Harsh Nevatia's Blog
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
In 1975 a physicist named Fritjof Capra wrote a book The Tao of Physics, whose byline was “An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism”. In this book Capra described the interactions of subatomic particles as “a dynamic interplay in which particles are created and destroyed without end in a continual variation of energy patterns.” Capra likened this to the Hindu belief of the universe being created and destroyed in a cyclic manner without beginning or end, death and rebirth being an integral part of this process.
This cosmic dance finds manifestation in Nataraj, the King of Dancers. Nataraj is the most popular avatar of Shiva, one of the Hindu Trinity. Perfectly balanced on one leg and with his four arms and the other leg outstretched Nataraj represents the cosmic dance. The small drum that he holds represents the ticking way of time. The images obtained from particle collision experiments replicate the dynamism and energy of Nataraj.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has been in the forefront of particle physics research since the late 1950s. About 8,000 scientists representing 500 universities and 80 countries are working for CERN. In 1984 the concept of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was officially agreed upon. Indians have contributed more than 100 man-years to the LHC project and have designed and built critical components.
The Indian Government presented CERN with a 2m high statue of Nataraj. This was in recognition of the long association Indian scientists have had with CERN. This statue gave concrete form to the metaphor of Shiva’s cosmic dance first mooted by Capra.
The LHC has gone on stream last week and the collisions are scheduled to take place in October. The idea is to simulate the conditions of the Big Bang and learn some more about the creation of the universe. Only time will tell whether Nataraj is willing to reveal his mysteries or not.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The Brahmavaivarta Purana describes how Radha emerges from the aspect of Krishna in Rasamandala. There Krishna and Radha weave a magic that humans cannot even imagine. Then during Krishna avatar both Radha and Krishna descend to earth. Poets, artists and devotees have tried to imagine what their first meeting on earth would have been like.
According to folklore Radha was born just months ahead of Krishna to Vrishbhan and Kalavati in Barsana. She did not open her eyes since her birth. Then Nand and Yashoda with the infant Krishna came to visit them from Gokul. Radha sensed Krishna’s presence and opened her eyes so that the first thing she saw on earth was Krishna’s face.
K.M.Munshi, writer, educationist and administrator, rewrote Krishna’s story according to his perception. He imagined the first meeting of Krishna and Radha when they were much older. Radha had come to Gokul and she encountered Krishna tied to a mortar as punishment. Then followed a conversation that was poignant and saucy, something that can take place only between an innocent seven year boy and a girl of twelve who had just stepped over the threshold of maidenhood.
The Krishna and Radha of the television series “Kahani Humari Mahabharat Ki” are even older. Krishna is outside a temple when his peacock feather slips from his hand and is carried by the wind to Radha who is coming to the temple. The wind holds the peacock feather against Radha’s face for an eternity. It is a moment of magic - the first touch of first love; a reunion on earth after separation in Rasamandala; an anticipation of the divine love to follow. Unfortunately the moment in the television series could not capture any of the above despite the power of the medium.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The Mahabharata War was over. Kunti, Gandhari and Dhritarashtra had retired to a forest to pass their last days. There Kunti encounters a Nishadin, a tribal female. The males of the tribe were Nishadas. The topic of conversation veers to the Lakshagrah and the Nishadin asks, “…You had to provide irrefutable proof that the six of you had been burned to death.” That irrefutable proof was the skeletons of a woman and five men found in the remains of the conflagration. The Nishadin reminds Kunti that the Nishadas were regular visitors at the Lakshagrah because they supplied timber. She points out though it was not common for Kunti to invite the Nishadas for meals, Kunti had once invited a Nishadin and her five sons and served them unlimited amount of wine. Then follows a chilling conversation.
Nishadin: And did you serve wine every time?
Kunti: No
Nishadin: Just that one time?
Kunti: Just that one time.
The insinuation is clear and Kunti does not deny it. The Nishadin and her five sons were knowingly and intentionally burned to death by the Pandavas so as to establish their deaths.
