Philosophic Conceptualities of the Self in Messianism / Mahdism

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is the religion founded by Zoroaster in Persia around 1000 B.C. Its holy book is the Avesta (or Zend Avesta). Today there are about 20,000 Zoroastrians (Gabars) in Iran (mostly in Yezd) and about 120,000 Zoroastrianism (Parasees) in India (mostly in Bombay). "

The Messianic (or millennial) hope cannot be studied satisfactorily apart from other eschatological problems e.g. the doctrine of resurrection, the final judgment, dissolution of world and the life hereafter. They are all closely (though somewhat mysteriously) related to one another. According to Zoroastrianism "the world would end 3,000 years after Zoroaster's death at which time a new prophet would arise:"

People of this religion believe that in the fourth period of the universe a saviour, Saoshyant, will appear, the dead will rise for their final reward or punishment, and good will reign eternally. Saoshyant "will bring about the final judgment, dispense the drink of immortality and usher in the new world. Thus, Finite Time, which had come forth from Infinite Time, merges with it again after the space of 12,000 years.

In the Judae-Christian religion (the Bible) "the figure of the Messiah, originally a future king of Israel who would save his people from oppression, evolved, in Deutero-Isaiash for instance, into a universal Saviour very similar to the Iranian (Zoroastrian) Saoshyant."

Hinduism

Hinduism is generally believed to have originated in the second millennium B.C. Hinduism the oldest of the living religions of the world, claiming, as it does, the adherence of about four hundred million people, leaves the door open for future manifestations or incarnations of God. "The incarnations of Vishnu are innumerable, like the rivulets flowing from an inexhaustible take.

According to the Bhagvad-Gita no incarnation is final. It quotes Sri Krishna as saying: "Though unborn and immortal, and also the Lord of all beings, I manifest Myself through my own Yogamaya (divine potency), keeping My Nature (Prakriti) under control. Arjuna, whenever there is a decline of righteousness and unrighteousness is in the ascendant, (then) I body Myself forth. For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of evil-doers, and for establishing Dharma (righteousness) on a firm footing, I am born from age to age." The Messianic hope in Hinduism is direct corollary of its incarnation theory. The Sanskrit word "Avatar" etymologically means 'descent' of a deity; technically, it means an incarnation or manifestation of God.

"Vishnu (Sanskr, the "active one"), in the Indian Rig-Veda (is) a minor deity,... Vishnu in the Epic (Ramayana and Mahabharata) mythology developed into the preserver-god, one of the Hindu triad with Brahma, the creator; and Shiva, the destroyer; and as such he has saved mankind in ten incarnations" 1 whenever a great disorder, physical or moral disturbed the world, Vishnu descended 'in a small portion of his essence' to set it right, to restore the law, and thus to preserve creation....

. A tenth incarnation, Hindus believe, is reserved for the last day, when Vishnu is to return to earth to execute righteousness and judgment.

"Avatar is Hindu mythology (is), an incarnation of the Deity. Ten avatars are peculiarly distinguished, and four of them are the subject of Puranas, or sacred poems. These 10 are among the incarnations of Vishnu, the Supreme God. The Matsya avatar was the decent of the Deity in the form of a Matsya avatar was the decent of the Deity in the form of a fish; Kachyapa or Kurma, in that of a tortoise; Varaha, as a boar; Nara Sinha (Man Lion), as a monster, half man, half lion; Vamana, as a dwarf; Parasurama,as the son of Jamadagni. All these took place in the Satya Yuga, or Golden Age.

The seventh incarnation was in the form of the four sons of King Dasarath, under the names of Rama, Lakshmana, Bhart, and Strughana, in order to destroy certain demons that infested the earth... Rama forms the subject of the Ramayana. The eighth Avatar of Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, (is) the best known of all; forms the subject of the great ... Mahabharata. Its object was to relieve the earth from the Daityas, and the wicked men who oppressed it. The ninth was in the form of Buddha. The Kalki, or tenth avatar, is yet to come at the end of Kali Yuga."

Kalki, or White horse. This is yet to come. Vishnu mounted on a white horse, with a drawn scimitar, blazing like a comet, will, according to prophecy, end this present age, viz., the fourth or Kaliyug, by destroying the world, and then renovating creation by an age of purity." 1 "This incarnation of Vishnu is to paper at the end of the Kali or Iron Age, sated on a white horse, with a drawn sword blazing like a comet, for the final destruction of the wicked, the renovation of creation, and the restoration of purity….

