Harsh Nevatia's Blog
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Ravana, the epitome of evil, was one of the most infamous characters in Hindu mythology. His mother Kaikasi was from the race of Demons. His father was Vishrava, a powerful sage and the grandson of Brahma the Creator. Ravana, being born from the union of two races had the power and opportunity to unite the warring factions of the Demons and demi-Gods. But this was not to be, perhaps because his father married his mother for the wrong reason.
At that time the Demons ruled over Lanka. The demi-Gods defeated the Demons and installed Kuber as the ruler of Lanka and the custodian of the wealth of the demi-Gods. Kuber was the son of Vishrava and Ilavida. The deposed Demons were helpless. They knew that in order to win back their kingdom they needed a leader who had the meditative power of the sages and the wiles of the Demons. Hence the sultry siren Kaikasi was sent to Vishrava. Kaikasi told the sage that she did not want her children to be of the notorious Demon clan. She wished a better future for them. Hence she requested Vishrava to marry her. Vishrava was already married to Ilavida. He asked for her consent, stating that his marriage to Kaikasi would bring about a grand alliance between the demi-Gods and the Demons. Ilavida told her husband that there was no question of withholding her consent. But she wanted to know the truth. Was Vishrava sexually attracted towards Kaikasi? Was that the real reason for his second marriage? Vishrava sheepishly confessed that it was.
In an earlier blog I had quoted Eliot’s lines from Murder in the Cathedral.
To do the right deed for the wrong reason.”
Vishrava succumbed to the wrong reason and went down in history as the father of perhaps the most evil man ever. Mythology supplements scriptural wisdom with dramatic effect and one of the reasons for the flourishing of Hinduism is its vibrant mythology.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Another question frequently asked is “Who is a Hindu?” I have not put it with the FAQs because it does not have a clear answer. Key in “who is a hindu” on Google and you will be amazed at the variety of responses. I would like to interpret this question as what is the minimum requirement for a person to be a Hindu.
In the Levant religions there is a rite of initiation into the religion, like baptism or circumcision. I am not aware whether this rite is sufficient for the person to be deemed a member of the religion. However no such initiation rite exists in Hinduism so the question does not arise.
Hinduism accepts all faiths as legitimate paths to God and therefore some people have advocated that anyone who believes in God is a Hindu. This definition is not tenable because those who subscribe to other religions would not call themselves Hindus. This is true of other Indic religions like Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism as well. The subscribers to such religions may identify more with Hinduism than with Occidental religions but they would not call themselves Hindus. And unfortunately today because of the prevalent religious acrimonies even many Hindus would not readily accept this definition.
One of the most common definitions of a Hindu is one who accepts the authority of the Vedas. As far as blind acceptance of the authority of the Vedas is concerned this definition would be workable but at a practical level there are problems.
The Vedas are not unequivocal authoritative texts (expect as relating to liturgical functions). They present various points of view, often conflicting. Hence one can accept one part of the Vedas but not another. Another problem with this definition is that the Vedas are complex scriptures and many Hindus would have little idea of what is written in them and very few would have actually read them. Hence to hold the acceptance of Vedic authority at a meaningful level is untenable because it would exclude a large section of Hindus.
A simple condition would be to believe in the divinity of the deities mentioned in the Puranas. Most Hindus would go beyond mere belief and actually practice the more basic rituals. However there are many who do not practice for want of time or lack of perceived need. They are content in belief.
Please check my course on Hindu Mythology
Please check my articles on Mythology from India
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
On July 21, 2001, a new city was incorporated in Iowa, USA. This was the Maharishi Vedic City. In an earlier article it was discussed how Hinduism has a holistic approach to life. All that is in evidence in this city.
The architectural design follows Vedic principles. Of importance is that the houses face the east. It is considered healthy for our bodies to receive the early morning sunlight. At that time the sunlight is moderate so we get the benefits of the sunlight without getting its harmful effects. In ancient times people lived in one room homes. The homes faced east and this enabled the people to do their morning chores and receive the sunlight as well.
