RELIGIOUS FACTS

RELIGIOUS FACTS

Mankind for ages have been believing in some supernatural power ruling this Universe; and they were also interested in knowing about this Power and its influence on themselves. This is the reason for the development of many different religions in the world. For example, the religions of ancient Egypt, the Babylonian’s, the Hittites, the cult of the sun god called Mithraism, Manichaeism (which saw life as a conflict of light and darkness), the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Celts, the Scandinavians, the Tentons, the religions of the Incas, Mayas and Aztecs.

Asia is the birthplace for many more religions. In the Middle Eastern countries there were Egyptian, Babylonian, Roman and Greek religions in which many gods and goddesses were worshiped. In Palestine, there were the religions of Israel namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The Indus valley religions are the Dravidian religion, Aryanism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, the six fold religions of south India namely Saivaism, Vaishnavism, Gowmaram, Ganapathyam, Saktham and Sowram, and in some places traces of Zoroastrianism. It was when the white people who invaded India, they brought all these religions together and named it as Hinduism.

DOCTRINE OF TRINITY:

The doctrine of trinity was envisioned in different angles in Hinduism. When the trinity was explained as Father, Holy Spirit and Son in Christianity, some Indian Sages envisioned the Holy Spirit in a female form. According to this group, in a family, if there is a father and a son, naturally there would be a mother in between them. So, they envisioned the Holy Spirit as mother or Sakthi or Power and they explained the trinity as Appan (father), Ammai (mother) and Mahan (Son). They also explained Siva (which means love), Sakthi (power) and Kumarakkadavul (son of God) as Somaskanda. Somaskanda is a Sanskrit word (Sa+Uma+Skanda) which means God who is with Uma (Mother) and Skanda (Son). These are known as Saivaism and Saktham.

Immediately another school of thought emerged. According to it, since a virgin gave birth to a Son by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit must be of male form, and he was envisioned as Vishnu. They explained all the three in the trinity (Father, Holy Spirit and the Son as Mummurthy or Thirumurthy) in male forms. This has developed into Vaishnavism.

While Saivism denoted Holy Spirit as Sakthi (female form); Vaishnavism denoted Holy Spirit as Vishnu (male form). The root word for Vishnu is Vinn. Vinn and Vaan refers to the sky or firmament. Trinity is explained in Vaishnavism as Siva, Vishnu and Brahma.

If the left half of Siva’s body is portrayed in female form (Sakthi), he is known as ‘Arthanarieswara’ and if the same left half of Siva’s body is portrayed in male form (Vishnu), he is known as ‘Harihara’. Since the left half of Siva’s body is portrayed in male as well as female form, it clearly shows that the left half of Siva’s body is the metaphorism of Holy Spirit in two different angles.

The Son of God is envisioned in four angles in Saivaism and Vaishnavism. The victory over Satan is explained in Kumarakkadavul (Son of God) concept; Death and resurrection is explained in Ganapathy concept; His power of creation is explained in Brahman (creator) concept; Seeing Son of God as the light of the world is explained in Aiyappa concept. People visit Sabarimalai to see light (Mahara Jyothi) in the Aiyappa worship.

Trinity in the Six Fold Religions: Out of the seven names mentioned above, six have developed into Six-Fold Religions. Saivaism (Father, Mother and Son), Saktham (Siva, Sakthi and Son), Gowmaram (Siva, Sakthi and Son as Murugan), Ganapathyam (Siva, Sakthi and Son as Ganapathy), Vaishnavism (Siva, Vishnu and Son as Brahma), Sowram (Siva, Vishnu and Son as Aiyappan). The Brahman concept has been corrupted by Aryanism.

Trinity in Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism: In Judaism (God, Spirit and the Word), in Christianity (Father, Holy Spirit and Son) and in Buddhism (Dharma Kaya, Samboga Kaya and Nirmana Kaya). These similarities have been one of the most consistent factors in human history, and as the Tamil Saint Thirumoolar says “One God and one humanity” may be God’s plan for mankind.

Every religion has its own distinct divine qualities. All religions firmly believe that their sacred scriptures are divinely inspired and have come directly from the Supreme Being. It can also be seen that, most of their traditions, customs, beliefs, practices, conventions, rituals, observances, habits, institutions, usages and praxis are similar in spite of the large socio economic disparities between the developed and the under developed countries across the world.

