The Kanchi Shankaracharya made a big deal of settling the Ayodhya issue by calling the VHP and the Muslims and talking a few times – well, he ended up making a big fool of himself. The sants of Ayodhya call together a meeting for constructing the Ayodhya temple, and then keep meeting and keep meeting, but that is all.
In olden times, surely saints and acharyas were prominent advisors in the King’s court. The government was totally secular because the King had the option of accepting or eschewing the advice given. Thus, there was a clear demarcation between the state and religion. So even though the King had the liberty to practise religion, governance was free of it. That is why it was very easy for foreign communities such as the original Jews, Pharisees and Christians to maintain their identity in a predominantly Hindu state.
Today too, many politicians frequent ashrams and pay their respects to numerous acharyas – this is all good. The ministers seek the acharyas’ advice, which is given freely, as it should be when sought. And then of course the minister is free as whether to actually follow the advice or not. This is ideal.
But the Kanchi Shankaracharya crossed this fine line between religion and politics when he took the initiative to advice people who had not even sought his interference. He gave unsolicited advice, and sadly for him, there were no takers!
It is a well known fact that Christianity is a political religion and that Sunday services also impress upon the churchgoer which party to vote for around election time. But Hinduism is different and I’m thankful for that. I don’t want my priest to tell me who I should vote for. And I don’t want to vote for a person just because he is Hindu.
This is where even the VHP’s balancing act figures. It is a religious socio-political organization which is a very unnatural thing (so far) for any Hindu organization. The trick is to coordinate with the saints on the one hand and the governments on the other, but also to remember never to switch hands!
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Hi
Your blog was thought provoking. Your ideas has been echoed around the blog world.
for e.g. I’m not sure if the Kanchi Acharya is to blame in the scandal he has been pushed into.
My thoughts on the issue at ..
What is happening to the Kanchi Acharya ?
Gudia, a Muslim girl and Ramdev ji, a Hindu male !!
Regards
Vinayak
Hi Vinayak – very interesting articles you have there. I share your sentiments to a great extent, but being an animal rights person myself, I wonder if Swami Ramdev is abusing them.