I'm witnessing upsurge in sacrileges, such as—
I wonder, what are the consequences of such actions? or in other words, what are the sins attached to blasphemy?
A punishment which one has to face in the afterlife is given in Devi Bhagavata Purana 9.33.
The wretch that abuses Mûla Prakriti, the Vedas, the S’âstras, Purânas, Brahmâ, Visnu, S’iva and the other Devas, Gaurî, Laksmî, Sarasvatî and the other Devîs, goes to the hell named Bhayânaka Narakakunda. There is no other hell more tormenting than this. The sinners live here for many Kalpas and ultimately become serpents. There is no sin greater than the abuse of the Devî. There is no expiation for it. So one ought never to abuse the Devî. If one discontinues the allowances given by oneself or other persons to the Devas or Brâhmanas, one goes to Visthâ Kunda and has to eat the faeces there for sixty thousand years and finally to be born in Bhârata as worms in faeces the same number of years.
This includes punishments for abusing both deities and the scriptures.
Such actions can be done in following ways:
One doesn't intend to harm, but due to some indirect actions, a person ends up damaging something. This doesn't result in anything as there was no purpose behind it. Some people feel sorry and some don't. Both are OK.
The Qn is not about this category, so not discussing much.
Many have the only ability to hate, they simply can't love. Hence they use this "hate" as a tool to worship God. If they are serious about what they are doing with single pointed steadfastness, then it's a kind of devotion (Bhakti). Which is called Shatru Bhakti. i.e. Worshipping god by animosity
Ultimately this hateful person either wants to kill the god or wants get killed by that god. Examples:
And while Sisupala was speaking thus, the exalted slayer of Madhu thought in his mind of the discus that humbleth the pride of the Asuras. ... the chief of the Yadus, that slayer of all foes, in anger, instantly cut off the head of the ruler of Chedi by means of his discus. And the mighty-armed one fell down like a cliff struck with thunder. And, O monarch, the assembled kings then beheld a fierce energy, like unto the sun in the sky, issue out of the body of the king of Chedi, and O king, that energy then adored Krishna, possessed of eyes like lotus leaves and worshipped by all the worlds, and entered his body. And all the kings beholding the energy which entered that mighty-armed chief of men regarded it as wonderful. [source]
Whichever god we love or hate, we end up merging with them. Depending on emotion, the merger would be either pleasant or despicable.
Now some people simply deride the god to have some distorted fun.
Yes, this is also a worshipping like above, but it's not steadfast or serious. Such people get their dues exactly in the same way due to Karma.
BG 4.11 - The way they approach Me, exactly in same way I serve them; O Partha, all human beings follow My path in every way.
BG 9.11 - Ignorant people who have taken a human body, make fun of Me, not knowing My supreme nature as the Lord of all beings
From Shiva Gita, Virodhi Bhakti too if in excess resulting into devotion, can become cause of liberation.
अनादरेण शाठ्येन परिहासेन मायया . शिवभक्तिरतश्चेत्स्यादन्त्यजोऽपि विमुच्यते [21]
Anyone while doing criticism, or while disrespecting, or due to jealousy, if gets devoted or gains devotion for Shiva, he would get cleansed of all the Sins immediately.
Excessive thinking of Lord even in the mood of hated/abuse results in Moksha only.
By enmity or by devotional service, by fear, by affection or by lusty desire — by all of these or any one of them — if a conditioned soul somehow or other concentrates his mind upon the Lord, the result is the same, for the Lord, because of His blissful position, is never affected by enmity or friendship.(SB 7.1.26)
Many, many persons have attained liberation simply by thinking of Kṛṣṇa with great attention and giving up sinful activities. This great attention may be due to lusty desires, inimical feelings, fear, affection or devotional service. I shall now explain how one receives Kṛṣṇa’s mercy simply by concentrating one’s mind upon Him. My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, the gopīs by their lusty desires, Kaṁsa by his fear, Śiśupāla and other kings by envy, the Yadus by their familial relationship with Kṛṣṇa, you Pāṇḍavas by your great affection for Kṛṣṇa, and we, the general devotees, by our devotional service, have obtained the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. Somehow or other, one must consider the form of Kṛṣṇa very seriously. Then, by one of the five different processes mentioned above, one can return home, back to Godhead. Therefore, one must somehow think of Kṛṣṇa, whether in a friendly way or inimically.(SB 7.1.30-32)
From Shrimad Bhagavatam 4.4.17:
- When the Supreme Lord (Śiva), the protector of religion, is blasphemed by restraintless people, one should shut one’s ears and leave the place if he is powerless (to kill the slanderer or die in the action). If he is powerful enough, he should, by force, cut off the vituperative tongue which utters such evil words, and lay down his own life (if necessary for that). Such is the course of righteous duty (dharma).
From Kurma Purana
- If one spits at or reviles in front of Devas and the sages, one should burn one's tongue by means of a firebrand. Gold too should be given as gift.
- If any Brahmana passes urine in the garden of Devas (i.e. in the precincts of shrines) even for once, his penis should be cut off for the sake of expiation and *he should perform Candrayana rite.
- If out of delusion, an excellent Brahmana passes urine in the sanctum sanctorum of a temple; his penis should be cut off. He should perform the Candrayana rite.
From Manusmriti:
Adhyay 11 Shlok 56:
Neglecting the Veda, reviling the Veda, bearing false witness, slaying a friend, and eating of forbidden and unfit food,—these six are equal to ‘wine-drinking.’—(56)
Adhyay 9 Shlok 237:
For violating the preceptor’s bed the sign of the female organ shall be branded; for drinking wine that of the tavern; for theft that of the dog’s foot; and for killing a Brāhmaṇa that of a headless man.—(297)
Adhyay 9 Shlok 280:
9.280. Those who break into a (royal) storehouse, an armoury, or a temple, and those who steal elephants, horses, or chariots, he shall slay without hesitation.
(Breaking into a Mandir could be considered Ninda or Blasphemy)
Gautama (21.10).—‘Giving false evidence, calumnies which will reach the ears of the king, an untrue accusation against the Guru, are equal to the Mahāpātakas.’
Do. (37.1-5).—‘Setting one’s self up by false statements, making statements which will reach the ears of the King, regarding a minor offence committed by some one, unjustly upbraiding a Guru, reviling the Veda, forgetting the studied Vedic texts; these are crimes of the fourth degree.’
Yājñavalkya (3.228-29).—‘Insulting one’s Guru, reviling the Veda, killing a friend, forgetting what has been learnt, these are equal to Brāhmaṇa-killing; eating forbidden food, dishonesty, lying for aggrandisement, kissing a woman in the courses, are equal to wine-drinking.’
हर हर महादेव जी जय जय सनातन धर्म ਹਰ ਹਰ ਮਹਾਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਜਯ ਜਯ ਸਨਾਤਨ ਧਰ੍ਰਮ
