Revive Hinduism To Save India

1. What is Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma)?
2. Golden age of Islam and how it was influenced wholly by Indian thoughts.
3. Why Sanatana Dharma is undergoing a crisis today?
4. How this crisis is going to affect India?
5. Why Indians should own their culture?

1. What is Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) ?

I was a not serious about Hinduism even though I was born a Hindu. In the last 6 years I have spent time understanding it. It is actually Sanatana Dharma not Hinduism. It’s goal is simple: to understand the simple yet powerful truths that defy time and space. Let me explain.

The root of Hindu belief stems from Creation (Brahma), Sustenance (Vishu) and Destruction (Shiva). The trimurti or the Triumvirate. Everything in this Universe has to undergo this cycle. Nothing escapes.

Everything in this world is to be respected. To be born a Human being is a boon and hence life on Earth is considered to heaven. Killing animals is not considered a noble deed. That is why it promotes vegetarianism and to a large extent the Indian pacifism stems from this belief.

Now people would consider this to contradict with Castesism. It is perhaps one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented concepts in our history. Let me extend the idea of tolerance and explain it before I discuss castesism.

Even whent it comes to religious ideas or dogmas Sanatana Dharma is defined by the following idealogy.

Anyone who holds a view about God and rituals would fit into the following categories:

Theist - Believer in God : Ishwara Vadhin
Atheist- Non Believer in God : Anishwara Vadhin

Because of the binary nature of the western philosophies they misunderstood most things Indian. They could only see as black or white,true or false because of Socratian philosophy. We have two other forms

Believer in Vedas : Aasthik
Non believer in Vedas : Naasthik

So you could be any of the following

Believer in God and Believer in Vedas
Ishwara Vadhin and Aasthik

Believer in God but Non believer of Vedas
Ishwara Vadhin and Naasthik

Non believer in God but believer of Vedas
Anishwara Vadhi and Aasthik

Non believer in God and Non beliver of Vedas
Anishwara Vadhin and Naasthik

If anyone wonders why Indians are tolerant and were/are able to absorb every external influence(violent and non violent) with equanimity it is because of this inherant ability to tolerate differnt views on God and rituals. Would you guys believe Cavarkas were the first atheists(Anishwara Vadhin and Naasthik). They lived in 300 BC.

But unfortunately semitic and western religions have a problem with apostacy or blasphemy because in order to be called a muslim/christian you have to both accept Quran/Bible and Allah/Christ. At an intellectual plane this is very rigid. However this observation is not meant to attack their beliefs but to put forward the origin of tolerant nature of Indians.

Now let me come to the point on caste. Caste was never ordained in Sanatana Dharma because it runs contrary to the very principle of Vasudheva Kutumbakam(The world is one family). However the distinction of every human society will be based on the very roots of caste. Let me give you a perspective but never miss my point I am neither endorsing nor condoning castesism by birth or its associated disrimination.

And we all know it is based on the work we do. But there is a bigger truth behind it. Hinduism doesn’t endorse caste by birth even though many would cite Manu Smriti. Manu talks of Varna(meaning colour, not colour of skin but representation of each category like good health is pink and danger as red etc). So a Brahman(white), a Kshatriyan(Red), Vysyan(Yellow) and a Sudran(Black). But how can a religion that talks of truth perpetuate anything so badly discriminatory. Think about this: take any modern, advanced, developed country like UK for instance.

A. There are people who apply their brains and pursue reasearch, advancement of new technology, teaching etc. They are responsible for the forward movement of any human society. In effect they continually learn and apply. Foundation of this education is mostly while we are brahmacharis. Brahmachariam is essential to focus on education and that is why mostly we finish our education before we get into matrimonial relationships. This is how traditional gurukul used to work : Brahmans. Everyone who wishes to apply their brains should strive for excellence and should remain clean at heart and mind. White is the color that represents this state of mind. Purity…

B. People who bear arms to enforce law and order or defend the country’s borders : Kshatriyas
They are represented by color Red. State of flux with extreme emotions.

C. People who run the economy for providing jobs for masses and ensuring the circulation of money. They have a passion for trade, commerce and industry : Vyasyas. Slightly off color Red and it is Yellow.

