‘Vaidhika mathangal’

 ‘Vaidhika mathangal’

‘Vaidhhika mathangal’ literally means revealed religions, as revelation (‘shruti’-what is heard) is claimed to be deposited in the Vedas (scriptures), which are collections of sacred texts. To this were appended in course of time the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads by way of commentary etc. ‘Shruti’ was supplemented by ‘Smriti’-what is remembered- in the established religions.

Revealed religion is one where a ‘deity’ is said to educate through revelation. Revealed religions are the Abrahamic (Semitic) monotheistic religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In Vedic faith, incarnations like Rama and Krishna were not there. Such ‘deities’ might have been revered but not worshipped. Buddha didn’t claim to have been sent by God as did Jesus and Mohammed whose religions Christianity and Islam are thus said to be revealed.

Vedas – Scriptures:

In our times the scriptures are no more taken for granted as revealed due to growth in science and technology. These so-called sacred texts are also studied like any other literature to decide its antiquity, history etc and decipher its meaning using various tools like archeology, various forms of literary criticisms and so on. The official Catholic position is note worthy here: ‘as much it is the word of God, so much is it the word of man too.’

The so-called ‘canonicity’ of accepting or rejecting one or other books is an exercise by an establishment called ‘religion’ which is not without interest!

The monotheistic, impersonal God has given way to personal gods said to have been incarnations. [Like nirguna ‘Brahman’ giving way to various ‘Ishwars’.]

The constant theme of almost all the scriptures is the greater, higher human ideals and aspirations through the ups and downs, the dark and light of life throughout history.

Spirituality has given way to religiosity with its hierarchy and domination contrary to what the prophetic utterances state invariably in every scripture.

Being a Catholic/Christian minister/priest, the case of Jesus won’t be an example out of place. He dared to challenge the scriptures of his time when he announced, ‘… I have come not to destroy, but to fulfill the law.’ ‘It has been said to your forefathers… but I say to you…’ ‘Man is not for Sabbath, but Sabbath is for man…’ Over and above, he proclaimed, ‘I have come to serve, not to be served.’

Man is the measure of everything, for he ‘is created in the image and likeness’ of God. Anything which dehumanizes needs to be challenged and changed. Jesus came to give life, life in its fullness. [ a note for Msgr. Eugene H. Pereira for his class...]