Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth — Page 104
HINDUISM manifests Himself in human form. He does not have to employ a messenger to fulfil this task. . The case of the ancient rishis who are said to be the recipients of the Vedas is different. "Rishi” is a Hindu term for a religious divine who severs all ties with the material world and submits completely to the will of God. Despite the fact that the Vedas are believed to be Divine teachings, there is no clear account of the rishis having received revelation as a well-defined verbal message. The question whether the inspiration of rishis can genuinely be entitled as revelation will perhaps forever remain moot. What we know from Hindu sources is based entirely on their belief. . Although different ages are mentioned by different scholars, they are unanimous in their claim that the rishis are the most ancient of all human beings. . This description of Hinduism is in all probability born out of human fancy. Man always interpolates, misconstrues or misappropriates Divine teachings after the prophets have come and gone. No wonder then that the messages of the. Hindu prophets were also distorted by the future generations of those who followed. When we suggest that the Vedas must have been interpolated, we do not mean that all the Vedic teachings underwent a complete manmade transformation. This is never permitted to happen to. Divine scriptures by God. There is always retained some of the original truth, untouched and unadulterated. It is in the light of this that a careful study of every religion at its source is always rewarding. A careful scrutiny of the source material of Hinduism reveals it to be no different from other Divinely revealed religions in fundamentals. . With a slight twist in the kaleidoscope, the perception changes dramatically. Enough evidence can be presented from the Mahabharat and Bhagavad Gita that Krishnaas never claimed Godhead for himself, nor did he ever claim 104