Today is Makara Sankranti, celebrated across India to both herald the beginning of longer days, and reap the harvest of months of backbreaking work in the fields. But the greater significance of Makara Sankranti like most Hindu festivals, is to highlight another living instance of the amazing cultural unity of India. People in Karnataka exchange a mixture comprising sugarcane blocks–artistically moulded into various forms and figures and shapes of Gods, Goddesses, flowers, fruits, animals–white sesame seeds, jaggery, and a piece of sugarcane. In Andhra Pradesh, sugarcane is replaced by the jujube fruit (Regi Pandulu) and sweets and delicacies are prepared and offered to God. Assamese are more creative: they have on offer at least 10 different varieties of Pitha, a kind of rice cake. Gujaratis wait for this to zestfully fly kites all over and make Undhiyu and Chikkis (sweetmeat made of sesame, jaggery and peanuts). Maharashtra feasts on tilgul (sweetmeat made from sesame) and Gulpolis, and wish each other peace and prosperity. Tamil Nadu gorges on varieties of pongal–thai pongal, mattu pongal and kannum pongal, each variety of pongal as a way of offering gratitude to the Sun, cattle, and friends and relatives. Every state and place–Bundelkhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bengal, Goa, Kerala, and Orissa–has its unique way of celebrating Makara Sankranti but contains a subterranean thread that ties all of them with India. The hand that spins this thread till today is the same hand that enabled India to withstand the most barbaric attacks in history. Festivals like this provide a clue to the reason behind this incredible strength of the hand of Sanatana Dharma.
Among others, Sanatana Dharma’s greatest strength is its amazing power of adaptability, which gives it this strength. It responds to change in a manner and quickness that perhaps none of the other religions (desert death cults are not religions) can. This adaptability as history shows us, is multipronged, multifaceted, and dynamic. It took varities of forms in art, painting, music, epics, literature, religious practices, and social mores. It discarded practices that were no longer suited to the changed times but replaced them with suitable modifications and/or evolved newer ones. The underlying idea was a resolve that Sanatana Dharma was something worth preserving and dying for its preservation if necessary.
The earliest threat to Sanatana Dharma came from Buddhism, which our secular dunces claim rescued society from the evil Brahmins/caste system of Hindusim. When Buddhism arrived, Sanatana Dharma had become overtly ritualistic, which was pretty much Buddha’s diagnosis. However, over time, Buddhism became missionary and while people converted in large numbers, an irreversible corruption had set in. Santana Dharma responded by evolving the temple culture. This ensured that ordinary people had a terrific alternative to worship God apart from rituals. The role of temple culture in sustaining and preserving Sanatana Dharma can’t be emphasized enough. It created whole cities and towns around it, gave rise to some of the most magnificent works of art the world has seen, and in effect, propagated harmony in society.
Needless, the next biggest threat to Santana Dharma came in the form of seas of men on horseback motivated by a murderous, imperialist ideology. Islam’s grievous and protracted assault on Hinduism sustained because of a lack of awareness of its true nature. This assault continues to this day in various forms–negation and distortion of history, secularism, and mafia-style politics. It took a few centuries, but Hinduism responded by evolving the Bhakti movement and retelling our epics. The Bhakti movement arose in the wake of Islam’s homicidal record of smashing temples and not allowing new ones to be built. Additionally, the egalitarian Dhimmi “privileges” that Hindus enjoyed made it almost impossible for Hindus to even give expression to their deepest religious needs. The Bhakti movement stepped in to check the real danger of Sanatana Dharma eroding forever. It basically said that God didn’t exist merely in temples or in the mantras but in each of us. They exhorted people to preserve their way of life and worship in whatever form–nothing was taboo. The Bhakti saints worshipped our Gods and Goddess in songs composed in simple and/or rustic lyric in the local language. Rama became every Hindu’s neighbour and Krishna was just waiting on the other side of the river. These saints drew parallels from daily life, which helped immensely in retaining Sanatana Dharma as a living tradition. Over time, the sword of Islam was blunted to a great extent. South India saw a host of poets and writers and saints embark on a retelling of our epics. Sanatana Dharma owes enormous debt to all these souls.