The Bible consists of both Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament, which was written before Christ, contains commandments, laws, rituals, religious practices and festivals. In addition, the Jewish people were following some traditions, which were passed down through Abraham’s descendents. We may be surprised to know, that most of these Old Testament rituals and Hebrew traditions are being practiced meticulously by many people even today.

PLACES OF WORSHIP:

In the beginning, God allowed mankind to build altars for offering sacrifices. Noah and his descendent Abraham and his descendent Isaac, all had built altars to God. Gen 21:33 even Abraham planted a grove in Beer-Sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. In the midst of it Abraham built an altar, and sacrificed to the Lord. These very same practices are being followed in India even today.

While on a journey, Jacob slept for the night by keeping a stone as a pillow and dreamt, seeing angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder set between earth and heaven, and the Lord stood above it and blessed him. Next morning he took the stone, set it up as a pillar, poured oil over it, and named it as Bethel (house of God). This is not new to East Asian countries like India. In India everywhere people can find a stone big or small anointed with oil all over, and it serves as temple for them and they call it Shivalinga.

Exodus 24:17 The appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. This is the sight that every one in our country is eagerly awaiting to see, on fourteenth of January every year on the hills of Guruvayur.

God told Moses how to build a tabernacle for Him. The design was from God. God’s temple cannot be built by the intellectual capacity of man. God himself is the designer and architect for His own temple.

During King Solomon’s time, God commanded him to make a temple in Jerusalem. Both the tabernacle and the temple of God had a courtyard, holy place and most holy place. Only the high priest was allowed to enter into the most holy place. In front of the Holy place was an altar for burnt offering, and a water tub. A pillar was in front of the altar for the purpose of tying the sacrificial animal before it was actually sacrificed. Inside the Holy place on the left was the lamp stand and on the right a table with bread and then there was the incense altar and the covenant. Likewise in every Hindu temple whether big or small there is always a pillar and then an altar and the court yard, holy place and most holy place. And again only the high priest is permitted to enter the most holy place. Almost item for item the same.

In the Bible, all the dimensions (1King 6:2-3) for the house that King Solomon built for the Lord, including the type of windows of narrow lights (1 Kings 6:4) were specified by God. 6:5 against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made chambers round about. 6:8 the door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber and out of the middle into the third. In Hindu temples, the same can be found in the towers of the temple. The steps are on the right side and the winding stairs are there up to the third chamber. The windows are narrow and in large Hindu temples, there are chambers round about the walls of the temples.

1 King 6:18 the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers. All works in Hindu temples are carved with beautiful flowers and pictures. 6:22 the whole house he overlaid with gold…the whole altar he overlaid with gold. Almost all rich Hindu temples have golden altars and coverings. 6:29 all the wall of the house were carved with figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers within and without. Every Hindu temple has carvings all over the walls with cherubim in Indian style.

1 King 6:31-35 for the entrance of the oracle he made doors and doorposts of olive wood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. On them, he carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work. Similarly, the oracles of all Hindu temples have fully carved double doors.

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES:

Vow: Num 6:2-8 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, when either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazarite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body. At the end of vow the Nazarenes shall shave the head at the door of the tabernacle (Temple) of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings”. People from our country follow the same type of rules and regulations during their period of vow.

Enquiring the Priest: Judges 18:4-5 And he said to them, “This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest”. And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed”. In the same way the people of our country enquire from the priests, when they are required to take some major decisions in their life.

Trishool: 1Samuel 2:13-14 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This very same three-pronged fork was also used for the purpose of positioning the sacrificed cow upside down on the altar for the burnt offering. In India, ever since the sacrifices have been stopped, the meat fork with three-headed spear is kept erected near the altar in front of the temple. This has now become “Trishool”.

Threshold: 1Samuel 5:1-5 When the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod into the house of Dagon (Deity of the Philistines) and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the Ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the Ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. That is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. This very same practice exists in our country also.

Trespass offerings: For having captured and brought the Ark of God into their country, the Philistines were smitten with tumors and their land was ravaged by mice. 1Samuel 6:4-5 And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. We can see this type of guilt or trespass offerings being made in our country also.

Thanksgiving: Lev 7:12-13 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. In thankfulness for some special mercy received, such as recovery from sickness, preservation in a journey, deliverance at sea, redemption out of captivity etc. Similar offerings are made by Indian people even when they make any special eatables in their homes.

