ISKCON: It's Role, Idealogies, And World-view.

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Narayanan,

Thanks for couple of great posts. It appears this debate will proceed nicely, without much mudslinging. Nice to know that ISKCON is working with the needy people instead of only the rich & famous.
P.S. krishna.com is giving away free CDs of Monier Williams Sanskrit dictionary.

Acharya,

The email is: ashokk2004 AT netscape DOT net

Hayagriva/Jagan Mohan,

Thanks for all the comments. But I am still unconvinced by the explanations given towards explaining Sunder's argument about Allah, Jehova equated with Krishna but not Shiva.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->If Jehovah means Supreme God, it can only mean Narayana and not otherwise. There can be no other Supreme God. Ditto with Allah. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If you go by Shaiva agama texts, Shiva is very much the supreme godhead, the basis, the light of existence. So would you say Shiva as explained in Shaiva Agama can only mean Narayana and not otherwise?

Now, as I see it, Shiva is declared as a demigod because the vaishnava texts say so. But since the texts are silent about Jehova or Allah, it leaves the interpretation part open. ISKCON has chosen to interpret Allah and Jehova's role as described by their believers. But in the case of shaivism, it doesn't show the same sympathy with the view of the shiva-worshippers.

I think this is all due to history. If Jehova and Allah were known during ancient India, I have no doubt that in the vaishnava literature, Krishna and most probably shiva too, would have been portrayed as superior to Allah and Jehova.

I think it is how a monotheistic type of religion behaves. Other deities have to be shown inferior. Allah and Jehova escaped the censure perhaps due to their being unknown to vaishnava writers of vaishnava texts.