How Deification Of Buddha And Mahavir Took Place

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 12 January 2023 I fully agree with the erudite editor Mr. Sultan Shahin that the deification process might end up turning Muhammad into a god which's not desirable or acceptable as he was a human being. He cited the example of ironical deification of Buddha who's now god to his followers and is called Bhagwan Buddha! This is indeed ridiculous. Buddha didn't believe in god/s, heaven and esoteric beliefs but ironically himself became a god to his followers. Buddha and Mahavir ------ But at the same time, a distinct difference between Semitic and Eastern consciousness should also be taken into account. Buddha rejected the hierarchical (read Brahminical) Hinduism that deified everything. In the words of Iqbal, 'Tujh Se Pahle Ajab Tha Jahan Ka Manzar/ Kahin Ma'abood Thay Patthar Kahin Masjood Shajar' ( The world was weird before you, Allah/ Stones were being worshipped and people were genuflecting before trees: Shikwa). Buddha repudiated all and also pooh-poohed all Vedas. That's why, Buddha was called a Vednindak, Dharmnindak and Ghor Nastik (courtesy, Pind Paribhasham, circa 1st century). He was not an Agnostic/Skeptic or a Sanshyatma but an outright rejecter of anything divine. Early Hindus (read Brahmins) called him Pritrim (enemy of god). Mind you, he was evolved and he could do away with the very idea of god and godhood. But his followers, almost all erstwhile Hindus and Dalits, were not so enlightened like him. They had a juvenile and primitive notion of god/s and deities that was engrained in their psyche. In other words, their consciousness accepted carved and graven images of god/s. And here this man (Buddha) was saying that there was no god and nothing was worth-worshipping! Isn't it so difficult for commoners to have no belief in any celestial power? The same happened simultaneously in Jainism. By the way, Jainism and Buddhism are roughly coeval faiths. Mahavir of Jainism was just like Buddha (some scholars even believe that either of the two existed!). He too challenged the Vedas and disdained ritualistic Hinduism. He believed in Kaivalya (philosophical ex nihilo: nothing comes out of nothing). Can you believe, for the first 4 centuries of Jainism (it's 2,600-yr-old), the followers of Jainism worshipped the back posture of Mahavir and regular facial icons of Mahavir began to appear only 2200 years ago (Read Dr Bimal Krishna Matilal's ' A non-idolatrous mind ' OUP, 1972 and Kedarnath Pandey aka Rahul Sankrityayan's 'Devatva-viheen Dharm', 1965)? The followers of Mahavir were also erstwhile Hindus or non-denominational idolaters, who had the perceptions of idols deep down in their system. So, Buddhists as well as Jains started idolising Buddhas and Mahavir as a collective percolatory nature (from their erstwhile faiths and beliefs) and started calling them gods because general mind cannot be non-idolatrous. You've to have an image to believe in. This is a common human proclivity and no human is completely non-idolatrous in the broadest sense of the word. Tell me, what's a Kaaba, a Sang-e-Aswad or a mosque? These are all images to focus on for Muslims. Agreed, Muhammad is not to be adored as he was a human. But an occasional painting is no felony. As I mentioned in my last essay, did his paintings in mid-13th and 14th centuries turn Muslims into worshippers of Muhammad? Drawing a picture of a personality or photographing him/her (in modern context) is a natural human tendency. Going hyper or paranoid over a mere painting of a so-called messenger is the weakness of your belief. Those who believe in Allah will continue to believe in it. A painting cannot dislodge or dissuade them from their unflinching belief or dilute it. All humans need an earthly manifestation to relate to. This is known as Necessary Alternative Dimension (NAD) in the parlance of Theology. Whether you believe in the idol of Shankar (though I've a zero faith in such things) or have a casual look at Muhammad's rare painting, your ultimate faith (or no faith) does matter. All the more important is your humanity and your duty towards mankind. All your Allah, Muhammad, Jesus or Moses are subservient to a pure heart. By the way, my Iranian professor of Persian mysticism had two paintings of Muhammad. I saw them but the learned and devout professor never bowed to Muhammad and remained loyal to his Allah. All the apprehensions that Muhammad's picture or painting will turn Muslims into idolaters are unfounded. Humans need to grow up. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. 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