Discovery of God

DISCOVERY  OF  GOD

We need to go back to primitive times when human beings, fully evolved, began living on the earth. Since they needed water and food they had to live near rivers and forests where fruits, animals, birds and fish were available. They learnt from animals and lived together for security. They went to the forest, ate fruits and returned to their shelters on trees. Since they were few, society had no problems till an intelligent person thought of making a sort of “dona” by connecting large leaves and using it as  a storage device—a receptacle to bring more fruits so as to avoid going to forest again and again. Unknowingly a great social revolution took place, leading to conflict of interests. A race for collecting fruits ensued. Those left out began snatching or stealing fruits from others. Hence elders thought of curbing absolute freedom of individuals and imparting value system in society. In Vedic society about 4000 years back institutions of marriage, Rajas/ Maharajas kingdoms, assignments of specific duties to sections of society namely Brahaman, Kshtry, Vaish and Shudra along with rituals were created. These were described in hymns and samhitas for easy remembrance as writing did not exist till then. Much later Maharishi Ved Vyas compiled them in Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharv Veds. Veds included ritual manuals or brahamanas and the philosophical  texts or aranyakas. To enforce the values they made the strongest in-charge as per their observation of animal behavior. This worked for a long time. Since there were quite a few men of same strength the system faltered.      

Elders then thought of some one from outside to create fear in the minds for possible adherence to society norms. Obvious outsider was one above, whose actions were visible in lightening, rains, hail storms, light, darkness, tornados, snow etc. Each society gave its own name to Almighty above, eg, Bhagwan, God , Allah etc. He would be watching the actions of all persons both good and evil. They would be rewarded or punished accordingly. This worked very well for a considerable time, till intellectuals began asking questions as to how this Almighty could watch so many.

Intellectuals again in every society thought of a way to convince fellow beings. They propounded the idea of “soul” in their bodies which remained in touch with the Almighty without interfering with them in any way. In Vedic period Almighty was called “Parmatma”, i.e. greatest of all atmas – “souls”. This worked for ages, till intellectuals began doubting and desired to see physical Almighty. They questioned as to how souls without organic matter could store all acts good and evil.

Each society solved this problem in its own way. Jews and Christians described Jesus as son of God. Muslims told their followers that Holy Quaran has been dictated to Mohammed Saheb by Allah. Their followers were satisfied that Almighty was a physical being. Vedic society had a difficult time as their Parmatma was formless. By the time of Puranic phase chronicles known as Purans were created. They evolved a novel way of showing formless Almighty.  They took recourse to  great epics, the Ramayan and Mahabharat where Shri Krishna bestowed Arjun with ‘Divya Drishti ‘ , i.e. an insight into the mind and showed him the supernatural actions Paramatma does and not as Almighty is expected to be. Arjun beseeched Shri Krishna to take off the Divya Drishti as he could not bear the vision any more. Thus everyone was satisfied about the existence of Almighty above.

What lies in the future no one knows. Both intelligent reasoning and intensity in faiths may exclusively play crucial parts. But this is also certain that man being helpless, for attaining peace of mind needs some one to fall back on in adverse times. He feels that he is carrying out only His bidding. So be it. Almighty is needed.

Wisdom demands that intelligence and faith be combined and Almighty be imagined as residing in our minds to be contacted as and when  needed.