Temple on high Places: Ezekiel 20:40 “For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord God, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings. Micah 4:1 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. 1King 14:23 For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree. Similarly all over this country people build temples on the mountain tops and under big trees.

Lamp Stand: Exodus 25:31 “You shall make a menorah of pure gold. Of hammered work shall the menorah be made, even its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. Zechariah 4:2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. Zechariah 4:10 “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth”. This type of lamp stands are a must in every Indian homes as well as temples.

Incense: Exo 40:5 And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. Exo 40:27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Lev 16:13 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony. Burning incense and putting curtains are a common sight in India.

Animal Sacrifice: The Satpatha Bramana written during the second part of the Vedic age is one of the important scriptures. It holds an authentic part of the Veda by various Sutras (doctrines). This Bramana is closely related to Yazur Veda. Yazur Veda deals with sacrifice (Yagna) describing in detail the ritual and actual killing of animals especially the Aswa (horse) sacrifice. The great Shankara and Ramanuja recognize the practice of animal sacrifice.

Mahavir Jain preached against God and sacrifices. He started questioning, “why should an animal be killed in the name of God”. Many people followed him and thus Jainism came in to existence. Siddhartha was a prince near Nepal. One day, he saw an old man, a dead body and a sick man. This made him to think about his life after death. He went away from the palace leaving his wife and child in search of truth and peace. He followed the teachings of Mahavir. He became Gowthama Buddha. Gowthama is his race and Buddha means teacher. During this time except for Chera, Chola and Pandya Kingdoms, India became a Buddhist country.

Exodus 29:36 and every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Also you shall purify the altar, when you make atonement for it, and shall anoint it to consecrate it. In the Old Testament Bible, God wanted the people to make burnt offerings, meat offerings, sin offerings, trespass offerings, peace offerings, food offerings, consecration offerings and so on. The same God told the people that He is not hungry of such food and that he will not eat the flesh of the bull and drink the blood of goats Psalms 50:8-13. Again, in the book of Isaiah God says that He is not delighted in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of the goats, and they should not come before Him with such offerings Isaiah 1:11,12.

It appears strange but actually God wanted to make people understand that all animal sacrifices are just shadows for the real sacrifice of God Hebrews 8:5;9:23;10:1. The Satpatha Bramana says: “Yagnova avati tasya cchaya kriyate”, which means all animal sacrifices, are shadows.

Viboothi: In the Bible, God told Moses to bring a red heifer without spot and kill it as a sacrifice for the Lord. Her skin, her flesh, blood and dung shall be burnt. This ash will be mixed with water and will be sprinkled on the body of the people, for the purpose of purification from their sins Num 19.

During the Vedic period, three different sacrifices were in practice. 1. Nara (human) medhya (body) yagna (sacrifice), 2. Ko (cow) medhya yagna, 3. Aswa (horse) medhya yagna. For Ko medhya yagna, the cow should be a red one. Even today, if a Brahmin wants to do some ceremonial duty in his house, he will look for a red cow and do pooja before it. The sacrificial cow has now become a sacred cow, because cow is no longer sacrificed by law. Therefore, people burn only the cow’s dung and they collect these ashes and mix it with water and apply it on their body or generally on their forehead as “Viboothi”.

Passover: Exodus 12:7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it”. Exodus 12:12-13 “For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt”.

To deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of Egyptians who were refusing to let them go, on the day of Passover, God instructed Moses to mark the main doors and the top and the two side posts of every Israelites houses with the blood of the lamb, which was to be sacrificed by each family. These very same markings with the red powder can be seen in every Indian house even today, hoping that death will pass over their houses.

Bronze vessels: In addition, to collect and store these ashes, several types of vessels were used. In the Bible the Lord told, “you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its fire pans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze” Ex. 27:3. Similarly in the Indian temples also, all these vessels are made out of bronze.

Scape Goat: Lev 16:7-9 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron (Priest) shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, Lev 16:21-22 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

This Azazel is the name of a place some 12 miles east of Jerusalem, in the wilderness. The form of this word indicates intensity, and therefore signifies the total separation of sin: it was wholly carried away. These goats are the ones found in the forests even now.