The city has a spa that is based on a natural prevention oriented approach to health. The city has banned the sale of non-organic foods and is growing organic food not only for its citizens but also for sale in the Midwest. The city will ultimately be ecologically sustainable. It will derive its electricity needs from solar and wind energy and run recycling and composting programs to reuse its waste.
The city has been the inspiration of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. One of his favorite projects is the attainment of world peace through Transcendental Meditation. Meditation eliminates negative vibrations that are responsible for conflict. Meditation centers in the city will send positive vibes to counter the negative vibes in the world.
More information about the city can be had from its web site. There are several programs for visitors to acquaint themselves with the philosophy and practices of this Vedic city, which if not perfect is definitely unique.
Please check my course on Hindu Mythology
Please check my articles on Mythology from India
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
A poll on the purpose of religion was conducted last week. There were 16 votes cast and my thanks to all of them. The question-wise response is given below.
- To explain the mysteries of the universe.2 votes or 12.50%
- To make one aware of the magnificence of God.1 vote or 6.25%
- To provide moral instruction.1 vote or 6.25%
- Preparation for the afterlife.2 votes or 12.50%
- To enable one to achieve spiritual well-being.10 votes or 62.50%
The poll also gave rise to some discussion and I than the participants.
One common issue was the problem of not leaving an opening for “other” reasons. I would like to record here other reasons that were given.
- “To provide a mechanism of social control over the masses” (pink101)
- “To pursue a deep, personal and growing relationship with my God and to deepen my knowledge and understanding of him.” (brendapreg)
I would also like to summarize a long response by kriyakid. At the outset he said that we must look at the various functions of religion in an integrated manner because they act cohesively. He also highlighted the essential Oneness of life. Hence religion has to extend beyond providing individual succor. In his words the purpose of religion is “to create a social order based on ahimsa that allows every individual regardless of where they are spiritually, physically and socially, to develop or evolve toward that Oneness; and [to create] the means, tradition and paradigm for each individual to be able to follow the path of Truth, of Dharma.”
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The Hindu calendar is extremely complex in that the dates do not always change at the same hour, sometimes days are skipped and months are added. But despite this it is scientifically precise in that one can predict days, dates months forward and backwards from now till eternity, just like one can do in the Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar is essentially lunar, but has some attributes of the solar cycle as well. Hence it is often called “luni-solar”.
A year consists of twelve months each month corresponding to a complete lunar cycle. As measured against our 24 hour day, the length of a lunar day varies, averaging a little less than 24 hours. This is the reason the dates do not change at the same hour. The lunar month is about 29.5 days. Hence the year has 354 days, 11 days short of the Gregorian year. As compared to the Gregorian year dates keep getting pushed back by 11 days every year. This is a major problem, because the seasons play an important role in Hindu life, as they do elsewhere. And seasons depend on the solar cycle. Hence about every three years an additional month is added to the calendar to reconcile it with the solar cycle. The year is divided into two halves – one when the sun is directly overhead in the northern hemisphere (known as uttarayana) and the other when the sun is directly overhead in the southern hemisphere (daksinayana). It is also divided into six seasons.
A month consists of two parts depending on whether the moon is waning or waxing. Each part consists of fifteen days. Since the months is 29.5 days and not 30 days, at the required times a day is skipped. The numbering of the days does not go from 1 to 30 but from 1 to 15. It starts with the first day of the waning moon (dark fortnight or krishna paksha) and on the fifteenth day of the waning moon is the new moon day. The date then becomes the first day of the waxing moon (bright fortnight or shukla paksha) and on the fifteenth day is the full moon day.
Not everyone can read the calendar because of the peculiarities explained and this is its major disadvantage. However it is used largely for religious functions and for preparing horoscopes so one need not get involved with the intricacies.
All ancient societies had lunar calendars. Undoubtedly the common folk would have found it easier to measure the progress of the days by looking at the phases of the moon rather than the position of the sun. Remember there were no time pieces or printed calendars then.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Religion is as old as humankind. Yet the purpose of religion has varied from time to time and from place to place. Even at the same time and place, different groups have had different expectations from religion.