The British takeover of India launched the other desert death cult Christianity, on Sanatana Dharma, which had begun to unshackle itself from Islam’s 800-year long attack. Christianity’s attack was refreshingly sophisticated but equally brutal. When it failed to persuade through several attempts, it reclothed its message and equated its Prophetic preaching with whatever parallel it found in Sanatana Dharma. In effect it said Christanity is no different from Santana Dharma–only the Gods and saints were different. Initially, significant numbers of “upper caste” Hindus converted. However, the gains were insignificant because almost in no time, the Hindu response was swift. Besides, a fierce tide of Hindu resurgence led by the likes of Swami Dayananda Saraswathi and Vivekananda pretty much scuttled conversion attempts. The Church quickly realized that it cannot win converts if it takes on Sanatana Dharma purely on the ground of religious precepts. Which is pretty much when the missionary vultures descended on the weaker, and poorer sections of Hindu society. The Church continues this preying activity unchecked today–any deception including but not limited to murder is justified in the service of the humanity, welfare, kindess, love, and compassion that Jesus Christ stood for. However, the greatest damage that the British enslavement of India did was to create the Macaulayite Class, who branched off later as Brown Sahibs and Marxists. This was something Islam couldn’t accomplish in 800 years. Sanatana Dharma responded in various ways: the likes of Swami Vivekananda tirelessly reawakening the Hindu pride, a whole galaxy of scholars who began digging into different aspects of their past and publishing it to the world, and freedom fighters who found inspiration in Sanatana Dharma‘s epics, scriptures, saints, and warriors.
Post-Independence, the Nehruvian regime continued the project of destroying Sanatana Dharma that the British had abandoned in a hurry. Till the late ’80s, the toxic atmosphere ensured that Hindus were ruthlessly put on the defensive. However, as a parallel development, an unpopular section of academics, thinkers, writers, and scholars worked silently and did two things, primarily: they produced top-notch defense of Sanatana Dharma and studied and exposed Islam and Christianity for what they are. Various organizations defended and championed Hindu causes in the political and social spheres. This paved way for yet another resurgence of Sanatana Dharma in the ’90s. But most importantly, it gave tremendous international exposure and support for Hindu causes. Obscure but valuable Hindu traditions were revived, and research began in areas like Ayurveda, astronomy, metallurgy, education, architecture, etc. However, this resurgence didn’t carry enough sustaining power and while it trudges ahead silently, the pace leaves a lot to be desired.
Tailpiece:
As we speak, Sanatana Dharma is relentlessly assaulted from almost all directions: Islam, the Church, Marxists, media, establishment, politicians, academics, and NGOs. What’s worse is the fact that a large portion of these attack originate from Hindus themselves. Hindus have mostly lost large parts of the North East to Christianity and continue to witness the results of a massive, ongoing conversion drive, while Islam continues to gain ground through the power of sheer numbers. Repeated attacks on Hindus, their way of life, places of worship, and institutions are denied, justified, obfuscated, or brazened away. Hindu response to these acts meet the same fate, and neither is the response significant. The continued apathy especially from the newly-emerged but large middle-class Hindus only adds to the magnitude of the threat. We only need to wait and see if Sanatana Dharma is capable of reasserting itself and showing the world the value it offers for eternity.
Tags: Attack on Sanatana Dharma, Cultural Unity of India, Defense of Hinduism, Defense of Santana Dharma, Dharma, Hindu, History, Indian Philosophy, Indian Politics, Makara Sankranti, Pseudosecularism, Pseudosecularism Hall of Shame, Response of Hinduism to Challenges, Sanatana Dharma, Sankranti, Strength of Hinduism, Strength of Sanatana Dharma
Sanatan Dharma is the original culture of this world, and there was a time when it was spread throughout the world. People can find swastika in every culture like the American Indians, Greece, troy, Italy, Russia and many other countries have this symbol. Look at the 108 symbols of god in Sanatan Dharma and their origin. Things will become very clear about the origin of humanity in this world. It is time to free ourselves from the lies and deception spread throughout the world about our culture.
