St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

A Hindu holy site on the Aire

According to newspaper reports, a piece of ground next to Apperley Bridge could become a Hindu religious site.

At present many Hindus make a Ł500 trip to India to scatter the ashes of their loved ones upon the Ganges. Hindu mythology says Ganga Ma (“Mother Ganga”) was brought down to earth from Heaven by Shiva (lord of creation, destruction and dance). In one myth Shiva averted catastrophe by knotting his hair and receiving the waters on his head so that they flowed harmlessly into the Ganges. The next best thing to dying in the Ganges is to have ones ashes scattered there.

If Bradford Council approves, a small shrine will be built to Shiva, so that ashes of the dead can be scattered on the Aire with the proper ceremonies. The site has a safe place for mourners, and a fast flow of water. All rivers flow into the sea, so the ashes will eventually reach the same place as those scattered on the Ganges.

Morani Ghupta, the chairman of the World Council of Hindus in Yorkshire, is quoted as saying: “The most important thing in the Hindu faith is where your mind is, you are there. So if you meditate on the bank of the River Aire and feel you are on the bank of the Ganges, perhaps the effect is the same.”

My first reaction is that I don’t mind this idea. God has created people with the ability to investigate religious theories for themselves and the right to subscribe to whichever religion they wish - I think Hindus are sincerely wrong, but I defend their right to their views. It follows that I think they should not be deprived on moral or religious grounds from buildings or other sites for their ceremonies. (There may be environmental or planning concerns, just as there would be for putting up a new church building.)

One of the great differences between Christianity and most other world faiths is that our faith rests on historical facts (the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus) and not on myths. A consequence of this is that we don’t have “holy sites” - a prayer is equally prayerful no matter where it is said.

In one way I agree with Morani Ghupta’s “where our mind is, we are there” - if we invite Jesus in, he comes in no matter where we are physically. In another I disagree: the heart of mankind can deceive itself, and we can feel at peace when actually we ought to feel guilty for the ways we have hurt others. We need to be honest and admit sin so we can find real forgiveness from God, which is a lot more than just a feeling of peace.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. September 2002, Page 8.
Home Page. Index of articles. Race & Faiths: index, Racism, World faith, Riots, Twinning, Aire, Iraq. In this issue: (September 2002) Vicar's Letter, Babies out of wedlock, All included, Evening Service, Hindu Site.	A Hindu holy site on the Aire According to newspaper reports, a piece of ground next to Apperley Bridge could become a Hindu religious site. At present many Hindus make a Ł500 trip to India to scatter the ashes of their loved ones upon the Ganges. Hindu mythology says Ganga Ma (“Mother Ganga”) was brought down to earth from Heaven by Shiva (lord of creation, destruction and dance). In one myth Shiva averted catastrophe by knotting his hair and receiving the waters on his head so that they flowed harmlessly into the Ganges. The next best thing to dying in the Ganges is to have ones ashes scattered there. If Bradford Council approves, a small shrine will be built to Shiva, so that ashes of the dead can be scattered on the Aire with the proper ceremonies. The site has a safe place for mourners, and a fast flow of water. All rivers flow into the sea, so the ashes will eventually reach the same place as those scattered on the Ganges. Morani Ghupta, the chairman of the World Council of Hindus in Yorkshire, is quoted as saying: “The most important thing in the Hindu faith is where your mind is, you are there. So if you meditate on the bank of the River Aire and feel you are on the bank of the Ganges, perhaps the effect is the same.” My first reaction is that I don’t mind this idea. God has created people with the ability to investigate religious theories for themselves and the right to subscribe to whichever religion they wish - I think Hindus are sincerely wrong, but I defend their right to their views. It follows that I think they should not be deprived on moral or religious grounds from buildings or other sites for their ceremonies. (There may be environmental or planning concerns, just as there would be for putting up a new church building.) One of the great differences between Christianity and most other world faiths is that our faith rests on historical facts (the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus) and not on myths. A consequence of this is that we don’t have “holy sites” - a prayer is equally prayerful no matter where it is said. In one way I agree with Morani Ghupta’s “where our mind is, we are there” - if we invite Jesus in, he comes in no matter where we are physically. In another I disagree: the heart of mankind can deceive itself, and we can feel at peace when actually we ought to feel guilty for the ways we have hurt others. We need to be honest and admit sin so we can find real forgiveness from God, which is a lot more than just a feeling of peace. John Hartley
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