[Sri Aurobindo's philosophy and spiritual vision indicate that he would not tolerate the ethnocentric, exclusivist, and politically-motivated aspects of present-day Hindutva. While he was a staunch nationalist who drew inspiration from Hindu culture, his later, more mature thought transcended sectarian religion toward a universal, all-embracing spirituality.
Sri Aurobindo's early political-spiritual thought
In his early political career, Sri Aurobindo embraced a form of "spiritual nationalism" where he drew from Hindu ideas and symbols to energize the Indian independence movement. In his famous Uttarpara Speech of 1909, he linked India's rise to the rise of Sanatana Dharma, the "Eternal Religion".
A "congeries of religions": Even in this earlier stage, he did not equate Sanatana Dharma with a single, restrictive creed. He saw it as a "congeries of religions," a vast and pluralistic field of spiritual seeking that provided for many different approaches to the Divine.
Distinguishing spiritual from dogmatic Hinduism: During this period, he also clearly distinguished between a higher, spiritual Hinduism and a lower, ritualistic Hinduism focused on narrow social conventions. He called the latter "the Hinduism of the kitchen".
Sri Aurobindo's later, universal vision
After retreating from active politics in 1910 and dedicating himself to his yoga, Sri Aurobindo's vision matured into the concept of Integral Yoga, which went beyond any conventional religion. His perspective became fully universal, and his critique of sectarian religion sharpened.
Rejection of religious exclusivism: He condemned the very idea of one institutional religion for the world as a "grotesque creation of human unreason" and the "parent of so much intolerance, cruelty, obscurantism and aggressive fanaticism".
Spiritual progress, not revivalism: In his work The Renaissance in India, Sri Aurobindo argued that Indian civilization does not progress by clinging to or reviving old forms. Instead, it must break existing molds to create new ones appropriate for the changing times, remaining true to its innate spiritual genius. He was against a dogmatic return to the past, emphasizing continuous spiritual evolution.
Hinduism as a diverse culture, not a creed: His final assessment of Hinduism was not as a monolithic religion, but as a rich and diverse tradition of spiritual thought and aspiration. In this later phase, he insisted that his path of yoga was not a religion and ceased to identify himself as a Hindu in any conventional sense.
Fundamental differences between Sri Aurobindo's views and present-day Hindutva
The contrast between Sri Aurobindo's integral spirituality and the core tenets of modern Hindutva, as a political ideology, is clear.
Aspect - Sri Aurobindo's View - Hindutva Ideology
Identity
A spiritual and evolutionary concept, where India's national soul is an aspiration rooted in spiritual pluralism.
A politicized identity based on cultural supremacy and often framed in opposition to non-Indic religions like Islam and Christianity.
Nationalism
An inclusive spiritual nationalism that works for the "ultimate unity of mankind" and includes all of India's diverse communities.
A narrow, ethno-religious nationalism that seeks to assert the political and cultural dominance of a majoritarian Hindu identity.
Inclusivity
Embraced a "congeries of religions," accommodating infinite approaches to the Divine without erasing any. He explicitly critiqued both religious and racial essentialism.
Often characterized by a form of "inclusivism" that seeks to assimilate or subordinate non-Hindu faiths, erasing their unique identities.
Social Institutions
Called for a profound societal transformation aligned with spiritual ideals, critiquing the limitations of both a decaying traditionalism and a purely materialistic Western approach.
Sometimes uses religious sentiment for political mobilization, which Sri Aurobindo explicitly warned against, calling it a devolution into a religious cult.
In summary, Sri Aurobindo's emphasis on spiritual evolution, radical pluralism, and universal human unity stands in direct opposition to the political manipulation, exclusivist ideology, and aggressive nationalism that define present-day Hindutva. To appropriate Sri Aurobindo's name for Hindutva is to selectively ignore or misrepresent the core of his mature spiritual thought.] - GoogleAI
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