Dont forget, even today in Sanskrit and Hindi the words for Divorce and any other abusive words do not exist.
Arya samaj was made in the time period of 1800?s, when India was under complete domination of foreign rule. Arya samaj is the attempt to make sanatan dharma into a monotheistic religion, watered down its ancient methods to the very basic.
Look at the vatican square – it is the shiva lingum . It proves that it used to be a ancient culture of Sanatan dharma, which was taken over by the romans and converted.
Vatican – Vatica ie. Anand Vatica – garden of happiness. This was a forced transformation. Now people dont even remember. Only traces of truth remain.
The discussions will always be intevened by chirstians, muslims, atheist and Hindus who have not remianed hindus due to 1000 years of invasion of christians and muslims and so each such blog in wolrd, each videos like youtube receive many -ve comments. The outsiders come with mindset not willing to change and damage the discussions too. There is comment and reply. Well that is good in some sense but many newcomers who can retain Hinduism escape on seeing this online dialogues.
Anyways Swaminarayan Akshardham is one of creation and BAPS is a movement which will revive Sanatan Dharma in full glory. It is happening and will happen.
Sudarshan,
Thanks for the links. After Muslims, it is now pope’s turn to act like a victim while real victims struggle to find a listener to their grievances. Now this man would come to India some day and then entire media would run after him to report on his holiness’ grievances.
Oops, one more unsolicited opinion:
Why do some people post on blogs with multiple identities? I am developing my ideas on this question as well. I think they admire the terrorist’s tactic. If a terrorist is bound by an armyman’s reasonably honorable code of conduct, he cannot accomplish his terrorist objectives. A G.I cannot choose random, non-combatant targets. He cannot kill an armed opponent who wishes to surrender. The trouble with assuming a single, consistently-used net identity is that the guerrilla tactic cannot be used. With multiple identities, consistency of stand and logic can be dispensed with. If you think about it, a terrorist is a coward. In all likelihood, the terrorist’s dad was an asshole too. Boils down to parenting.
Comrade Shaz,
You aired some unsolicited opinion. You seem to love that sort of thing. Here are my unsolicited opinions, in no particular order:
1. Seriously man, it’s a bad idea to justify communist murder with insensate rationalizations like, “but how does Nandigram discredit communist ideology?” etc. Killing innocent people is not justifiable, no matter what gobbledygook cause one believes in; whether it be the upliftment of the proles or the “freedom struggle” of the Palestinians.
2. The innate intolerance of Abrahamic faiths is brilliantly explained by liberals like Richard Dawkins. The point is that the Christian belief system doesn’t need excuses like the presence of caste system to spread hate against Hindus; its holy book provides ample _theological_ justification for doing so. Some atheist critics of the faith also stress its racist nature. Being essentially white man’s/European’s religion, it continues to serve an imperialist cause.
3. Why do I make point #2 above? Because I am developing my ideas on how the vice-like grip that Abrahamic faiths exercise on identities came to be. How do religious loyalties develop? I am interested in this question as an atheist. Take a dude named D’Souza or Briganza. What makes him a religious fanatic? In all likelihood, misery forced a Gaonkar or a Shirodkar to become D’Souza/Briganza. Perhaps a man was converted on pain of death — the Portuguese were ruthless. Or maybe a pious padre raped an unfotunate woman, all in the name of god. To me a European surname on a dark-skinned Indian conveys embarrassment. I am not suggesting for that reason these names should be dropped. My wonderment is at the power of Abrahamic faiths in transforming defensiveness into fanaticism. Many Muslims likewise believe that their pre-Muslim past was darkness. Naipaul calls this the “convert’s neurosis”.
Shaz – Agree.. .there are some caste based discriminations.. but the colossal entities that propogates discrimination is the government and politicians. Sanatana Dharma does not have anythign to do with it. But, that does not give free license / excuse to anyone to come into my country and con people. People will continue to criticize us regardless. Because, we dont fit their bill… They will criticize us until we toe their line. Let us not be a football of other people’s opinions, but at the same time learn to look at ourselves critically.
