Udupi: Pejawar seer offers ‘deekshe’ for Dalits

By Subhas Marne
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 24 May 2011: Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said on Monday that Dalits had very little to gain by embracing Buddhism.

 

In a release here, the swamiji said he welcomed the Dalits embracing Buddhism from the viewpoint of Hinduism and nationalism. Because Buddhism was a part of Hinduism.

 

Converting to Buddhism was better than getting converted to Islam or Christianity.

 

But the Dalits would not gain much in terms of eradication of untouchability by embracing Buddhism. Besides Dalits, there were hardly any followers of Buddhism in the country. There would not be much change in the status of the Dalits if they embraced Buddhism.

 

Instead of embracing Buddhism, the Dalits would be giving up the gods, goddesses, and deities, whom they had worshipped for so long.

 

The Dalit culture, which had a long tradition, too would get destroyed. Just like Hinduism, Buddhism too believed in the concept of heaven, hell, sin, and reincarnation, which were an anathema to the intellectual class.

 

Instead, he (the swamiji) was ready to give “Bhakti Deekshe” or “Vaishnava Deekshe” to the Dalits. This “Bhakti Deekshe” could be divided into categories: ordinary religious initiation (“samanya deekshe”) and special religious initiation (“vishesha deekshe”).

 

Under ordinary religious initiation, people need not give up consumption of meat and alcoholic beverages. There were no rigid rules. They could chant simple “mantras”.

 

Although the Constitution was against untouchability, some forms of untouchability were still being followed in the country.

 

But by opting for the ordinary religious initiation, a person would not become an untouchable even according to the Hindu religious texts (“Dharma Shastras”). Such a person would enjoy the same status as other Hindus. This would help in eradicating untouchability in religious and social spheres.

 

But under the special religious initiation, people would have to abstain from consumption of meat and alcoholic beverages.

 

They would enjoy a higher status than the Hindus who consumed meat and alcoholic beverages.

 

Those interested in these religious initiations may contact the Manager, Sri Vijayadhwaja Mandira, Pejawar Math, Udupi on 0820 - 2524198 or 2526598.