Donkey Marriage - 2: Pune Wedding

Baba

DONKEY MARRIAGE - 2: PUNE WEDDING

(Note: This is the second letter in this series; text in brown is cited material from the first letter. A link to the entire first letter has been appended below. - Eds)

Namaskar,
Revolutionary marriages (RM) are a big part of our Ananda Marga way of life. As we all know Baba has placed tremendous importance on RM's and waged a ceaseless campaign against caste marriages, the dowry system, and all kinds of exploitation related with marriages.

In a nuthsell, the benefits of the RM system are vast indeed as it strengthens the gene pool by marrying people who come from diverse backgrounds, brings tremendous social unity, and is integral for forming one human society - among so many other plus points. As Ananda Margiis, we must be vigilant to attend to and follow Baba dharmic guidelines with regards to marriage. After all, this is an essential component of society building and if we do not adhere to His given tenets, then who will.

Unfortunately, the recent trend in certain parts shows how some are short-cutting and even blatantly disregarding and going against Baba's given revolutionary marriage system - in a multitude of ways. Here we are not only talking about the bride and groom, nor just the margii families involved, but also our Wts who attend, sanction, condone, and preside over such marriage ceremonies.

MARRIAGE DETAILS FROM PUNE WEDDING:

THE ANANDA MARGA SYSTEM IS NOT FOLLOWED

Here enlisted is another example how the Ananda Marga marriage system is not being followed per Baba's guideline.

In Pune city (India), brother Shirakeji arranged to have his son married and the bride was of the same so-called caste. Thus it was a caste marriage. That is the first issue.

Secondly, they also accepted huge cash and kind as dowry. That is the second issues as Baba forbids any type of dowry in the Ananda Marga marriage system.

Knowing all this was happening, even then that wedding was attended by big-wig WTs of Ranchi group. Ranchi GS Ac Citsvarupananda is the main WT who guides brother brother Shirakeji. By their mere presence at such an unholy marriage arrangement where caste dogma was embraced and a dowry was accepted, those top Wts are condoning the marriage. This is a very bad scene indeed. They should have refused to participate.

But what to speak of attending, most or all them ate heartily at the occasion and engaged in all kinds of merriment and festivities. By doing so, those Dadas issued an open statement that one need not adhere to Guru guidelines on marriage. That is the shocking outcome of this marriage. Blame goes on various levels. The only ones free of blame are non-margiis who have no idea about such matters. All others shamed themselves by going against Guru in the public arena on such a critical and important issue.

Rule Violations: Caste marriage, acceptance of dowry, attendance by top Wts.

"For marriage, neither party can demand a dowry." (1)

GREEDY WT'S GOING AGAINST DHARMA BY ATTENDING

If a dowry is involved then no Wt or senior margii should conduct that marriage ceremony - nor should they attend or eat at such a program. All that can be said is that laokik family members may attend out of family obligation but they must not take food at such a ceremony.

Yet so many Wts are in clear violation of this by attending and condoning caste marriages, marriages with dowry, etc This begs the question why our Wts are involving in this way. Are they getting payment for performing such marriages?

All in all, it is quite disturbing to see and 100% contrary to Guru's teachings.

THE CUSTOM OF DOWRY IS UNCIVILISED

"Another glaring instance of social injustice is the custom of dowry. This is a real disgrace in a civilized society. If we go deeply into the reasons for such an injustice it will be clear that there are two main reasons behind it."

"First, dowry occurs where males and females earn disproportionate incomes. The Náyyár and Izave communities of Kerala follow the matrilineal order and hence no dowry is claimed by the males. The Khasia community of Assam follow a similar system. In Burma, though the patrilineal order is in vogue, women are economically independent so they get a dowry."

"Secondly, dowry occurs where there is a disproportionate number of males and females. If the number of males is more, females get dowry and vice-versa. In Punjab, the number of males is more than the number of females so the females get a dowry. The situation is similar for Muslims. The false vanity of the aristocracy also causes dowry. Aristocratic people think, “Our family is a high class family, hence we should get a dowry.” In a Proutistic structure there will be no scope for dowry."" (2)

REVOLUTIONARY MARRIAGE:

CASTE MARRIAGES NOT ALLOWED IN ANANDA MARGA

In Baba's below Hindi teaching, He is speaking out against the dogma of caste marriages.

