Many Hindu apologists in their feeble attempts at crude evangelism of the elements of their faith end up exposing the warts and crudities of their cherished religion.
One such 'enterprising' apologist instead of attempting any argument against my rebuttal to the Vedanta in one of my articles on Nirmukta, chose to sing the glory of his religious customs.
I converted his comment as bulleted points below to illustrate his list of what I consider as prominent tribalism's of Hindu faith
"Sir – I Suggest:
I promise your life will improve beyond trying to deconstruct Vedanta. It is a futile , wasteful effort.
The length and breadth of this nation have Shiva Temples, it will be a better effort to try to visit all those temples rather than fritter away your intellectual energy on trying to deconstruct something that has stood the test of times and that in which millions believe in , that thousands actually experience in parts or full."
Here was my response to his comment above
Vyasa ,
Thanks for cataloging the major themes and practices of Hindu tribalism (especially ash- smearing).
An anthropological exercise can determine the roots of ash-smearing practice as most probably evolving from ancient Tantric tribalism with the co-opting of it into Hinduism by refining the earlier crude ingredients and being replaced with sandalwood.
Interestingly vermillion mark/spot (red tilak on forehead) has most probably evolved by the toning down of blood sacrifices from the Yajurvedic age and co-opting it into symbolism of color and powder material(Quoting from DD Kosambi’s work on the Introduction to the History of India)
Shiva Linga worship is yet another instance of how animistic fetishism may have evolved into idolistic symbolism that gets perpetuated and continued.
There are lingas outside of India (if I recollect right, in Cambodia) where some idols have preserved its original anatomy of a human private part.
In the Indian Lingas, the top part has been stylized to conceal its aboriginal roots, but in the remainder of the idol structure, there is enough evidence of its genitalia origins.
Christianity and Islam also have their own versions of tribalism. However many parts of the Christian world have reformed and are still reforming.
If the western world had your attitude, we would never have seen the ‘Age of Reason’ and its revolutionary world-wide impact.
Except for the Jaggi Vasudev jig, I have done almost everything that you have recommended in the past.
Only by reason and realism, one realizes the futility of blindly following these rituals of our religious ‘heritage’
Maybe you don’t wish to get there. But there are many out there who are not as blind-sided as you and do really wish to change
One such 'enterprising' apologist instead of attempting any argument against my rebuttal to the Vedanta in one of my articles on Nirmukta, chose to sing the glory of his religious customs.
I converted his comment as bulleted points below to illustrate his list of what I consider as prominent tribalism's of Hindu faith
"Sir – I Suggest:
- you attend a 7 day program of Inner Engineering by Isha foundation,
- visit some 15-20 temples in south india in remote places,
- also visit Guruvayoor, Chamundi temple,
- listen to Swami Sukhabodananda.
- Kindly also read Swami Krishnananda’s (now no more) articles on the web and his books.
- Or try to read Osho Rajneeh’s books, you could come out enlightened
- Above all, you can do Pranayama
- and recite 108 Gayathri Mantras everyday,
- smear ash on your forehead.
I promise your life will improve beyond trying to deconstruct Vedanta. It is a futile , wasteful effort.
The length and breadth of this nation have Shiva Temples, it will be a better effort to try to visit all those temples rather than fritter away your intellectual energy on trying to deconstruct something that has stood the test of times and that in which millions believe in , that thousands actually experience in parts or full."
Here was my response to his comment above
Vyasa ,
Thanks for cataloging the major themes and practices of Hindu tribalism (especially ash- smearing).
An anthropological exercise can determine the roots of ash-smearing practice as most probably evolving from ancient Tantric tribalism with the co-opting of it into Hinduism by refining the earlier crude ingredients and being replaced with sandalwood.
Interestingly vermillion mark/spot (red tilak on forehead) has most probably evolved by the toning down of blood sacrifices from the Yajurvedic age and co-opting it into symbolism of color and powder material(Quoting from DD Kosambi’s work on the Introduction to the History of India)
Shiva Linga worship is yet another instance of how animistic fetishism may have evolved into idolistic symbolism that gets perpetuated and continued.
There are lingas outside of India (if I recollect right, in Cambodia) where some idols have preserved its original anatomy of a human private part.
In the Indian Lingas, the top part has been stylized to conceal its aboriginal roots, but in the remainder of the idol structure, there is enough evidence of its genitalia origins.
Christianity and Islam also have their own versions of tribalism. However many parts of the Christian world have reformed and are still reforming.
If the western world had your attitude, we would never have seen the ‘Age of Reason’ and its revolutionary world-wide impact.
Except for the Jaggi Vasudev jig, I have done almost everything that you have recommended in the past.
Only by reason and realism, one realizes the futility of blindly following these rituals of our religious ‘heritage’
Maybe you don’t wish to get there. But there are many out there who are not as blind-sided as you and do really wish to change
To say the linga is "aboriginal" is something for which there is no evidence. You're using the terms aboriginal and tribal where they don't belong.
ReplyDeleteYou have clearly misquoted me. I have not said that linga idol in its current form is 'aboriginal'. I have also mentioned that are sites out of India which have preserved the phallic top form of the linga instead of smoothing into a semi-sphere as it is seen in the Indian ones.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned that it could likely have aboriginal roots (its use in ancient tantric practices) which are concealed now because of the stylistic changes that the linga idol has undergone over many centuries.
There is evidence for this for such a plausibility. It is a different matter it may be discomfiting and embarrassing to the Shaivaites and other religious followers and apologists.
Yet another example of you weaseling your way out of your previous assertions. I quote right here, from your article:
Delete"In the Indian Lingas, the top part has been stylized to conceal its aboriginal roots"
And yet you claim that I have "clearly" misquoted you!
And you think that tantra is an "aboriginal" practice? You clearly don't know what you're talking about.
Ranganath is definitely wrong about the linga. The earliest lingam we know of is the Gudimallam lingam, which dates to around the Gupta era. There is thus no reason to suspect that it was an aboriginal development.
Delete"ancient Tantric tribalism"
ReplyDeleteREALLY!! Ancient Tantric tribalism? When Tantra hadn't even appeared until the Middle Ages? One wonders where you get the gall to spew such anachronisms...
"I mentioned that it could likely have aboriginal roots (its use in ancient tantric practices)"
ReplyDeleteSo Tantra is also aboriginal now? What the fuck?