07-05-2009, 09:12 AM
Bodhi- while we are generally in agreement on the issue I must mention that it was not that the heathen Indians remained entirely blind to the ideology of the invasive Abrahamism. We must take note of the bauddha kAlachakra tantra for example. This tantra was among the last great pieces of *brAhminical* scholarship in the the bauddha realm written chaste saMskR^ita, unlike some of the earlier apabhramsha sprinkled works of the tradition. This work not only recognizes the homology of the Abrahamisms but it clearly seems to see through the great ideological danger they pose to the heathens. That is why today modern Christians take effort to attack the bauddha-s by using this tantra. It clearly names the unmatta-s (prophets) till Mohammed and describes their evils. Then of course in usual hindu style it states that their end will come with the coming of chakravartin kalkin at the end of the yuga when a great battle would be fought in which the followers of Isa and Mohammed will be pitted against the deva-s. The deva-s issuing forth from kailAsa are said to destroy these to restore dharma. While someone might be inclined to deride the yearning for kalkin the said tantra does understand the problem. Again I must say that at least a couple of bauddha paNDita-s produced a suitable ideological critique of Islam. I need to check up Lama tAranAtha for all the names but one of the lIlAvajra is particularly clearly.
I suspect that both the shaiva-s and the vajrayAna bauddha-s of the age were not entirely as naive as we would think for there is clear evidence that they were for raising senA-s for the defense of dharma against the Moslems. I think the struggle of the chandrAtreya-s (chAndella-s) the brahminical rAjpUt clan against the Moslems was impressive to the end, including the final heroic struggle of rAnI durgAvatI. This struggle was not without an ideological understanding of Islam, though it came on late, under the shaiva saiddhAntika guru-s. You might ask me where is the evidence -- I think it is there and have seen it in many sources mainly inscriptions pertaining to shaiva guru-s. It needs to be collated from various sources and will try to do so if I ever get the chance.
I suspect that both the shaiva-s and the vajrayAna bauddha-s of the age were not entirely as naive as we would think for there is clear evidence that they were for raising senA-s for the defense of dharma against the Moslems. I think the struggle of the chandrAtreya-s (chAndella-s) the brahminical rAjpUt clan against the Moslems was impressive to the end, including the final heroic struggle of rAnI durgAvatI. This struggle was not without an ideological understanding of Islam, though it came on late, under the shaiva saiddhAntika guru-s. You might ask me where is the evidence -- I think it is there and have seen it in many sources mainly inscriptions pertaining to shaiva guru-s. It needs to be collated from various sources and will try to do so if I ever get the chance.