Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 1

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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VAISHALI INSTITUTE RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. I
We now propose to approach this subject from two different angles of vision, namely, religion as a matter of personal intuition and religion as a social institution. We find in the Ṛgueda and also in other Vedic Samhitas that man offers sacrifices which consist in the oblation of clarified butter and other food-grains into fire. Fire was not a mere natural phenomenon but was animated by an exalted spirit called God. Fire-God carries this oblation to the deities and the sacrificer's desires and wants are fulfilled. The ancient Aryans were a virile people and were constantly engaged in their war against the aborigines who resisted them as interlopers. Victory in the battle was fondly desiderated. Sons were sincerely wanted to maintain their possessions and fight the enemies who wanted to rob them. Broadly speaking the gods were to be gratified for the grant of fulfilment of their various wants. A good harvest, cattle, horses, good health, a large number of progeny were necessary for their communal life. Religion was thus regarded as the means securing the good things of this world and also of heavenly life after death. The Aryans believed that their personal prowess was not alone sufficient; they wanted to reinforce it with the superior power of gods. Fulfilment of personal desires and wants was the visa tergo of religious performance. In course of time men and women came to form a community which with progressive growth developed into nation-hood. The good and the prosperity of the whole community was sought to be realized by big sacrifices attended with prayers and utterances of spells. Consciousness of the limitations of human prowess and efforts inspired them to seek the alliance of God for the fulfilment of their personal and national wants. We may safely draw the conclusion that consciousness of helplessness or frustration due to limitations of finitude is the source of religion as a cult. Divine discontent with finite achievement drives man to the attainment of infinite perfection. The irrepressible urge for transcending the limitations of finite knowledge, finite power and finite happiness is the genesis of religion. It finds expression in science and philosophy and will cease to operate till the realization of the goal. The finite man must become infinite God. The intuition of the infinite, articluate or inarticulate, is present in every man and this is the beginning of religion, the pursuit of spirituality.
Not only in India but also among the Hebrews of Palestine, we find the same realization of the necessity of the help of superior So also in Greece. The worship of many gods was ultimately power. superseded by the conception of one God to whom prayers addressed with devotion and faith for the satisfaction of temporal wants. With the development of philosophical speculation the conception
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