D. There are people who do not fit into any of the above owing to the fact that they do not pursue education, do not have the courage to bear arms and do not possess the drive to earn money. There are about 15% of UK’s population that lives on benefits and other doles from the government. They neither possess the relevant skils nor are willing to acquire them : Sudras. This is primarily those who allow their mind to get corrupted or do not possess the discipline required to represent any of the above categories. I am sure all of you would accpet that fact that to achieve academically, militarily, or economically(financially) one needs enormous discipline. IMpurity is Black.

A human society will be composed of these four groups of people and this is a truth. This will defy time and space. Any competing thoughts about this fact are welcome. No one is born into this they end up becoming one of the above. No one can escape this phenomenon.

Like I said earlier this is how a human society will work even 3000 years from now. However this has nothing to do with one’s birth.

Just as everything got corrupted in its use and understanding even varnas(castes) were miunderstood and applied. It is sad that many Hindus do not know this because after repeated invasions and pludering the many institutions that existed in ancient India were destroyed. Hence people lost touch with their ethos and culture. That is all.

Every ritual and practise I have come across so far in my research has a purpose and meaning.

Take the concept of Dhristi(Understood as removing evil eye). People use a handful of salt and ask you stand facing East. They then move their arm in both clokwise and anti-clockwise in circular motion. And then point to your mounth and you then spit on it. The salt is then burnt. I thought this was utter nonsense and stupid thing to do unitl I realised its true scientific meaning. Salt is a natural anti-oxidant. Oxidants gathered on your epidermis is extremely toxic. So people asked you to align yourself not in the earth’s magnetic pole but across it facing East. By circular motion the salt in the palm absorbs all the oxidants and this make the oxidants reach the tip of our tounges. The remnant oxidants are then obsorbed and then burnt. Now I do not have a problem doing this to my daughter everday.

The concept of Aarthi also has a profound scientific meaning. When people come into your house you invite them with aarthi. What does the aarthi plate contain? It has kumkum(predominantly turmeric), beetle leaf(contains Mint), turmeric and camphor(remember the vicks vapourub it has 90% camphor in it). It is also very good for immunity. So they burn the camphor and use these ingredients to essentially sterilize the person so that he/she is immunised and thereby do not bring disease into the homes. Isn’t it a lovely concept based purely on scientific basis?

Also camphor is used in temples while poojas. And what do we do when we are shown the deepa-aradhnai? We take our palms and touch the flame. That is not what we should do. We should use the palms and take in the fumes of camphor and inhale them. This improves immunity. In olden days camphor was mostly imported and hence common man went to temples to benefit from these poojas.

The more I understand the reasons behind our rituals the more clearer and harmonious I become with my way of life and culture. It is essential not to discard or dismiss anything as religious or superstitious. It is definitely worth understanding the meaning of it.

As I mentioned earlier everything is symbolic in Hinduism. Swastika represents all the eight directions. Likewise 108 respresents another profound aspect. 108 is an important number and is no of times people chant Gayathri mantra or provide offerings to God. It represents the mean distance between the heavenly bodies. The mean distance between the Earth and the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Sun while the mean distance between the Earth and the Moon is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. The message is: just as heavenly bodies are in harmony with each other human beings should also endeavor to be in harmony with each other. One of the most civilized things that emerged out of this harmony is vegetarianism.

Can you name any culture or religion in the world that worships work(by-product of which is money) and education? Would any Hindu trample or step on a book or money? We wouldn’t. Believer or non believer in Hinduism Indians wouldn’t do this. Why? Because we value these things like God because without which you are nothing in this world and can do nothing worthy in this world: in one word Karma. Your work. And your work is determined by what you learn and apply. This aspect will defy time and space. This is true 4000 years ago and will be true 4000 years hence.

Matha Pitha Guru Devo. First is Mother who gives us life, next is Father who provides for us, Guru who enlightens us and makes us worthy and then comes God. Isn’t that a wonderful truth in human society. Would you ever worship and respect a parent is doesn’t do his/her duty?

2. Golden age of Islam and how it was influenced wholly by Indian thoughts.

I wouldn't want to get into the atrocities inflicted on the then Indians by the invading Arabs and subsequently the Mugals(Mongols). However one should also remember that the interaction between Arabs and Indians took place even before their invasion and plunder. A very good article by Arif Mohamed Khan (former minister) would help get an idea.

http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080617&fname=arif&sid=1

But major work on translations started after the arrival of Mohamed Ghazni (wrongly fabled as 17 attempts but rather were invasions). Al Beruni came along with him in 1024 AD. He is credited with understanding and translating works of art, science and music from Sanskrit to Arabic. Infact Al Beruni accounts the destruction inflicted by Ghazni on temples at Somnath, Mathura etc in his book. And how the destruction was purely aimed at enforcing opposition to Idol worship followed by Indians and propagation of Islam.

