Page 90 - Islam and Far Eastern Religions

88

Hindus also believe that plants, created by Allah and with no special powers,
are sacred. Indeed, for them all living things are sacred. In their view, groves are
abodes of the gods. They have invented homes for these imaginary “gods” of
their own invention. The small picture shows a shrine made inside a tree for
their supposed deity Durga. Hindus also regard the tulsi plant, a kind of basil,
and the pipal tree as sacred. Trees such as the pipal are worshipped every day,
some every month, and others during special festivals. According to Hindu leg-
ends, the tulsi was once the beloved of the imaginary deity Vishnu. Another fic-
titious deity, Lakshmi, then became jealous and turned her into a tree. 22
This nonsense, made up thousands of years ago by someone whose name is
unknown, is still believed in by Hindus.
Hindus also believe that trees are inhabited by spirits. As a result of this com-
pletely irrational idea, tree-worship is quite widespread among Hindus. They
constantly offer food to these so-called tree gods, and worship and pray to
them by tying shreds of clothing to their branches and placing red-painted
stones at their bottom. The Hindu in the picture is paying his respects before
this pipal tree that his people worship. None of them ever wonders whether or
not the trees hear them, or whether or not there really is a spirit that can hear
them in the tree. They never receive any response to their prayers. Nonetheless,
they continue to perform this ritual, solely because their forbearers did so.