One of the oldest purposes of religion was to explain the mysteries of nature. In a sense this purpose still exists. Only the mysteries are now more mystifying. In A Brief History of Time Stephen Hawking elucidates, “Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing? Is the unified theory so compelling that it brings about its own existence? Or does it need a creator, and, if so, does he have any other effect on the universe? And who created him?”
Religion exists because God exists and one of the purposes of religion has been to contemplate and revel in the magnificence of God. Verse 14 of Canto 1 Chapter 2 the Bhagavata Purana reads, “Therefore should one with a one-pointed mind constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Supreme Lord, the protector of the devotees.”
From time to time religious leaders have provided moral and ethical instruction. The best example of this is the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
All religions preach some form of life after death, whether eternal heaven or hell or rebirth. Religious teachings also chart out the path to be taken so that one’s after life is happy.
In today’s hectic and tense life style, the most sought after commodity is peace of mind. Many people turn to new preachers of mainstream religions. Deepak Chopra and Sri Ravi Sankar (of the Art of Living fame), who base their methods on Hinduism, have a large following. Other people have turned to alternative spiritualities like Soka Gakkai of Neo-paganism.
I have put up a poll in my topic Hinduism to determine which of these purposes is most meaningful to members of the Suite101 community. Please do drop in and cast your vote. The final count will be in on the 10th of December.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
In ancient Hindu society there existed a practice known as Niyog Pratha. Pratha means practice. A woman who was childless because her husband was impotent was allowed to conceive through her brother-in-law. The child belonged to the couple and the brother-in-law had no claim over it. In our society today, surrogate motherhood is not unheard of. Niyog Pratha was surrogate fatherhood. It was much less complicated, legally and emotionally, than surrogate motherhood.
You may be aware that Hindus have a desire bordering on desperation for a male offspring. There is a peculiar reason for this. A male during his lifetime is required to perform certain rituals that appease the souls of his ancestors. If a couple does not have a son then there would be no one to carry out the rituals and the souls of the ancestors would remain eternally unappeased. This thought has no fundamental basis. It is one of the many practices that insidiously crept into the religion during the Brahmanical period and got reinforced through the ages. Fortunately now more reasonable thinking is starting to prevail and the absence of a son is not looked upon as a liability at least among the urban educated. But the Niyog Pratha must have been introduced as a result of the ‘necessity’ of having a male child.
For royalty the need for a male offspring was even greater. Daughters got married and went to live with their husbands. A son was needed to inherit the kingdom and continue the lineage as well as to perform the above-mentioned rituals. In the article Veda Vyasa and the Mahabharata we see that Vyasa was called upon to impregnate the royal widows. As was seen in the article The Birth of Krishna Dwaipayana, Vyasa was also Satyavati’s son and therefore a half brother to the deceased king.
Such practices were not unique to Hinduism. One finds references to them in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy Chapter 25 Verse 5 reads, “If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.” Genesis Chapter 16 Verse 2 permits surrogate motherhood through the maid.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Once in a while there arises a man whose contribution to his chosen field is so revolutionary that it changes the manner of perception of that field for ages to come. Albert Einstein did that to physics a hundred years ago. Pablo Picasso revolutionized painting around the same time. Many centuries before that Krishna Dwaipayana, better known as Veda Vyasa, gave a new direction to Hinduism.
Before his time the Hindu scriptures were passed down orally from teacher to student for generations. This process naturally resulted in many versions being propagated. It was impossible for anyone outside the community of priests and seers to learn about and understand the scriptures.
Krishna Dwaipayana classified the Vedic hymns into four groups, which became the four Vedas. He also structured each Veda so that its different sections addressed different groups of users. The greatest benefit of this compilation and unification was that thenceforth the Vedas were preserved in an unchanged form. It was because of this mammoth effort on the part of Krishna Dwaipayana that we today have access to the works that poets and philosophers composed more than 8000 years ago. Krishna Dwaipayana preserved for eternity the seed of a culture. For this he earned the sobriquet Veda Vyasa.
