Book Reviews

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CAN THE ASCETIC RELIGION OF INDIA

MAKE THE MAN TO SEE GOD?



When the Hindu religion is claming as theosophy as its basis, it is not a meaningless one. There is a reason for their strong faith and belief to stand firmly upon their principles and ceremonies. By seeing outwardly we the Christians condemn their idol worship, as well as their religious practices. But the Hindu religious leaders failure to educate their society to make them to know the meaning of the Hindu ceremonies. The tradition and orthodox mind only supports the Hindu religion till today to stand afar. The Indian religious sectors are also till existing, only because of their traditional religious belief. When we make the people to think independently, the things may be completely changed even in the economic wealth of India. It is also applicable to all the human beings in the world. The familiar great men of the world, George Bernard Shaw, Bertrand Russell, the communist economic revolutionist Karl Marx give their reason for their atheism and their creative philosophies, only by the suppression of their Independent thoughts by the western religious practices of Christianity in earlier centuries. But in India the percentage of tradition belonging to religions are higher than the other countries. But in India the percentage of tradition belonging to religions are higher than the other countries and civilization of the world.

Among the splendors diversity of the sub continent of India, as per the census of 1991, there are 687.6 million Jains and 3.1 million people of other persuasions. (Information sources from the Hindu, Nov.5 1999, p.12).

Christianity never entered into India only in the time of invasion of the British monarch. Christianity entered into India in the first century AD itself by Thomas, the disciple of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Thomas evangelized India in around 59 AD He converted 9770 heathens, 17,490 Brahmins, 350 Vaisayas (Traders and agriculturist and 4280 Sutras (Untouchables). Thomas raised to life 29 dead, liberated from the demon 250 possessed, cured 330 lepers, gave paralytics and speech to 20 dumps. (References taken from "In the steps of St.. Thomas", by Rev.Hermon d'souza.

Among the converts 17,490 Brahmins are considerable persuaded sect, as they are the teachers of Hindu religion. The approach of Thomas to this Brahmins was with the knowledge and wiseness of Jesus. Thomas challenged the Brahmins to their strong belief of religious philosophy. When the Christian mission failed to practice the approach of Thomas the disciple, the percentage of Christian religious sect also became less in India.

The missiological concept of Christian missions in latter days of Thomas deferred and is still differing, which has made the impression in the Hindu mind that the Christians are introducer of western culture and way of dress this is also a remarkable reason for not expanding the society of Christ in India

Regarding the failure of Seventh-day Adventist mission India; its leading professor of missiology Dr.Martin kobialka confirms it as follows. "They just copied the work of other protestant mission in India and those failed completely. So did the Adventist mission" The challenge of India, p.34 Spicer memorial college press, Pune, Unless the apostle Thomas could have disproved the fundamental belief of Hindu Brahmins of 17,490 persons, they could have never convicted the principles of Jesus Christ and the teaching of his eternal life.

By God's grace I have done my best analysation and disproving of the fundamental belief of Hinduism. This study is only for supplying my view of Hinduism, to the preachers of the gospel of Christ, in India. We are in condition to understand one truth from the evangelical work of Apostle Thomas, from his conversion of 17,490 Brahmins. He was very through with the theosophy of Hinduism and the synthesis containing in it. Apostle Thomas could have disproved their strong belief in astrology, yoga, and medical concepts and other fundamental belief. The miracles done by Thomas were differing from the miracles done by the Hindu mantras and magic practitioners. This powerful evangelical work done by Thomas glorified the God of heaven and earth and convicted the huge number of Brahmins. So let us also enter into the meticulous analysation of Hinduism and their determination tenets.

THE BASIC CONCEPT OF HINDUISM

The Hinduism has got some basic practices of religion to attain the eternal life of moktcha. This basic practice is based upon the Hindu philosophy found by the Hindu theologians, and their forerunners. The philosophy of Hinduism is purely based upon yoga and astrology.

