Even in ancient times as well such superstitious practices came about and leaders in society had fought against them.
In the Hindu epic Mahabharatha, one can see Krishna disapproving human sacrifices by a powerful king named Jayadratha, considering such sacrifices violation of Ahimsa (nonviolence) and the Vedic teachings. Before the human sacrifice of a hundred men were about to be performed, Krishna and his cousin Bheema challenges Jayadratha to a duel and kills him, and liberates the imprisoned men.
The efforts of founders of the reformatory sects Arya Samaj and Brahmo Samaj , Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Rajaram Mohan Roy were instrumental in banning of Sati and other superstitious practices like casteism, untouchability, that had no basis in the Vedas and had crept up with time.
The reforms brought about by the Arya Samaj was mentioned by the Indian president Radhakrishnan as crucial in developing a humane and just legal constitution of India.
The Guru is one who destroys ignorance and unconsciousness and makes one aware, virtuous and mindful, and examples are Krishna and the Buddha.
If the so-called guru indulges in vice and unconscious acts, he is not a guru but a fraud. The enlightened sage Kabir had advocated critical examination to differentiate between genuine Gurus and frauds.
I had created a thread in this regard...
Many deceptive preachers, when critically examined, turn out to be false. - Kabir The enlightened master Kabir here has given a formula for weeding out the false and fraudulent, which has been the scourge of Hinduism and other religions, giving the appearance of the true as false and the...
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