However this was only a part of Veda Vyasa’s contribution to Hinduism. The study of the Vedas was restricted to the seers and academicians. The common man could not identify with mystic poetry and complicated rituals. He needed stirring narratives that inspired deep devotion and a repeated reassurance that righteousness shall triumph. For the common man the three holiest scriptures of Hinduism are the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana and the Ram Charit Manas. The first two are written by Veda Vyasa some thousands of years ago. Ram Charit Manas was written by Tulsidas about 400 years ago.
It was the Bhagavata Purana that spread the message of God across the length and breadth of the land. Even today people flock in multitudes to hear sages expound the greatness of this scripture, the rendering of which is traditionally done over seven days.
For the next few articles I will take a break from the Hinduism journey to write about the life of this great sage.
<a href="http://www.technorati.com/claim/enh2buer3v" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a>
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
It is undisputed that the hymns or Samhitas of the Vedas were composed before the Brahmanas and Aranyakas and that the Upanishads were formalized even afterwards. The Samhitas appear to be as an anthology of verses. Read by themselves they appear abstruse and mystical. They are also prone to misinterpretation. It needs the exposition of the Upanishads to throw light on the hymns.
Take D.H.Lawrence’s poem Bavarian Gentians for example. One needs to know the background of the mythology of Demeter and Persephone in order to understand the poem completely. To one who does not know the mythology, the poem will appear superficial. In the same way the Upanishads elaborate on the symbolic and mythological references in the hymns. Hence though the Upanishads were composed afterwards they need to be read before the hymns. Reading the Upanishads can be a daunting task and several summaries of the Vedanta philosophy of the Upanishads are available, which can serve the purpose.
Hymn CXXIX of Book 10 is one of the most famous hymns from the Riga Veda. There is a line in the hymn that reads
“The Gods are later than this world's production.”
Many critics of the Vedas interpret this line as that the Vedic philosophy did not subscribe to God being the prime cause of the creation of the universe. Some even suggest that this line implies that God is a human conception in Vedic philosophy and not a divine entity. This misconception arises out of ignorance of the Vedanta philosophy.
The key word is “Gods”. This hymn is from the last book of the Riga Veda. By the time it was composed the monist and monotheistic philosophy had evolved and the pagan gods had been relegated to the secondary level. The word Gods does not refer to the One Supreme God but to the various forces of nature that had been earlier deified. We are aware today that the continents and landforms, rivers and seas, flora and fauna, winds and rain, came into existence long after the universe was born. This is what is implied by the line.
Hence it would be prudent to commence a hymn by hymn study of the Vedas only after acquainting oneself with the Vedanta philosophy.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
After having understood the extent of the universe, the ancient seers of the Vedic period began to look upon the cosmic order as divine. The key word is order. In the Riga Veda the word ‘ritu’ is used for the order which encompasses the movements of the stars and planets and the accompanying effects. Today ‘ritu’ is used specifically for season. The pagan deities, who were earlier supreme, became subservient to the cosmic order. These pagan deities, Sun, Moon, Thunder, Sea etc., were over a time anthropomorphized and this is where Divine Retribution originated.
Lightning strikes one hut killing its occupants and not harming the neighboring one. The common man at that time could not believe that the God of Thunder (Indra in Hindu mythology, Zeus in the Greek form) was playing a game of chance or was creating havoc without intent or reason. Hence the deceased must have done something wrong to have incurred divine wrath. In this way every natural calamity became an act of divine retribution. Divine retribution is not limited to Hinduism nor is it limited to monotheistic religions. Zeus was one trigger-happy deity. The destruction of the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament was an incident of divine retribution. In all religions humans face some kind of judgment after death, which is again divine retribution.
Even though today the cause of natural calamities is well understood, including their inherent chance nature, the concept of divine retribution is so firmly ensconced that it is difficult to dislodge. The major drawback of divine retribution is that certain persons or groups considered themselves as representatives of God, and therefore took on the function of divine retribution. The Spanish Inquisition, the Salem Witch Hunts, Hitler’s gas chambers and the Ku Klux Klan are examples of the lowest levels humanity has stooped to in the name of divine retribution. Some even say that the War against Terror is nothing but a usurpation of divine retribution.