Kisari Mohun Ganguli’s translation has this to say. “Desirous of obtaining food, there came, as though impelled by fate, to that feast, in course of her wanderings, a Nishada woman, the mother of five children, accompanied by all her sons. O king, she, and her children, intoxicated with the wine they drank, became incapable. Deprived of consciousness and more dead than alive, she with all her sons lay down in that mansion to sleep.” (Jatugriha Parva)
The Mahabharata seems to indicate that the presence of the Nishadas was accidental. But would Vidur leave such an important piece in his plan to chance? The answer has to be in the negative.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Yudhishthir had been appointed heir or Yuvaraja of Hastinapura. This angered Duryodhan and Shakuni. As a part of his duties Yudhishthir was to go to Varnavat, a kingdom outpost, to participate in religious festivities. Shakuni had a palace built there so that the Pandavas and their mother Kunti could stay in comfort. But he had the walls lined with lac so that the entire palace would light up with a single spark.
Vidur learnt of this plan but instead of exposing it there and then he put a counter plan in motion. He had an escape route built and told the Pandavas to set fire to the Lakshagrah themselves before leaving it. The Pandavas, presumed dead, were then to remain incognito till Vidur gave the signal.
What was Vidur hoping to gain? He knew that he would not be able to pin this intended criminal act on either Duryodhan or Shakuni. Some scapegoat would pay with his life. This was true but those who mattered would have read between the lines. Vidur thought that Duryodhan’s power-grabbing behavior after the event would betray his ambitions. But this was thought normal because he was now the only and rightful heir. Vidur thought that the Pandavas were not safe in the court till Duryodhan was exposed. But Duryodhan was not exposed and the Pandavas suffered at his hands after their eventual return.
And the Pandavas lost a lot. Yudhishthir was heir and would have become ruler of the entire kingdom after Dhritarashtra. Because of Vidur’s mistake he had to be contend with half the kingdom because the kingdom was therefore bifurcated when the Pandavas returned to court. Thus Yudhishthir lost half the kingdom. And the hardships that the Pandavas had to bear while living incognito were further pains that accrued from Vidur’s mistake.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
There were two reasons that the events immediately following the Lakshagrah incident were essential for Krishna. The first was Karna. Karna had been befriended by Duryodhan and would fight for him in the inevitable War. Karna had been given an invincible armor by his father Surya. As long as he wore that armor Arjun would be able to kill him in battle. And to get to Duryodhan Karna had to die. Karna was also a great believer in charity and would never let a mendicant go empty-handed. Krishna had planned to get hold of Karna’s armor by asking someone to beg for it. But ‘dharma’ demanded that Karna be given an invincible weapon in return. Krishna needed someone who would be the victim of that invincible weapon so that Arjun could then kill Karna. He needed someone with demonic powers who would trouble the Kaurava army so much that Karna would be forced to use that weapon he was saving for Arjun. After escaping from the Lakshagrah, Bhim met the demoness Hidamba and married her. Their son Ghatotkacha had demonic powers and would willingly sacrifice his life to his father’s cause. This would not have been possible had the Pandavas remained in court.
After escaping from the Lakshagrah the Pandavas eventually settled down as poor brahmins in the village of Ekachakra and mixed with the commoners there. When these commoners realized that the family living with them were none other than the princes of Hastinapura they were astounded. They recalled with pleasant surprise the congenial and humble behavior of the royal scions and their mother and even the help rendered by the Pandavas in the times of distress. It was this approval from the public at large that was essential to establish the righteousness of the Pandavas.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Ekta Kapoor, the producer of Kahani Humari Mahabharat Ki, is deviating in detail from the storyline of Veda Vyasa. There are many who are complaining but I believe that there is no story re-teller worth his salt who has not twisted the original plots. What Ekta is doing is minor when compared to what Kalidas has done.
She has introduced an encounter between Kansa and an astrologer that I particularly liked. The astrologer tells Kansa that he will be killed in a few years. Kansa then asks the astrologer to predict his own longevity to which the astrologer replies, “ I have 45 years more to live”. Kansa immediately beheads him and proclaims himself God for being able to control destiny.
This serial is perhaps the first to depict Shakuni’s wife. I have seen and read several popular versions of the Mahabharata but have not come across her before. There are almost Shakespearian comic interludes in which Shakuni’s wife tries all sorts of rituals to get her to conceive. If only she was friendly with Kunti, she may have learned the secret incantation from the latter. After all Kunti did produce four sons using it. Ultimately Shakuni does sire a son named Uluk. Uluk plays a minor role in the epic when he goes as Duryodhan’s emissary to the Pandavas. In the war he is killed by Sahadeva.
