Vow

 

Taking a vow is both a spiritual and moral commitment. However, without genuine moral conviction, a vow can devolve into mere ritual and hypocrisy.

In our culture, taking a vow is known as ‘sankalp.’ Yet, in a world dominated by pluralism and relativism, these sankalpas are often violated based on circumstances—time and place. My point here is not to debate the merits and demerits of such vows, but to emphasize the importance of taking them seriously. Almost every religious and social ritual (sanskar) involves a sankalp, but because these vows are often chanted in Sanskrit by priests, with attendees merely responding ‘tatastu,’ many do not understand their meaning or significance. For example, in nearly every marriage, vows are exchanged, yet few participants grasp their content. In post-Independence India, public vows have become part of social activity, often associated with the death anniversaries of prominent political leaders, like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. However, I wonder if people take vows on the birth or death anniversaries of great leaders like Gandhi or Nehru. While Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated as International Ahimsa Day, every birth or death anniversary seems incomplete without some vow ritual.

In addition to politicized vows, other public vows have emerged as a social norm. Every year, many couples gather in ashrams to take vows, often holding hands and repeating phrases read aloud. This is an encouraging sign, demonstrating maturity and a public commitment to marriage. In a culture where holding hands by a couple in public can be frowned upon, such actions reflect a significant shift in mindset. However, if these vows are merely imitative, they risk becoming social entertainment rather than genuine commitments.

A troubling reality in Indian society is that many take vows without personal moral commitment. For instance, students often vow to avoid plastic, yet in practice, they rarely uphold this pledge. So, how can we encourage people to remember and implement their vows?  In my ashram, I maintain strict rules against throwing plastic anywhere. I keep a separate bag for this purpose and collect the plastic to send for recycling. Similarly, I always bring cloth bags for my purchases and politely inform retailers that I will report them if they provide vegetables and fruits in plastic.

Returning to the marriage vow (sankalp), many couples honor their commitment throughout life without fully understanding the vow’s meaning. While there are exceptions, the general rule holds true. This commitment stems from the fact that marriage is not merely a verbal contract in our culture; it is deeply intertwined with sentiment. This is a value we can take pride in. Our relationships—of every kind—are largely based on sentiment, allowing us to commit to one another without the need for repeated reminders or celebratory events.

This sentiment is aptly captured in the saying: “Marriage is entertainment in France, commitment in England, agreement in America, and sentiment in India.” Our literature, dramas, and films often reflect this reality. Most Tamil films, for instance, are centered around this sentiment. By fostering this sentiment in our relationships with people and nature, we can better equip our younger generation to take their vows seriously, rather than treating them as public entertainment.

Dayanand Bharati, Gurukulam, September 10, 2009.

In this context, I recall a famous joke shared by many. In a large institution, when a dignitary visits, they are often asked to plant a tree seedling to commemorate the event, alongside a mature tree to remember their previous visit. However, each time a dignitary arrives, they plant another seedling in the same spot. When questioned about this, the response is often, “It’s a lucky place.” This indicates that they do not take the visit or event seriously; it has simply become part of a public ritual, akin to our public vows, often for photo opportunities.

During the Clean India Campaign, it became common to clean public places primarily for photographs. In India, people typically maintain a clean interior in their homes. While daily sweeping is compulsory, I have noticed some individuals even mop their floors every day, either themselves or with the help of domestic helpers. In South India, many will clean the front of their homes, with almost every Hindu sweeping and sprinkling water. Additionally, they often decorate with Rangoli (Kolam) daily, using colored powder during festivals. However, they generally discard the garbage collected inside their homes onto the streets, although there has been some improvement. In many rural areas, though, one often has to navigate around waste when walking on the streets. In such a context, even the Clean India Campaign (Swachh Bharat) has ended up resembling any other public vow.