Hinduism has become a tribulation factor for rest of the religious conversion missionaries all over the world. In India, the Evangelic groups are taking every shot to their advantage that has been provided by our minority biased secular precept running parallel to the truthful definition of secularism as we understood from the lines written in our Constitution.
Also, the huge Muslim community with their ever expanding population has been playing extortion tactics to legitimise their bigotry, by keeping themselves in their own woven cocoons to accomplish their agenda. However, no taboo can be legitimised as a holy code, without the active support of the political parties, Institutions and the fourth estate. Then the hapless Liberal Intellectuals are left with no option, but to defend such fanaticism, bigotry, violence etc espoused by the community.
On the other hand, the majority docile Hindus have to bear this brunt. Hindu community though a huge majority in terms of numbers, would always remain at receiving end, as Hindus are not brought up in a ‘mob’ atmosphere. So our Gurus, Seers, Maharaj’s, Sadhus will always be docile and serve the rulers in good faith.
So in Hindu society, there is no saying closely meaning to ‘Miyan Ki Daud Masjid Tak’ This is self-explanatory.
This trend has further made the majority Hindus feel guilty though not guilty on the ground, for the reason of just being in ‘majority’. Hence it has become a moral duty on the part of Hindu seers to exhibit their solidarity and tranquillity too.
So an Iftar party for Muslims was hosted in Sri Krishna Mutt Udupi, by H H Vishweshateertha Swami of Pejawar Mutt.
‘In a first in the long history of Udupi’s famous Sri Krishna Temple, Muslims broke their Ramzan fast in an Iftar organised at Annabrahma Dining Hall in the temple premises on Saturday. According to The News Minute, over 150 members of the Muslim community had participated in the ‘Souharda Upahara Koota’ (harmony breakfast meet) held in the temple’. The Indian Express
On the menu were items like banana, apple, and watermelon. They were also served with cashew nuts along with ‘kashaya’ made of black pepper, at the dining hall. Vishwesha Tirtha Swami himself served the dates to the gathering and urged the members of different communities to live in peace and harmony.
“I had been striving to bridge the gap between the communities…..’
The pontiff further denied the charge that the members of the Muslim community were allowed to pray Namaz in the Mutt premises, but the members were allowed to offer prayers in nearby Bhojan saala’ (Dining Hall)
This gesture of the pontiff has received mixed reactions from the Hindu community. Many felt that Swami’s this good step may be conducive only if this is reciprocated by the members of the Muslim community.
It is also felt that such Iftar Parties can be hosted outside the temple or Mutt premises. Pejawar Mutt is meant to strive for the Hindus and if at all, for the upliftment of downtrodden among Hindu community living around. By allowing Muslims inside the Mutt premises, certain section of Hindus feel that it has hurt the sentiments of Hindus.
The very concept of a Mutt or Monastery according to Hermann Jacobi, Max Muller, Hermann Oldenberg and other scholars – The Jainism and Buddhism traditions adopted the five precepts first developed in the Vedic-Brahmanical traditions for monk life;
Do not injure living beings
Be truthful
Never take anyone’s property
Self-restraint (continence)
Be liberal
So, while the very sentiment behind the Mutts is non-violence, love and care for living beings, hosting Iftar Party inside the Temple precincts is certainly an act of embarrassment.
Mutts and Monasteries are intended to reform and impart good habits like resorting to vegetarianism, and practicing non-violence.
Hindu and Buddhist Mathas and Monasteries started thriving since two thousand years onwards in India much before the advent of Islamic invasion. The pursuit of moksha, monastic life, spiritual studies can be traced its roots to the 1st millennium BCE, in the Vedic tradition.
In further clarifying on the Iftar party held inside the Krishna Mutt, the pontiff said the members of the Muslim community were in fact taken to the ‘Bhojana saala’ (which is away from the mutt) for Namaz before breaking the fast.
The learned pontiff has missed out the fact that even the ‘bhojana sala’ is part of the holy mutt precincts. In Hindu dharma, ‘Food is considered as ‘Annam parabrahma swaroopam’ , for the better upkeeping of our body and mind known as ‘annamaya kosha’. So food in Mutts is prepared with utmost probity.
In Gurudwara premises, it is known as Langar
In Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, the holy kitchen is known as ‘Rosha Ghara’
In Hindu mutts the kitchen is known as ‘Dharma Shala’ and Dharma Satra’ (Chatra) where the community kitchen is built in conformity with vastu and food is cooked and served with utmost probity.
We sincerely hope that H H Vishweshateertha Swami of Pejawar Mutt may re consider before hosting such Iftar Parties in future, by taking in to consideration of views including dissent views as well, in as much as many Hindus are of the opinion that it should not become a precedent in future, which may cause severe discomfort for Hindu devotees of the Sri Krishna Mutt.