Renowned spiritual leader Swami Chidanand Saraswati Muni was all India patron of Shri Guruji Birth Centenary Celebrations Committee. He is president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and founder and chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation. He has also participated in the Parliament of World Religions, Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, World Council of Religious Leaders at the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. Organiser representative Ravindra Saini spoke to him in Rishikesh. Excerpts:
What is your reaction to the move to destroy Ram Sethu?
This is not the question of only Ram Sethu but a question of the identity of crores of Hindus and their faith. Ram Sethu was built seventeen and a half lakh years ago. NASA has declared scientifically that this goes back to that era. If you go back to the era of Hindu calendar, the Kaliyuga is four hundred and twenty eight thousand years, the Dwapara Yuga is eight hundred and sixty four thousand years and Treta Yuga is around twelve hundred and twenty eight thousand years. If we add all these Yugas, we get the exact same number, which the NASA has declared about the bridge. This shows that Hindus are not eight or ten thousand years old but they are more than seventeen and a half lakh years old. Ram Sethu is a living legend of our heritage. People should come forward for its protection and they must not let their heritage and old culture to be destroyed even at the cost of their lives. I believe in action and not in reaction. Action should be taken immediately before long and before the bridge is broken down. Hindus should try to know the truth and the fact why it should not be broken. We are living in the age of science. Science has already proved that there exists the Ram Sethu, which has been the most ancient underwater bridge.
Instead of destroying the Ram Sethu, the government should do something unique to protect it. The destruction of Ram Sethu should be taken as tsunami on Hindu dharma and its culture as well as heritage. I have come to know that there has been found a vast store of thorium near this sacred bridge. It is possible that instead of the bridge, the eye of the government may be on that treasure of thorium. We don'tcare for our own government but I am afraid that the West wants to capture this important area by destroying the ancient bridge. I have also come to know that there is a lot of moss near Ram Sethu, which contains a plenty of oxygen, and that moss is full of medicinal values. If ayurvedic medicines are prepared with this rich moss, it will prove of a great advantage to the humanity. Hindus must get up and awake from their slumber.
Is there any hope for reconstruction of Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya?
I want the Ram Mandir to be built in Ayodhya, because this is also the question of faith for crores of Hindus. I appeal to the Muslims to co-operate in the reconstruction of the temple. They should not be orthodox, conservative and rigid. There should be flexibility in them. They should try to know the feelings of Hindus. They should not be obstinate. They should not make it a big issue of their ego. This is not the question of a Mandir. There stand so many buildings in India but it is the question of faith for Hindus. I appeal to the Hindus also to be humble and not aggressive. They also try to seek the favour of the Muslims and turn them in their favour.
When hundreds of temples are being demolished in Malaysia, Pakistan and Bangladesh and other countries of the world, how should Hindus react to these assaults?
This is highly objectionable. People should respect each other'ssentiments. Muslims should stop demolishing the temples otherwise the day will come when Hindus too become aggressive. If temples are being demolished, the Muslims should understand that the result of their act is not good. Temples are the abode of gods and goddesses.
What have you to say on the growing pollution in the Ganga and hindering of her flow?
Sometimes I feel that we cannot be called true Hindu. We do not follow the rules and principles of Hinduism. We call the Ganga mother. Even one drop of her water is pious to us, but we, the Hindus, are themselves polluting it. If we are not anxious about the sacredness and holiness of the mother Ganga, then how can we blame other communities? The Ganga originates from Gaumukh and unfortunately pollution begins from that place, where only Hindus live. Ganga is being polluted from her own home. It is the duty of every Indian to protect her from pollution. The Ganga does not give water only to the Hindus but to all human beings. If the Ganga is polluted, the whole atmosphere will be polluted. There is need of Jan Jagran, Jal Jagran. I hope the new government under Shri B.C. Khanduri will certainly do something in this regard. Even today the flow of the Ganga is possible.
Feelings of Hindus are constantly being hurt by repeated terrorist attacks on temples, arrest of Shankaracharya and by painting vulgar pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses. What do you say on these issues?
When Hindus all over the world will get united and stand together, no one will dare to insult our ancient culture, attack us and destroy our temples. Then arrest of Shankaracharya and vulgar paintings of our gods and goddesses will also not be repeated. No one has the right to insult the faith, culture and feelings of others. Our gods and goddesses are not only pictures but they are the ideal characters for the Hindus to follow. We worship our gods and goddesses as ideal characters. We do not worship the person but we worship the personality, which is behind the Gods and goddesses. The government and the society should take prompt action against those who hurt the feelings of the Hindus. Anyone who tries to paint our gods and goddesses vulgar should be punished.
How can terrorism be stopped and how can there be peace in the entire world?
Terrorism can be stopped and peace can be restored in the entire world by spreading the message of Hinduism. To stop terrorism, spiritualism should be taught and spread throughout the world. Spiritualism teaches human being to live with love and peace. Spiritualism is more powerful than atomic power.
How do you look at the future of Hinduism and Hindustan?
I am very much optimistic about the future of Hinduism and Hindustan. The future is very good and bright. But the Hindus need to follow the principles of Hinduism. They have to respect their own ancient culture and cultural values and protect them from western influence. Even Muslims and Christians will start following Hinduism because such a love, co-operation and tolerance can never be in other cultures.
Government is going to start sex education in schools and colleges. Is it good?
This country does not need sex education at all. Sexuality will not save this country. Dharma saves human beings and not the sex education. Sex education will ruin this country, which has its spiritual soul. The government should give up the thinking of imparting sex education and should add spiritualism and yoga in the school and college curriculum.
How do you see the role of RSS in the building of our nation?
The ideology the Sangh has accepted, the technique it has involved, the altitude it has cultivated among its activists, the policies and programmes it has adopted, the campaigns it has launched and even the trials it has undergone?everyone of these is directed towards infusing a new vision and cohesion in the heart limbs of our nation and are extremely commendable. The RSS and its associated organisations are doing a great service to the nation. They are doing yeoman'sservice to the nation. This country needs such patriotic organisations.
