The Theosophical Society was an important cultural movement in India that influenced the religious and social life of the country. The word Theosophy is a combination of two Greek words. Theos in Greek means God and Sophia means wisdom. In Sanskrit it is called Brahma Vidya. The term theosophy was first used by the Greek scholar Iamblichus of Alexandria in the 3rd century. In modern times this term was used by the Theosophical Society.
A
Russian woman named Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was considered to be an expert in
ghost knowledge(spirituality). In those days, there was a lot of discussion
about ghost knowledge
in America and a gentleman named Colonel Alcott was deeply interested in this Knowledge.
Blavatsky went to New York, where he was introduced to Alcott and together,
they laid the foundation of the Theosophical Society on 7 September 1875. It
is said that there were some superior souls in Tibet who had contact with Mrs.
Blavatsky. She used to work under the guidance of these souls. These holy souls
further gave this message to them that you should come to India with your
organization. Complying with this order, Blavatsky reached Mumbai on 16
February 1879. Here
Arya Samaj gave him a grand welcome. As soon as they came, they started
thinking of a way to stop the propaganda of Christian missionaries and started
insisting that there should be a change in the education system of India and
the study of Sanskrit education should go on in a more important way here. In 1882,
the office of the Theosophical Society was moved to Adyar Madras. After a few
days Blavatsky went to England after becoming ill and did not return. His book
Secret Doctrine was published in England, after reading this Annie Besant was
initiated into the Theosophical Society.
The
objectives of this institution were as follows-
(1.)
To discover the laws of nature and to
develop the divine powers of man.
(2.)
To establish co-ordination among all
the religions by not giving patronage to the bigotry of any religion.
(3.)
To assist in the study of ancient
religion, philosophy and science which may be found anywhere in the world.
(4.)
To develop world brotherhood or world
recognition.
(5.)
To study and spread the religions and
philosophy of eastern countries.
Works of Annie Besant
Mrs.
Annie Besant was a highly educated, aristocratic, Irish woman. She came to
India on 16
November 1873
at the age of 46
and became active in the cultural movement of India. He contributed a lot in
spreading the work of Theosophical Society. She was Irish by birth but she
considered India as her motherland. He had immense love for Indianness, Hindu
religion and Hindu society. He believed that the future of India is linked to
Hindu religion and culture. Many scholars and leaders, influenced by his great
personality, joined the Theosophical Society.
1. Made
India as home
Annie
Besant believed that she was a Hindu in her previous birth. That's why as soon
as he came to India, he painted himself completely in the colour of Hindutva
and adopted Indian dress and food. She used to roam in Hindu pilgrimages. He
spent most of his time in Kashi where he established the Central Hindu College
which later developed into the Hindu University. The pundits of Kashi gave her
the title of Sarva-Shukla-Sarasvati.
2. Service
of Indian Culture
While
living in Banaras, he wrote the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata and
translated the Gita. He gave powerful speeches in favour of Hindu religion and
culture. Service of Hindu religion by Mrs. Annie Besant the most important work
of Hindu religion. Raja Rammohan Roy and Swami Dayanand emphasized on the
worship of formless God and denied idol worship, incarnationism, pilgrimage,
fasting rituals and mythological things, but Annie Besant, while recognizing
the importance of Vedas and Upanishads, idol worship, polytheism, yoga,
reincarnation, Through Karmavad, Tirtha, Vrat, Gita, Smriti, Puranas, Dharma
Shastras and Epics etc., supported the holistic form of Hinduism in a logical
and scientific manner.
3. Hinduism
the future of India
She
often used to say this in her speeches- 'Hinduism is the soul of India,
Hinduism is the soil in which India's roots are buried. If that soil is
removed, the tree like India will dry up. India has no future without Hindutva.
Only Indians and Hindus can protect Hindutva. There are many religions, many
castes that find shelter in India, but none of them have reached the past of
India. None of these have the guts to keep India alive as a nation. Even if
each one of these vanishes from India, India will remain India, but if Hindutva
vanishes, nothing will remain. The welfare of the world can happen only with
the awakening of Hindutva.
4. Planting
self-pride in Indians
When
Annie Besant came to India, English educated Indians had started losing faith
in Hindu religion and culture. At such a time, Annie Besant took the initiative
to revive Indian ideals. Annie Besant himself travelled to Hindu pilgrimages.
He travelled to Amarnath barefoot and entered the temple after bathing in cool
water there. Seeing an English woman doing this, it got stuck in the mind of
Hindus that their religion is not inferior to other religions but is superior.
Annie Besant translated the Gita while living in Kashi, wrote short
commentaries on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Praised the importance and
glory of Hindu religion and culture in front of the people of Europe and
America. When the English educated people of India heard the glorification of
Hindu religion and culture from the mouth of an English woman, they started
re-awakening their faith in their religion. Annie Besant's speeches instilled a
sense of self-respect among the Indians.
5. Scientific
explanation of religion
The
Theosophical Society believes in monotheism. According to this- 'The basis of
the development of mankind is the divine plan of development, and all religions
are different forms of this plan. That's why there can be no conflict between
them. There is no conflict between religion and science. The followers of this
institution believe in the fruits of action and reincarnation. According to
him, after death, the soul is reborn according to his deeds and he enjoys the
fruits of his past deeds. Their aim is to develop brotherhood among all classes
of the world.
6. Interference
in Indian politics
Annie
Besant changed his field from religion to politics in 1914 AD. She joined
the Home Rule Movement launched by Lokmanya Tilak. In 1917, the Madras
government put Annie Besant under house arrest, but due to the strong public
agitation, the government immediately freed him. She was elected to the post of
President of the Indian National Congress. As an active member of the Congress,
she did an important job of awakening political consciousness in India. The Theosophical
Society established schools, colleges and hostels at many places. This
organization did the work of social reform by protesting against evils like
child marriage, bride-groom-selling, untouchability etc.
Evaluation
The
work of the Society not only strengthened the religion and social reform
movement, but also gave new life to the national movement. No Hindu has done as
much work as Mrs. Annie Besant has done for Hindu awakening. Gandhiji has
written about him- 'As long as India is alive, the services of Annie Besant
will also be alive. He had accepted India as his birthplace. Whatever he had to
give, he offered it at the feet of India. That's why she has become so dear and
revered in the eyes of the people of India.
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें