The Relevance of Religion in Modern Techno World

From Infinity to Eternity
From Womb to Womb and still remain Anchored in Womb. The mystery of Universe and its creation is safely preserved in the Womb (Brahma).
The Beginning……..

Let us regress in space time….closer to evolution when Human form of life emerged. Ever since human learnt to think and reason, his primary quest remained to understand the process of creation. Why and who created the universe???? Who initiated the birth of living organism???? What is the position of Human form of life in the ever growing Universe? These are the philosophical questions Man asked and tried to understand the mystery of the Universe.
In the course of time, a new form of thought process emerged, parallel yet distinctly different. First time Man learnt to ask how and when? And Science…. was born.
It is in this age, Man evolved a culture based on two thought systems. Dharma (Religion) and Vijnan (Science) both walked hand in hand. One is Introvert (Subtle) dealing with the inner realm and the other is Extrovert (gross) dealing with the manifested material world. Both the systems are compatible to each other one provides inner Peace and Tranquility and the other provides Material Comfort and happiness.
Religion (Dharma) and Science (Vijnan) both endeavored to unravel the Mystery of Creation and came up with an answer with a subtle Unity.
Dharma (Religion) said it in a very poetic form…..
The Lord felt lonely and said….. Ako Aham Bahusyam (Let me expand into Multiple forms……..and ….Bang…. the Universe emerged…
Vijnan (Science) said…. For reasons unknown….. An axial clockwise spin took place in an Atom and massive energy was released with a Bang (Big Bang Theory) and the Universe was born….
Ever since the birth of Universe, Dharma and Science flourished like a twin brothers.
Let us examine their impact on Humanity right from the beginning till present age.
It is believed that about 1.9 billions years ago when the surface of our planet earth cooled and some form of life (the single cell or bacterial?) emerged.
Sanatan Dharma and Science more or less agree on this time period.
If we add up the time periods of all the three Yugas and partly Kali
Yuga that is still continuing and the period when the earth cooled
down and the first bacterial life emerged, we arrive at a figure close
to 1.9 billion years.
The real Space Time began with the emergence of life in Human form. In
Bhagwad Gita this event is referred to in the dialogue between Lord
Krishna and Arjuna when Lord said that this Precious knowledge (Divya
Jnana Gita chapter 4) He first imparted to Vivaswan (The Sun God) when the (intelligent?) human life form emerged. Vivaswan in turn taught it to Manu, the father of Human race and Manu taught it to his son Ishkvaku and it continued in succession.
Manu composed Manu Smriti incorporating the social code based on Divya Jnana. It clearly defined the social codes for the rulers and the ruled. It also included an elaborate teaching on human interaction within the family as well as the community at large. It is in this period people acquired the knowledge of farming, ranching and living in social group (village life).
The concept of Religion was unknown but the Code of Conduct that emerged in living with the familial and close social groups in harmony was known as Dharma (duty, obligation etc.) without any dogmas.
Religion is not the correct English translation for Sanskrit word Dharma. The ancient people of India did not refer to Dharma as Hindu Dharma limiting it to particular caste, tribe, race or Nationality. They named it Sanatan Dharma, the Eternal Code of Conduct for Humanity.
This is the period that is known in Indian Ancient History as Sat Yuga when there was total absence of ownership and therefore no hoarding of wealth in any form. Vasundharam Kutumbakum (Universe is one family) was the
underlying guiding force.
The Divine knowledge, the social code without ownership of resources,
(Prevalent in Sat Yuga) was lost as people mastered the art of cultivating land and farming the cattle and accumulating wealth.
This is the beginning of Treta Yuga that replaced the Sat Yuga and its
social code transformed into Material code and hence the hoarding of
wealth and division in community in accordance with the proportion of
wealth accumulated and the type of occupation.
The change in social code brought in the empire building culture. The whole social fabric was changed including moral codes guiding the interaction within the community. War and conflict for Land, Woman and Wealth acquired
honorable status in the community. It is in this period that the War
between Rama and Ravan took place and the epic of Ramayan was composed
to extol the glory of Moral Victory.
Now there is documentary proof available that the war between Rama and Ravana started on November 3, 7292 BC.
Ravan was killed on November 15, and the war ended.
The Treta Yuga gradually faded when Dwapar Yuga took roots with more
greed, debauchery, corruption and conflicts.
Dwapar Yuga brought fragmentation of homogenized community into
occupational divisions; and an elite class of Priest (Brahmins) emerged.
This class included the Teachers (gurus), Temple Priest, Spiritual
Advisers and Agnihotris (perform Yagnas and Havans) and so on.
In the course of time they recognized their power and indispensability as they were the only ones who had preserved the Wisdom of Vedas in memory. They were highly respected in the society.
In the course of time, the greed and power caught up with them and the
guardians of faith unleashed religious tyranny on unsuspecting society.
Vedic Religion was hijacked by the Priestly community to serve their
vested interest as the polity gradually lost the knowledge of Archaic Sanskrit the language of the Vedas. The whole society was hostage to horrendous Vedic
rituals. Nothing can move without the Priest performing some rituals
to let things happen. The power of Priest was so formidable that even the Kings could not escape from their grip.
In the course of time, the priestly greed and treachery permeated in the ruling class and the seeds of Mahabharat war were sown.
It was in this age, when the scourge of rituals subjugated the humanity,
the seeds for a change, a revolutionary change, were planted by
rebellious Rishis ( the then Intelligentsia) who opposed the Priestly Domination and futile rituals in day to day life. The silent revolution of Rishis gave birth
to Upanishads and a new philosophical insight in the wisdom of Vedas.
The composition of Upanishads reflected the non-dogmatic
interpretation of Vedas, devoid of rituals and reduced the grip of
Priestly domination.
This new school of thought also gave birth to ADVAITA Philosophy and defined the relationship between Atma and Paramatma
Fearing fatal reprisal from Priestly class, the movement remained
underground and anonymous for a long time.
It is in this age, the quest to unravel the mystery of Universe and evolution of life begun.

Parasher
To Be Continued