We should have grand Mandirs where Gods and Goddesses from around the world - Indian, Arab, European, African, Native American, East Asian - are worshipped even as one God(dess) is the central deity which changes from Mandir to Mandir. #Dharmatva #PanchayatanaPuja #Smarta #Dharma
What I find beautiful about the Panchayatana Puja is that by worshipping Vishnu, Shakti, Shiva, Ganesha, Surya (can vary) - we cover all life forms (male, female, human, non-human) as well as non-life forms or nature. So universal-yet allows for an Ishta Devata to be prioritised.
In fact an average Hindu family’s small home Mandir is likely to resemble the above concept broadly speaking (maybe more so in North India where Sampradaya affiliations seem less likely) - so this is broader than Smarta in that sense. This also forces us to reexamine “Hindu-ism”.
Finally those who don’t like the idea, I get it and you don’t have to take part in it. There is no one way to worship in Hinduism - in fact that is the point. As I often say, the very word Hinduism/Hindutva is perforce Sangathanist, organisational. Dharmatva is just the superset.
Of course this is not going to be fleshed out in a Twitter thread. This will have to be done organically, respectfully, gradually- and it will take on many forms and shapes based on different worshippers and rituals. But the core idea is something our ancestors were always doing.
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