Regarding this Dr.B.V.Raman of Hindu astrological author's statement says of it, strongly;" To the ancient Hindus goes the credit of having discovered some of the fundamental laws governing the universe and its inhabitants. The sages possessed a much more accurate dependable and comprehensive instrument with which to observe natural phenomenon-their ability to function in what might be called a fourth dimensional consciousness of Yoga which enable them to note, to measure, to weigh and classify all the facts concerning the universe without micrometers and telescopes, (Dr.B.V.Raman has quoted from Hindu astrology by Mankaripande). This Super consciousness, which they required to put in, Prof. B.Suriyanaraya Rao's words, "by intensifying the sense energies internally space too small to be measured by the most modern scientific instruments and vast spans of years and universal is too remote to found even by the largest telescope". Concentration of the mind yields more valuable results than the employment of laboratory methods with the mind that is incapable of intuition of internal development. What Einstein and Eddingston say about the universe, and what they have yet to say about man's relation to universe, the Maharishis have already sand? Their conclusions are neither animistic, nor mechanistic nor mathematical". Planetary influences on human affairs, p.10-11 by Dr.B.V.Raman.

Through this statement of Dr.B.V.Raman we can assert ourselves that the Hindu religious philosophy is consisting of Yoga and astrology that are interrelated and interdependent. So the analysation of meticulous study on Yoga and astrology is more essential to know what the Hindu philosophy says. Dr.B.V.Raman adds more to the Hindu worshiping methods in astrology. "In the beginning astrology dealt with the planetary bodies mainly as entities fit to be worshiped and this animistic attitude still remains as an important feature of veridical astrology. The animism here is only an euphemism and has nothing in common with animism of the west" - Planetary influences on human affairs, p12-13.

As per the statement given here by Dr.B.V.Raman the animism of Hindu philosophy is whether it is euphemism of non-euphemism is secondary matter to be considered. But the Hindu philosophy Godism to be worshiped is animism, which means all natural objects are having, souls. It is a remedial astrology as per the view of Dr.B.V.Raman states that "Astrology and Karma are therefore interrelated",-Ibid.

What the Hinduism means for Godism or the duty to worship? "Well-being, success and food fortunes thus acquired will evoke joy and bless which is the other name for God. The soul becomes divine. This is what Yoga is all about".-Yogasanas and Sadhana, By Dr.Satyapal and Dholan Dass Agarwal.p.7.

These two authors say the evoking joy and bliss is the other name of God, III The eastern deities and ascetic religion

Dr.B.V.Raman says more about the Hindu Godism as follows.

"The sun is addressed in the Vedas as soul of the universe. He is the visible god. Without sun's heat and light nothing could exist in the world even for a single second. Varahamixhira calls the sun a Kalatma or the soul of time, because time exists only on the account of sun. In fact the sun is the fountainhead of life force. The sun’s power is the cause and He is held to be the cause of bringing into existence, sustaining and finally destroying all terrestrial life force which joints all objects in nature, creates life activity and helps creation all objects in nature gain chaitanya or activity Suvanti and since the sun has this property in him, he is called Savita" Planetary influence on human affair, p.58-59, By Dr.B.V.Raman.

The Hindu philosophy finds sun as life force, which joints all objects in nature. Therefore the Hinduism made the sun as visible God. In fact who created the sun? And what about the remaining of sun families in cosmos system, is not answered so for by Hindu philosophy. This we shall study in detail in the end of the completion of this subject. This is the reason in yogasana the suriya -namaskara (Yogasana facing toward sun) is insisted much. Off course it is a scientific way of receiving life force from sun.

On the basis of sun facing yogasana only the sooriyanamaskara (sun worship) after taking 'bath in river is required by Hindu theology. Dr.Radhakrishnan says "The Hindu philosophy of religion starts from and returns to an experimental basis. Only this basic is wide as human nature itself". The Hindu way of life,p.19. In this same page Dr.Radhakrishnan says in Christian theology, Jesus is the absolute authority over conscience. The Hindu philosophy of religion starts from and returns to an experimental basis. This basis is wide as human nature itself. The Hindu philosophy is actuating the human conscience, human nature itself. Dr.Radhakrishnan means according to the Hindu philosophy the human conscience starts within himself by worshipping sun as God and the sanctification is within the human nature itself, by experimental way.