Finally it is great to see Duryodhan being called by his given name Suyodhan. Suyodhan means good warrior. He came to be called Duryodhan because of his misdeeds. But no child is born evil and the young prince has every right to be called by his correct name. It remains to be seen how and when Ekta makes the transition from Suyodhan to Duryodhan.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Yesterday 150 pilgrims died at the shrine of Naina Devi, which is one of the Shakti Peeths formed where the eyes of Sati fell following the tragedy at Kankhal. The deaths resulted from a stampede that had been set off by rumors of a landslide. It is said that there were about 30,000 pilgrims who had gathered on the festive occasion.
The frenzied reaction of a section of the Hindu community on the Internet was expected. They have immediately blamed the Government of India for not providing sufficient safeguards. They have called on the Government to ensure adequate facilities at all Hindu shrines. And they have cited the Government’s readiness to concede to such demands from Muslims. That this tragedy has taken place while the protest against the Amaranth issue is at pitch has evoked stronger reactions.
These people unfortunately do not realize that there can be no protection against rumormongering. Railings meant to protect individuals cannot withstand the pressure of thousands of people. Due to the growth in population and the religious resurgence the crowds at Hindu shrines are continuing to grow. I am not aware of the topography of the Naina Devi shrine but I know of several shrines that can be reached only through narrow alleys, where organizing for better logistics would entail bringing down existing buildings and this again would be unacceptable.
One part of the grouse voiced on such occasions is unfortunately true. The Government of India continues to pander to minority religions because they make excellent vote banks. And this hurts the Hindus who then raise the ante. Currently the Haj committee has applied for doubling the number of Haj pilgrims citing an increase in the Muslim population. Elections are round the corner. Let us see how the Government responds.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Hindu mythology is replete with births as a result of the blessings of sages and deities. These have been generally interpreted as divine conceptions devoid of any sexual contact, perhaps because there has been an element of the supernatural involved.
But Niyog Pratha is a legitimate social custom that allows the brother of a deceased male to impregnate the widow. There is nothing supernatural in it. Hence when Kahani Humari Mahabharat Ki, a new television serial retelling the story of Mahabharata, portrayed the conception of Pandu and Dhritarashtra in an asexual nature it came as a surprise.
Kahani Humari Mahabharat Ki has a fresh approach to the portrayal. The ornate costumes and sets typical in Indian mythological presentations have been replaced with minimalist designs. The women characters who have appeared thus far are not one dimensional cardboard characters but have been endowed with sensuousness. Hence seeing divine rays emerging from Veda Vyasa eyes and penetrating the wombs of Ambika, Ambalika and the female slave appeared unpalatable.
This event is described in Section CVI of the Sambhava Parva of Adi Parva, the first book of the Mahabharata. I am referring to the translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, which is well accepted. While describing the impregnation of Ambika the translation reads, “The princess, seeing his (Veda Vyasa) dark visage, his matted locks of copper hue, blazing eyes, his grim beard, closed her eyes in fear. The Rishi, from desire of accomplishing his mother’s wishes, however knew her.” This beyond doubt indicates that sexual intercourse took place.
Ekta Kapoor, the producer of the serial, is neither prudish nor squeamish as her several television products testify. Perhaps it is the religious and the family nature of the serial that has led to this prudish interpretation.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Saint Paul’s Publications released The New Community Bible (Catholic Edition) in India on June 28, 2008. The objective was to make it easier for the Indians Christian community to understand the Bible. The cultural background of the Christians in India is very different from those in the West and therefore it was felt that this Indianisation was needed.
The Indianised Bible is illustrated and the Biblical characters are shown in traditional Indian clothing. This is one aspect of Indianisation. The other is to juxtapose relevant Hindu concepts in the commentary. This has been done only in a positive way without denigrating Hinduism, a welcome departure from the stand the Catholic Church in India usually takes. An example is the explanation of the Vedic interpretation of light when discussing the Christian concept as in the Genesis.
Several members have called this Indianisation a sacrilege against Christianity. They particularly resent Hindu concepts given in the Bible. The radical Hindus have also not taken to this very kindly. They see this as an attempt to step up the conversions of Hindus to Christianity. They state that the cultural differences cited by the editor of the Bible. Fr. Augustine Kanachikizhy, always existed. The rate of conversions among the educated classes has died down because Christianity is believed to be an alien concept incongruous with Indian culture. The Hindus claim that the Indianised Bible will break this cultural barrier and result in increased conversions.
