Post by Amritha Varshini on Nov 3, 2013 4:07:53 GMT 5.5
IMMORAL LAWS - MISFORTUNE OF OUR NATION (Article from Kalyan Magazine translated to English by Sri P.R. Kannan (prkannanvashi@yahoo.com)
Sometime back it has been stated in a judgement of the Supreme Court that if unmarried boy and girl live together like a married couple, then, from the legal point of view it cannot be termed a crime or an act of illegality. This is called ‘Live-in-relationship’ these days. Citing Article 21 of the Constitution it has been stated that every citizen of our nation has individual freedom and full right to live life as he/ she likes. Hence if boy and girl live together even without getting married, it is not illegal in the eyes of the law. More recently a judge of Madras High Court has stated in a judgement that in case there has been physical relationship between unmarried boy and girl, then they will be regarded as married and their offspring could inherit their wealth.
In accordance with this judgement the rituals observed in the presence of Agni and Devatas are not needed; even civil marriage registration is also not required. Marriage attended by nothing but passion, arrogance and lust will naturally be treated as complete from the legal standpoint.
This kind of judgement from the Supreme Court in our land of Bharat is beyond imagination. In Indian culture and even in other religious traditions, unbridled freedom and relationship of lust between boy and girl has never been accepted. This is called evil conduct and fall from moral standards. Those who indulge in this type of activities have always been treated as having committed serious crime and subjected to punishment. Today evil conduct, corruption and immorality are spreading fiercely in our country; all are alarmed; even then attempt is being made to treat them as permissible in law. If this is not deception, what is it?
In truth marriage is a samskara (ritual of consecration), on completion of which the life of householder (grihastha) commences. As per our Sastras, the relation of husband and wife continues across many lives and aeons. This is not just limited to this world, but has other-worldly connotation too. If man faces sorrow in his life it is the result of his sin; if he experiences happiness it is the result of his religious merit. Indulging in wanton lusty behaviour and having physical relationship is categorised as terrible sin. This has been given the name of adultery. This is a kind of stigma for the individual and the society. If holding this immoral behaviour as legal is not the misfortune of the nation, how else can it be described?
Even in times of British rule the laws for Hindus were generally not opposed to Sastras. But after attainment of freedom, laws, which are contrary to dharma sastras and driven by self-will, have been enacted and the result is in front of us. The practice of divorce after marriage has now spread; this was never the case among Hindus earlier. In our Sastras remarriage of women is totally prohibited. Abortion is treated as a great sin; it was a crime fit for punishment in the eyes of law earlier. One who indulged in abortion was punished as per law; now it has been made legal under the laws of family planning. The result is that abortions are now conducted openly in the country. Abortion of female foetuses is specially on a large scale and as a result there has been a shortage of girls. The government and the public are both worried on this account; if all this is not sin, what else is it? In addition to such individual sins, there are social sins too, as a result of which calamities and accidents occur in the country. Today life of individuals is increasingly becoming complex and troubled. Life has become full of fear due to social evils like violence, kidnapping, suicide etc.
All this is in fact the impact of Kaliyuga. Sri Veda Vyasa in Puranas like Srimad Bhagavatham and Sri Tulasidas in his Sri Ramacharitamanas have described all that will happen in Kaliyuga; all this is coming to pass. But this is just the beginning of Kaliyuga; only a little over 5000 years have elapsed since its start whereas the span of Kaliyuga is 4,32,000 years. No one knows what will happen in the future.
If we desire happiness and peace, we should not neglect the traditions of our Indian culture and Sastras. The helmsmen in charge of the nation and responsible judges of courts of law should ponder over this seriously and avoid making of laws contrary to dharma sastras. It is only then that we can protect our culture and the future of the nation and society would be bright.
Sometime back it has been stated in a judgement of the Supreme Court that if unmarried boy and girl live together like a married couple, then, from the legal point of view it cannot be termed a crime or an act of illegality. This is called ‘Live-in-relationship’ these days. Citing Article 21 of the Constitution it has been stated that every citizen of our nation has individual freedom and full right to live life as he/ she likes. Hence if boy and girl live together even without getting married, it is not illegal in the eyes of the law. More recently a judge of Madras High Court has stated in a judgement that in case there has been physical relationship between unmarried boy and girl, then they will be regarded as married and their offspring could inherit their wealth.
In accordance with this judgement the rituals observed in the presence of Agni and Devatas are not needed; even civil marriage registration is also not required. Marriage attended by nothing but passion, arrogance and lust will naturally be treated as complete from the legal standpoint.
This kind of judgement from the Supreme Court in our land of Bharat is beyond imagination. In Indian culture and even in other religious traditions, unbridled freedom and relationship of lust between boy and girl has never been accepted. This is called evil conduct and fall from moral standards. Those who indulge in this type of activities have always been treated as having committed serious crime and subjected to punishment. Today evil conduct, corruption and immorality are spreading fiercely in our country; all are alarmed; even then attempt is being made to treat them as permissible in law. If this is not deception, what is it?
In truth marriage is a samskara (ritual of consecration), on completion of which the life of householder (grihastha) commences. As per our Sastras, the relation of husband and wife continues across many lives and aeons. This is not just limited to this world, but has other-worldly connotation too. If man faces sorrow in his life it is the result of his sin; if he experiences happiness it is the result of his religious merit. Indulging in wanton lusty behaviour and having physical relationship is categorised as terrible sin. This has been given the name of adultery. This is a kind of stigma for the individual and the society. If holding this immoral behaviour as legal is not the misfortune of the nation, how else can it be described?
Even in times of British rule the laws for Hindus were generally not opposed to Sastras. But after attainment of freedom, laws, which are contrary to dharma sastras and driven by self-will, have been enacted and the result is in front of us. The practice of divorce after marriage has now spread; this was never the case among Hindus earlier. In our Sastras remarriage of women is totally prohibited. Abortion is treated as a great sin; it was a crime fit for punishment in the eyes of law earlier. One who indulged in abortion was punished as per law; now it has been made legal under the laws of family planning. The result is that abortions are now conducted openly in the country. Abortion of female foetuses is specially on a large scale and as a result there has been a shortage of girls. The government and the public are both worried on this account; if all this is not sin, what else is it? In addition to such individual sins, there are social sins too, as a result of which calamities and accidents occur in the country. Today life of individuals is increasingly becoming complex and troubled. Life has become full of fear due to social evils like violence, kidnapping, suicide etc.
All this is in fact the impact of Kaliyuga. Sri Veda Vyasa in Puranas like Srimad Bhagavatham and Sri Tulasidas in his Sri Ramacharitamanas have described all that will happen in Kaliyuga; all this is coming to pass. But this is just the beginning of Kaliyuga; only a little over 5000 years have elapsed since its start whereas the span of Kaliyuga is 4,32,000 years. No one knows what will happen in the future.
If we desire happiness and peace, we should not neglect the traditions of our Indian culture and Sastras. The helmsmen in charge of the nation and responsible judges of courts of law should ponder over this seriously and avoid making of laws contrary to dharma sastras. It is only then that we can protect our culture and the future of the nation and society would be bright.