03-20-2005, 08:45 AM
Pioneer Op-ed
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Hinduism & conversion</b>
Shridhar Pant
Ram Gopal's argument in the letter, "Regain lost glory" (March 7), that regards Hinduism as the oldest proselytising religion, is distressing. He asserts, "It is significant that the Vedic people who called themselves Aryans wanted to convert the original inhabitants of the country, the Dasas and Dasyus." Then he opines, "...since Hinduism prohibited sea voyage, it was difficult to send its message across. It was soon closeted leading to the dilution of the Vedic precept, Krinavanto vishwamaryam (let us Aryanise the whole world)."
<b>Mr Gopal seems to have been influenced by the Marxist-secular diatribe when he argues that the Aryans wanted to convert the "original inhabitants of the country".</b> His assertion indicts them for invading India. This is surprising given the fact that no one now takes the Aryan invasion theory seriously, except for a few Left-leaning scholars. Aryans were proud people who immensely loved their homeland. Had they been nomads, it would have been mentioned in the Vedas. Instead, they praised snow-clad mountains, dense forests, mighty rivers and vast ocean. Nowhere does one find even one couplet in praise of the prairies, typical rolling topography and roaring clouds. No doubt, Aryans were the original inhabitants of Aryavart (India).
It seems Ram Gopal has misunderstood the term "Arya", which meant noble and was used to address a respectable and upright person. The Rig Vedic hymn quoted by him, therefore, meant: "Let us make people of the universe noble." It had nothing to do with conversion. Even Jains or Charvaks were given this epithet. Of course, there were Dasas and Dasyus - while the former were those vanquished in battles, the latter were highway robbers - and their acts never deserved the term "Arya".
A similar misconception prevails on the issue of prohibition imposed by Hinduism on sea voyages. True, the idea was popularised by some Brahmins during the later Buddha and early Muslim period when one could become a Bhikhsu without going through the rigours of sanyas. Being less disciplined, these people generally brought back some unwanted practices after their return from abroad. Thus, it was necessary for Hinduism to prohibit their sea journey.
Moreover, the presence of a substantial Hindu population in Bali (Indonesia) proves their love for navigation. Also, the existence of Hinduism as a popular religion in Thailand, Burma, Siam, Cambodia and Indonesia could not have been possible without their adventurous journey in the East. Chinese traveller Fa Hian states that while returning home from India, he was accompanied on the ship by some Brahmin devatas.
Further, in ancient times, a Suryavanshi princess of Ayodhya had visited Korea. Thus, the prohibition on sea voyages was a later phenomenon that was imposed to prevent the import of unhealthy alien cultures. Besides, Indians had a flourishing sea trade. In fact, it was the prosperity of Sindh, created through roaring mercantile activities in the Arabian peninsula, that prompted Mohammad bin Qasim to attack its capital, Debal, in 712 AD.
In the lecture delivered at Detroit (USA) on February 21, 1894, Swami Vivekanand had asked a question:<b> "Did we ever send even one dharma-pracharak to convert anybody? We tell you, may your religion be propitious to you, but let me have mine." This proves Hinduism as a non-proselytising religion. Being a Sanatan Dharma, it believes in Satyam ekam, vipra bahuda vadanti and aham Brahmasmi. Hence a Hindu does not distinguish between one God and the other</b>.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Hinduism & conversion</b>
Shridhar Pant
Ram Gopal's argument in the letter, "Regain lost glory" (March 7), that regards Hinduism as the oldest proselytising religion, is distressing. He asserts, "It is significant that the Vedic people who called themselves Aryans wanted to convert the original inhabitants of the country, the Dasas and Dasyus." Then he opines, "...since Hinduism prohibited sea voyage, it was difficult to send its message across. It was soon closeted leading to the dilution of the Vedic precept, Krinavanto vishwamaryam (let us Aryanise the whole world)."
<b>Mr Gopal seems to have been influenced by the Marxist-secular diatribe when he argues that the Aryans wanted to convert the "original inhabitants of the country".</b> His assertion indicts them for invading India. This is surprising given the fact that no one now takes the Aryan invasion theory seriously, except for a few Left-leaning scholars. Aryans were proud people who immensely loved their homeland. Had they been nomads, it would have been mentioned in the Vedas. Instead, they praised snow-clad mountains, dense forests, mighty rivers and vast ocean. Nowhere does one find even one couplet in praise of the prairies, typical rolling topography and roaring clouds. No doubt, Aryans were the original inhabitants of Aryavart (India).
It seems Ram Gopal has misunderstood the term "Arya", which meant noble and was used to address a respectable and upright person. The Rig Vedic hymn quoted by him, therefore, meant: "Let us make people of the universe noble." It had nothing to do with conversion. Even Jains or Charvaks were given this epithet. Of course, there were Dasas and Dasyus - while the former were those vanquished in battles, the latter were highway robbers - and their acts never deserved the term "Arya".
A similar misconception prevails on the issue of prohibition imposed by Hinduism on sea voyages. True, the idea was popularised by some Brahmins during the later Buddha and early Muslim period when one could become a Bhikhsu without going through the rigours of sanyas. Being less disciplined, these people generally brought back some unwanted practices after their return from abroad. Thus, it was necessary for Hinduism to prohibit their sea journey.
Moreover, the presence of a substantial Hindu population in Bali (Indonesia) proves their love for navigation. Also, the existence of Hinduism as a popular religion in Thailand, Burma, Siam, Cambodia and Indonesia could not have been possible without their adventurous journey in the East. Chinese traveller Fa Hian states that while returning home from India, he was accompanied on the ship by some Brahmin devatas.
Further, in ancient times, a Suryavanshi princess of Ayodhya had visited Korea. Thus, the prohibition on sea voyages was a later phenomenon that was imposed to prevent the import of unhealthy alien cultures. Besides, Indians had a flourishing sea trade. In fact, it was the prosperity of Sindh, created through roaring mercantile activities in the Arabian peninsula, that prompted Mohammad bin Qasim to attack its capital, Debal, in 712 AD.
In the lecture delivered at Detroit (USA) on February 21, 1894, Swami Vivekanand had asked a question:<b> "Did we ever send even one dharma-pracharak to convert anybody? We tell you, may your religion be propitious to you, but let me have mine." This proves Hinduism as a non-proselytising religion. Being a Sanatan Dharma, it believes in Satyam ekam, vipra bahuda vadanti and aham Brahmasmi. Hence a Hindu does not distinguish between one God and the other</b>.
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