Pristine Jainism : Passive Pseudo Devotion (Bhakti)

The barbarian invaders inflicted so much atrocities and cruelties that the entire social fabric, its cohesion, social and religious values were almost completely shattered. Shambhaji son of great Maratha Chatrapati Shivaji, who rebelled against his father and joined mugal army commander Afzal Beg has given a hoary picture of cruelties of mugal armies. He has written that from wherever the mugal armies passed, they destroyed burnt villages after villages, slaughtered cows, children, raped women. Seeing these armies coming, people would run helter skelter, try to hide in forests, creeks or wherever possible leaving not only material assets but also their near and dear ones, sons, daughters, wives, sisters, old parents and infirms. In such situation the main concern was own survival as happens generally during fire in a house or village as a first reflex action. The civilised society of the country could not believe that human beings could be so cruel. The pessimistic concept that none is ours also has its genesis in these situations. It is against the principle of symbiosis enshrined in tenets of Jainism. The defence system was completely broken as different small and big rulers were fighting amongst themselves and rather helping the invaders against each other. People at large were so aghast that they did not think of any possible remedy and became so passive and inert that they could not think of doing anything but indulged in pseudo superstitious devotion of various gods and goddesses, praying that these super human being would come and help them. Some individuals or groups of valiant young men who took courage and fought were later on deified and worshipped e.g. khetrapals being worshipped almost in all villages must have been such brave young men who would have come out of villages to fight invaders and died at outskirts. There are several recent examples of such deification. Karnimata of Bikaner was a pious lady who helped poor and down trodden, ailing persons, succeeded in reconciliation between two warring states. After her death people started worshipping her not to emulate her good qualities but in illusive hope that she would come and help them. Rani Gangabai, Jeen mata, Bhatiani Rani etc. are all such examples. The earlier good personalities Rama, Hanuman, Krishna, Durga, Vaishnodevi, and others were likewise really good persons who did a lot for society. To worship these personalities out of reverence is justified only if it is to remember their good deeds and ideals they practised and preached but it is gross superstition if worship is done in hope that they will come to eradicate miseries of people or help or bestow worldly favours. Any student may recite devotional songs of Hanuman, Ram or Krishna all twentyfour hours but he will not succeed in examination unless he studies his textbooks. But people by and large are superstitious; they want good fortune in life without good deed and action (Karma). The pseudo-devotional rituals are getting more and more popular because of inert attitude and misconception. There are vested interests of selfish pseudo saints and scholars who mislead gullible people and encourage rituals. It requires efforts to do good deeds (Karma) and if people are misled that they will get their wishes fulfilled only by performing rituals and spending money they succumb to the temptation. There are people who will not even perform rituals themselves but give money to professional performers (Purohits) as if religion is a marketable commodity to be purchased by money. Singing of devotional songs, reading Ramayana, Hanuman Chalisa, Moksha Shastra, Bhaktamar or others is of little consequence if the intent is only to read or recite as a mere ritual and not to follow the good preachings and code of conduct mentioned in them.