The BJP has successfully leveraged Ram Mandir to effect a fundamental restructuring of Hinduism, which has no ecclesiastical order, absolutist establishment, governing organisation, or binding holy book. All of this could change. https://thewire.in/religion/reading-into-bjp-rsss-structural-assault-on-hinduism-and-the-advent-of-hindu-vatican
Firstly, the BJP is leveraging the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra to effect a fundamental restructuring of Hinduism. Currently, Hinduism has no ecclesiastical order, absolutist establishment, governing organisation, or binding holy book. It has many sampradayas (traditions), which consist of monastic orders of the Vaishnava or Shaiva traditions, which have their own akharas, ashrams and mutts. Then there are countless temples and temple trusts, the most prominent being the chaar dhams (four ancient pilgrimage sites) and the 12 jyotirlingas (revered shrines dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva).
The BJP, which infiltrated and misused many of these to further their politico-ideological goals, is now projecting the Ayodhya Temple as India’s Rashtriya (national) Temple. In this imagining, akharas, ashrams, and mutts will be reduced to franchises of BJP’s Hindu-Vatican.
23/01/2024