The Concept of Godism in Hindu philosophy is explained in detail by an author Prashant Tri-Kannad. He quotes as follows, "Pai narrates a tale to substantiate his view; when Bhrigu, a sage goes to his father Varuna says, 'please explain Brahman to me'. The father replies, 'Brahman cannot be explained in words, Meditate of Brahman and find the answer for yourself'. Bhrigu does as he is told and concluded that food is brahman because in the absence of food, life cannot be sustained. He talks his father,' Father I have truly known, food is Brahnam'. The father says, 'No my son, food is not Brahman'. The son says then tells me about Brahman. The father repeats, 'you have to meditate and experience Brahman. After meditating for a number of days again, Bhrigu thinks that prana (life-breath) is Brahman. The father sends him back. This time Bhrigu concludes that the mind is Brahman. The father disagrees. Bhrigu experiences a divine sense of well being. In the Upanishads, this is referred to as ananda. He realizes that ananda is Brahman".-Magazine of Gentleman, Dec.1999 issue, p.53. By Mr.Prashant Trikannad, "Paradise Lost".

The author of this article explains very diligently the concept of Godism said in Hindu philosophy. We must carefully consider few things in this quotation of Prashant. The Bhrigu one about who is said here is a sage or monk; one who is a practitioner of monastery. In Indian Hindu term it can be said as Yoga practitioner. The target of the yogic practice is ananda, which is referred in the Upanishads as Brahman, which means God. This is what Dr.Radhakrishnan says" The Hindu philosophy of religion starts from and returns to an experimental basis. Only this basis is wide as human nature itself'-Ibid.



In Hindu philosophy of Godism, the ananda, which means peace, is found by practicing yoga on meditation by actuating to nature mind and physical being of man himself. As Dr.Radhakrishnan says according to Hindu philosophy of religion a Hindu himself is the sole authority for his conscience. In this process of sanctification the object of 'I' remains still there. And another concept of Hinduism must be understood here very clearly. To experience the knowledge of God through Hinduism is only through the way of meditation and yoga. As we are entering into the analysation upon yoga meticulously, we may be able to understand whether the practicing of Hindu religion for our eternal life is possible or not.

The Sidhis or monasteries of South Indian of Tamilnadu also believe the same concept.

The familiar among Sidhis of Tamilnadu who is called, as Sivavakkiyar is one who has written many poems upon the Hindu God Siva as follows,



Samam nalu vedhmum, sagala sathirangalum

Semamaga odhinum sivanai neer arigileer

Kamanoiyai vittuneer karuthule unarnthapin

Oumaiyana kayamai iruppan engal eesane!

Sivavakkiyam-18

What the Sidhis say of Godism or visualizing Siva God not through saying Hindu vedas Hindu Vedas (Holy books) Rig, Yzur, Samam, Atharvanam and the rituals of Hinduism properly, you do not know the God Siva. So by giving up natural sexual instincts, and realizing in mind (it means that the same anandam which is said in Upanishads) Onumayana Kayamai, the unspeakable physical object of our God can be realized within us, by practicing the yoga.



The Tamil Sidhis are contradicting from the Aryan Maharishis (The monasteries of Brahmins) in the concepts of idol worship, prayer with four vedas, and Hindu rituals or ceremonial laws. They are insisting only upon Yoga practice to see God. may be it is not possible with the common ma who is married a woman and not ignored the sexual instincts. But the concepts of Maharishis of Aryands or Brahmans are differing from the Sidhis of Tamilnadu and South Indians or Dravidians. It is practicing Yoga life through idol worship, prayer with four Vedas, Hindu ceremonial laws or rituals, and the experience of sexual instincts through Kamasuthras (Hindu sexology). The controversy the Sidhis and Maharishis in seeking God is till existed and not yet ceased. Because of this reason of conceptual controversy among Hindus, many of the Sidhis of Tamilnadu such as Ramalinga Adigal, and 18 sidhis both insist the Yoga way to realize God is a fact. For this Yoga, Sun-facing Yoga such as sooriyanamaskara (Sun worship) is more relevant. So the Sun is addressed in the Vedas as the soul of the universe and as the visible God. The whole Hindu religion of Godism is only sun-God worship. Since the Sanskrit Science call him as "Thrayee Thanu" which means the three souled God of Visible. This three slued sun God only is named as Sivan, Vishnu and Brahman. Those are bringing into existence, sustaining, and destroying all terrestrial phenomena. So the concept of God in Hinduism is only sun worship.