“तुम लोग dogma के ख़िलाफ़ सङ्ग्राम करते रहोगे | और केवल—मुँह से बोलोगे कि dogma ख़राब है—सो नहीं | अपने करके दिखला दोगे कि—तुम dogma को नापसन्द करते हो |

हम तो सबसे कहेंगे कि हम लोगों को जल्द से जल्द समाज बना लेना है | और, दुनिया में सर्वत्र आनन्दमार्ग का प्रचार और-ज़ोरदार करना है | समाज बनाना है, इसलिए अधिक से अधिक revolutionary marriage चाहिए | …

जो लोग guardian हो, माता-पिता हो, अपने बटे-बेटी को revolutionary marriage करके दिखला दो कि—तुम dogma के ख़िलाफ़ हो |

घबड़ाओ नहीं, किसी से डरो नहीं | अपने वैयष्टिक प्रयास से अगर नहीं हुआ, सामूहिक प्रयास से करो | घबड़ाने की कोई बात नहीं है | और हम तोरा सिनी रो साथ छियो |”

क्रान्तिकारी विवाह (3)


“अधिक से अधिक revolutionary marriage करा लो | और जो हिम्मतवार लड़के हैं, वे, उनके guardian, उनके माता; वे लोग क्या करें ? जात-पाँत को लात से ख़त्म कर दो, चूर-चूर कर दो | एक दल, एक मज़बूत समाज बना लो | और हम लोगों को दुनिया के कोने-कोने में आनन्दमार्ग का पैगाम पहुँचा देना है | इसलिए अधिक से अधिक सङ्ख्या में whole timer worker की भी जरूरत है | कोई whole timer worker बनो | कोई revolutionary marriage करके समाज को मज़बूत बना दो |” (4)

FOR COWARDS IT IS DIFFICULT

There are some who may say that adhering to the Ananda Marga marriage system is too difficult and virutally impossible. They argue that there should be some leeway - i.e. slackness in the rules - otherwise no one will participate in our revolutionary marriage system. People are not ready to give up caste dogma and forgo dowry. That is what some say and then they give the following suggestion: Best then is to compromise and not emphasize the importance of following all of Baba's stated rules on revolutionary marriage.

The reply to such persons is as follows. Ananda Marga is not a popularity contest nor are we seeking numbers at the expense of our ideals. Baba never advocates any kind of compromise with Ananda Marga guidelines.

"We will not deviate an inch from our ideology, nor will we allow others to do so." (5)

Indeed, once one begins compromising on points of dharma then the outcome is terrible - more and more degradation occurs until the original guideline is no longer recogniseable. That is the theme Baba has expressed in the following story.

"Perhaps you know the old story of a milk vendor. Once a customer asked a milk vendor. “How is it that you sell me milk at one kilo for one rupee, whereas the other vendor gives it to my neighbour for two kilos a rupee?” The vendor replied, “If you like, I will also give it to you for two kilos a rupee.” So the vendor started giving milk at that price. After a few days, the customer said to him, “Look here, another milk vendor sells 16 kilos of milk for one rupee. Why don’t you?” The vendor replied, “I can also, if you like.” After a few more days, the customer said, “See here, another vendor is selling milk at 18 kilos for a rupee!” “I can also do that if you want,” answered the vendor, “but this time I will not be able to retain the original colour of the milk!” That is, the vendor will have to pour such a great quantity of water into the milk that it will no longer remain white!" (6)

The main teaching here is that once one begins to compromise or adulterate then that continues until the original substance no longer resembles its former self. That is what happened with the milk in the above story.

And that is what will happen to our revolutionary marriage system in Ananda Marga. As soon as the bending of the rules or compromise occurs on caste marriages or dowry, then that will trigger more and more compromises until finally our marriages will have absolutely nothing to do with Baba's given revolutionary marriage system.

That is why Baba guides us to never compromise on points of dharma, i.e. never compromise on Ananda Marga ideals. He wants that we uphold the tenets of dharma. That is our measuring rod, not how popular we are with the common people. Lastly, by upholding the tenets of bhagavad dharma, then good people will be attracted to Ananda Marga.

So we should be ever strict to live by the tenets of Ananda Marga ideology - there is not any question of abandoning those core values and guidelines in order to become more popular.

GOING BACKWARDS IS PATHETIC

The Ananda Marga revolutionary marriage system is an important dynamic for building a healthy human society. Throughout history, marriage has been used as a tool to either exclude or include various sections of humanity. Now, for the first time ever, the world bears witness to the ultimate system of marriage that will yield unparalleled results. Yet the very Dadas (and some family acaryas) in charge of overseeing Baba's revolutionary marriage have seemingly defaulted. Otherwise, how else to explain the above meltdown where a caste marriage was performed complete with a dowry. Baba Himself personally fought against this in the 1950s or even earlier. Now, decades and decades later, our top Wt administrators are jettisoning our Ananda Marga back into the stone ages on this critical matter.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Now is the time we should uphold Guru's glory and fight against this dogma of caste and dowry marriages which are gaining momentum in our Ananda Marga.

Namaskar,
in Him,
Ananta

Note 1: LINK TO EARLIER LETTER IN THIS SERIES

http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/10/donkey-marriage-1.html

REFERENCES
1. Caryacarya - 1
2. Talks on Prout
3. Kra’ntika’rii Viva’ha, Deoghar 1/8/84, General Darshan, Not Printed
4. PS Purport 1030 + WT Discourse – 2, 1/14/1984 Patna, Not Printed
5. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Disc: 14
6. AFPS-3, Genius and Technician