The problems associated with Islam today are not with the type of Islam India follows. it is purely with Wahabism. India largely follows sufi traditions which is an amalgamation of Indian and part Quranic thoughts(not wholly).

Wahabis abhor music and picturisation but Sufis in India have composed music using Indian music system (sa, re, ga, ma...) and painted several iconic works of art.

3. Why Sanatana Dharma is undergoing a crisis today?

It is purely due to the onslaught of Wahabism and Missionary driven propaganda. The missionaries have always wanted to convert Indians to Christianity by hook or crook. Sonia Gandhi (who was a Christian missionary in England) is pretty useful in many ways for them. Affidavit in Supreme Court against the existence of Lord Ram, destruction of Sethu Samudran, Amarnath controversy, aiding and abetting conversion are not going unnoticed. Christian onslaught is not a new phenomenon. I wish to quote Pope Gregory of 1604: Tolerate Castesism amongst hindu converts. Although it is an effective hurdle to the destruction of Hinduism.

That is why today we are all made to feel apologetic about caste but have been prevented from understanding the real meaning of it.

There is no voice today for those who wish to express their desire to talk about Hinduism. Declaring oneself as Hindus is considered to be derisive and their problems are largely ignored.

a. Kashimiri Pandits are one of the worst off in India. No one wants to talk about them. In Kearala Hindus are being murdered by NDF and Commies but the secular media wouldn't write about it.

b. In South Tamil Nadu I have seen many temples being destroyed by Christians.

c. Recently they declared Thiruvalluvar to be a Christian saint(couldn't get worse than this).

d. Tamil New Year has been banned in Tamil Nadu by DMK government and GO's were passed this year to prevent temples from celebrating it. They have instead moved the date to coincide with the Christian calendar. DMK cited that Tamil new year is a tamil festival but Tamil Muslims and Christians do not celebrate Tamil New year anyway.

e. All Hindu temples are controlled by Governments in India unlike other religions. Tamil nadu government banned Chidambaram temple from singing Sanskrit hymns. Great way to promote Tamil in temples but mosques and churches were spared of this law.

4. How this crisis is going to affect India?

Hindus will begin to feel the pinch sooner rather than later. To me Hindu mobilisation will be viewed by minorities as a danger. But how else would they prevent destruction of their timeless culture? This will affect peace and stability. Already NE india is fully Christian and they are fighting for separate Christian land. Media has completely blacked this out. Kashmir is slipping out. Recent Amarnath controversy was hailed as secular victory. While Haj pilgrimage is considered the duty of Secular India.

I believe patriotic and nationalistic Indians should see through the machinations of Congress and Commie parties. In the name of minority appeasement they are not only destroying minorities they are also antagonising Hindus. Recently I heard a High Court say that muslim girls although less than 18 years could get married after they attain puberty. This is not special treatment to muslims but encouraging women suppression and encouraging backwardness. Tax payers money to the tune of 6 lakh crore rupees are going to spent on Muslim development in the next five year plan. This will worsen the situation in India. Congress is destroying the fabric of this nation.
$150 billion dollars on a religious group is perhaps the first of its kind in the world where a majority does enjoy such privileges. If minorities are to be taken care of then Kashmiri Hindus should have got such treatment long time ago. And the same way in NE states.

5. Why Indians should own their culture?

The only answer to all these problems is to understand that all Indian regardless of their religious denomination accept the fact that their ancestors were also once Hindus and therefore extend the due respect and appreciation for their own history. That will solve most problems. It is the lack of respect and misplaced loyalties that contribute to suspicion. Also deliberate attempts to deny due recognition to INdian achievement have hurt many people including your truly.

For instance many still think the number system is Arabic. They say vedas were written by Muslims. Chrisitians claiming Vedas were written by Jews. And claiming great saints like Thiruvalluvar to be Chrisitian. These and many more such falsehoods will not only enrage Hindus it will push them to a corner.