What and Why of Hindu absurdities /Gap in Hindu philosophy and action / What Hindus lack:
Anyone reading my comments since beginning will wonder if Hinduism is so great than y the hell Hindus r not the best people of earth – y r they so poor, filthy & full of superstition and India so backward & dirty – since actions stem from thought and thought is guided by philosophy – so if philosophy is great then y action so poor – what use is the great philosophy if it cannot translate into right action – wont it be better to have less sublime philosophy but resulting in better action.(Gist of all your criticism)
My response to the above :
The factors influencing human behavior are external and internal. By external, I mean societical norms, conflict/peace, openness to criticism, equality in opportunity, etc. and by Internal, I mean the way u think, personal values, ethics, interpersonal relationship, etc. The two r quite inter-related - one influencing the other.
So let us discuss these internal and external factors among Hindus in two eras : pre and post 1000 AD.
At the turn of 1000 AD :
Facts : India was a one of the leading civilization of the world in all possible attributes – was cultured, had quest for science, was wealthy, religion was a personal matter – as kings were not fighting for supremacy of ones god, had flourishing art, architecture, song, dance, etc..
Facts : India was a one of the leading civilization of the world in all possible attributes – was cultured, had quest for science, was wealthy, religion was a personal matter – as kings were not fighting for supremacy of ones god, had flourishing art, architecture, song, dance, etc..
Here are few of the Albruni’s observations (of early 1000 AD):
Social customs :
on theological topics "at the utmost they fight with words, but they will never stake their soul or body or their property on religious controversy." (Sachau:19) (debating is the way to solve matters)
on theological topics "at the utmost they fight with words, but they will never stake their soul or body or their property on religious controversy." (Sachau:19) (debating is the way to solve matters)
"In all consultations and emergencies they take advice of the women."
“want to converse with the Hindus, and to discuss with them the questions of religion, science, or literature, on the very basis of their own civilization." (Sachau:xvii, xix, xxiii)
Science :
“While discussing astronomical calculations regarding the order of the planets, their distances and sizes, he reminds the reader the purpose of his book once again --- to discuss subjects "which either are noteworthy for their strangeness, or which are unknown among our own people (the Muslims) and our (the Muslim) countries." (Sachau:80)”
“While discussing astronomical calculations regarding the order of the planets, their distances and sizes, he reminds the reader the purpose of his book once again --- to discuss subjects "which either are noteworthy for their strangeness, or which are unknown among our own people (the Muslims) and our (the Muslim) countries." (Sachau:80)”
“he goes on to accept that "the numeral signs which we use have been derived from the finest forms of Hindu signs." Having observed the names of the orders of the numbers in various languages he had come in contact with, Alberuni found that no nation goes beyond the thousand including the Arabs. Those who beyond the thousand in their numeral system are the Hindus who extend the names of the orders of numbers until the 18th order. (Sachau:174)”
Pulisa has adopted the relation between the circumference and diameter of a circle to be 3 177/1250 which comes out to 3.1416. (Sachau:169)
While ancient puranic traditions about the earth and heavens and their creation still existed, but these were in direct opposition to the scientific truths known to Indian astronomers.
(meaing – though religious myths say one thing about universe – Hindu scientist held view contrary to these myths)
(meaing – though religious myths say one thing about universe – Hindu scientist held view contrary to these myths)
Quoting Brahamgupta, Alberuni wrote:
“Besides all astronomical observations are not correct unless we assume the globular shape of heaven and earth. Therefore we must declare that heaven is a globe, and the observation of these characteristics of the world would not be correct unless in reality it were a globe. Now it is evident that all other theories about the world are futile." (Sachau:268)
“Besides all astronomical observations are not correct unless we assume the globular shape of heaven and earth. Therefore we must declare that heaven is a globe, and the observation of these characteristics of the world would not be correct unless in reality it were a globe. Now it is evident that all other theories about the world are futile." (Sachau:268)
Aryabahata thought that the earth is moving and the heaven resting. Many astronomers contested this saying were it so, stones and trees would fall from earth. But Brahamgupta did not agree with them saying that that would not happen apparently because HE THOUGHT ALL HEAVY THINGS ARE ATTRACTED TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. (Sachau:276-7)
“Sachau observes these ideas had not changes much since the eighth century when the knowledge of Hindu sciences were communicated to the Arabs.”
Alberuni wrote that the educated Hindus determine the daily phases of the tides by the rising and setting of the moon, the monthly phases by the increase and waning of the moon; but the physical cause of the both phenomenon is not understood by them. (Sachau:105)
Hindu Laws:
Alberuni observed Hindu laws are derived from their rishis, the pillars of their religion and NOT from the prophets i.e. Narayana.. "Narayana only comes into this world in the form of human figure to set the world right when things have gone wrong. Hindus can easily abrogate their laws for they believe such changes are necessitated by the change of nature of man. Many things which are now forbidden were allowed before". (Sachau:106-7)
– so laws were secular and changed as per need of time
Caste System :
Alberuni observed Hindu laws are derived from their rishis, the pillars of their religion and NOT from the prophets i.e. Narayana.. "Narayana only comes into this world in the form of human figure to set the world right when things have gone wrong. Hindus can easily abrogate their laws for they believe such changes are necessitated by the change of nature of man. Many things which are now forbidden were allowed before". (Sachau:106-7)
– so laws were secular and changed as per need of time
Caste System :
“makes no mention of any oppression of low caste by the upper castes”.
