SEEKING CHANGE FROM PUNDITS - SAVIORS OF OUR RELIGION - PART 2

SEEKING CHANGE FROM PUNDITS: SAVIORS OF OUR RELIGION -PART 2

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Part 1 of my article did ruffle a few dhotis…oops, feathers. In fact that has been my intention.

Professional Accountants, Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers and even Christian Priests have a code of conduct and some general rule under which to operate. They lose their rights to practice if there is a breach.

In our developed world where Hindus have gone in larger numbers, their so-called heads and saviours of religion do not seem to have any such restraints –and their interests have been safe-guarded by like-minded swamis who wrote their rules centuries ago that Brahm Ninda (defaming Brahmins) is a cardinal sin.

Time is ripe for them to be shown the mirror to see their reflections-and some are not too pleased with their reflections. All they need to do is to improve the picture if they do not like it. I have no animosity with any Pundit. However, it appeared some felt that they could do whatever under the mistaken rules that some smelly bearded Swami wrote centuries ago that "brahm ninda" is like Gau hatya (criticism of Brahmins is like killing a cow)

Nothing in Hinduism is cast in stone. Lord Krishn, in Bhagavat Gita preached that change is inevitable fact of life. Hence the fact that Pundits feel shielded from the Commandment that they are above criticism is contradicted. Like Arjun with Gandiu Bow, modern men, with pen and keyboard need to become the medium of change. That is what is intended of this article

Little did they realise that Lord Ram and Krishna showed and taught us ways to change nonsensical, cruel and outdated parampara, systems and tradition (reet) - masquerading as religious practices. Therefore people need to demand proper conduct from those who are profiteering from being the middlemen between us and our Gods. They cannot remain shielded and protected from such outrageous, protectionist, unfair, conceited, biased and unjustified commandments.

As code of conducts would demand, we need pracharaks, Pundits and preachers who demand respect and themselves evoke all the good characters they preach us about.

Do these preachers themselves have exemplary life practices? Have they been able to have happy united families and obedient children? Do they respect women, children and elders equally and have compassion? Are they “clean’ and not using their position to gain through their religious position in any other forms? 

Siya Ke Ram, TV Serial, based on Valmiki Ramayan rightly portrayed Lord Ram as a medium of change. And this article is supposed to invoke such a change - the way Hindus view their Pundits, God and relationship with their Gods.

Have they been able defeat five thieves:  kaam (lust), krodh (wrath,anger), lobh (greed) moh (attachment) and ahankar (ego or excessive pride). At least there should be some evidence that they are more righteous than us common mortals. 

If not, then what the hell are they doing on “vyas gaddi’, on the speaking pulpit, teaching us to do things they themselves cannot do-or at least show an effort of doing so?

Some of us are miser people, who would not donate a dime to a needy person but would save and give big loads to Pundits in name of culture and tradition, and as a guilty conscience to pay for our bad ways through pooja and Daan. Now, what do these priest do with this continuous “Daan” (offerings) they receive that they and their families cannot use in their lifetime?

I am merely showing the community the mirror. There are some shameful things I feel ashamed to mention here. I know of some of these priests using their position in society to exploit people in many shameful ways with very questionable “loose” characters (Please do not ask me what that means).

However, I do not care about those. But in this time of need, I care about the items they receive in name of culture that rot, and gets expired, or sold in some cases, rather than being used for the needy in Covid 19. 

I am now coming to COVID 19. Many of our priests who we have had as our “kul”(fixed) Pundit may have been receiving financial benefits and basin-full of goodies over many decades. For the first time we are in a crisis, a lockdown, many without jobs, and needing assistance, if not financial, at least moral and other support. Each of these pundits may have some 1000 yajmaan (clients), if not more. How many of them have called their suffering yajmaan, especially the elderly, to offer solace, assistance and word of encouragement? 

They have been receiving calls from yajmaan over the decades for pooja etc. Have they returned those calls when they could have made a difference in these trying times? Don’t they owe a duty of care? How many of you have heard from your Pundits? 

All Mandirs and places of worship are closed. Should they be? Yes, for maintaining social distancing, but also YES for granting aid to those who have supported them all along? They have been benefiting from us for decades. Isn’t it time they returned the favour to people who had been financing these institutions and priests. 

FIJI PUNDIT is calling for exemplary behaviour from Pundits if they wish to remain credible preachers and regarded as saviors of our religion.

Isn’t it time, more people stood up and question about our outdated practices of giving so much power in religion to the middlemen between you and your Gods? And now, when you need them, are they anywhere to be seen or heard? Isn’t it time we reconsider about our DIRECT relationship with God?

It is nice to see some Sikh organisations and some Hindu Mandirs, institutions and some Pundits coming out to help. Thanks to them. But my concern is directed at the ones who have gone in complete “Lockdown.” Many may have done things in their own rights, but have they cared about their ‘yajmaan” when they longed to hear the assuring voice of their “Maharaj?”

All I am asking is some reciprocity (pay back) from Hindu priests who until now have been beneficiary of our age old rituals, culture and outdated thinking.
Perhaps when the dust of Covid 19 clears, we all need to rethink about position of Pundits in our information-filled community and a time to press REFRESH and REBOOT button on Hinduism. With changing times, there is need for change, at least in the developed world and a rethink about outdated ways our ancestors carried in Fiji.

For Pundits who are operating in developed countries, there appears to be absence of any code of conduct and acceptable practices. They feel protected from the commandment that brahm ninda is like gau hatya (criticm of brahmins is equivalent to killing a cows). Hence there is no compulsion on them on the way they operate. FIJI PUNDIT is calling of a change from Hindus to demand those high level of conduct from the middlemen between them and their Gods.

I am sure, many of my friends will say, if I am getting looted or used by my Pundit in the name of parampara or culture, so why is Thakur concerned? (Thakur ke ka piraaye - how does it affect Thakur?

Same way as it affected Lord Ram and he put a stop to outdated and obsolete culture and ways. Same way as Lord Krishna preached in Bhagavat Gita that change and parivartan is inevitable. 

You do not need Arjun with "Gandiu” bow to bring change. All you need is a Narad Muni Journalist, FIJI PUNDIT, with pen and keyboard to bring about a paradigm shift-nazaria ke pher, a change of viewpoint.

Our modern Hindus have democratic right to be “used” and misled in the name of parampara, tradition, but like Ram and Krishn, I am urging you to REDISCOVER and RECREATE your ways in life.

You have full right to ignore this - and continue doing what you have been doing, but allow others to see the light.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator, a journalist, a community worker and a practising Hindu who believes that change is inevitable. He subscribe to the principle that it is height of absurdity and gullibility to be shackled by outmoded and obsolete practises under the guise of parampara and tradition]