Journal of Gyansagar Science Foundation 2013 04 01

Author(s): Sanjeev Sogani, Vimal Jain
Publisher: Gyansagar Science Foundation

Page 106

Er. Piyush Jain, Volume 1 Issue 1 April 2013
Is it because it is our culture? Isn't one bound to fall if one runs on the path of future with head turned backwards?
Is it because our ancient texts and wisdom say so? When everything else contained in them regarding universe has been proved wrong, how is it that what is said about atma-parmatma is right?
Or, is it because that we do not have any other plausible explanation? Isn't it prudent to wait till we have one? Here I am trying to answer all these questions.
Over the last few decades, we have acquired a treasure of knowledge and have shattered several myths in the process. For instance, just a few hundred years back, we believed the Sun is revolving around the earth. Today, it has turned out to be an irrefutably false myth. Just imagine, a person devoting almost his entire life
Chapter 1: Sources of Information
The journey of quest, if successful, ends with an answer and if unsuccessful, ends up in a belief, which could be true or false depending on your luck. Since I was keen on getting an answer, I shed all my beliefs (in His various forms) with which I was born, brought up and indoctrinated with. The first question which sprang was about the sources of information about Him. We, normally look up to our elders for this so did I. Finding their answers to be based on faith rather than knowledge, I turned to friends who, in turn, direct me to religious leaders. The buck eventually stopped at the classical, historical and so called sacred religious texts and literature. Those with faith in Hinduism point to Vedas, Christianity to Bible, and Islam to Qur'an - just to mention a few from otherwise exhaustive list. With only exceptions of Jainism and Buddhism, almost all other religions believe that either the world is His or belongs to Him. Whereas the former, along with the modern science, believe that the world is spontaneous. Here again, Jains and Buddhists part their way with science in believing that we the human can attain 'Him-ness' through managing our lives as per spiritual teachings. While getting the broad idea, and finding no consensus on the issue, my quest became more curious. Inter and intra religious contradictions came to fore as I dug deeper. Now it became essential for me establish the authenticity of each religious text so that a clear and distinct winner emerges. Various prevailing ideologies can be summarized as -
Polytheism Christianity, Hinduism
Monotheism - Judaism, Islam
Non-theism - Jainism, Buddhism Atheism - Science
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believing in the existence of God Almighty, finds on his death bed that IT was a mirage! Do you want to be one such person? At least I would not.
I, for a change, would like to undergo the grueling process of finding answers before I bow in front of God for mercy, favor and protection; before I pray to Him for health, wealth and happiness. The path I thus treaded was -
To find out various sources of information about Him and ascertain their authenticity.
To unearth truth behind His universality, omniscience and omnipresence.
To uncover His role as Creator, Perpetuator and destructor.
To investigate the role of science in this scenario.
Polytheism -
In polytheism, all natural forces and destiny were treated as divine. They were departmentalized and appointed with a symbolic head. These heads were then worshipped as gods and goddesses. Soon, a large army was imaginarily created and need for a 'General' was felt to look after, organize and discipline them. And, so an omnipotent God came into being.
A. Hinduism-It is commonly perceived as a polytheistic religion. Indeed, most Hindus would attest to this, by professing belief in multiple Gods. While some Hindus believe in the existence of three gods, some believe in thousands of gods, and some others in thirty three crore, i.e., 330 million gods and goddesses. However, learned Hindus, who are well versed in their scriptures, insist that a Hindu should believe in and worship only one God. Very confusing, isn't it?
Main source of their divine beliefs is the set of four Vedas Rig, Yajur, Sam and Atharva. The concept of divinity seems to have evolved in the later scriptures like, Upnishads, Bhagwad Gita, Brahma Sutra etc. Starting with polytheist worship of personified powers of the nature namely, gods of heaven, air and earth, as described in Rigveda, Hindu faith shifted to Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. On the other hand, Yajurveda, Upnishads, Gita and later texts were vehement about the concrete monotheism. A maddening cocktail of all possibilities thus exits.
I am quoting a few statements -
Rigveda:
"Gods of upper world, air, earth, abstract deities, inferior deities, demon deities and ancestral spirits can be invoked by recitation of Vedic hymns and oblation of soma-ras."