Guardians Of The Divine In Bangladesh

A video from violence-ridden Bangladesh recently surfaced showcasing the true spirit of Sanatana Dharma. The as-yet unverified video shows a Brahman or priest carrying his deity, wrapped in a simple cloth, away from the temple. This video shows how histroy repeats itself if one does not learn from it. It takes Sanatanis back to the time when Hindus risked it all to counter Islamic Butshikan Invaders.

Credits to X @sanjoychakra

However, the reactions to the video are varied and controversial. Some Islamists took to the comment section to mock the priest, questioning the strength of Hindu gods. Thankfully, to many, it is a desperate attempt by the Hindu Society to preserve and protect the sacred. However, this gesture is far from an admission of weakness. It reflects a profound truth: Hindus have always been the guardians of their deities, embodying an unwavering commitment to Sanatana Dharma. Let’s talk!

Faith Under Siege: Sanatanis In Bangladesh 

Today, Bangladesh’s Hindu community faces a nightmarish challenge. Their existence is being wiped out under an almost united global silence. Hindu temples are being targeted, looted, descarated, and burnt. Idols are desecrated by waves of Islamist violence. ISKCON temple, Kali Temples, and many other places of Hindu worship have an Islamic Bullseye painted on them. Hence, the recent video of the Brahman priest carrying his deity highlights the reality of the brutality faced by Hindus of Bangladesh. The priest’s action of taking away his Aradhya is not an isolated act of fear but a continuation of a centuries-old tradition of protecting what is sacred.

The mocking voices that speak disparaging about Hindu Deities needing protection fail to understand the depth of devotion that drives such actions.

In the face of overwhelming danger, such actions protect the divine spirit of Sanatana Dharma even at risk of life and limb. These are acts of defiance are a refusal to let the Islamic forces of hatred and ignorance destroy what is pavitra to Sanatana Dharma. Therefore, the priest’s actions in the video are a testament to the resilience of Sanatana Dharma. Thereby, proving its identity once more as a faith that has withstood countless attempts at erasure.

Guardians of Faith: A Historical Legacy

Hindu history is rich with examples of devotees risking everything to protect their deities. Meenakshi Jain’s Book FLIGHT OF DEITIES AND REBIRTH OF TEMPLES offers a poignant account of such an event. History knows that during times of invasions and iconoclasm, devout Hindus took great risks to safeguard their sacred idols. Priests, often at the risk of their lives and their families’ lives, relocated deities overnight to hidden locations to prevent their desecration.

This act wasn’t just about saving an idol; it was about preserving the very heart of Hindu worship.

In the 17th century, when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of the Keshava Rai temple in Mathura. The idol, made to resemble Bhagwan Krishna, was secretly transported by priests and Hindus in the dark of the night to Jaipur. Similarly, the deity of Ranganatha from the Srirangam temple was moved multiple times during invasions, highlighting the relentless efforts to protect these symbols of faith. These actions were not just about hiding statues; they were about preserving the continuity of worship and the sanctity of Sanatana Dharma.

An Unbroken Faith: The Eternal Flame of Sanatana Dharma

Sanatana Dharma is not a religion; it is the system of Dharmic beliefs, it is a living tradition – one that has survived because of the deep faith of its followers.

The practice of safeguarding deities is part of Sanatani history and is also its reality today. Sanatana Dharma is a symbol of this faith in the path of Dharma. Hence, it is not about the strength or weakness of the gods but about the strength of the faith that sustains them.

Some question if the Brahman is stealing. However, the priest is not hiding the idol in a suitcase or bag! He holds it lovingly in his arms and protects it in a bhagwa cloth in some corner of Bangladesh. Thus, his actions may not be of running away with his deity; he is protecting the very essence of the religion to which he devotes his life. His actions, and those of countless others throughout history, are reminders that Sanatana Dharma is a flame that burns in the hearts of its believers, a flame that cannot be extinguished by mockery or violence. 

The Modern World often misunderstands and underestimates the power of faith. Hence, the story of this priest and his deity serves as a powerful reminder of the unbreakable bond between the divine and the devotee in Hinduism. Thus, the gods may reside in temples, but their true abode is in the unwavering hearts of their devotees. 

THIS IS THE UNYEILDING FAITH OF SANATANA DHARMA