• Know about the concept of the Immaculate Conception in Christianity.

We, the followers of Sanatana Dharma, coach our children to face admission interviews at coveted Roman Catholic schools, colleges and universities. We accept the Immaculate Conception with no ridicule, laughter and pseudo-intellectual lampooning.

We accept the dogma of the Catholic Church entirely just so that we can boast about our intellectual pedigree.

In reality, most of us have no intellectual foundation to begin with will be clear once we declare for instance, that Lord Shiva is self-originated. But if one were to say that one of the qualities of God is aseity, or self-origination; the fools among us will clap with mad joy at the use of fancy words and the textual register 'God'. They have never heard of Brahman; or they confuse Brahman with Lord Brahma. This same lot of Hindus who praises Catholicism will troll and bully anyone who speaks of the nature of our Faith and without academic rigour declare that there is no real Mahadev to begin with.  

Hindus are often the greatest threat to our Dharma. 

Most of us have already sold our souls for careers, money, and thirty seconds of fame. Many Hindus build their careers by lambasting our Dharma for e.g. to date, in India we ape Western structuralist psychology and Indian teachers will award null marks to any candidate who does not agree with Western empiricists.

No Roman Catholic doubts the Immaculate Conception.

We have much to learn from the Abrahamic people. No Roman Catholic disbelieves in angels. But we are so stupidly rational that we have problems with the existence of the Yakshini Mothers. To be considered an intellectual in India one needs to first criticise and insult our Dharma. Then one needs to read meaninglessly obscure papers at international conferences in praise of atheism and then prove how ours is just a way of life and no religion at all. Hopefully, knowing about the Immaculate Conception will help us grow in our Faith. 

We have to be humble first and revisit our priorities. It certainly cannot include double-standards. Different approaches for other religions and an entirely prejudiced approach to our Dharma cannot be the norm.

U.S. President Obama taking oath on the Bible. Pic courtesy MINT. 

Roman Catholic Christianity is firm about the fallen nature of all humanity.

According to Roman Catholicism, first fell the angels from heaven. Their leader, before their fall was known as Lucifer, or, the Light-bearer. Lucifer refused to serve God or obey God. So, Lucifer along with one third of all the angels fell from heaven by his own free will and now is permanently confined to hell. Lucifer chose to not love God. His was a fall due to pride. He could not tolerate the majesty of God.

Also read What is the concept of God in Christianity and Sanatana Dharma

Later, as the Biblical creation narrative informs us; Adam and Eve were tempted to pride and disobedience by this fallen angel, Lucifer. Now Lucifer, having lost his inner light, came to be known as Satan.

Satan provoked Adam and Eve to sin. Thus, sin entered the earth.

This first sin of Adam and Eve of disobeying God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge is known as Original Sin. (The  Tree of Knowledge is a metaphor for God like omniscient knowledge: to eat of the fruit of this tree symbolised extreme pride, or hubris.)

Catholic Christian dogma holds that all humanity with only the exception of the Virgin Mother of Jesus is stained and tainted with this Original Sin. So, all humanity before and after the Virgin Mother of God, Jesus; are death-oriented, being sinners from birth. This is why it is necessary to be baptised;  so that the effects of Original Sin are erased. 

This exemption from Original Sin, in the case of Mother Mary, is known as the Immaculate Conception. She was conceived by her parents without sin in any form affecting her.  

Immaculate means pure; without any touch of evil. Therefore, Mary became a fit vessel to carry the Child Jesus in her womb. Christ, according to Roman Catholicism, is both God and Man. He was conceived without a male; being the Son of God and yet, co-equal to God. Mary’s Immaculate Conception was necessary to counteract the effects of sin brought about by the rebellion of Satan and his demonic companions and also to nullify the evil brought about by humanity’s first parents: Adam and Eve. Biblical scholars consider both Adam and Eve as metaphors for the first human beings. 

Original Sin is in no way related to our Dharma’s concept of Karma. 

Further, the Immaculate Conception should be treated with respect and openness of heart. This author will not entertain any communication from anyone requesting him to use this blogpost as a means to attack Mother Mary. Long involvement in Mariology has taught this author about the value of the Immaculate Conception. Do not confuse the holiness of the Mother of Jesus with religious discourses. Therein lies evil.

To sum up, without the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, it would be impossible for Christ to find a fit habitation before birth. Further, if sin had touched the Mother of Jesus, then it follows that she had to fight for her own salvation rather than be the New Eve who could defeat Satan. Because she was Immaculately conceived, she ascended to heaven body and soul. This is known as the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.

It is for Christians to elaborate their dogmas. As a follower of Sanatana Dharma, this author wanted to explain the Immaculate Conception. According to our Dharma, Divinity found anywhere is a manifestation of the One and needs to be treated with respect. Jesus, the Christ, and the Virgin Mother according to our Dharma are ways to the One. We do not hold it is the only way, but a valid way. This is why the Ramakrishna Mission obeys Swami Vivekananda and celebrates the birth of the Christ. Peace, peace, peace.

Now, if the Immaculate Conception is true and you boast of your convent education; then remember there are instances of the Immaculate Conception in our Dharma too!

Author Subhasis Chattopadhyay has a Ph.D. in Patristics and the Problem of Evil in American Horror Literature from the University of Calcutta. His reviews from 2010 to 2021 in PrabuddhaBharata have been showcased by Ivy League Presses. He has qualifications in Christian Theology and Hindu Studies and currently teaches English Literature in the PG and UG Department of a College affiliated to the University of Calcutta. He also has qualifications in Behavioural Sciences.

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Also read

1. Understanding Christian Exorcisms

2. What is Dharma

3. Easter Traditions 

4. Origin of Christmas, rituals and practices

5. Immaculate Conception and Assumptions