Fortunately the Catholic leadership is firmly backing the Indianised Bible. Fr. Anthony Charanghat, spokesperson for the Archbishop of Bombay, says, “The narrow-minded will misunderstand but we shouldn’t fear explaining our religion using other (non-Christian) concepts”.
The Indianised Bible comes close on the heels of the Indianisation of the Churches.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
I have recently encountered two different arguments concerning the wagering of Draupadi by Yuddhishthir, her husband and the eldest of the Pandavas.
The anti-Hindu argued that the Pandavas were righteous therefore everything they did had to be praiseworthy. They wagered their wife in a dice game. Therefore in Hinduism wagering of wives is a praiseworthy practice.
The pro-Hindu replied that the wagering of Draupadi was not a willful act. The Pandavas were invited to the dice game by their King and uncle, Dhritarashtra. Being obedient nephews they had no choice but to agree. Everything that took place thereafter was given tacit agreement by Dhritarashtra. And the Pandavas were helpless because they were bound by duty to obey their elder. Therefore in Hinduism obedience of elders is the praiseworthy practice. Dhritarashtra was on the side of the evil. And therefore compelling someone to wager his wife is an evil practice.
The assumption by the anti-Hindu that the personages in Hindu scriptures are either totally good or totally evil is flawed. All human beings have a combination of good and evil. When the good dominates we say that they are good and vice versa. Yuddhishthir was basically a righteous person, with one flaw. He loved gambling. The conclusion cannot be that gambling is good. The conclusion has to be that a good person can have flaws.
The pro-Hindu person argued that Yuddhishthir wagered his wife out of compulsion and not out of choice and therefore was not accountable for it. This is blind rationalization. If Yuddhishthir could not refuse the game of dice he could definitely refuse to wager his wife because she was not his property. Yuddhishthir’s act was at best one of misplaced righteousness and at worst the desire to win back his losses of the earlier wagers.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
I had mentioned in my last blog that too many people are visiting Amarnath and this will spell doom for the shrine. I was referring to the ecology but even the logistics are becoming unmanageable. There are two routes for the shrine – one from Baltal and the other from Pahalgam. Each route can cater to a maximum of 6,000 pilgrims a day. Some news channels reported that there were over 36,000 devotees on the opening day itself. When the army, which manages the logistics, tried to release only 6,000 persons from the camp at Baltal the assembled pilgrims almost twice that number created a furor and forced their way to Amarnath. There are reports of over 25,000 pilgrims assembling at the shrine daily. The living and food arrangements have been made for a throughput of 6,000 and there have been reports of pilgrims going hungry. There have also been reports of some of the pilgrims being physically unfit for the arduous journey. After the stampede the army has been able to halt the Yatra at the various camps in order to ensure that only 6,000 pilgrims leave from Pahalgam and Baltal.
Meanwhile the Shrine Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the shrine has denied that there has been a stampede. They have stated that only one person has died and that too of cardiac arrest. It is difficult to believe that over half a dozen news channels have got it wrong, unless they are cutting and pasting news from each other’s web sites.
Let us not forget that this Yatra is extremely sensitive to terrorist attack as well. And above all let us hope that sense will prevail before a major untoward incident takes place.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The first batch of pilgrims is on their way to the Amarnath cave. I wish this was not so. There are certain sites in the Himalayan regions that are suffering extensive ecological damage. One of the reasons is that these sites cannot absorb the increasing influx of pilgrims. Amarnath, Gangotri and Kailash Mansarovar are some of them. The ice Shiva ling at Amarnath has been naturally made for centuries. In 2006 the priests patched up the Shiva ling with ice because the naturally made Shiva ling was found to be much smaller in size that year. This created a furor, but for the priests it had been a damned if you do and damned if you don’t choice. Nothing was reported last year but this does not mean nothing untoward happened. Lessons have to be learnt and pilgrimages to Amarnath have to be stopped otherwise we fill find that the natural Shiva ling will become smaller and smaller in successive years.
