Tolerance and Dogma in Hinduism
In Hinduism, the six Darshanas or Philsophies represent diversity of thought
Summary:Discover why the Sanskrit word matam (meaning opinion or thought) defines Hinduism's unique approach to religious freedom. Learn how ancient India avoided dogma by treating religion as diverse viewpoints validated through Vedic testimony. Explore why Hinduism embraces multiple schools of thought, encourages intellectual freedom, and accepts both formless Brahman and deity worship. Understand the profound significance of mata bheda (difference of opinions), how the Vedas serve as standard testimony for truth validation, and why tolerance and diversity remain fundamental to Hindu tradition over rigid authoritarianism.
Matam in Sanskrit means opinion, thought, belief, or point of view. It is also used to denote one's faith or religion. Thus, Hinduism is known as Hindu Matam in many native Indian languages, such as Telugu.
A spokesperson or messenger for a religion or religious movement is called mata pravakta, meaning he who speaks for that particular school of thought. Mata tirtha means a sacred place. Matacharya means a religious teacher. Mata bheda means differences of opinion. A missionary is called mata pracharaka. In recent times, communal violence is often described in the newspapers as mata kalaha.
Mata is now increasingly used to denote a religion, but traditionally it was used in India to denote an opinion or belief. Mata may have been the precursor for mattah, meaning the hut of a religious ascetic, a monastery, or a place of learning, such as those found by Shankaracarya.
The word amply illustrates the religious conditions that prevailed in ancient India and why Hinduism remained free from the restrictions of dogma and the authoritarianism of despotic religious institutions.
In a general sense, matam means thought or opinion. Your matam means your thoughts, belief or standpoints. According to Monier Williams Sanskrit Dictionary, mata means a thought, opinion, sentiment, view, belief, intention, or doctrine. In other words, matam represents what is thought, believed, imagined, or understood.
The meaning amply conveys why ancient India was noted for religious freedom and why Hinduism defies a clear definition and does not fit into the rigid concept of a religion.
In Hinduism, the tradition of dogma rarely assets its. A dogma, or rigid belief or doctrine, must be accepted as inviolable by everyone who practices it because the scripture, prophet, or someone says so. In Hinduism, that approach is not encouraged. You may find in it clamor for an opinion, a school of thought, or a point of view since a large number of followers may accept it as true, but not necessarily by everyone.
However, there is one criterion that the tradition still honors as far as opinions and arguments are considered. It is that any truth, argument, point of view, or doctrinal thesis must stand the scrutiny of the three or four validations or pramanas. They must find support or justification through direct perception, inference of what is known or perceived, or in the declarations and instructions of the four Vedas. Of this the first and the last ones are considered the most reliable.
Hindu tradition and philosophy accept the Vedas as standard testimony to validate truths and opinions, because they are believed to have originated from the Supreme Brahma, the Creator himself. If any opinion or metaphysical truth finds proof from the Vedas, it is accepted as valid and reliable. This practice has been followed since the Vedic times and continues even today.
Since many opinions can be validated with the help of the Vedas, Hinduism allows diversity of opinions to prevail, without showing any open preference for any particular opinions. It is left to the people and the scholars to follow or accept whatever opinions may suit them.
Thus, in Hinduism, you do not find any dogma, but many points of view, schools of thought, and diverse opinions, each having a following of its own. If there is an opinion that says God is one and has no form, Hinduism allows that opinion because the Vedas describe Brahman as formless. If someone else wants to worship numerous gods and make offerings to them, Hinduism allows that also because the same Vedas describe God as many.
Duality and diversity are the undeniable realities of life upon earth. Hinduism accepts them as the fundamental realities that are reflected in religious knowledge and practice as well. In the journey of ultimate liberation, one must eventually renounce attachment to all things, including one’s beliefs and opinions, the distinction between dharma and adharma, moral and immoral, sinful and sinless, and abide in sameness towards all diversity and duality. This is the highest goal, the end of all seeking and searching, and the culmination of knowledge and wisdom.