THE HINDU RELIGION
(Swami Ramarajyam)
Alexander reached India in 326 AD harbouring a desire to conquer the whole world. Porus ruled over the land lying between the Jhelum and the Chenab rivers, which is now in Pakistan.
A war was fought between Alexander and Porus. An incident in that war made Alexander change his attitude to life completely.
Alexander was taking rest in his army camp. His soldiers informed him that an Indian Sadhu was applying some medicines on the wounds of the soldiers of his army who, after being cured of their injuries in a very short time, were ready to fight again.
Alexander had heard a lot about Indian Sadhus. But it was really astonishing and unbelievable that an Indian Sadhu should render medical help to his soldiers. Alexander could not sleep that night and he kept pacing up and down in his camp.
In the morning, Alexander went to that Sadhu with an interpreter. The Sadhu was busy giving medical treatment to the soldiers of Alexander’s army. Alexander stood near the Sadhu who did not notice him initially. After some time, he cast a glance at him and resumed his work again. Some books were lying nearby and he was giving medicines after consulting those books.
For the first time, in his life, Alexander saw a man who did not stand up to show respect to him. He felt insulted but did not react. He kept standing there. After a little while he inquired through his interpreter, “Who are you?”
“I am a servant of God,” the Sadhu replied. “Do you give medical help to the sick?”
“No, I serve the living beings who are different forms of the one and the same God.”
“But why are you serving the enemy?”
“For me there is neither enemy nor friend. I am serving living beings, as I said just now.”
“It is beyond my comprehension,” said Alexander.
So far, the Sadhu had answered Alexander’s queries without looking up. Now he looked up.
A dead ant was lying near by. The Sadhu picked it up and asked Alexander to open his hand. Putting the dead ant on the palm of Alexander, he said, “Can you bring this ant back to life?”
Alexander said, “No.”
“If you cannot bring even an ant back to life, what right have you to take away the lives of so many soldiers in the battlefield?”
Alexander was dumbfounded.
The Sadhu said, “I want you to give an answer to my question.”
Alexander bowed his head.
The Sadhu said, “I am a Hindu. The Hindu religion is a religion of humanity. A Hindu loves all living beings. He does not discriminate between a Hindu and a non-Hindu, a friend and a foe. He loves one and all as diverse manifestations of God. Do you know the language of love?”
For a little while the Sadhu looked at Alexander steadily. Then, he said, “You know only how to take others’ lives. You do not know how to infuse life into the dead. What sort of bravery is it? Listen to my advice. Stop killing. Learn to love others. Give up fighting for good and go back to your country.”
Alexander said with folded hands, “I will certainly give up fighting and go back to my country, but you must accede to a request of mine. Please accompany me to my country and popularise your method of treatment there.”
God knows whether that Sadhu accompanied Alexander or not, but by teaching the lesson of love, he changed the pattern of his (Alexander’s) life.
Dear children, the Hindu religion is not simply a religion of a particular community called the Hindus. It is a way of proper thinking followed by actions in accord with it. It is a way of life which is based on the assumption that all living beings— not merely human—are different forms of God and which throws the treasure of love open to all.
