Exalting humanitarianism is the essence of Religion: Shankaracharya Onkaranand Saraswathi
By V.A. Mohamad Ashrof, TwoCircles.net,
Kochi: His Holiness Swami Shankaracharya Onkaranand Saraswathi, head of Prayag Peeth, Parmatama Matt, argued that without Dharma there is no meaning for religion. He was speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on “Religion and Human Values” organized by the Kochi based International Interfaith Dialogue India (IIDI).
“The essence of religion, however, is ignored to our own peril and hence reverse manifestations are highlighted and imitated, the young Swami lamented. An idle crowd of believers without dharma or values can never be a role model of any virtues, at the same time it will result adversely. Such assemblies, instead of influencing the society in a creative way, may fall in to a pseudo religious path or cult. Such cult intoxication may lead the society to a blind and illogical conclusion and eventually to an utter anarchy,” he added.
Chaturvedi Swamy Speaks at IIDI Seminar
The seminar was presided over by K.P. Ramanunni, the vice president of IIDI and famous litterateur. The very proclamation ‘man cannot be made better’ itself is an indication that a better way is there in reality, he argued. There is a concerted effort from the part of vested interests to prove that man is an animal and selfishness is natural to establish that altruism has no meaning. This concept is not only ludicrous but also dangerous, Ramanunni continued.
“The basic source of all religions is one and the same and it is divine” said Shri Prasanna Venkatachariar Chaturvedi Swamy, the founder of Sri Ramanuja Mission Trust, Tamil Nadu. The real mission of the religion is the striving for the restoration of justice, peace and co-operation. But, as everybody knows, the cow on the page will not eat the grass! So, every religious communities, their clergy, scholars and leaders should be aware that they are miserably failing in the attempt to make eating the natural grass by the cows in the pages. The only thing they have to do is to decide and prepare themselves to rear an original cow. Every believer, regardless of his /her religion or faith should open their eyes to the society and should consider mutually in their miseries rather than jubilance or happiness, he added.
Maulvi Jamaluddin Mankada Palayam Imam receives Swami Shankaracharya Onkaranand Saraswathi
“If one’s faith is capable to identify the sorrows of his fellow beings and is willing to help the needy, pole-vaulting all the so-called religious barriers, it is the real testimony of the Oneness of the divinity. And that is how we could accomplish the sublime mission of the religion. All the holy scriptures are filled with the letters, words and sentences and they become alive and powerful only when the followers of the holy books are ready to volunteer to translate that holy scripts in to their lives without giving any room for misinterpretations. Unfortunately, however, this cardinal duty is being generally ignored by religions and this is the main cause of the present global crisis,” he further said.
The messages of Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, the chief patron of IIDI, and Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Archiepiscopal Church, were presented in video.
Onkarand Swamy
“I am not an Ambassador of any particular religion, but is the peace ambassador of IIDI, and thereby am representing every religion” proclaimed Padmabhushan Dr. K.J. Yesudas. He recited the famous poem of Sreenarayana Guru which is clarion call for identification of single humanity. Those persons who are reluctant to speak out for the common humanity is the real enemy of religion, Yesudas said.
The recognition and acceptance of diversity is the core concept of interfaith approach, argued Fr.Albert Nambiaparambil CMI, the Secretary General, of World Fellowship of Interreligious Councils.
“Muslims are far from embracing the true spirit of Islam and that is the main reason for their failure and decadence. The quintessence of Islam is justice, liberation from selfish motives and love,” argued Maulawi Jamaludeen Mankada Palayam Imam, Thiruvanantapuram. The Islamic attitudes towards other religions are so liberal and friendly that Muslims are reluctant to internalize it, Imam continued.
Swami Shankaracharya Onkaranand Saraswathi with Dr. K.J. Yesudas
Brahmashri Swami Sookshmananda, of Sivagiri Mutt of Varkala argued that Sreenarayana Guru’s approach is the practical and realistic solution to the religious controversies and altercation. His clarion call was not for altercation and victory but for knowing and to impart.
The conversion oriented approach of various religions are not only detrimental to our pluralism but also against the spirit of religions of who whom each person claims to have represented stated Brahmashri Swami Sachidananda the head priest of Gayatri Ashram Chalakudy Sree Narayana Guru Chaitanya Mutt.
The mainstream religions are today at the pit of contradictions and is moving in the directions of evil; the evil of selfishness, avarice and greed which are antithetical to the essence of religious beliefs, blasted Dr. Vincent Kundukulam, the President of St Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Aluva.
Leaders of every religion should lead the venture of controlling the spread of communalism among their adherents called T. Arifali, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Kerala zone.
Gopinath Muthukad showed some magic establishing the theme of the sameness of religions in the sphere of values.
Over 200 representatives from various parts of Kerala participated in the seminar.