RELIGION DEVELOPS THE MIND
Jagadguru Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, says that it is religion which develops the mind. Our religion is closely linked with the way we live. He also clarifies that religious affinity is misunderstood by some people, who then start criticising it.
He also expressed his desire that every temple should be converted into a religious centre like Tirupati.
On 22/3/2003, on behalf of ‘Maalaichudar’, editor T.R.Jawahar interviewed Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal, who talked in detail of the activities of the Kanchi Matham now and in future. Details of the interview are as follows:
Question: Nowadays the Matham (Kanchi Kamakoti Matham), apart from spirituality, has to be involved in activities related to politics. What is your opinion of this? Can spiritualists be totally away from politics? If so, what services can they render? In what way does politics affect the Matham?
Answer: We have relation with the government; we have no relation with politics. We get involved in social services carried out by the government, but beyond the pale of politics; for example, rural health services, education, training in small scale industry etc. We encourage service to the public wherever it happens.
Q: Can you point out services rendered in coordination with the government?
A: We offer eye treatment through Rotary clubs. We offer free services in coordination with Lions Clubs, Central government, State government, world- wide non-political organisations etc.
Q: Critics of Hinduism generally point to the divisions in the religion. They exaggerate the superficial differences. Are there any efforts by the Matham to counter this and to unify Hinduism?
A: Differences exist everywhere. It is our desire that differences should come down and hostilities should disappear. While organising public services, we offer services common to all. For instance, artificial legs were fixed to many persons. We do not have even statistics of how many of them were from which religion, which class etc. We work for preservation of tradition and development of attitude to serve.
Q: The very mention of the city of Kanchipuram brings Sankara Matham to people’s minds. Kanchipuram is a place of historical importance and traditional significance. Your opinion of Kanchipuram?
A: Kanchipuram is a holy place famous in Puranas. Out of the seven Mokshapuris, it is the only one in the South.
Kanchipuram is the place where many religious traditions like Saivism, Vaishnavism, Saaktham, Jainism etc. Flourished. It was also well known as a centre of education. Even today education is important here. Apart from that, Kanchipuram is the closest city to Chennai in today’s perspective. As Chennai is beset with many problems, Kanchipuram stands a chance of growing into a big city in future. Kanchipuram’s present needs are being met now.
The metre gauge railway track is being converted to broad gauge and has also been electrified. There are chances for direct railway travel from Tirupati via Kanchipuram, Srirangam and Madurai right upto Rameswaram, once the track from Srirangam onwards gets converted to broad gauge. Hence Kanchipuram is quite likely to develop in future into a noteworthy centre of spirituality and education and a place which would act as a counter magnet to Chennai by relieving it of troubles of congestion. Kanchipuram therefore stands a chance of developing in all respects.
Q: The Matham is linked with politics in the last few years in public mind. Under the leadership of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, greater contact with politics is noted. What is your opinion?
A: The Matham has always been keen on public welfare. It is not recent awakening. Social service was done in earlier times too. When there were floods in Thanjavur district during British times, food was cooked and served to many people through the Matham. The then collector wished to meet Sri Acharya Swamigal.
Now we have good communication facilities. Sometime back, interest in spirituality waned in people. But today’s youth, officials and leaders realise the need for spirituality. Hence spiritual service is taken as national service and there is widespread activity in this field. Interest and activity in the spiritual domain were always there; they have now expanded.
Q: A common complaint voiced against Hinduism pertains to divisions - many Mathadhipatis, many sections like Saivism, Vaishnavism etc.; there is no unity among them; they do not consult among themselves. If Kanchi Matham acts to remove this drawback, Hinduism will emerge as a unified power!
A: Even before 1950s, Maha Periyaval (Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal) had visited Aadeenam for talks. He followed it up with organising and participating in a conference in Mylapore, Chennai in Karpagambal Kalyana Mandapam, in which many Mathadhipatis joined. He also assumed leadership of the service programmes that followed. It is possible for followers of many sampradayas (traditions) of Hinduism to share a fundamental unified view. Kanchi Matham has been making efforts right from beginning to spread bhakti in a unified manner.
Our Acharya Swamigal had consultations with Sri Andavan Swamigal (Sri Kannan Swamigal) in 1971 in Bengaluru. He has undertaken Padayatra. Kanchi Matham has enabled contact between Sadhus of the North with Mathadhipatis and Aadeenams of the South. The Matham has emphasised the need for unity and made efforts in this direction.
Q: What are the services of Kanchi Matham abroad? How does it function (in this respect)?
A: Our approach is two-pronged. One is in the domain of foreigners; the other is among Indians living abroad. To foreigners, Vedantic thoughts are explained. Indians live abroad for a variety of reasons. A website, www.kamakoti.org, has been started with the aim that these Indians, specially children do not forget our traditions, languages and habits and should preserve them. Video conferencing is done. Stotras with English meaning are published. Kanchi Matham is thus attempting hard to spread the message of spirituality abroad using all available opportunities in an appropriate manner.
