| Essence Of Hinduism |
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HINDU THEISM |
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| It is marvellous
how amidst the conflicting claims of tribal deities and the clashing interests of
different religious units and the confusing details of local customs and ceremonies, the
integrity of the Upanisadic revelation is maintained. Out of the process of assimilation
that went on for centuries in the Hindu fold we have developed two characteristically
Hindu doctrines, viz., those of Adhikara and Istadevata. The doctrine of Adhikara means that the religious teaching that is imparted to a man should vary with his spiritual competence. It is worse than useless to teach abstract philosophy to a man whose mind hungers for concrete gods. A laborer and a scholar require two different types of religion. So instruction should be carefully graded. For instance, as we shall see, the highest teaching of Hinduism regarding God is that He is a suprapersonal Spirit both transcendent and immanent and that He is present in every soul. But this is a truth, which will do no good to an ignorant peasant, for he has not the Adhikara to imbibe it. Similarly, Sarmnyasa or a life of renunciation and prayer is not for a young man who has his duties to discharge by his family and his country, but for a man in the last stage of his life after he has discharged all his duties. So the ideal that has to be placed before a man and the doctrine that has to be taught to him will depend upon his Adhikara or spiritual fitness. |
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| About Hindu Theism |