Garments for the Priest while offering sacrifices: He should have his undergarments from the waist to the knee while offering sacrifices to the Lord. The priest should mention the name of the family and then sacrifice. He should wear an engraved plate on his turban saying, “Holy to the Lord” Ex 28:31-43. Similarly, the Indian priests also wear a piece of cloth from their hip to the knee over their clothing. When the people bring their offerings to God, he always asks them on whose name should it be offered.

Garments for the Priest during Worship: Lev16:4 Aaron the high priest shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall put them on after bathing. Lev 8:7-9 And Moses put the coat on Aaron and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate and the holy crown. Almost similar dressing is followed by Hindu chief priests as well.

Ringing the Bell: In the Bible, the priest, should be wearing the robe with golden bells so that, its sound shall be heard as he enters the holy place to minister the Lord and comes out of it. In the Indian temples also, when the priest goes inside the holy of the holiest place for prayer, he makes the noise of the bell and comes out with the noise of the bell.

Ever Burning Lamp: Lev 24:2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. Lev 24:4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the Lord continually. As it is required by the Bible that a lamp shall burn continually before the Lord, we see in the Indian temples also a lamp kept burning all the time.

Offer with Salt: Lev 2:13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. Because of the commandment that every food offering shall be seasoned with salt, it has become a practice to keep salt first at the time of feast.

Holy Ground: An angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush which was not being consumed on the mount Horeb. When Moses wanted to go near and see why the bush is not burned, God commands Moses, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” Exo 3:5. The reverence due to holy places thus rests upon God’s own command. The custom itself is well known from the observances of the temple, it was almost universally adopted by the ancients, and is retained in the East.

Kumba Melas: The ritual of dipping in holy rivers by devote Hindus in our country is done with the hope of cleansing oneself from his or her sins. This has been the practice in the bible and it is known as water baptism. Mat 3:6 And they were baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Mar 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. They were to repent, and be baptized in reference to the remission of sins. Repentance prepared the soul for it, and Baptism was the type or pledge of it.

SOCIAL PRACTICES:

Drunkenness: Lev 10:9 “Drink neither wine nor strong drink, you nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation that you don’t die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations”. Most of the educated and the uneducated Hindus do not drink nor smoke when they go to temple. Even an alcoholic will stay away from alcohol if his family goes to the temple.

Menstrual impurity: Lev 15:19-20 “When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days. Hindu women sit outside the house during their menstruation period at least for three days.

Virgin bride: Lev 21:13 you shall take a wife in her virginity. In India whether Hindus, Muslims or Christians they would like to marry a virgin only. If a young girl looses her virginity she will not be married by anyone. Even after the marriage if the husband finds his wife lost her virginity, he would not like to live with her anymore. This culture is from the Jewish religion.

Law: Lev 24:17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. Num 35:30 “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. This is followed almost in every country.

Holiday: Exo 31:15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Sunday is being observed as weekly holiday throughout the world based on this bible principle only.

Ornaments and Dresses: Isaiah 3:18-24 …ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, the chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, the rings, an nose jewels, the changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. Women in our country are crazy for jewelry, ornaments and dresses and we see the Indian women wear all the above type of ornaments and fashionable dresses.

Inheritance: 1King 21:1-3 Ahab king of Samaria wanted to purchase the vineyard belonging to Noboth, But Naboth said to Ahab “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” Num 36:7 The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Naboth would gladly oblige the king, but he must obey God rather than men. He looked upon his earthly inheritance as an earnest of his lot in the heavenly Canaan, and it is for the same reason in our country also, people would not give up their inherited property so easily.

Pandals: Leviticus 23:40 And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. Nehemiah 8:15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” In India also, during festivals, marriages and other functions we can see arches, pandals made out of different type of tree leaves as a mark of happiness. Sometimes a mourning arch with willow leaves is made to grieve for the loss of a loved ones also.

Rings, Bindu and Thayathu: Exodus 13:8-10 You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. Deuteronomy 11:18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Pro 7:3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. This is what we see as rings in the fingers, thayathu in the hands and as round marks in between the eyes of the Indians.

Washing the feet: John 13:5 Then Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Since it was the work of a servant to wash his master’s feet, Peter, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” for which Jesus answers, John 13:14 if I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. This is being practiced in our country, whenever a priest or a Mahaan visits our house, as a mark of respect.