This same sun worship is practiced in all over the world in different forms and names. This sun was worshiped as Baal in eastern countries and as Tamnz and Esther in Sumerian. The same story of Nimrod is narrated in Hindu mythology as Mahabaratham. In the history of Nimrod the semirami says the child was born with conceived by relationship with son God, and in Mahabaratham Kunthidevi says that she had begotten the Karnan through Sun God. We can see such similarity among sun worshipers in worshiping sun and mythology. But, Hinduism is scientifically penetrated into its depth the reason for worshiping son. In this way the Hinduism is differing from other sun worshipers of the world in the area of Godism.



Dr.S.Meyappan of Annamalai University states in his book of Sithar Padalgal in page six that Thirvilyadarpuranam describes God Siva as a Sidhi or Yogi, or Maharishi, in English terminology monastery with acetic practice.

The Tamil poetical literatures such as Thirvilayadrpuranam and silappadhikaram say more about the concept of god in Hinduism. In Thiruvilayadarpuranam we see a chapter called Kallmariyapadalam that means a scene of the changing of legs. It is defining the Hindu god Siva is changing his leg while he was dancing in Madurai, on the requisition of King Rajasekaran.

The Tamil King Vikrama Pandiyan who was reigning over pandiya dynasty crowned his son Rajasekaran. King Rajasekar pandiyan learned all sixty-three arts of Tamil culture, out of sixty-four arts and the remaining one was bhrathanatiyam, which means the art of dance. When he was practicing dance, he realized the pain in dancing Bharathanatiyam. Through which the king Rajasekaran could realize the pain of Sivaperuman in his dancing at Madurai. So the King Rajasekaran asked the god Siva to change his leg in Bhrathanatiyam steps. The god Siva responded to the plead of the king and took up his right leg and stepped with left leg upon earth and danced. This introduction is given for Thiruvilaiyadarpuranam, Kalmariyapadalam.



Let us come to the rationalistic analysation upon this literature. The following questions should be asked upon this poem, with historical events of pandiya kingdom.

1. Had the Hindu god Siva danced with the divinity or humanity, when god Siva is not having the incarnation? If bharathanatiyam is s human art, which is based upon yoga, how can the god practiced it when he is in divinity.

2. The God Siva responded to change his leg in dancing on the pleading of king Rajasekaran whether because of the pain of his leg or to satisfy the king.



If god Siva had changed his leg only for the reason of his pain in leg, he might have been in humanity, then where is the divinity with god siva of Hinduism? If god Siva has responded to king Rajasekaran only for the reason of satisfying his devotee, the king one who has learned sixty three arts and didn't know the fact that the human pain cannot be with the God of the supernatural being.

If God Siva has taken up his right leg due to his pain of leg; he must be a man of Sidhi or Yogi, as he is not having incarnation according to Hindu philosophy. In the concept of Godism in Hindu theology the God Vishnu only has taken ten incarnations. Krishnan and Raman are two incarnations among them. So there is no reason for describing the god Siva with human attitudes.

The dance of Siva has various positions and meanings, which tell us the yogasana of Baharathanatiyam practiced by god Siva. Before hand we must confirm what the Hindu philosophy says about the Bharathanatiyam. Does the Hindu philosophy say the Bharathanatiyam is Yoga?

The Basic concept of yoga must be meticulously analyzed here. The famous Hindu philosopher Ananda Coumar, son of 19th century says in his article "Hindu view of art: Historical" about the art corresponding with the yoga. These articles have been compiled into a book entitled" Dance of Siva

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