Shaz,
Caste based discrimination does not only exist amongst Hindus. So how come we have never seen an African pope yet?
My husband once recalled how he went to a christain aids hospice and all the women actually doing the dirty work when it came to taking care of the patients were poor tribal girls, not the nuns. So this is not discrimination? That HIndus (and not Christians and Muslims) are the only ones to practice discrimination is the biggest myth propagated by the Indian media (and its not hard to guess what sources most of this media gets its funding from)–
@Sid
“I may come up with a list of initiatives to stop conversion, but there are other more capable and dedicated gentlemen who has done terrific works in this regard. Try Shourie’s “Missionaries in India” (title may be slightly different) for a basic idea if you are interested.”
I would love to read it right now, unfortunately, my financial restrictions right now(poor grad student
) do not allow me to buy the book, but I would do definitely try to buy the book in the book in the near future. All though in the mean time I would love to hear what your suggestions are on the matter.
@ OT
“Let me guess. Comrade Shaz here is going to claim that he is a Hindu. To add a touch of authenticity, the good comrade is going to claim that he is a brahmin. (Only brahmin Hindus are authentic Hindus in the commie-catholic worldview). Or has he done both already, without wasting much time that is?”
Well since you are so interested in classifying into one member of your commie-catholic-Islamic fundamentalist-Jewish Zionist-Media lackey nexus plots to rule the world, let me lay down what I believe in. I don’t believe in the system that caste is itself is hereditary. I think one has to earn the right to be a Brahamana, Kshathriya, Vysha or Shudhra. I don’t think our karmas in our previous lives are responsible for a caste you are born into. Our Karmas this life would dictate where we fall into this varanas. After all if i claim to be from any one of the castes by birth it would defeat my argument.
@2bornot2b
“There is nothing in this world without a flaw, even a beautiful full moon. If you cannot accept missionaries are agressors, I am afraid there is no meeting point and therefore no point in discussing this”.
Well I will not dispute that they are aggressors, but by continuing to have caste based discrimination we are just painting a big bull’s eye on ourselves. Why give them an opportunity to criticize us at all, its not that we are looking for their approval but we are just following the basic tenement of Hinduism to the be compassionate to all living things starting with your fellow human being.
For those of you who have stepped up to call me everything from a media lackey to a full blown commie-catholic, (which I think is a cross between communist and a catholic which having a cross between a cat and a dog, catdog) I must ask you do you people actually believe that we have discrimination based on caste lines or not. If your answer is no, well my advice is stop living in a denial mode. If you agree that we do have caste based discrimination, I am asking as someone who cares for the welfare of the Sanatana Dharma that we play a part in stopping it.
FYI
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100125/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_christian_unity;_ylt=AtUWgYiUrQhjOFRTtNuYSkY7Xs8F;_ylu=X3oDMTMxNzgwbGJjBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMTI1L2V1X3ZhdGljYW5fY2hyaXN0aWFuX3VuaXR5BHBvcwMxMgRzZWMDeW5fcGFnaW5hdGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNwb3BlZGVjcmllc2E-
Let me guess. Comrade Shaz here is going to claim that he is a Hindu. To add a touch of authenticity, the good comrade is going to claim that he is a brahmin. (Only brahmin Hindus are authentic Hindus in the commie-catholic worldview). Or has he done both already, without wasting much time that is?
Shaz – you are saying “Look guys I am not saying those guys are not using money, muscle and media power to get what they want. I am just saying we have flaws too which are helping them. The fact that we people do know theses facts should do something about it”.
When a Karate black belt breaks into your house and beats you up and steals your stuff, would you say the blame lies with yourself for not having a black belt like the thief? It is impossible to compete with rich nations when it comes to missionary activies or activities mainly meant for conversion but disguised as social service activities. (just like our TV manufacturers cannot compete with Sony). But there are trade restirictions for economic, but sadly none for social issues. Check out Vietnam, China and Thailand and see why missionaires have not been able to spread their deviousness… it is because of the laws. Not because religions followed in China, Vietnam and Thailand are perfect and do not have any flaws. WHEN YOU FIGHT WITH A AGRESSOR, DONT TRY TO VICTIMISE YOURSELF BY LOOKING AT YOUR FLAWS. . There is nothing in this world without a flaw, even a beautiful full moon. If you cannot accept missionaries are agressors, I am afraid there is no meeting point and therefore no point in discussing this.
