Hinduism is indeed a unique religion,as it preaches non violence of the highest kind,but its scriptures speak of the glory of warfare and project warriors are heroes.This is because,one cannot afford to be non-violent at all points of time in one's life.When a warrior takes up arms,he does so not to hurt or injure others but to protect Dharma. One need not take to violence for the sake of one's selfish gains.But if it has to be done for the sake of the overall well-being of the society and the sustenance of Dharma, it is considered to be a warrior's duty to do so. It is a warrior's duty to protect the weak,the poor and the helpless from exploitation.God himself is said to have taken various incarnations to save humanity from the evil designs of powerful brutes.
But,violence should never be resorted to,for the sake of personal gains.
This is wonderfully demonstrated in the Ramayana,wherein Rama submissively retires to the forest in order to fufill the word given by his father Dashrath to Kaikeyi,his step-mother.
These are the words of Rama,
"Immediately, I shall go to live in forest of Dandaka for fourteen years, without reflecting on whether my father's words are right or wrong.There is not indeed anything of greater performance of duty than doing service to father or than doing what he commands.If I have to do whatever action is dearer to my revered father, that action is just done in all respects even by renouncing my life."
The Tamil poet Kamban,quotes Rama as saying,
"En pinnavan petra selvam adiyanein petra dhandro??"
("What is the difference between bharatha ruling the kingdom and me ruling the kingdom.His wealth is my wealth".)
Rama even argues that while Bharatha is going to rule over the people of Ayodhya,he is going to rule over the animals of the forest and live happily.
Rama accepts everything passively in order to fulfill the words of his father.
But when his wife,Seetha is abducted by the demon Ravana,he threatens to destroy the entire world,if he is not able to recover Sita.
("Nasayaami jagat sarvam")
This is because,inspite of her faultlessness,Sita has been unfairly abducted by a demon.The very same Rama who passively accepted to retire to the forest threatens to destroy the enitre world by the might of the arrows for the sake of his wife.
The sage Valmiki describes Rama by these words,
"His anger is like that of forest fire. His patience is like that of the Earth".
Hinduism preaches forbearance only when it is something concerned with his own welfare and not the welfare of his near and dear one's.Even that forbearance is recommended only when a greater virtue is at stake.In Rama's case,it was Truth.He endured the pains of the forest in order to fulfill the words of his father and for nothing else.
The poet Subrahmanya Bharathiyar proclaimed
"Thani oruvanukku unavillai yenil ijjagathinai azhithiduvein"
"If there is not sufficient food for a single person on this Earth,I'll destroy the entire universe".
That was because he could not tolerate the sight of rich people feasting and poor people dying out of starvation. Even in the Mahabharatha,Krishna asks Arjuna to fight for Dharma and not for land.The dharma of a warrior is to fight against adharma and so he must fight.
It is noteworthy that Buddha renounced the kingdom and preached non-violence while the King Ashoka did it even while being the ruler of the land.He was fortunate that he did not have powerful kings during his time,otherwise he would have known how foolish it is for a king to preach non-vioelnce.
As Chanakya says,
"War is to make way for peace and peace is to prepare for war".
This has been the eternal dharma of Hindus-to fight for the protection of their dharma,by even sacrificing their lives.
As Vyasa says in the Mahabharatha,
"Dharmam na thyajeth jeevithasyaapi hetho ho"
"Dont give up your Dharma even for the sake of your lives".
As Hindus,it is our duty to practise and protect our Dharma as it Dharma is essential for the sustenance of life on Earth.And this Dharma includes destroying the preachers of adharma as well.
P.S:This post is a bit sketchy,as am blogging after a long time.My apologies for the same.Hopefully,I will be able to update frequently from here on.Thank you ! Keep visiting ! :)
(To be continued..........)
But,violence should never be resorted to,for the sake of personal gains.
This is wonderfully demonstrated in the Ramayana,wherein Rama submissively retires to the forest in order to fufill the word given by his father Dashrath to Kaikeyi,his step-mother.
These are the words of Rama,
"Immediately, I shall go to live in forest of Dandaka for fourteen years, without reflecting on whether my father's words are right or wrong.There is not indeed anything of greater performance of duty than doing service to father or than doing what he commands.If I have to do whatever action is dearer to my revered father, that action is just done in all respects even by renouncing my life."
The Tamil poet Kamban,quotes Rama as saying,
"En pinnavan petra selvam adiyanein petra dhandro??"
("What is the difference between bharatha ruling the kingdom and me ruling the kingdom.His wealth is my wealth".)
Rama even argues that while Bharatha is going to rule over the people of Ayodhya,he is going to rule over the animals of the forest and live happily.
Rama accepts everything passively in order to fulfill the words of his father.
But when his wife,Seetha is abducted by the demon Ravana,he threatens to destroy the entire world,if he is not able to recover Sita.
("Nasayaami jagat sarvam")
This is because,inspite of her faultlessness,Sita has been unfairly abducted by a demon.The very same Rama who passively accepted to retire to the forest threatens to destroy the enitre world by the might of the arrows for the sake of his wife.
The sage Valmiki describes Rama by these words,
"His anger is like that of forest fire. His patience is like that of the Earth".
Hinduism preaches forbearance only when it is something concerned with his own welfare and not the welfare of his near and dear one's.Even that forbearance is recommended only when a greater virtue is at stake.In Rama's case,it was Truth.He endured the pains of the forest in order to fulfill the words of his father and for nothing else.
The poet Subrahmanya Bharathiyar proclaimed
"Thani oruvanukku unavillai yenil ijjagathinai azhithiduvein"
"If there is not sufficient food for a single person on this Earth,I'll destroy the entire universe".
That was because he could not tolerate the sight of rich people feasting and poor people dying out of starvation. Even in the Mahabharatha,Krishna asks Arjuna to fight for Dharma and not for land.The dharma of a warrior is to fight against adharma and so he must fight.
It is noteworthy that Buddha renounced the kingdom and preached non-violence while the King Ashoka did it even while being the ruler of the land.He was fortunate that he did not have powerful kings during his time,otherwise he would have known how foolish it is for a king to preach non-vioelnce.
As Chanakya says,
"War is to make way for peace and peace is to prepare for war".
This has been the eternal dharma of Hindus-to fight for the protection of their dharma,by even sacrificing their lives.
As Vyasa says in the Mahabharatha,
"Dharmam na thyajeth jeevithasyaapi hetho ho"
"Dont give up your Dharma even for the sake of your lives".
As Hindus,it is our duty to practise and protect our Dharma as it Dharma is essential for the sustenance of life on Earth.And this Dharma includes destroying the preachers of adharma as well.
P.S:This post is a bit sketchy,as am blogging after a long time.My apologies for the same.Hopefully,I will be able to update frequently from here on.Thank you ! Keep visiting ! :)
(To be continued..........)