There are those who disagree and their argument needs to be stated for the purpose of fairness. They believe that the major cause of the damage is the universal global warming over which India has no control. The contribution of the pilgrims to the local warming of these areas is insignificant. Hence they feel that the pilgrims cannot be deprived of their right to worship at these places.
How significant or insignificant is the contribution of the pilgrims cannot be easily assessed. But no chances should be taken. I suggest that the pilgrimages be stopped for 5 years. If the damage continues unabated then the situation may be reviewed. In this context the Chinese stopping the pilgrimage to Mansarovar over the issue of Tibet may be viewed as a blessing in disguise.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The third quarter issue of Hinduism Today is out and as ever the content and presentation are excellent. I would like to react to some of the content. This is by no means a judgment on the views expressed by the learned writers; it is simply a statement of my experiences.
The first concerns the article from the Publisher’s Desk “Who is the Greatest God?” The article outlines four views on who is greater Vishnu or Shiva. Historically and academically this has been a pertinent question as explained by Satguru Veylanswamy. But in my interaction with Hindus (most of whom do not profess any academic or sectarian leanings) this question is non-existent. While each of them has their favorite deity, or ishta deva, they are not preoccupied with the position of prominence of their ishta deva. Whether they believe that all deities are manifestations of the same Supreme Being or they have equal respect for other viewpoints I do not know, because the issue has not come up. The issue has, however, been raised in several of the cyberspace forums I participate in and the threads have soon turned bitter, dogmatic and even abusive. It is very unfortunate that today vested interests are using religion to divide humanity. In such circumstances issues that divide are best ignored.
The long article on Madhavacharya “Difference Is Real” by Jeffrey Armstrong is a masterpiece. It details Madhavacharya’s argument that the difference between the jiv atma and the param atma is real as opposed to Shankaracharya’s argument that the difference is illusionary. (Advaita, Vishishta Advaita, Dvaita) As my writings demonstrate, I look for similarities and not differences. Therefore the best line in the article for me was “…Madhav and Shankar agree that liberating the soul from matter is the goal of Vedanta.”
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Last week a new Hindu temple was consecrated in New York’s Staten Island amid much celebration. Outside India, the Hindu diaspora have to work hard to build a temple. The organization of the permissions and the funds take years. In the absence of a proper temple worship is conducted privately at homes or in makeshift meeting halls, which are much less satisfying.
The opening of the temple in Staten Island illustrated a very important aspect of Hindu worship. That is the need to consecrate a place of worship according to the methods laid out in the scriptures. This act of consecration breathes life into the idols. Just before the consecration ceremony Mr. Ram Nair, a trustee of the temple, said, “The power isn’t invoked in them yet. In a couple of hours, it will be.”
In the ritual of consecration 108 golden vessels, filled with water and each containing a coconut, were tied with red threads. The other end of many of these threads went to the mini-shrines called mandaps, which housed statues of gods. The prayers of the devotees travel through the threads and into the idols, breathing life into them. The water represents the infinite element of God and the idols are the visible manifestations. This process transfers the divine power of the infinite God to the idols. When Hindus stand in front of idols to pray, it is this divine power that has been received by the idols in the consecration ceremony that blesses them. Durga, Saraswati and Hanuman were some of the deities represented in the temple.
This temple will cater to the 500 odd Hindu families from different parts of India who live on Staten Island. Earlier they had to travel to Queens or Edison to worship in a temple.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The Ramayana: Love and Valor in India’s Great Epic is the title of the exhibition put up by the British Library in London. The exhibition portrays the retelling of the Ramayana across centuries and cultures.This is one of my favorite themes (Refer to Different Versions of the Ramayana) and I wish I could be there. The exhibition opened on the 16th of May at the Library and will run till the 14th of September.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is the 120 rare, lavishly illustrated, 17th century Ramayana paintings from the collection of Rana Jagat Singh of Mewar. These grand paintings with vivid, bright colors are replete with narrative detail and dramatic imagery and cover all major episodes of the Ramayana. Two of the volumes have been painted by Sahib Din. The other volumes have been presumably painted by his assistants. All except one volume is in the Mewar style. The exception is the volume depicting episodes set in the kingdom of Kishkindha, which has been influenced by paintings from the Deccan. These exhibits have been designed by Tara Arts Theatre Company and have been patronized by K. K. Birla, British Library Patrons and the Friends of the British Library. Some of the paintings, in a digitized format, can be seen at the website of the British Library.