FESTIVALS:

The Jews have many festivals to celebrate. The harvest festival, festival of atonement and festival of light are some examples. Indian Hindus celebrate such festivals too.

The festival of Sivarathri is celebrated by keeping a vigil throughout that night to thank god who had saved a hunter, who lost his way in the jungle. The Bible says that the Lord kept a vigil on the day of Passover and delivered the people of Israel from Egypt. In remembrance of this day and to honor their Lord, the Israelites in turn keep a vigil on this night every year.

Sukkoth (feast of tabernacle/booths) “pilgrimage festival” with mass pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. Tents/Booths made out of different type of tree leaves were constructed to remind Israelites of the life in wilderness. Yam Kippur (day of atonement), when they offer sacrifices for sins of the nation. Similarly every family in India undertake a pilgrimage to their family god or goddesses once in a year and make tents made out of leaves and fulfill all the rituals including sacrifices to please their deities.

Hanukkah is the festival of lights celebrated for eight days, one lamp on the first day, two on the second, and so on - in commemoration of the triumph of the Jews over the Greek rulers in 164 BC, and the miracle of the flask of oil, when a portion of sacramental olive oil meant to keep the Temple candelabrum lit for one day lasted for eight days, the time it took for the Temple to be rededicated. Similar festival is celebrated in India as Deepavali.

Singular Divine Savior:

Thus, one can see easily, that there are lots of identical traditions, customs, rituals and beliefs in both Old Testament Christians and Indians. This might have been due to the invasion of the displaced migrants from the land of Palestine to India, because of the resettlement of Jews permitted during the time of Cyrus the King of Persia in 536 BC. Above all, it appears that God does have a singular plan that unifies different cultures and fulfills the promises, which He has made known to diverse people, having heard the cry of every sincere seeker throughout the ages. Even cultures separated by huge passages of time, share common revelations about God and His singular plan for the salvation of mankind. The most common repetitive themes are monotheism, the effects of sin, and the concept of a singular divine Savior.

Religion and spirituality are distinctive. Research on Soul and spiritual happiness are the aims of spirituality. The persons responsible for the formation of world religions such as Buddha, Mahavir, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed were all expounders of Spirituality and were against religions. Therefore they were persecuted by religionists. Jesus Christ was the most persecuted among all. He was murdered. Not an ordinary murder but He was tortured and killed. The instrument used for that purpose was the cross.

The words which proceeded from His mouth while He hung on the cross declare Him as an epitome of spirituality and as a Spiritual leader and the revealer of spirituality to the world. Therefore his spiritual teachings are widely followed in all countries of the world. The good news about Him happens to be an exemplification of what true spirituality is.

TRUE SPIRITUALITY:

What are the true spiritual perceptions he revealed on the cross? At the height of his physical suffering, his Divine love prevails. He does not fear those who kill his body; he pities them and prays for them. The common human temperament is to think of persecuting in return for persecution. The state of doing evil to those who did good is different. It can be enumerated as a demonic state. Good human state is not to repay evil in return for those who did evil. It is related to a divine state.

Jesus Christ revealed that divine state on the cross. Rig Veda 5.46.1 says, “Like a horse I have yoked myself, well knowing to the pole. I seek neither release nor turning back”. Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

1Peter 2:23 when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to the Father who judges justly. He makes efforts to comprehend them even though they schemed, conspired and hung him in that torturous killing instrument. He grieves for those who persecute him as they are unable to perceive that which must be perceived. He is most concerned that no evil must befall on those who do evil out of ignorance.

This concern is the concern of spirituality. It is here that revelation of spirituality originates. No spiritual leader desires the destruction of any soul. There arises a state where spiritual leaders are bound to save the souls from destruction. The very words of Jesus Christ on the cross reveals to us the fulfillment of that responsibility. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” These words which reveals Jesus Christ as the spiritual leader have penetrated the hearts of many in the world and that has cleansed their hearts and is a medicine that heals and make them pure.

Spiritual truths are different from the religion that supports those truths; and religion is different from religious fanaticism which is perceived as safeguarding the religion. Hence Spiritual truth, Religion and Fanaticism are distinct from each other. To comprehend these spiritual truths one need to have the spiritual eye or the third eye opened. Fanaticism shuts up this third eye. Therefore Religious Fanaticism is contrary to spiritual truth; Spiritual truths exist in all the world religions. Spiritual truths are related to soul and God. God is common to all men and universal to all religions.