Larissa,
Finally found someone who shares the same feelings abt the jew pandering.
Jews can look after themselves very well.I admire them for how they have survived. We do not have to look after them
Little do people realize that all three abrahamic religions have subjugated us. The EIC was dominated by Jewish houses.
No one will look out for us but ourselves and we need to stand on our own two feet.
Shaz,
“So what exactly is your idea of defense? Should we kill all the Muslims, Christians in India would that solve the problem?” – And may I ask where did I say that random violence would solve the problem? Random violence never solves anything, it complicates the problem. I may come up with a list of initiatives to stop conversion, but there are other more capable and dedicated gentlemen who has done terrific works in this regard. Try Shourie’s “Missionaries in India” (title may be slightly different) for a basic idea if you are interested.
“PS just a request, that we do not make labels(“pseudo intellectuals in media and their followers like you”) when we are trying to make a point.” – Request rejected. You yourself started the labeling game first. -> “…first reforming our religion before we go on blaming the others.”
We are not blaming someone here, we are accusing others with definite proof of conversion activities. Had the government listened, we would not be talking here.
Shaz – I gave you a lot of facts. Explain these facts and why you are completely comfortable with them.
Well I was expecting backlash and boy did I get it
Anyway
You must also know that the annual GDP of Nagaland is one billion dollars (one thousand million dollars) but the Nagas are tribals.
So what? Nagaland does have people involved in agriculture, in fact 90% of them and besides 1.4 billion is not a lot of money as GDP. If you do have any proof that a “top bosses of the Southern Baptist Church” is getting a load of money I would like to see it.
@Sid
“The religion itself does not need any change. It needs correct interpretation so that better social structures can be facilitated”. I am sorry I should have written reform in religion instead of change of in religion. I was thinking it would have the same understanding and it didn’t so my bad.
“Why should that stop us to arrange for the defense?”
So what exactly is your idea of defense? Should we kill all the Muslims, Christians in India would that solve the problem?
“If a few so-called Dalits go out and get converted, I do not see a problem”. Why do you want anybody to move out of the religion?
“Secular good-natured people like you who preach peace and understanding to your own”
I like the fact you called me good natured, I just hope that you were sincere when you said that.
@ Kaffir
“Slavery, killing of women (burning or stoning), intolerance and killing of non-Abrahamic people – to name a few. How are these “features” better that caste-based discrimination (the one stick used to beat Hindus), is beyond me”.
It is not better in anyway but unfortunately they dont have to live with most of them and the fact that they do have to live with caste-based discrimination, not that it goes away
completely if you get converted but the prospect of being slightly richer and discriminated would seem more lucrative then being poor and discriminated.
Look guys I am not saying those guys are not using money, muscle and media power to get what they want. I am just saying we have flaws too which are helping them. The fact that we people do know theses facts should do something about it.
PS just a request, that we do not make labels(“pseudo intellectuals in media and their followers like you”) when we are trying to make a point. After all we are in this forum to understand others point of view about a subject. I mean I can also call this guy fanatical dickhead but that doesn’t really get me anywhere in the argument does it. If you do have a point please make it without adding adjectives to the guy whom you disagree with.
Shaz,
And why are the Abrahamic religions so attractive vis-a-vis Sanatan Dharm? Do the people who migrate to these other religions not see the big flaws (historical as well as current) in these Abrahamic religions? Slavery, killing of women (burning or stoning), intolerance and killing of non-Abrahamic people – to name a few. How are these “features” better that caste-based discrimination (the one stick used to beat Hindus), is beyond me.
Ladies & gentemen,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/viewsvirsanghvi/New-findings-on-the-new-media/Article1-501070.aspx
Expect some more “secular”, “intellectual” and “important” egg-heads appearing in blogosphere after one of the cheer leading “intellectual” observed that the new trend is going out of their hands and defending Hindutva (oh God, the world must be ending soon). Aaahhh, even the blogs will be filled with that kind of crap we see in “mainstream” media.
