The Hindu population of the world is estimated to be approximately 1.2 billion or 120 crores, which is roughly 15 per cent of the world population. This makes Hinduism the third largest religion in the world, after Christianity and Islam. India’s Hindu population is estimated to be more than 1 billion or more than 100 crore people, which is roughly 78 per cent of country’s population. With such a large population base, India is home to 94 per cent of the world’s Hindu population. Except for Nepal, which earlier was the only official Hindu state in the world, Hindus are a minority in nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the US, the UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia, etc. In short, India has to take care of all the Hindus in the world. As a layman, I would like to discuss issues related to Hindus and Hinduism and share my concerns.
The four Shankaracharyas are considered spiritual leaders of Hinduism. The title ‘Shankaracharya’ is held by the head of four cardinal monasteries (Mutt) located in Puri, Odisha; Haridwar, Uttarakhand; Dwarka, Gujrat; and Sringeri, Karnataka. Each Shankaracharya has huge spiritual authority over their followers, and their pronouncements shape public discourse. In addition, we have a huge number of Hindu religious leaders with their own following. Some unscrupulous Hindu leaders have also emerged who make fool of their unsuspecting followers. It is my belief that Hindu spiritual leaders have to remain relevant to the changing times and espouse the cause of Hinduism in unison.
As regards Hindu texts, we have four Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas and six schools of philosophy (shastras). Hinduism originated from Sanatan Dharma, which means eternal religion and is considered a way of life. This led to Hinduism being interpreted more as a way of life than religion per se. The popular discourse of Hinduism comes from texts like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvad Geeta, etc., which possibly are a minuscule portion of our ancient traditions. Hindu religion is not taught in schools, and Hindu traditions are passed on from one generation to another. Guru-Shishya Parampara is almost extinct, and the strongest bond to the Hindu religion at the grassroots level has severely diminished. The idea of the Hindu religion is being shaped by the current generation through a few TV serials, which hardly serve the serious purpose of teaching a religion like Hinduism. Hindi media and social media also have to do much more to propagate Hinduism.
Hindus are religious by nature and practice many forms of Hinduism through their places of worship, religious practices, rituals and festivals. The Hindu identity is not easy to identify; for example, it is difficult to ascertain a Hindu from the dress code. Hindu names and surnames are in lakhs and at times do not reveal the religious denomination of an individual. The places in India also do not reflect the Hindu majority impact. All these issues may be more likely to confuse a young mind who intends to understand Hinduism and Hinduism.
When one comes to the Mandirs, places of worship, and religious places, one does not see a coherent picture. Small Mandirs dot the villages, colonies, towns and cities. One can find a deity tucked in any corner of the city. This is different from the small puja rooms in the houses. There are big Mandirs, and some are indeed grand, but their numbers are few. Unlike grand mosques and churches in foreign countries, our temples are relatively simple. I think the pride in your religion takes a hit when you compare. Do we really need so many small and unmanageable number of Mandirs all over the place? A smaller number of temples but with the correct architecture, matching aesthetics and better management may be a better option.
The beauty of the Hindu religion is the variety it offers. There is Char Dham in all corners of the country, and a number of cities in India are known for their religious places. All these places can be cleaner and better planned. Some efforts have been made recently in Varanasi and Ayodhya. Hinduism needs many more grand symbols of spirituality and religion. In addition, large religious institutions that get big donations and have huge financial coffers must support the cause of the needy, provide meaningful social service, and empower the Hindu religion.
Hindu calendar is full of festivals throughout the year. There are big festivals and festivals restricted to a region. Other religions have relatively fewer festivals, and they are able to focus on the few festivals much better. The festivals are meant to unite the community but in Hinduism, they tend to become events with little relevance. More importantly, there is no clear discourse to the devotees during these festivals. Hindu religion may have to identify three or four festivals where a serious religious discourse or sermon for the well-being of the community could be given. Such a practice should be institutionalised at the earliest. That brings me to the most important issue of ownership of the Hindu religion. With so many religious leaders preaching possibly the same thing, the impact loses relevance. The atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh had very few religious leaders come out in the open and condemn them. The political leadership would be better empowered to take necessary action once they are sure of religious backing. It is through this collective approach that a religion like Hinduism would be much enriched and powerful. Hindus have to speak from a position of strength.
Hinduism is easily the most liberal religion. It has embraced so many religions over the centuries. Hinduism has never looked at expanding its footprint. Maybe this is the reason for the increase in numbers in respect of other religions. But the liberal attitude of Hindus has been construed as weakness, and Hindus have been taken for granted by others. Our epics are full of martial leaders, but Hindus are peace-loving in day-to-day life. Yet a religion should be able to protect its interests, and Hindu believers should feel safe in practising this religion anywhere in the world. I also notice that a large number of successful business and industry icons abroad are proud Hindus. These people also have to give back their due to the religion and the community.
Having said all this, I take great pride in being a Hindu. My religion has inspired me to do good. A lot is being done for Hinduism, may be a little slower than I would have preferred. A fresh impetus to restore the universal appeal of Hinduism is something I am looking at. It appears slightly fragmented. Hinduism may be at a crossroads, and it requires a decisive direction. The Hindu religion must be presented to the believers in a new avatar. India as a nation and the Hindus of India have to collectively integrate to be catalysts for Viksit Bharat@2047.
