Christ and his message according to Thiru.vi.ka. Thiru.Vi.Ka’s views of Christianity:

The general opinion of Hindus on Christianity is well expressed by Bishop A.J. Appasamy; “The Hindu has no good word for either our efficient and business-like conduct of our religion, nor for the social prestige and power connected with it. In some cases he actually makes a distinction between Christ and Christianity and says that while he is deeply attracted by Christ he has only criticism for Christianity. In the thinking of some men this distinction between Christ and Christianity is quite articulate. There may be several others in whose minds this distinction is not clear but who nevertheless instinctively and spontaneously and genuinely yield to the power of Christ without showing any leaning towards those institutions and ideas which have come to be associated with the name of Christ. Even the Church, the Sacraments, the Bible and the orthodox Christian doctrine, which count so much for every Christian have no attraction for them.”

This exactly is the view Thiru.Vi.Ka also holds about Christianity and Christ. He makes a clear distinction between these two in his writings. Being a Saivite scholar and an ardent devotee, he urges the followers of ‘Siddhantha’ to reconvert those who have joined the ‘Pathiri matham.’ In bracket he writes, ‘not the teachings of Christ’ (Christu kolgai andru) . He says that he has not received baptism from any priest nor has joined the Christian religion; his devotion to Christ is nevertheless unshakable. He confesses, “My heart will think of Christ, indulge in prayer. In prayer I have learnt the aspects of repentance, petition, weeping and forgiveness through my personal experience.” According to him forgiveness for mankind is available in Christ. For anyone who wants to repent and receive forgiveness they can come to Christ, without joining the Christian religion. This fact is being expressed by St. John in his Gospel chapter 1 verse 12; “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” While he is critical of the low status of the Hindu temples, and Matts, he is equally critical of the Christian religion and institutions.

He comments in the book ‘Saivathin Samarasam’, “Is it not due to the desire for huge money the sangams (Churches) run by the Christian associations have become societies with no religious wisdom He is also critical of the elections in the church. The church as such is not directly mentioned in this context. However, he writes some guidelines for running a religious society where he cautions that the elections and money could be one of the most dangerous devils if allowed, can bring conflicts in a society. He writes, “There are many devils that can cause division and conflicts in a Sangam. Two particular devils among them are; one, election and the other, money.” How true these statements are. These observations were made in early forties.

The current situations in our churches and Institutions have reached its peak of its low status in witnessing to the world. I am here reminded of Abbe J.A. Dubois observation on Christianity with regard to its conversion aspect; in his “Letters on the state of Christianity in India” (1823) he states; “……such is the abridged history of the rise, the progress, and the decline of the Christian religion in India. The low state to which it is now reduced, and the contempt in which it is held, cannot be surpassed”. Though this remark was pertinent to the issue of mission in India, I am equating this to the pitiable state of the public Christian witness in India today.

Thiru.Vi.Ka’s understanding about Christ:

Christ is the forgiver of sin and the destroyer of Satan:

The humanity was trapped in the darkness of sin. Christ has come to this world as a light to remove this darkness. Therefore I cannot forget him. In the first chapter of the devotional poem, he writes from his personal experience deeply expressing this thought:

மாசு மிகுந்த மனித இருள் போக்கவந்த
ஏசு உனை மறவேன் என்று
“Masu migundha manidha irrul pokka vanda
Yesu unnai maravean endru”