It is clear from the above that Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Siva (the destroyer) are the three attributes (or forms) of one and the same primordial person. There is, therefore, no room for the popular misconception that Hinduism believes in three gods and not in the one true God. Unity underlies trinity: trinity (or multiplicity) is the manifestation of unity.

Prophet according to Hinduism is not a messenger or apostle of God but God Himself, since He does not send anyone but Himself descends to execute His divine plan. Kalki, therefore, would be God Himself rather than a messenger of God.

Buddhism

Buddhism is the religion founded by Siddartha Gautam Buddha in the 6th century B.C. Like Christ, "Buddha had the courage to attack popular religion, superstition, ceremonial, and priest craft, and all the vested interests that clung to them. 25 and consequently came into clash with the institutional religion, with the priest and theologians of his day and was regarded as a rebel against the established faith. And lastly, while Christianity predicts the second coming of Christ, Buddhism holds out the promise of the advent of the Maitreya Buddha. Why the World Need a Messiah?

Justice of present international system may be questioned in which birthplace tend to play so large a role in life chances. One child may get a wonderful life where all the social and financial securities are guaranteed just because of born into an affluent/ developed state. While the other will be deprived even of the basic requirements of life and may have to struggle all his life to feed him and his family what to talk of right to education and dignified life as heralded by several constitutions of the world.

Why those born into some countries lived comparatively so well, while some born into less favored countries lived in absolute poverty, confronted by specters of disease, starvation and death. In this age of 21st century where we are discussing the avenues of having a residential arrangement on Moon or Mars, the humanity is also witnessing the food riot erupted in several countries. On one hand we see people of one country pouring millions of liters of milk and butter into sea just to maintain the global prices while on the other hand a son killing a father over a piece of bread or a father selling off his daughter for the medicine of his wife.

This situation demands action and not just a small increase in foreign aid, but sweeping structural change in the global system. There should be a system of distributive justice which is impartial, universal and accords the interest of all individuals regardless of citizenship or compatriot status, equal weight.

The present political conditions of the world show how a handful of people from the developed world are setting the agenda for the rest of the world by force and oppression. The world's so called superpower is providing all the financial and strategic help to the fascist force of Israel. This evil force is using the money and support to kill the innocent people of Palestine. These oppressive powers are controlling the economy and polity to decide the fate of less fortunate.

The West as a result of their growing or advanced financial power, since the 1950s and also presently, have been dominating and colonizing the other countries. They claim to be peacemakers but they are monsters disguised in human fashion ready to kill by perpetrating injustice against the weaker ones.

We have been living in a complex world in which nations and political movements interact in intricate ways to formulate policies and handle conflicts. It is not difficult to imagine the sufferings of lacks of people of Palestine who are living as refugees in their very own homeland. The West should be reminded that 'justice denied to any people means that a battle line has been drawn'.

The world is at such a juncture where only a Messiah can save the world and humanity from such rampant injustice. One of the first tasks before the messiah will be to encounter these evil forces and remove the double standard policies which are governing the world at the moment.

Here the question arises that could global government be the answer to global poverty and starvation? Do we owe equal to our co-citizens as much as to those in other countries? I argue that not only do we have strong obligations to people elsewhere, but that an accountable integration among nation-states will help ensure that all persons can lead a decent life. Our duties are equally strong to our fellow citizens as well as foreigners.

But the important question is who will be able to govern that global state in such an ideal manner where there is justice, fairness and opportunities for everyone belonging to the earth irrespective of the caste, creed, religion or race. I argue that Imam Mahdi, the imam in hiding, the ambassador of almighty is the only person equipped to bring peace and justice to this Universe.

He will have the ability to be the real crusader of the equality and world peace which is need of the hour. The world can rely only on his administration and dispensation of justice when he reappears which will finally create a world of peace and justice with no despair and oppression. Imam Mahdi, Allah's appointed ruler will be the only qualified person to form a society where people irrespective of their faith and gender will have everything which is socially desirable.

There will be no concept of nationalism but a global government based on moral principles of justice, fairness and equality. There will be a world without corruption, favoritism, nepotism and violence. It will be exactly the kind of world promised by Quran to the mankind.

The idea of an ideal global government is not wishful thinking but the aspiration of every individual, who always want better things: prettier view, better things to eat, and an ideal life with no social and economic problems. Imam Mahdi, the awaited saviour, will make the world a just and ideal system. He will conquer hearts of man and will form Dar-ul-Islam.