The redemption for the sinners in Hinduism is different from
Christianity. The sins you committed will not be washed by God because divine
nature resides in every living being and realization of this true redemption. In
Hinduism, the person has to realize the futility of sin and cleanse it and
merge with God. This may take several births.
A closer and deeper study of the fundamentals principles of
Hinduism reveals that though there is no room for forgiveness of sin in Hindu
teachings yet they fill the heart of a sinner with dignified hope and
confidence in the amelioration of the undesirable condition and the attainment
of perfectly moral life in course of time.
Whatever may be the cause of his sins, they can be exhausted
and put an end to by suffering. Having suffered once and having paid all this
karmic debts in the form of sorrow and sufferings of every description here and
hereafter, he becomes as pure as snow. He suffers because he sins, but deliverance
from evil tendencies and vicious propensities is entirely in this own hands.
However degraded and fallen a man may be, the moment he is awakened to his higher
nature, the Blissful Self, learns to identify himself with it rather than with
the form, he feels himself a better man and all his evil actions are burnt in the
fire of wisdom.
‘Even if thou art the most sinful of all sinners, yet shall
thou cross over all sins by the raft of wisdom (Gita IV. 36).
In considering the
fate of sinners in Hinduism the first great truth of Hinduism which must never
be forgotten is that the Divine nature resides in man. We may call that Divine
nature by any name we choose – God, Atman – its totality resides in Man.
In the wickedest sinner that Godhead resides in the
innermost heart of his being, with as perfect awfulness of the Godhead as in
the heart of the greatest saints. Brahmin and pariah are equally divine; and
the Brahmin who spurns the pariah but spurns the Godhead dwelling in his own
self. This is a well know teaching of Vedanta.
To realize the God within is the sole task of human life and
that Godhead is found equally in sinners as in saints.
No man is born perfect. According to Hindu teachings every
jiva has to tread the Pravritti marga before he returns Home through the
Nivritti marga. During his wanderings in search of happiness he blunders, makes
mistakes, commits sins and through prolonged suffering and sorrow learns the
needed lesson of vairagya, dispassion and then at long last, established
himself on the Path of perfection and self realization.
One who is called sinner today will be become saint tomorrow
through self realization.
There is no reason for sinner to be downcast and dejected.
He is the master of his destiny if he learns to make the right choice now, and
tries to improve himself through self effort.
Hinduism does not accept the theory which merely asks for
grace without earnest and persistent effort for eradication one’s vicious
tendencies. It is clearly indicated Hindu scriptures that grace does not serve
as a means of removing sin without serious effort on the part of the sinner.
The most important way for expiation of man’s sins as per
Hinduism is through acquisition of wisdom and right understanding of his real
inner nature.
Another method of expiation of sin is through the devotion
of one’s Ishta Devata (personal deity) and by seeing the Ishta Devata in all
living beings. By chanting the name of Ishta Devata and doing service to all
living beings and nature.
Source – excerpts from an article titled “Sinner’s Fate in
Hinduism” in Vedanta Kesari October 1945 Issue by Dr. M. H. Syed. M.A., Ph. D.,
D Litt