that this unity will come by the |
| for unity and brotherhood amongst the followers of | | | | triumph of any one religion and the destruction of |
| different religions.Mahatma Gandhi was a Sanatani | | | | the others, to him I say, 'Brother, |
| Hindu. His love for Hinduism was not blind love. | | | | yours is an impossible hope.' Do I wish that a |
| Gandhi spoke about the lofty ideals preached by | | | | Christian would become a Hindu ? God |
| Hinduism. Hinduism, according to | | | | forbid. Do I wish that a Hindu or Buddhist would |
| him is the most tolerant and liberal religion. He was | | | | become a Christian ? God forbid ... |
| deeply impressed by the ethical | | | | The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a |
| and spiritual outlook of Hinduism. Gandhi said, "The | | | | Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to |
| chief value of Hinduism lies in | | | | become a Christian. But each must assimilate the |
| holding the actual belief that all life is one i.e. all life | | | | spirit of the others and yet |
| coming from one universal | | | | preserve his individuality and grow according to his |
| source, call it Allah, God or Parameshwara." (4) | | | | own law of growth."(13)The world does not need a |
| Gandhi was also very much | | | | new religion. What it does need are the people who, |
| impressed by the teachings of the Gita saying, | | | | discovering the eternal and universal truths in their |
| "when one sees Me everywhere and | | | | own religion are bold enough to |
| everything in Me, I am never lost to him and he is | | | | live in accordance with those truths. When it is done, |
| never lost to Me." (5) But Gandhi | | | | the dry outer forms of |
| at the same time was very radical in his approach | | | | religions, which divide the entire human race into |
| and he did not hesitate in | | | | several groups, will crumble |
| criticizing those aspects of Hinduism which did not | | | | before the radiance and power of the mighty human |
| appeal to his reason. For | | | | spirit. The power of the human |
| example he was very much against the caste | | | | soul, knows no bounds, no limits and if religion is its |
| system that was prevalent in Hinduism. | | | | vehicle then that vehicle will |
| To quote Gandhi, "My religion is Hinduism ... I can no | | | | surely participate in transforming the human society |
| more describe my feelings for | | | | on its journey towards the |
| Hinduism than for my wife ... Even so I feel about | | | | Divine Being.Gandhi has been killed. Physically he is no |
| Hinduism with all its fault and | | | | more with us. But his spirit lives amidst |
| limitations ... I know that the vice that is going on | | | | us and within us, with all its glory than ever before. |