India is transitioning through a paradigm shift, as far as the entertainment industry is concerned. We have seen a rapid increase in the number of ‘Over the Top’ (OTT) platforms recently, with the easy accessibility and cheaper internet and smartphones. People’s behaviour and preferences of entertainment consumption has also undergone a drastic change in recent times.
While these new platforms have provided an alternative platform for new talent and fresh content, it has also led to soft bigotry towards Hindus and Hinduism. We have seen a plethora of content which is abusing Hinduism, propagating lies about Hindus, painting Hindus in bad light and spreading Hinduphobia in a way or other.
We have seen lot of instances, where Hindus have retorted and orchestrated online campaigns to register their protests against these malpractices of these OTT platform content providers, but most of the times nothing happened as these OTT platform don’t come under the ambit of I&B ministry. A recent attempt has been made to bring these platforms under I&B, but we are yet to see any credible change in their approach.
In this article, we will share an instance of another Hindu phobic and Hindu-shaming propaganda of the Amazon Prime series, ‘Breathe Season1. This season is starred by R.Madhavan and Amit Sadh where Madhavan plays a single father named Danny, whose 6-year-old son Josh is suffering from a congenital lung disorder. Madhavan was pained by the sight of Josh with tubes and pipes sticking out of him.
As per the hospital, Josh is at the fourth number on the list to get a new lung, which indeed means that those four donors would have to die before it’s his turn to get liver transplantation. The time was running out for Josh and finally, Madhavan decides to kill the organ donors so that his son can get the liver transplant asap.
In the very first episode of this series, there is a scene where Madhavan is in the hospital, and there he saw a grieving Hindu person, whose father is brain dead. Madhavan approached them and tried to convince them about donating the vital organs of his father. While discussing organ donation, a lady said that in Hinduism, it is not preferred to donate organs, as this is against the ethos of religion.
In a way or another, they tried to establish that the Hindu religion is against organ donation and Hindus are highly stubborn when it comes to any sort of organ donation. It was another attempt to demean Hinduism, it attacks Hindusim, and portrays a bad image of Hindus, whereas, the truth is quite different
What Hinduism says about Organ donation?
Contrary to the lie peddled by this series, there us absolutely no religious law, which prohibits Hindus from donating their organs, blood and tissues to the needy. There is a concept of Life after death in Hinduism and there is a strong belief in an ongoing process of rebirth. Indeed, it is Hinduism, which reflects positively on the concept of organ donation and transplantation.
Few people with their vested interest, argue that if someone donates an organ as intrinsic to the body as a heart, the principle of karma means the recipient will have to return the favor in the donor’s next life – which means the donor will have to have the next life, and lack of organ would be a disadvantage for them in next life. However, the Hinduism belief system says once the soul has departed, the body is no more than a machine, and there is nothing to stop the body parts from being shared with others.
As per the ten Niyamas in the Hindu scriptures, Daan (or selfless giving) is third, and is held as being very significant within the Hindu faith system. This is accepted and promoted as Dharma (righteous living) and ultimately supporting the idea of organ donation.
For Hindus, the idea of organ donation is imposed by the very nature of Sanatana Dharma, and it treats every act or intention of anyone as dharmik. Therefore, it is right to donate organs, only if the act of donating an organ has beneficial results, which indeed a selfless attempt of welfare.
In Hindu mythology, there are also traditions that support the use of body parts to benefit others. Scientific papers also form an important part of the Vedas. Sage Sushruta looks at features of organ and limb transplants, and Sage Charaka deals with internal medicine.
Several examples which shows significance of Organ donation in Hinduism
Lord Ganesha is a much loved deity of the Hindus , since he is the Lord of Good Fortune who provides prosperity. His blessings are invoked when a new venture is started – be it a new home or a new business. The elephant – headed god , in a manner of speaking , representing a new life. Today intensive research in xenotransplantation (inter – species transplantation) is underway the world over – myth has become a reality.
Hindu legends have numerous examples of organ donation and transplantation , so this concept is actually embedded deep in the Hindu psyche. Kannapa , a tribal hunter , was a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. Once a priest at a temple objected to his offering meat to a Siva Linga(symbol of lord siva). Lord Siva wanted to test the extent of Kannapa’s devotion and so he made blood pour out from the right eye the Linga. Kannapa tried to treat it with herbs but failed. So he gouged out his right eye and used it to cover the bleeding wound. Then the left eye of the Linga began to bleed. Kannapa was about to goug out his left eye when he was stopped by Lord Siva. This was the ultimate act of devotion through donation of a part of oneself.
In another story , Rishi Dadhichi gave up his life so that his bones could be used to fashion Varja , the thunderbolt weapon , for Indra , King of the gods. The varja was used by the devas(gods) in their fight against the demons. Rishi Dadhichi is believed to have said , “It is better that my bones help you attain victory , rather than rot in the ground”. Yet another popular story is about King Shibi who was willing to sacrifice himself in order to save the live of a apidgeon who had sought his protection. The story goes that the gods wanted to test the compassionate and righteous nature of Shibi , and so they assumed the form of a pidgeon and a hawk. The pidgeon begs for Shibi’s protection , but the hawk says that Shibi is depriving it of its rightful prey. Shibi then offers himself to the hawk instead of the pidgeon , even though it means sacrificing his very life. Hindu scriptures supports the concept of compassion(Karuna) and selfless giving(daan). In the list of the ten Niyamas(virtuous acts) Daan comes thied.
Hindus lead from the front when it comes to Organs and Blood donation
Contrary to the propaganda spread by these OTT platforms and left-leaning media, its the Hindus who always lead from the front when it comes to organ and blood donation in India. A national group called the Jain and Hindu Organ Donation (JHOD) steering group was established to lead on organ donation work.
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