The Sacred River of India and the case of Super Spreader

After thousand are dipping in the holy water of Ganges river in a week-long festival, India has become the super-spreader of Covid, many have been tested to be infected by Corona Virus. "The Pandora Box was opened", and now the wave of virus has coming even more stronger than before. We might shocked and scratching our head, but what we can say? From historic, cultural and religious perspectives, Ganges River was important. The name Hindu itself was coming from the invaders to describe the people on the territories of the Indus (Shindu, a Sanskrit word for a large river), or we can say Ganges river. Moreover, Ganges river is considered to own a healing power. This holiest river in India, the great mother earth (Devote often chant, Ganga Mata Ki Jai! "Victory to Mother Ganga") that was trusted to heal people. Their sin and various deceases. Why not the same for Corona virus? Thus, the action of dipping was reasonable in religious framework of thinking even for some, will considered by outsiders as madness or insane. In addition, the vaccinations that has been applied to a large crowd, and the narrative of "herd immunity" also play some part in moving people to commit the ritual dipping without fear or hesitation. 

Victor Mallet in his work River of life, River of Death have shown how the most sacred river in India was crucial for the survival of India, "If Ganga dies, Indian dies, if Ganga Thrives, India Thrives." The life and death even the life-after death circle is related to this river. In order to reborn in heaven, they need to dip in the river (In fact, some people carry vessels of Ganga's waters and moisten the lips of the dying). So why people need to be afraid of infecting each other with a tinny and microscopic things that can only harm them with a possibility of death? Thus, death is never be an issue, the hope of healing is the one of the main concern and perhaps, that's logic behind the act (Despite maybe people perhaps are already tired off lock-down and pandemic that seems to strenuously locked their social activity). 

Some article in several years discussing about whether religion with its superstition baggage is harmful. We cannot deny that every part of culture have their own myth and superstitions. Some of them are bringing countless harmful and undesired outcomes. But what is superstition? The basic definition of superstition from standard American heritage dictionary put this way, "...an irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influence its outcome, or a belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance." Irrational is the vital and main essence of superstition and often time, even contradict what the basic belief of religion itself. 

Apparently, educated Hindu have a greater sensibility and wisdom, to think through again some of the most basics religious teaching and culture and not compulsively act without any conviction, this is what they should do, following the track of their religious belief. We can called them as Neo-Hindu group as opposed to orthodox Hindu. Apparently, Hindu and Indian tradition cannot be generalized. In Hinduism, the basic principle is that there is no monolithic tradition of Hinduism that we can say, this is what Hindu actually taught. There are various tradition, ranging from Mystical up to Philosophical. That is why they are called as Sanata Dharma, which can be translated as immemorial. To put it more precise, truth is clouded with mystery and not static is always the element of Hinduism. The inclusive nature of Hinduism, enabled Hinduism to embrace myriad varieties of inner religious tradition which often seemingly contradictory. 

In Hinduism there are two strains of practice. Those who are Veda's adherent will emphasize the ritual and practice whereas of Upanishad's, reject ritual and practice. Upanishads is more philosophical and embrace the full way of knowledge. Although in practice not all rituals are been rejected (contextualized and reformulated) by Upanishads strain and adherent, still they are not bound to the full act of ritualization like Veda's devotees. It is actually fallacy to argue and make conclusion that religion cause people to act unreasonably. To say that is to paint the whole brush to the whole and larger religious tradition as for example of  the case of super-spreader in India, because of religious ritual and tradition, during the Kumbh Mela Festival, in Haridward India. 

In the same manner,  history we can see how science also have been proven to causes death of many people because in medical practice (trial and error) with human as their guinea pigs for medical experiments. Harm in general can possibly seems to come from religion (ritual, tradition, doctrine) but never essentially derived from it. It is uneducated religious people who exploit religion and hence become extremely fanatics and extremists, that give religion a bad name in the public eyes, generally speaking. Every wise religious people, will also consider context in which they are practicing their belief, there are recontextualization than merely applying the text face values otherwise, there is no need for any religious teacher. We can see the religious leader like Swami Avdheshhanand, urged devotes not to gather in large numbers during pandemic outbreak. In fact, the elections in India intensifies the spread of the virus. Thus, religious ritual is not one and only to be blamed for the case of super-spreader. 

Looking larger beyond Super-Spreader case that create a mockery toward religion, still today, we cannot deny that religion, specially Hinduism, has impacted lot of areas in the world, globally through Literature, philosophy, art, fashion and many more areas. As we have seen here, there are many positive output from the oldest religion in the world that has been brought throughout history of human civilization! 

 

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