Our website, www.kamakoti.org has a Tamil interface also. A Telugu interface has also been started. An information kiosk has been established in Kanchipuram for tourists to get desired information on touch-screen. Further, talks are on with the technology department to establish a scientific exhibition for visitors to utilise the time between 12 noon and 4 p.m., when temples would remain closed.
Kanchi Matham gives a lot of importance to national unity. At Gangtok, capital of Sikkim, Panchayatana Temple was constructed and Kumbhabhishekam was held on 10th March 2003 in the presence of Sri Acharya Swamigal. In the North-east, a temple was constructed at a cost of Rs.10 crores, together with an eye hospital (Netralaya). The services of Kanchi Matham are going on very well there in the fields of bhakti as well as social service. In Goa a Vishnu temple has been erected. Kumbhabhishekam for a Ganapathi temple there is scheduled for next month. In Andaman Islands too, preliminary works are going on; an establishment will function there also.
Work towards securing God’s grace in border areas has been taken up. In short, Kanchi Matham has been functioning with the aim of achieving national integration, security, national growth and spiritual advancement. In the field of spirituality, a new Pathasala is to be started in Kanchipuram. We propose to give good training there to Archakas, Gurukkal and Bhattacharyas in rural areas.
The government concentrates on secular education; no assistance is being given for religious education. Hence the public should extend help for spiritual education. It will be nice if the government could also help in whatever field it can. We intend giving importance to spiritual education and make efforts in that direction in future. We propose to offer spiritual education in two ways: one, full time and the other, part time.
Q: Are you requesting that the government should extend help for spiritual education?
A: Yes. The government as well as devotees should give importance to spiritual education. In the same way as donations are being given to temples, we should make suitable arrangements to facilitate the succeeding generations of the temple workers to continue their work, in the absence of guaranteed constant source of income for them. Many spiritual programmes are held in towns; but they are less in rural areas for want of facilities. The Matham aims to strengthen spirituality in rural areas.
Q: Everyone talks repeatedly nowadays of secularism. What is your opinion of secularism?
A: As far as we are concerned, one thing should be understood first. If religion is properly understood, it will be seen that it is not anyone’s enemy. If human mind grows, man will grow. Religion is meant to improve the mind. Spirituality and religion exist for improvement of mind. Our religion is linked closely with life. It is linked with nature. It exists in neem tree, peepul tree and on the bank of tank. As religion is way of life, it is not correct to hate way of life. Hence those, who wish to lead proper lives, should not hate religion. It is only those, who have misunderstood religion, who speak ill of being a religionist. Once religion is looked at as way of life, there is no fault in religiosity.
Q: Today there is two-pronged threat to Hinduism, India and Indians. One is Islamic militancy and the other is Christian missionary conversion. Both these are new to Hinduism. These two, not existing in Hinduism, are hitting us on both sides. Under the circumstances how, do you think, should Hindus face this issue? How should they handle it?
A: The government has the duty of facing and handling these two important issues. They should not rest under the impression that this is a threat to Hindus. This is in fact a threat to India. This will affect Christians as well as Muslims. Our country’s economy will also suffer. Unity is life. Hence everyone should be united in fighting this threat and not be indifferent assuming that it is a threat to Hindus alone. This is indeed a danger to mankind. None should think that this is a threat to a particular religion.
Q: What is your opinion on constructing new temples?
A: As far as we are concerned, we do not encourage construction of new temples in Tamil Nadu as there is no need. The idea is that the existing temples should develop into centres, where, for instance, Nadaswaram flourishes and Annadanam takes place. Every temple should function as a religious centre like Tirupati. The way facilities for devotees are provided in Tirupati, Veda Parayanam, flower decoration, Sahasradeepalankaram etc. take place there, in the same manner every temple should be converted into a Tirupati. Our wish is that in every village there should be basic facilities.
Q: If Hindus take measures for self-defence, they call it fanaticism and communalism. But when they are keen on religious conversion and such other activities, how should Hindus face it? How should they reckon with it?
A: This should be considered by the government; they should take far-reaching decisions courageously.
Q: Do you wish that all states should have an Act like the Anti conversion Act?
A: Social goodwill should be considered as a part of national security. Whichever party rules, the government should act on this basis. There has never been any hostility in India on the basis of spiritual activity. Only when people convert spirituality into a hostile force, disputes occur. There has never been any opposition in India to service and worship. Hence this matter should be considered by the rulers of the nation. Just as they have a common minimum programme for running the government, a common minimum programme and unified plan of implementation should be worked out among important political parties for running the nation.
Translated from Tamil by P. R. Kannan, Navi Mumbai