SIXTH DAY — Revelations about the Real name of the Religion of the people of Bharat and their Scripture? (1) The real name of the religion of the people of India (2) The name of the scripture of followers of Adi Sanãtan Devi-Devatã Dharma (3) Does Gita contain the Sermons of the deity Krishna or God Shiva? (4) Did the God-Sermonizer of Gita goad Arjuna for a violent battle? (5) Is it necessary to know who was the real Sermonizer of Gita? (6) The harms because of ignorance about the Sermonizer of Gita? (7) Why does a rosary contain 108 beads? (8) What efforts have we to make now? (9) Vaijayanti Mala or Rosary. 7 One Week Course 129 Sixth Day Revelations about the real name of the Religion of the people of Bharat and about their Scripture Brahma Kumari—You have, in your Introduction Form, stated your religion to be Hinduism. Seeker—Yes, why not? All of us are called the Hindus. Brahma Kumari—The inhabitants of Japan are called the Japanese. Should we, therefore, regard their religion as ‘Japanese Religion’? If the people living in France are called the French, should we consider the name of their religion to be ‘French’? This is wrong. Foreigners called the river Sindhu by the name ‘Indus’, and the people living on both the banks of the river and near about came to be called the ‘Hindus’, or ‘Indians’. This cannot mean that our religion draws its name from the name of our country. Should we adopt the name that others give to our religion? Do we not have our own name for our Religion? Do we know and adopt it or not? Generally, religion gets its name from the name of him who establishes that religion. For instance, religion established by Buddha is called Buddhism, and that founded by Jesus Christ is called Christianity. Or, it may be that the name of a religion is determined by its most important tenet. But, in no case is the name of any religion derived from the name of a country. Now you may consider a while that Buddhism was founded by Buddha and Christianity was founded by Christ, and you should then be able to say who founded what you call ‘the Hindu Religion’ and when. Seeker—No one knows who was the founder of this religion and when it was founded. They say that it has been there from times immemorial, though reason says that someone must have established it at some time in the past, but I do not know anything about this. 130 One Week Course Brahma Kumari—What a pity it is that we do not know the real name of the religion we profess nor that of its founder, much less his life-history and the time of its establishment! People who profess other religions know who founded their respective religions, what the founder’s life is and when it was established. For instance, the Christians know that 1996, years ago it was set up by Christ; they also know the events of his life. But, because our religion is the oldest, we have forgotten who the founder was and when he set it up, though it is worth one’s a while to think over the fact that it must have been established by someone at some point of time. Seeker—I also agree with you that even if this religion is as old as the beginning of Satyuga, it must have been founded by someone at some time. The real name of the religion of the people of India Brahma Kumari—And so, God the Supreme Soul and Supreme Father, has while giving us knowledge about the cycle of the world and the Kalpa Tree, to which this world is likened, explained to us that the real name of our religion is Adi Sanatan Devi-Devata Dharma. It is called Adi (Foremost) because it has existed since the commencement of Satyuga and it is called Sanatan (Ancient-most and eternal) because when, at the end of Kaliyuga, it is completely disregarded, God re-establishes it, and thus it does not suffer death even though the world meets destruction. The terms, ‘Devi-Devata are attached to this name to indicate that the first followers of this religion, i.e. the followers living in the first two epochs, Satyuga and Tretayuga, were so good as to be called ‘deities’. Their ways and habits were all clean and virtuous and they were equipped with divine virtues. All this I have already told you. Also I have explained to you that, in the transition period between the end of Kaliyuga and the beginning of Satyuga, this the best religion was established by Shiva, the Supreme Soul, through Prajapita Brahma. Seeker—Yes, I now remember you told me all this. But some people say that our religion is called ‘Arya Dharma’ while some others call it ‘Adi Sanatan Dharma’. One Week Course 131 Brahma Kumari—The term ‘Adi Sanatan’ points to time, i.e. to its antiquity. But the terms ‘Devi Devata’* is essential, because our ancestors, e.g. Shri Lakshmi and Shri Narayana, Shri Radha and Shri Krishna, Shri Sita and Shri Rama possessed divine qualities and sublime nature. In the Gita, God says that there are, in the world, two kinds of people, the divine and the satanic and that He puts an end to the community of the wicked and re-establishes a world of the virtuous. This is what is meant by the destruction of irreligion and the establishment of true religion. So, the real name of the religion set up by God was Adi Sanatan Devi-Devata Dharma. When we regard our ancestors, Shri Sita and Shri Rama, Shri Radha and Shri Krishna as deities, their religion obviously becomes our religion. Secondly, there is the fact that this name inspires us to cultivate, in ourselves, the same divine qualities that our ancestors were invested with, and also to act righteously, as, otherwise, it would be a shame to ourselves if we, who are affiliated to deity-religion, should take to devilish ways. Only those are to be called ‘Arya’ who are wise and good, though the term ‘Arya’, does not clearly express the degree or the extent of wisdom, goodness and nobility. On the contrary, one understands from the term, ‘Devi Devata’, how far or how much of purity and other qualities are indicated so that they come to be called: ‘deities’, i.e., they are not given to vices, they are not worshippers but are viceless and worthy of worship. Now-a-days, strangely enough, even those who are overpowered with anger or lust, declare: “We are Arya.” Of course the term `Arya’ is significant, but the term ‘Devi-Devata’ is more appropriate and more lucid. The places, where the idols of Shri Lakshmi, Shri Narayana, and Shri Sita and Shri Rama, are installed are called Devalayas or Devasthans, i.e., the temple of the gods. Hence, Devi-Devata is a more appropriate name. The use of the term ‘Devi’ before ‘Devata’, and of ‘Shri Lakshmi’ before ‘Shri Narayana,’ shows that, according to this religion, women held a high position. But, now-a-days, people do not know anything about the real name of their religion or about their scripture. By the way, do you know what is the name of the sacred book of your religion *It means; the First, Foremost and Eternal Deity-Religion. 132 One Week Course and whose gospels are there in them? Seeker—I think that the Upanishad, the Puranas and the six Shastras are our sacred books. Brahma Kumari—But, as a rule, every religion has only one scripture, which is a collection of the sayings or teachings of its founder. The Christians have one Bible, the Muslims their one Quran and the Buddhists have Dhammapada as the most important holy book of their religion. And why are there, in our religion, so many sacred books? Our religion was founded by God Himself through Prajapita Brahma. Will you tell me in which of these books is to be found the gospel of God? Only that book is our scripture which begins with the words: ‘Bhagwan says,’ and the name of which scripture proves that in it are to be found the sayings of Bhagwan (God Himself). Name of the Scripture of followers of Adi Sanatan Devi-Devata Dharma Such a one is only The Gitã, the name of which really is Shrimad Bhagwad Gitã, meaning: “God’s great utterances on knowledge.” God being the speaker, the phrase. Bhagwãn says’ is used in this book. Bhagwãn (God) says in The Gitã: “Whenever religion, which gives divine glory, is disregarded, I come into this world to put an end to irreligion and to reestablish True Religion.” But people of to-day know not the name of the religion that was established by God, i.e. by Bhagwãn, who is mentioned in the Gitã. Seeker—But, the sayings in The Gita are those of Shri Krishna Bhagwãn? Does Gita contain the sermons of the deity Krishna or God Shiva? Brahma Kumari—Keeping in mind all that you have been taught about God, the Supreme Soul, His name, form, abode, acts, etc.— would you consider Shri Krishna to be Bhagwãn (God i.e., the Supreme Soul), or to be a Devatã (a deity)? You have learnt that God neither is born nor dies nor is reared like a child, nor He has One Week Course 133 anyone as His father or mother or teacher, because He is Himself the Supreme Father of all, has nothing to do with experience of pleasure or pain and is above and beyond the sphere of action.