Whether we believe in God having an anthropomorphic form or only an anthropomorphic character, the function of divine retribution has overshadowed God’s other glories. Divine retribution is no longer acting as a deterrent. It is my personal belief that all religions must move away from the concept of a God whose function is to judge humanity and towards the more cosmic nature of the Divine.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
In the articles From Polytheism to Monotheism and Polytheism, Monotheism and Monism we saw how the Vedic seers were engaged in a process of inquiry through which they were able to evolve their conception about the nature of God. Hinduism is perhaps the only religion that not only allows but encourages its followers to question the premises on which the faith is established. Every generation of religious philosophers finds new answers to problems of antiquity and is thereby able to impart a contemporary focus to the religion. In contrast most other religions not only preach but try to enforce adherence to dogma. This was clearly seen in the furor over The Da Vinci Code’s alternative presentation of Mary Magdalene. Perhaps the saddest outcome of the insistence on dogma has been the schism between the Church and Science.
Another aspect of Hinduism that is unique is its ability to integrate different points of view. The split in the Christian faith into Catholics and Protestants has been irrevocable and took place with much rancor and considerable bloodshed. In Islam the split between the Shias and Sunnis is still the cause for violence in countries like Iraq and Pakistan. On the other hand Hinduism is a co-existence of diverse beliefs. Not all people living in India in the Vedic period subscribed to the Vedic views. As we shall shortly see in our journey into Hinduism there were significant deviations from the purely Vedic philosophy based on the integration of the non-Vedic practices into the Hindu faith. We shall see another integration a little later in the conflict between the followers of Shiva and Vishnu.
Hinduism truly advocates that the different religious beliefs are different paths to the same God. This not only applies to the different views within Hinduism but also to completely separate faiths like Christianity or Islam. Most Hindus are comfortable praying in churches or mosques and are not discouraged from doing so. It is because of this integrative character of Hinduism, that it has not felt the need to proselytize.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
It is commonly accepted that the Vedas were revealed to the ancient seers. It is also accepted that since God is the prime cause of the universe, the Vedas were a ‘divine revelation’. In fact the Vedas belong to that category of Hindu scriptures known as Shruti, literally meaning ‘that which is heard’. When the seers emptied their minds of all trivialities they could hear the sounds of the universe. The other category in this manner of classification is Smriti, literally meaning ‘that which is remembered’. The Shruti texts were revealed whereas the Smriti texts were realized as a consequence of deduction from the Shruti texts. There are differences of opinion in the classification between Shruti and Smriti. However the Vedas are universally accepted as belonging to the revealed category. The perception of the process of how the Vedas were revealed varies with the nature of inquiry.
The early Vedic society was pagan and pantheistic and the secrets of the Vedas were probably revealed through meditation and introspection on nature’s relationship with humanity. The experience of communion with the divine happened in a flash during moments of intense meditation aided by sudden inspiration. It was during such moments that the questions regarding the nature of universe, purpose of life and God were answered. These answers were then composed in the form of hymns that became the essential part of the Vedas. This process is by no means far fetched. The apocryphal tale of how Newton discovered gravity by an apple falling on his head is an illustration of the same process.
This is not the kind of divine revelation we are accustomed to. For us divine revelation is Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God or Muhammad receiving the Holy Koran from Allah. As Hinduism moved from polytheism to monotheism and as theology became the more dominant aspect of philosophy the need for an express divine revelation was felt necessary to strengthen the theological basis of religion. In mythology, Brahma the Creator became the custodian of the Vedas. He revealed them to the first seers who in turn disseminated them to the next generation.
In the article Hinduism: A Holistic Way of Life we saw that Hinduism has a multidisciplinary perspective. The divine revelation of the Vedas is one more example.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The annual camel fair is currently on at Pushkar, the holy town of Brahma. It is the world’s largest camel fair and one of the largest livestock fairs. According to legend the Brahma was searching for a place to hold a sacrifice. He dropped a lotus and the Pushkar Lake was formed where it fell. The sacrifice was conducted on the shore of the lake, where the Brahma temple stands. It is the only temple in the world dedicated to Brahma. The fair ends on the full moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik. The pilgrims take a dip in the holy lake, whose holy water washes away the sins. At night oil wick lamps are released on the waters of the lake creating a beautiful spectacle.