@SHAZ,
“…because we have many internal flaws that we need to recognize that and start changing the religion for better.”
The religion itself does not need any change. It needs correct interpretation so that better social structures can be facilitated. The moment you say that this religion needs a change, you have already fallen for the propaganda.
“…isn’t perfect and fact is these flaws become compelling reasons for people to migrate to other religions.” – let us hear a few first. Caste? Pretty much a missionary line of argument. Caste is not exactly a pan-Indian reality and there are many sects within Hinduism that does not consider castes.
“Well the point I am basically trying to emphasize here is the fact we do need to introspect on first reforming our religion before we go on blaming the others.” – Our religion is the oldest surviving religion, we apparently has got a lot of old baggage in our practices. Every other religion has them. That did not stop the Abrahamic religions to get converts as many as possible. Why should that stop us to arrange for the defence? Introspection is done by many but conversion and a media promoted hatred against us are not exactly hot intellectual pursuits. These are realities that pseudo intellectuals in media and their followers like you fail to recognize. If a few so-called Dalits go out and get converted, I do not see a problem. But if these people come back and decide that stopping our worship may be a good idea or donating money so that media persons can be brought to attack on “idolaters” is a holy responsibility, then that is a huge risk. Secular good-natured people like you who preach peace and understanding to your own when they get butchered yet fail to mention this in front of followers of Abrahamic faith are the main reason our problems are compounded each day.
Strength of Sanatana Dharma…
It is an excellent write-up. The plight of Kashmi pandits are not taken up by any politicians. If such situation has arisen for Muslims or Christians what a hue and cry would be made on streets by these politicians. Look at Tamil Nadu where none other than the Chief Minister himself speaks ill of Hindu Gods and Hinduism where as keeps mum on other religious gods/ practices even though he is a well acclaimed atheist.
The main problems with Hindus are they are divided and never realises that only unity amongst them would help them
Prasad
“-Well thats debatable look at all the comments above. The message you would get is that we are under constant attack from external agencies who use underhanded methods of trying to destroy the religion,”
Here are some facts. Read them and decide whether there is an attack or not -
1. Hindus have been killed and chased out their homes in the Kashmir valley. About half a million are refugees in New Delhi camps, and even more spread throughout India. If you are a non-muslim in Kashmir without an army escort, you will be beheaded. All politicians of Kashmir are muslim.
2. Nagaland, a state populated by tribals and the target of the Southern Baptist church (U.S.) is 95% baptist and the Wiki page of Nagaland states that about 25,000 people have been killed in the “seperatist” (actually christian) violence in the last 30 years. The count of 25,000 is official, but in a state that is heavily forested, can you really count how many innocent Nagas were the victims of the “holy” missionaries ? You must also know that the annual GDP of Nagaland is one billion dollars (one thousand million dollars) but the Nagas are tribals ? Where is the money going ? To the top bosses of the Southern Baptist Church.
3. Mizoram, another state of India populated by tribals, is now 87% christian. Read up on a story similar to Nagaland.
4. Prannoy Roy is Prannoy James Roy. Ambika Soni is a christian. Raul John Paul is going under the moniker of Rahul Gandhi. About 70% of Main Stream Media is controlled by different churches. This is why they don’t talk about the North East, and the truth about Kashmir. They are not concerned about national interest, only getting as many converts so that they can earn more money. You do know about tithe in the cult of christianity ?
@larissa,
these same people who have nothing in common with us have screwed up civilizations across Americas, Europe and Asia. If Hindus still refuse to understand Abrahamic dynamics and functioning there would be no bigger fools. The dharmic religions which were running universities for centuries in curreent day pakistan, Afganistan have disappeared in a matter of days becoz they never bothered to understand and deal with people who were different from them. I think understanding the differences, knowing any little similarities is worthy. Otherwise, we will continue to blindly buy their propaganda.
