Tuesday, May 24, 2011 10:24:09 AM (IST)
Udupi: Dalits' Conversion to Buddhism Adds No Benefits to Status –
Pejavar Swamiji
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, May 24: "In my opinion, becoming Buddhists will not offer any
added benefits for the dalits. If we exclude the dalits, the
population of Buddhists in India is meagre. Hence, I don't foresee any
marked shift in the state of affairs of dalits after they change their
religion. They will continue as they are now," felt Sri
Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt.
He was reacting to a programme being organized by Dalit Sangharsh
Samiti in association with other organizations here on May 24, in
which over 2,000 dalits are scheduled to desert Hinduism and embrace
Buddhism.
"What do you get out of this conversion, as far as the issue of
untouchability is concerned? This will destroy the dalit culture that
has come through tradition, which will be a loss for the dalits," he
opined.
He said he does not mind the dalits joining Buddhism, as it is a part
of Hinduism. He added that he welcomes the dalits becoming Buddhists
instead of getting converted into Christianity, Islam, etc, in the
interests of nationality and Hinduism. He observed that aspects like
worship of idols, belief systems about sin and good virtues (Punya),
heaven and hell, rebirth etc, which the intellectuals refer to as
superstitions, exist in Buddhism too. The Swamiji offered to ordain
the dalits into Bhaktiism (devotional path) or Vaishnavism (devotion
to Lord Vishnu) under two different categories, one in which there are
no strictures except the chanting of hymns, and the other, in which
they are barred from consuming liquor and non-vegetarian food. In the
first category, they will be equal to any other Hindu, while in the
other, they will get elevated positions. In both cases, they will be
able to get rid of untouchability tag, he analyzed.
He invited those who want to get this Deeksha, to inform the manager,
Sri Pejavar Mutt, Vijayadhwaja Mandir, Udupi, to enable the Mutt to
fix a suitable date for their admission into these sects under
Hinduism.
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