(so this is no Subramanyam Swami or Rajiv Malhotra – but original source)
Original Book :
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_5949073_001/
India as Alberuni saw it
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_5949073_001/
India as Alberuni saw it
While cursory going through one of the chapters he mentions that Hindus were arrogant – “they considered no Nation equal to theirs, no King like theirs, no religion as theirs, no science as theirs. They r haughty, foolishly vain, self conceited and stolid” – does it remind you of some different class of today’s people – yes Americans.
Earlier write-up of Hindus is by Hiuen Tsang in the following link :
Also look at what Al Andalus writes :
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=hjT9wwchiAIC&pg=PA47...
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=hjT9wwchiAIC&pg=PA47...
(India is depicted as the FIRST nation to cultivate science, it is know for WISDOM of its people who manifest great ability in ALL branches of KNOWLEDGE)
One can see the contributions of Hindus in the following links :
Contribution of Hindus to science through arabs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_and_Buddhist_contribution_to_science_in_medieval_Islam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_and_Buddhist_contribution_to_science_in_medieval_Islam
List of World’s Greatest Mathematicians
One can see Hindu mathematicians appearing in good numbers till the turn of the milinium.
So in summary – both external and internal factors were under the influence of Hindu philosophy – and Hindus prospered (If not the best than among the best). Hindu philosophy being almost 2000 to 3000 years old by that time did not show effect of being jaded (Hindusim did not come in way of greatness)– as there were inherent ways to rejuvenate the philosophy and follow what is relevant to the day.
Post 1000 AD :
The political power moved out of Hindus hands. Muslims destroyed Hindu culture, scientific quest, looted wealth – this was inevitable as muslim practices and beliefs (as mentioned by Alberuni) were entirely opposite of Hindus.
The political power moved out of Hindus hands. Muslims destroyed Hindu culture, scientific quest, looted wealth – this was inevitable as muslim practices and beliefs (as mentioned by Alberuni) were entirely opposite of Hindus.
External factor being hostile – Hindu religion went into shell – there were no more debates, discussions on what is right and wrong – what and how to change the course of society with changing times – so effort that was to be used for progress of society was directed towards survival - the practices that were appropriate to a particular time – turned evil / absurd with changing time – this is normal thing in any society.
I remember the famous lines from Alfred, Lord Tennyson – “The old order changeth yielding place to new And God fulfills himself in many ways Lest one good custom should corrupt the world” – meaning old order needs to change with time and in case it does not – the good custom at a particular time will cease to be good and becomes corrupt. This is true for all times.
This is exactly what happened – customs that were good at the particular time – could not change – as external environment was not conducive – (there being no debates, discussions) – hindu religion was internalized, became rigid – in order to protect it from Islamic and thereafter British onslaught – so those customs became corrupt – the manifestation of which you see in India currently and target of your criticism.
But nonetheless – I am personally thankful to the practitioners of the absurd Hindu customs / practices for it helped in preserving the knowledge, culture, history and religion and moreover prevented the country going full Islamic or Christian – unlike other great civilizations that vanished completely by the onslaught of these two cults.
One of the everlasting impact, that is seen till date, of political power having moved out of hindu’s hands has been slavish mind. This is emply reflected in behavior and actions of Hindus today – including each and every member of this group. There is inborn inferiority complex and tendency for self loathing – especially when one sees the accomplishments of west and negligible self achievements in recent times. So instead of reflecting what went wrong with us and correcting that wrong – people like u all tend to associate with western ‘recent winners’ and undermine ones own culture, heritage and history. Maybe take sadistic pleasure in abusing oneself – ones ancestors – of what good have they been.
The way forward : Debate / Discussion / Education / Truth – this will help in bringing the real essence of Hinduism forward – making it relevant to the current times and remove the absurdities (sifting wheat from chaff )– this is very much possible with modern education and inculcating Hindu ethos - as seen in US / West where Hindus getting educated and living in free environment have become No 1 community in short span of time.
As I see now – Humanity has no choice but to live peacefully (the other option is nuclear bombs) and there is internet to spread knowledge / debate / discussion (which again is hard to repress) – so I feel Hindus will be direct beneficiary of this changing environment – (linear thought has to give way to circular thought) - and will be the leading community of world in coming times.
Hindus need to know their past / roots (NOT relive past) (good things about Hindus have been suppressed and bad things highlighted – by Marxists scholars), reasons for its dark ages and hopefully come out of its slavish mindset by hard work and knowledge. Once mind is free, new ideas will germinate that will herald a new dawn and build great future for ourselves and our society and a rightful place in comity of nations.