@Larissa
“No one is blaming here”
-Well thats debatable look at all the comments above. The message you would get is that we are under constant attack from external agencies who use underhanded methods of trying to destroy the religion, but we are not even trying to address the fact we are succumbing to those tactics are because we have many internal flaws that we need to recognize that and start changing the religion for better.
I meant to say quite “capable” of…
Yes, Hindus have to find ways to bring marginalized groups into the fold…
No one is blaming here–its important for Hindus to understand properly their religion and heritage so they can sustain it properly–yes, people have to try to bring marginalized groups to the Hindu or Buddhist or to the Dharmic religious fold if they do not want these people to be lost to the other faiths, who are only keen to add members as that is their creed.
As for Jews being compared to Hindus, that is nonsense–moreover they are pretty of engaging in propaganda for themselves without Hindus taking their side….
I know this post is probably going to invite a lot of criticism but I do want to know if this is something that we well, don’t want to talk about loud. I know for a fact that a lot of comments made out here hit against every other religion that exists here but you do have to admit that our religion (Sanathana Dharma) isn’t perfect and fact is these flaws become compelling reasons for people to migrate to other religions. I am not saying there isn’t forced conversion in all places but people do convert due to the way they are treated in our religion. The majority of the people converting to other religions are dalits. I mean the fact that we do have a whole lot of the rural side and following such discrimination in my mind is no different from untouchability (ex: the The wall in the Uthapuram village of Madurai district). I have always believed that any any religions have survived because they can reform itself during the right time. Sanathna Dharma itself has survived because it has undergone such reform ,the deeds of Shankaracharya and the Bhakthi Movements being examples of these. Well the point I am basically trying to emphasize here is the fact we do need to introspect on first reforming our religion before we go on blaming the others.
OK. What is your point? From the point of view of religion purely, the three revealed religions have a lot in common amongst themselves–which is why it is easier for them to understand each other than for Buddhists or Hindus to understand them. The Jews have never had a home since they were dispersed millenia ago. The have been living as minorities everywhere in Europe and the Middle-East. Hindus have a country and a continuous civilization–they are not some minority group throughout history–despite the recent diaspora more or less Hindus have been identified with India which has continued to exist if not as a political entity from back in time, at least it has continued as a cultural entity which encompassed the subcontinent . In Spain and Jews and Christians were considered second class citizens when the Muslims took over. So by your logic Jews and Christians are the same.
My point is that the Abrahamic religions have more in common with each other, none of them display any sympathy for dharmic religions, and Hindus in general should not be concerned with quarrels between the various Abarhamic sects, but focus on preserving what is their own, and focus on their own problems. I don’t see why there are concerned with people they have nothing in common with–either culturally, philosophically or even racially for that matter.
For the weekend
http://www.zimler.com/books.php?id=37&det=1
Shortly after Portuguese troops conquered Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510, they began forcing the tens of thousands of Hindu residents to convert to Christianity. In 1540, during a wave of fanaticism, they destroyed 300 Hindu temples, many of them built in ancient times. Then, in 1545, a Spanish Jesuit missionary named Francis Xavier petitioned the Portuguese Crown to establish the Inquisition. Once the king’s approval had been secured, the former Hindu population of Goa , as well as the hundreds of secret Jews living there, found themselves at the complete mercy of the Church. Simply keeping a statue of Shiva in a family shrine, or whispering a Hebrew prayer over the grave of a loved one, became a serious criminal offence. Those discovered to be practicing their old beliefs in secret were summarily arrested and tortured in dungeons, kept in shackles by priests hoping to force them to divulge the names of friends and family members who had joined them in their ‘heretical’ practices.
Anyway, this discussion was about Hinduism. Don’t see how Jewish people figure in it in any way. When I read their holy books, I cannot see any commonality at all–Sorry.
As far as I can see there is absolutely no commonality between the experience of the Jews and the Hindus–neither in thought, culture, race or outlook. I can’t speak for the jewish experience– but they are no longer “victimized” in any sort of fashion as far as I can see. Its a complete misunderstanding of history to compare them to Hindus. And as for proselytization–I don’t agree with you–the proselytization is in a different manner from Christians or Muslims, but is there nevertheless in its own fashion…