Arun Vaidyanathan is wrong to blame the Hindu religion for evils perpetrated by its followers. Hindism allows its followers 12 schools of philosophy. Hindus can be gnostic, agnostic, theist, atheist, monotheist or pantheist. How can such democratic religion be dogmatic? Caste/ Varna are not religious problems but social ones. Note that in Hindu religious teachings, Varna is flexible as is evident by episodes of Vishvamitra, a Kshatriya becoming a rishi; Ravan, a Brahmin becoming a ruler; Ram a Kshatriya eating fruit tasted by Shabri; Bhima, Kshatriya marrying jungle dweller Hidimba; Harischandra a Kshatriya becoming keeper of crematoria, a fisherwoman marrying a Kshatriya, etc. Varna under the name of caste is wrongly implemented by bigots. Hinduism is an alfresco religion worshipping forces of nature, e g sun, moon, wind, fire, water, sky, etc., thus needs no temples. Temples are post Buddhist creations by Brahmins to remind followers about Hinduism. Hindus must shake off inferiority complex and impress the general public about eternal, universal, and utilitarian values preached by Hindu religion as way of life.
Ramesh Jhalla
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