Samipya 1992 Vol 09 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 82

faith is systemized by reason as philosophy for the understanding of the average mind. The godmen of different religions speak from faith. They are never guided by reason. Vagharis' Bhūvās are guided by faith and not by reason.
Thus the arguments in support of faith and those in support of reason do not establish the superiority of one on the other and therefore, do not resolve the controversy. Under these circumstances the elite class of Vaghari community wants to follow the reasons but they are not in a position to disregard their old faith guided by Bhūvās. The only alternative for them is to come forward to substitute the old illusive faith by introducing new spiritual faith without disturbing the traditional devotion. Whatever is found good should be preserved and rest of the harmful rites, rituals and customs should be abandoned or substituted by suitable and pure media with full understanding.
There is a faculty of faith in man, a power independent of sense and reason, the primordial source of any religion, which enables him to apprehend the Infinite. It is true, that Nature does not speak of itself, but of one who speaks by it. Nature is great, but the soul of man is greater. Religion is a spontaneous sentiment, an intuitive perception, in which the mind unconsciously draws its breath and has its being. It is not the product of reasoning. It is the hidden doubt of faith, which gushes up within the man. Man in all the entireity of his complex nature cries but for the Living God. Human reason cries out for God, as it needs because it cannot rest on its onward march till it arrives at an intelligent first cause. Human thought cries out for God, as it needs something permanent and unchangeable to lean upon.17
In the first stage of thought, when the mind had not risen to the conception of the unity of God, it was but natural that the principal forces and energies of nature should at first draw the attention of man.
Health
Generally, they are thin and lean with poor physique. It is because of poverty, half-starvation and under nourishment. Moreover, they are adicted to liquor. Smoking is common including women from teenage. They easily fall prey to T. B. typhoid, malaria, various phobias and Rabies. Die earlier before reaching sixty.
Education
Literacy percentage of education is very poor amongst these communities.
However, there is a slow and steady progress in the field of education. Some of the students have reached the level of higher secondary level and a very few have completed graduation and post graduation. Some of them have succeeded in securing government jobs, but their strength is negligible.
Vagharis of Gujarat : An Ancient Tribe ]
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