Livestock trading is the main purpose of the fair. The camels, in particular, are decked up and paraded on the sand dunes. While the men go about their business, the women go shopping. The camel races and the merrymaking are enjoyed by everyone. The competition for the longest moustache and body tattooing are much sought after. The religious-cum-business-cum-pleasure nature of the fair is a testimony to the holistic nature of Hinduism.
Pushkar was once the holiest pilgrimage center and definitely dates back to the Vedic age. Later its relative importance declined, corresponding to the decline in the worship of Brahma. Brahma is the Hindu God of Creation. Or to put it more correctly he is that manifestation of the Supreme God that is responsible for Creation. He was very popular in the Vedic period but later during the Epic period Vishnu and Shiva became more popular. There are some interesting mythological tales as to why there is only one temple dedicated to Brahma.
A temple to Brahma’s consort Savitri stands on a hill overlooking the town of Pushkar. Another interesting temple is one devoted to Varaha (Boar), the third of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. The demon Hiranyaksha had dragged the earth to the bottom of the cosmic ocean. Varaha killed the demon with his tusks and freed the earth. The last Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh chose this holy site for reciting the sacred Guru Granth Sahib, demonstrating the integrative nature of religions in India.
The number of foreign tourists coming to this fair is increasing. The ancient town of Pushkar is ready to welcome the world. Keeping in mind the conservative and sacred nature of Pushkar foreigners should be careful not to offend the sensibilities of the Indian pilgrims and local population. Public nudity is illegal. Also photographing women taking the ritual dip in the lake is not acceptable. The isolated cases of such behavior are making foreigners unpopular.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
This week I would like to digress from the subject of Hinduism to put down some thoughts on religion in general. These thought came to mind as I was reading through T.S.Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. These lines said by Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury towards the end of Part I made me put down the book and think a while.
“The last temptation is the greatest treason:
To do the right deed for the wrong reason.”
The Archbishop was contemplating whether he was on a collision course with the King for the good of the church alone or was the desire of fame as a martyr spurring him on. Only when he was convinced beyond doubt that there was no personal element involved was his mind at ease.
Today the world is facing severe religious strife. And India is no exception. Here we have several religious bodies (and bodies who seek support in the name of religion) from all religions – Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism – who do not lose any opportunity for raising religious fervor. No one denies that such organizations have every right to support and defend their subscribers. But the strident tones and confrontationist postures they display are most unreligious. More and more one is beginning to doubt the intentions of such organizations. It is apparent that they are doing perhaps “the right deed” for definitely “the wrong reason”. Maybe they are seeking media mileage to promote themselves and hence increase their funding. Maybe they are garnering a vote bank for their political affiliates. This is what I have seen in India but I guess it is the same everywhere else.
I believe that religious organizations need to tone down their statements, whether active or reactive. I believe that they need to do this voluntarily. I believe that before they take a stand they must introspect and be sure that they are acting not for the wrong reason. However I do not see religious organizations acting in the aforesaid manner. Hence it is up to us as individuals to create the balance. Before we support any religious stand or activity we must be clear in our minds that it is the right deed and that it is not being conducted for the wrong reason.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The importance of borrowing from earlier religions cannot be overstated. In all religions the message of God is Love, Peace and Harmony. Ironically today the world is bitterly divided among religious lines, whether between different religions or between different sects of the same religion. It has become essential that we break down the fortresses that we have built around our respective religions and allow intermingling and even acceptance of ideas from different faiths. But before we can do that we have to introspect and acknowledge the contribution earlier religions have made to the faith we profess.
Borrowing from earlier religions is a natural process. After all time is a continuum and the cultures of our ancestors cannot be erased from our lives overnight. Most religions existing today have borrowed concepts, icons or personalities from religions that preceded them. In the article Hinduism and the Aryan Influence we saw how the early Vedic deities were those the Aryans brought with them. Some of them exist even today as demi-Gods in Hindu mythology. Varun is the demi-God of the Sea, Usha is the demi-Goddess of Dawn and Yima, the king in the ancient Aryan mythology, is Yama, the demi-God of death.