Saying that he belongs only to a particular religion is a statement of those who are ignorant of spiritual truths. Because, we have already seen that spiritual truths and religion are distinctive. Therefore there arises a difference between those who reveal spiritual truths and those who follow religion. Religious extremists begin to deplore those who reveal spiritual truths. Hatred turns to hostility and hostility to violence. Fanaticism murders spiritualists.

Jesus Christ and all His original disciples, except for John, who revealed divine spiritual truths were murdered. Even today, many are being martyred for teaching the truth of God’s incredible purpose. 1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.

In the name of Jesus Christ who divulged spiritual truths, a group evolved and that group transfigured into a religion. The divine spiritual truths which were expounded by Jesus Christ are being slammered in Christian religion. Like all religions, Christianity also has become one among the existing religions.

Christian religion is claimed of not only possessing the divine spiritual truths of Jesus Christ but also as one which directs all men to attain spiritual liberation or salvation. If the question is asked whether the spiritual truths of Jesus Christ and the examples set forth by the Christian religion deserve this claim, the answer is no. Then it becomes obvious that Christ and Christian religion are distinctive.

There are no divisions in Christ. But there are divisions in Christian religion. When we take a deep look at the religious denominations and view it in spiritual luminance history reveals us that all these divisions were formed as a result of departing from spirituality. These religious denominations not only have their own religious doctrines but also have different traditions, beliefs and customs resulting in detest and hostility towards each other.

Therefore a person following Christ is distinctive from that following Christian religion. Following a religious denomination is still different. God is common to all people in this world. Jesus Christ, son of God is also common to all mankind. The spiritual emancipation of Jesus Christ is universal and essential to all men of the world. But, Christianity is suffering because of being entangled in racial, lingual, cultural, national, religious and denominational fanaticism.

Spiritual warriors like Paul Yanke Chow who was instrumental in transforming his people for Christ are now desired. These spiritual warriors are to be free from religious bindings. Let God awaken spiritual warriors. Once when the missionary E. Stanley Jones met with Gandhiji and asked him, “Mr. Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is that you appear so adamantly reject becoming his follower?” Gandhiji replied, “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ. If Christians follow the Christianity of Christ, the whole world would have become Christians.”

GOD’S PLAN FOR INDIA:

This country is a land of special blessing by God with all the natural resources like forests, rivers, full of rich minerals with hills and valleys with all the four seasons bringing bountiful harvests of fruits, vegetables and grains. In addition, it is covered by a long coastline, with bountiful sea wealth. Above all, most of us in this country are very simple, innocent, pious, god fearing, loving and may be gullible people.

Inspite of all these, it will be shocking to know that more than fifty percent of our people are living in abject poverty without sufficient food, without proper clothing, without proper shelter, without proper job, sick and disabled not being cared for. If we earnestly try and analyze the reasons for these predicaments, we might be led to believe that, it is due to our social evils like caste system or the epidemic like corruption etc. Actually, the root cause is found in, Isaiah 42:8, I am the Lord: Jehovah is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. We must dread to touch God’s glory. Our God is a jealous God and He will not share His glory, not even a small percentage of it with another.

Exo 20:3-5 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.

Jehovah, a name expressive of his self-existence, eternity, and immutability; a name by which He made Himself known to Israel of old, and which is peculiar to Him, and does not belong to another, and so distinguishes Himself from all other gods. I am the first and I am the last. Isaiah 48:13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. John 5:23 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue, spoil with none to say, “Restore!” Heb 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. A light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Jesus says, “the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. Heb 2:15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Act 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me”.

Isaiah 49:9-10 saying to those who are bound, Go forth; to those who are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water he will guide them. Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

John 8:32 “Know ye the truth and the truth shall set you free“. If we understand and experience this truth, we will really be free indeed. John 10:9-11, I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus declared that, “I and my Father are one, and I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through me”. He is the sole manifestation of God in this earth which the ancient sages were longing to see. The very fact that the Jews crucified Him was because, He claimed Himself to be God. But the fact that He rose again on the third day after His crucifixion goes a long way to prove His claim, not to mention the number of recorded miracles He performed which are all historical facts. John 3:16 “For God so loved the people of this world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”. It is a profound plan that everyone in this country can own and enjoy for eternity.