REPENTANCE - DEFINING INDIAN IDENTITY
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    • REPENTANCE - DEFINING INDIAN IDENTITY
    The idea of repentance is well expressed in different cultures but the interpretation of its consequences is not the same. The Jews associate the idea of repentance with Divine Atonement and Absolution of sins. Repentance and forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus is the theme of the Books of The New Testament. Christian faith calls upon man to repent and be converted through the act of Baptism. In Islam, true repentance means that man must reject all other forms of belief and avoid the worship of false gods. By repenting, a Muslim agrees to truly believe in one and only God(Allah), and live in strict obedience to his five commandments and other ordinances as revealed in the Scripture of Quran. Islam also demands that the true believer must ask the non-believer to repent. Islam encourages the idea of harshly punishing all individuals who fail to truly repent. In India, the Land described as 'karma Bhumi', repentance is viewed upon as a personal choice. Repentance could only be used to change one's own conduct. Most importantly, in the Land of Bharat, the idea of repentance is not associated with the idea of converting the religious beliefs of a man. The idea of 'repent or perish' does not define Indian Identity.

    REPENTANCE DOES NOT REMIT SINS

    In Sanskrit language, the word repentance is described as "Pashchath Tapa". It is the feeling of sorrow or grief for inflicting pain or causing an injury or insult. Indian thinkers have described repentance as mental catharsis. It is an act of purification of mind. A man cannot unburden his conscience by concealing his actions or by suppressing the memory of his actions. The emotional stress and the burden imposed by a sense of guilt could be alleviated by bringing the memory of our actions to the consciousness and by giving expression to sorrow or grief caused by these actions. The offender does not merely regret his actions. He mentally experiences the pain caused by his actions and gives expression to the emotion of sorrow or grief. In the Indian tradition, grief is manifested by actually shedding tears of sorrow with which the offender cleanses the feet of his victim. This process of mental catharsis brings about changed conduct. Through repentance, man changes his thoughts, his desires, his habits, and his actions.

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