The Romans adopted the entire Greek pantheon, simply by changing the names. The king of the gods, Zeus, became Jupiter. His wife, Hera, became Juno. The goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, became Venus and the god of war, Ares, became Mars. The entire Roman mythology was borrowed from the earlier Greek one.
Perhaps the most popular image in Christianity is that of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her arms. The Egyptian Goddess Isis nursing the infant Horus bears a striking resemblance to the images of Madonna and Child. Festive celebrations are events people find difficult to give up, even when they adopt a different religion. The solstices and equinoxes were important festivals on the pagan calendar, being important points in the earth’s revolution around the sun. Some of the important Christian festivals take place very close to the dates of the equinoxes and solstices. The birth of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated in midsummer and Christmas in midwinter. The Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin is on the 25th of March close to the spring equinox and Saint Mathew’s Day is celebrated close to the autumn equinox.
Before Allah revealed the mission of spreading His message to all humanity to the Prophet Muhammad, He had sent other prophets to preach to a specific group of people. These prophets include most of the religious figures from the Old Testament such as Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon. The last of the prophets before Muhammad was Jesus according to the Islamic belief.
Borrowing from earlier religions serves two important purposes. It allows for a continuance of culture, which is essential to the acceptance of new thought. It demonstrates that positive interaction between religions is possible.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Hindus will celebrate Diwali or Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, on the 21st of October. It is by far the most important festival on the Hindu calendar. The festivities for Diwali begin with Dhanteras on the 19th of October and continue till Bhai Dooj on the 23rd of October. Most commercial activities are put on hold and it is a time for families to get together. The Diwali week is just like the Christmas to the New Year period in the western calendar.
Like Dussera, Diwali is also linked to the Ramayana. On Dussera Rama slew Ravana. On Diwali he returned to his capital city of Ayodhya after completing fourteen years of exile. The entire city was lit with oil lamps in celebration of his return. This is the reason why Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights. Hindus world over replicate the scene by lighting their homes with decorated oil lamps. In India public places are lit up during this period. Celebrations also include bursting of firecrackers. Originally meant to enhance the lighting, these crackers today have become a source of sound and smoke pollution in many urban areas.
Rama invaded Lanka with the intention to wipe out an evil force. Having done that he did not annexe Lanka. Nor did he in any way interfere with its governance. Ravana’s pious brother, Vibhishana, had already taken refuge with Rama. In fact Rama had crowned him as king of Lanka in exile even before the war. After Ravana’s death a formal coronation of Vibhishana took place. Vibhishana married Ravana’s widow, Mandodari, as was the custom in those days.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
This year on the 2nd of October Hindus celebrated the festival of Dussera, also known as Vijayadashami. It was on this day that Rama slew the evil Ravana and freed his wife Sita, as narrated in the epic Ramayana. Every year Dussera is celebrated as the anniversary of this event. In every city and town of India huge paper effigies of Ravana, his son Indrajit and brother Kumbhakaran are erected. At the appropriate moment in the enacting of the Ramayana, ‘Rama’ shoots arrows with burning heads into the effigies and they go up in flames, much to the delight of the young and old alike.
The event symbolises the victory of good over evil. Ravana was terrorizing the people of the earth. When their endurance was breached they approached God Vishnu for his intervention. Vishnu promised to take birth as Rama and in that incarnation he would slay Ravana. Rama was born as the prince of Ayodhya. After getting rid of many minor demons Rama finally faced Ravana and in a fierce battle killed him, thereby ridding the earth of evil, at least for the time being.
Today we are engaged in playing God and busying ourselves trying to eradicate the evil around us. We fail to realise that we are not God and that, to a lesser or greater extent, there is evil within us. I believe that a more relevant interpretation of Rama killing Ravana is slaying the demon within. If we all try to do that sincerely then the world will become a more peaceful place.