08-31-2006, 05:34 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The Hindu monks told him (who is a king of entire Kashmir) that they cannot make him a Hindu as they cannot decide what his "Jaati" would be.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Actually the Muslim chronicle "Baharistan-i-Shahi" of the 16th century gives a very different view of what happened (it actually gives a view that is contrary to the currently held mass opinion), here is what it says:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rinchan's conversion
During the early stages of his career, Rinchan showed no inclination towards any of the existing religions.[31] It was in the fitness of things that he embraced one of these religions and vigorously prayed to God the Merciful.
At this time only a handful of people in Kashmir had embraced Islam. Most of the people were either infidels or dissemblers. But when Rinchan thought of embracing a religion and associating himself with a community he made enquiries about the principles and laws of their religion from the savants among the infidels and the learned men of the times. They beseeched him to join their fold.[32] The Muslims also put before him the principles and teachings of the Islamic faith and invited him to embrace their religion. But owing to serious differences between these two religions and the disagreement [prevailing] among the two religious groups, he was not able to reach any decision. Each community considered its religion the true one and each group induced him to embrace its religion. He was in a fix because of the serious differences and glaring contradictions in the views of these communities. Their heated discussions and discourses led him to no satisfactory conclusion. However, blessed as he was with a dispensation for justice, for 'God helps those who help themselves,' he found the right path. He firmly decided that he would embrace the religion of the first man he would meet in the street after coming out of his house the next morning. He also resolved to join the community to which that man belonged.
Next morning he came out of his house. The rays of the sun of divine guidance, bringing every object from darkness to light, liberated him from the darkness of ignorance and disbelief; for all of a sudden, in the neighbourhood of his mansion he saw a dervish offering namaz (the Muslim way of praying), with full devotion. He went towards him. When the dervish had finished his prayer, Rinchan held him by his hand and brought him to his house. Then he called in an interpreter who knew their languages. He asked the dervish his name and then about his religion and the sect he belonged to. The dervish told him that his name was Bulbul Qalandar, that his religion was Islam[33] and that his community was that of Muslims. He disclosed to him that he was a member of the sect of Shah Ne'matullah Wali. He then mentioned to him some of the miracles performed by the Prophet, the virtues and superior qualities of 'Ali, the Imam, and lastly, the extraordinary feats of spirituality performed by Shah Ne'matullah Wali.
As a consequence Rinchin converted to Islam (by Bulbul Shah) which had no such pre condition and became known to the world as Sultan Sadruddin. This happened in 1320 A.D.
http://www.kashmir-information.com/Bahar...pter2.html<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So according to that chronicle Hindus did ask him to embrace dharma, the currently held view may have gained popularity during colonialism as another instance of Brahmin moronism spread by interested parties (refusing to convert someone) and today it's accepted as a gospel truth but the older chronicles give another view.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->So are there any theories on how Ahom became Hindu? Or have we exhausted all research in finding that perhaps people like Lachit were really Bhartiya?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Ahoms gradually assimilated themselves into Hindu society, the conversion was not some sudden thing, it happened gradually over centuries, also Assam had Sant Sankaradeva who is still considered as a patron saint of Assam, he popularised Vaishnavism through his preachings throughout Assam. Many of the Ahom kings as far as down to 18th century had 2 names, one a Sanskrit name the other one an Ahom name, Lachit Barphukhan (the famous general who beat back a Mughal invasion through a spectacular naval battle and considered a hero of Assam) is not a Sanskrit name, it's a Thai derived name, so that should indicate the fact that the conversion happened through gradual assimilation.
Actually the Muslim chronicle "Baharistan-i-Shahi" of the 16th century gives a very different view of what happened (it actually gives a view that is contrary to the currently held mass opinion), here is what it says:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rinchan's conversion
During the early stages of his career, Rinchan showed no inclination towards any of the existing religions.[31] It was in the fitness of things that he embraced one of these religions and vigorously prayed to God the Merciful.
At this time only a handful of people in Kashmir had embraced Islam. Most of the people were either infidels or dissemblers. But when Rinchan thought of embracing a religion and associating himself with a community he made enquiries about the principles and laws of their religion from the savants among the infidels and the learned men of the times. They beseeched him to join their fold.[32] The Muslims also put before him the principles and teachings of the Islamic faith and invited him to embrace their religion. But owing to serious differences between these two religions and the disagreement [prevailing] among the two religious groups, he was not able to reach any decision. Each community considered its religion the true one and each group induced him to embrace its religion. He was in a fix because of the serious differences and glaring contradictions in the views of these communities. Their heated discussions and discourses led him to no satisfactory conclusion. However, blessed as he was with a dispensation for justice, for 'God helps those who help themselves,' he found the right path. He firmly decided that he would embrace the religion of the first man he would meet in the street after coming out of his house the next morning. He also resolved to join the community to which that man belonged.
Next morning he came out of his house. The rays of the sun of divine guidance, bringing every object from darkness to light, liberated him from the darkness of ignorance and disbelief; for all of a sudden, in the neighbourhood of his mansion he saw a dervish offering namaz (the Muslim way of praying), with full devotion. He went towards him. When the dervish had finished his prayer, Rinchan held him by his hand and brought him to his house. Then he called in an interpreter who knew their languages. He asked the dervish his name and then about his religion and the sect he belonged to. The dervish told him that his name was Bulbul Qalandar, that his religion was Islam[33] and that his community was that of Muslims. He disclosed to him that he was a member of the sect of Shah Ne'matullah Wali. He then mentioned to him some of the miracles performed by the Prophet, the virtues and superior qualities of 'Ali, the Imam, and lastly, the extraordinary feats of spirituality performed by Shah Ne'matullah Wali.
As a consequence Rinchin converted to Islam (by Bulbul Shah) which had no such pre condition and became known to the world as Sultan Sadruddin. This happened in 1320 A.D.
http://www.kashmir-information.com/Bahar...pter2.html<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So according to that chronicle Hindus did ask him to embrace dharma, the currently held view may have gained popularity during colonialism as another instance of Brahmin moronism spread by interested parties (refusing to convert someone) and today it's accepted as a gospel truth but the older chronicles give another view.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->So are there any theories on how Ahom became Hindu? Or have we exhausted all research in finding that perhaps people like Lachit were really Bhartiya?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Ahoms gradually assimilated themselves into Hindu society, the conversion was not some sudden thing, it happened gradually over centuries, also Assam had Sant Sankaradeva who is still considered as a patron saint of Assam, he popularised Vaishnavism through his preachings throughout Assam. Many of the Ahom kings as far as down to 18th century had 2 names, one a Sanskrit name the other one an Ahom name, Lachit Barphukhan (the famous general who beat back a Mughal invasion through a spectacular naval battle and considered a hero of Assam) is not a Sanskrit name, it's a Thai derived name, so that should indicate the fact that the conversion happened through gradual assimilation.