Warakari Sect and Hindu Org warns to stage agitation against anti-Hindu ‘Anti-superstitions Act’

Press note published by Warkari Sampraday and Pro-Hindu Organisations

Mumbai : On one hand, Mr. Pruthviraj Chavan, the Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra is praying to Shri Vitthal for surmounting the calamity of famine looming large over the State and for adequate rainfall so that there is enough water and food for people and on the other hand, he is planning to get the anti-superstitions Act passed under which devotees can be put behind bars.

Press Conference of Warkari and Hindu Org against Anti Superstition Bill

Bowing before few atheists, if the CM shows such double standard and tries to pass this Act, all Warakaris, religious citizens, pro-Hindu organizations etc. will come on the roads to strongly oppose the Act. During last summer session of the Legislative Assembly, CM and Minister for Social Justice had promised that ‘the Act will not be passed without taking religious organizations and Warakaris into confidence.’ Despite this, if they want to pass this Bill without discussing the issue with these organizations, it is betrayal of Warakaris and pro-Hindu organizations. A warning was given in the press conference of staging agitation on 12^th July at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on behalf of Warakari Sampradaya, religious and pro-Hindu organizations to condemn the stand taken by the State Government and for permanent cancellation of anti-superstitions Act.

Press Conference of Warkari and Hindu Org against Anti Superstition Bill

The press conference was attended by H.B.P. Ganesh Maharaj Patil, the President of ‘Konkan Paay-dindi’, H.B.P. Bapu Maharaj Raokar of Rashtriya Warakari Sena, Mr. Shivaji Vatkar, the coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mr. P. P. M. Nair of ‘Kerala Kshetraparipalan Samiti’, Mr. Girish Shah representing Jain Organisations, Mr. Rajan Bunge, a representative of Sanatan Sanstha and advocate Veerendra Ichalkaranjikar, a legal expert. Maharashtra is the land of Saints who gave direction to people to follow the path of God realization while eradicating superstitions; but few atheists and unrighteous persons are trying to eradicate Dharma through the medium of the proposed Act. Unfortunately, Maharashtra Government is bowing before them. It was clarified that all religious, pro-Hindu, social and national organizations were against this Act and agitations would be staged at various places in the State.

As a part of this agitation, awareness will be created among people on the following points.

• To meet MLAs from all parties and explain to them the true nature of the proposed Act aimed at attacking Dharma,

• To submit signatures to the Government, collected from people who are against this Act so that it knows the magnitude of opposition to the proposed Act

• Distribution of handbills and recently published booklet sponsored by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, titled ‘Hindun chyaa Mulaavar Uthalelaa Prastaavit Andha-shraddha Nirmulan Kaaydaa (Proposed anti-superstitions Act to eradicate Hindus)’ to create awareness among people,

• Besides, display of boards all over the State on the said topic, sending protest letters to the Government etc. will also be undertaken.                                          

Obstacles that can be created for Warakaris due to the proposed Act

• 1. ‘Keertankars,’ who guide people on removal of problems like possession by ghosts etc. as explained in ‘Haripaath’, will be treated as offenders ! : Unparalleled holy books like ‘Haripaath’, ‘Dnyaneshwari’, ‘Gaathaa’ were created by Saints viz. Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram etc. for the welfare of people. There is guidance on removal of possession by ghosts etc. in these holy books, e.g. Dnyaneshwar Maharaj writes in ‘Haripaath (Abhang 11, verse 3), ‘Hari ucchaaran mantra haa agaadh, pale bhootbadha bhaya tethe (where God’s name is chanted, there is no fear of problems like possession, ghosts etc.) If under the proposed Act, remedies to remove problems like possession, ghosts etc. practiced for hundreds of years are going to be treated as offence; every ‘keertankar’ and ‘pravachankar’ from Maharashtra will have to face imprisonment.

• 2. Millions of Warakaris, who propagate about miracles of great Saints from their Sect, can be punished and holy books in which such miracles are illustrated can be banned : Many Saints from Warakari Sect, from Saint Dnyaneshwar to Tukaram Maharaj, have shown miracles (e.g. Saint Dnyaneshwar made a male buffalo recite ‘Vedas’ and he made an inanimate wall move so as to humble Yogi Changdev; ‘Gatha’, Tukaram Maharaj’s holy book which was drowned in River Indrayani, came up and started floating on the water etc.) There are many Warakaris, who describe these miracles to explain the greatness of Saints, will be considered as offenders under clause 2 of the proposed Act. Once this Act is passed, the holy books in which such miracles are described, will be confiscated for propagating miracles/ superstitions.

• 3. Millions of Warakaris, who undertake pilgrimage of Pandharpur on foot and undergo physical distress, will be offenders under this Act : Warakari Sect believes in the saying that ‘Paayi teerthyaatraa ghado, deh Santaapaayi pado (let me undertake pilgrimage on foot and let me surrender at Saints’ holy feet’ and accordingly, thousands of Warakaris have been going on pilgrimage on foot year after year, chanting the name of Shri Vitthal with intense devotion. Many of them walk for 21 days covering hundreds of kilometers on foot, forgetting their gross body, to have ‘darshan’ of Shri Vitthal on the day of ‘Ekadashi’. The tradition of worshipping in this manner has been followed for hundreds of years and there are hardly any complaints from them facing any physical distress or harm. Under clause 3 of the schedule in this Act, many Warakaris can be treated as offenders in case a complaint is lodged.

• 4. Act does not accept the elucidation on ‘extra-sensory’ power given in Saint Dnyaneshwar’s ‘Bhaavaarth Deepika’ : In ‘Bhaavaartha Deepika’, Saint Dnyaneshwar has given following elucidation about ‘Yogis’. It can be considered as an offence under clause 2 of the Schedule of this Act. ‘Tene kaarane mi boleen, boli arupaa che daveen, atindriya pari bhogaveen, indriyan karavi’ (bhaavaarth deepika (Dnyaneshwari) chapter 6, verse 36) Meaning : I will talk for this purpose as per such ‘Yoga’ that I will make everyone get things which are formless and experience things which are beyond our sensory organs.

• 5. Will the CM, who passes anti-superstitions Act, have right to go to Pandharpur and pray for fulfilling his wishes ? : If chief minister visits Pandharpur on the day of ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’ and pray for fulfilling of his wish, some activist of ANiS may demand even filing case against such CM for superstitious behavior. Then the government will realize its blunder of creating a ‘Bhasmasur’.