The exhibition also displays paintings, textiles and sculptures from other collections such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Ashmolean Museum. A unique display consists of shadow puppets and dance costumes from the Horniman Museum. The exhibition also features recordings of readings various versions of the Ramayana, the singing of related devotional hymns and dramatic and dance music from India and South-East Asia. A must see is the event featuring shadow-puppetry from Bali and Java.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
By the end of May 2008 the monarchy in Nepal will be dissolved. The present monarchy is the only surviving Hindu monarchy. Nepal was a Hindu state till 2006, when it was declared secular.
The monarchy begins with Dravya Shah who founded the Gorkha Kingdom in the 16th century. In the 18th century Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal. In the reign of Rajendra Shah the conflict between the royal family and the prime minister escalated and the king was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, who became a puppet of the prime minister. Thereafter for a hundred years the power rested with the Rana family who provided the prime ministers on a hereditary basis. The position of the monarch became titular.
In the mid 20th century, the people of Nepal began to rally against the despotic rule of the Rana family. The then monarch, Tribhuvan Shah supported this movement, but was forced to flee to India with most of his family. The Ranas placed the king’s infant grandson, Gyanendra, on the throne but the population reacted strongly. Tribhuvan was called back and the rule of the Ranas ended. Tribhuvan then initiated the democratization process in Nepal. However his son Mahendra was against democracy and undid the good work his father had begun.
Mahendra’ son, Birendra was pro-democracy and is considered the best king Nepal had. The king and most of the members of his family were massacred allegedly by his son Dipendra, who also shot himself. However conspiracy theories abound. Dipendra was crowned while in coma but died without recovering consciousness. He was succeeded by Birendra’s brother Gyanendra, the same person who had earlier ruled for a few months. Soon King Gyanendra will be known as the last Hindu monarch of Nepal.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
A gentleman, Pita brought this news item to our notice at a social networking site. The item was posted under the heading “Slokas on the Mount” in India View.
The article says that the Vatican has sanction the ‘inculturation’ of churches meaning the indigenisation of churches through “assimilating local culture and symbols in construction, layout, interior design, …”. This should not have come as a surprise but it did.
It should not have come as a surprise because Christianity itself took roots in an indigenisation process. All major festivals of Christianity coincide with the pagan festivals that were being celebrated by the early Roman society. It did surprise me because after that initial step of ‘inculturation’ Christianity for the last 2000 years has taken a rigid stand in even making minor adjustments to its set beliefs.
The article states that the process will be implemented in the 168 Catholic dioceses in India, and is already under way in 45 churches. One of the obstacles in the spread of Christianity has been its identification as a part of “Western” culture and therefore alien to Oriental indigenous cultures. Hence this move of the Christian Church is welcome. Many Indian Christians have a sense of belonging neither here nor there, and hopefully future generations of Indian Christians will not face this dilemma. The ‘inculturation’ also involves performing aarti in churches and this should go a long way in bridging the artificially created current religious divides.
The article quotes Nitya Chaitanya Guru as saying, “It is not totally baseless if Hindu leaders fear that ‘Indianisation of Christianity’ is meant to bring about ‘Christianisation of India’. I could not disagree with Nitya Chaitanya Guru more. Not only is this statement totally unfounded but it is meant to increase the existing religious divides.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Mixing politics with religion is undesirable but it inevitably happens. Religion affects an overwhelmingly large number of people and politicians cannot resist the temptation to manipulate the masses or to score brownie points using religion. The latest case is China’s refusal to issue visas to Hindus who wanted to visit Kailash Mansarovar this summer.
Mount Kailash is where Shiva resides. This mountain lies on the shore of the equally holy Mansarovar Lake. Since these sites lie high in the Himalayas they can be visited only in summer. Every year 12,000 Hindus make this pilgrimage in batches. Kailash and Mansarovar lie in Tibet, which was annexed by China in the 1960s and subsequently has been recognized by the international community as a part of China. Therefore China has to issue visas to the Hindu pilgrims, which it has been doing in the first week of April for many years. This year. However, it has refused to issue visas.
The official reason is that the Chinese office that processes the visas is situated in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Due to the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa in April the office had to be closed and then came the scheduled holiday time. So visas could not be processed. But the real reason is that China feels that India is sympathetic to the Tibetan cause and is retaliating in a show of strength. China has always had an axe to grind because India offered sanctuary to the Dalai Lama, the head of the Tibetan Buddhists. Now it is accusing India of severely curtailing the Olympic torch relay and not giving it the media publicity that China desired. It is also accusing India of not being severe enough with the Tibetans who organized peaceful protests against the Chinese government.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Most lists of Dashavatar include Buddha as the ninth avatar of Vishnu. Some include Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna, as the ninth avatar instead of Buddha. I have a problem with both.
Balarama was indisputably the avatar of Sesha Nag, the serpent on which Vishnu reclined in the lake of Kshirsagar, just as Laxman was the avatar of Sesha Nag during Rama avatar period. Hence to include Balarama as an avatar of Vishnu is anomalous.
The teachings of Buddha are quite divergent from Hinduism. If you ask any Buddhist, whether a follower of any ancient school of Buddhism or the neo-Buddhists who have converted from Hinduism after India’s independence, if he is a Hindu then you will be met with disbelief or contempt. No Buddhist considers himself or herself to be a Hindu. Yet there are many Hindus who consider Buddhism an offshoot of Hinduism – ridiculous but true.
The inclusion of Buddha as the ninth avatar of Vishnu was nothing but an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the massive conversions from Hinduism that were accompanying the sermons of Buddha. In fact Hinduism was perhaps at its worst at the time Buddha started preaching. Social exploitation in the name of religion was beginning to entrench itself and many of the Brahmin class were corrupt and greedy. No wonder there was disillusionment and Buddha found a ready following.
The reconciliation of the differences between Buddhism and Hinduism is even more amazing. The standard line followed in most scriptural texts is that Vishnu as Buddha intentionally preached false scriptures so as to prevent the demons from accessing the true faith and therefore preventing their salvation. If some humans were fooled into believing Buddha then it was an inevitable side effect.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
In Hinduism avatars are the incarnations of the supreme God. Traditionally Vishnu has ten major avatars known as Dashavatar, out of the later five are in human form. The Bhagavata Purana lists twenty-four avatars of Vishnu.
In my discussions on various forums on Hinduism I have come across the following conceptions of avatars.
- Avatars are God in human form but without human qualities.
- Avatars are God in human form and take on human qualities.
- Avatars are legendary persons who have been deified.
- Avatars are created from a combination of many legendary figures.
For Hindus the last two definitions are inconceivable because the go against basic belief. Secular historians and sociologists have suggested these options because they base their opinions on evidence and not on belief.
Hindus argue about the first two options. The problem arises because the avatars exhibit both divine and human characteristics. Those who believe that avatars are divine go to great lengths to offer explanations for the human qualities. The fundamental problem seems to be a reluctance to accept that the Divine would take human characteristics. But there is a valid reason for them to do so.
In the most quoted verse of the Bhagwad Gita it is said that God descends to earth as an avatar in order to annihilate evil and thus restore the balance between righteousness and evil. But there is no doubt that God can do that without taking on an avatar. The reason for taking an avatar with human characteristics is to pass on the message that humans have the capacity to combat evil. But then there are times when the avatars use divine powers to kill demons.
In my opinion it is dangerous to make far-reaching generalizations. Each event must be taken in its proper context and appropriate lessons drawn
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Next to Ravana, Kaikeyi is presented as the most evil character in the Ramayana. She sent her stepson to exile and was responsible for her husband’s death. Since then parents have not named their daughter Kaikeyi.
I cannot accept that Kaikeyi was inherently evil. God used her as an instrument in His mission. Before Rama vanquished Ravana he had to exaggerate the differences between power, greed, arrogance and meekness, selflessness and humility. To do so he could not attack Lanka as the king of Ayodhya but had to do so as a simple human being. Therefore the drama of being exiled and cut off from Ayodhya was crucial to his plan. And he made Kaikeyi an unwitting partner.
Yet her behavior is out of character. Even in God’s Lila the niceties of realism have to be observed. Kaikeyi was a strong willed woman. She loved Rama more than she loved Bharat. So how could she so easily succumb to the wiles of Manthara? This question has not ceased to vex me. The only explanation I could provide was that God induced a temporary weakness in her so that He could execute His plan.
Then I read Ashok Banker’s series on the Ramayana. He has introduced events and characters not present in the popular version of the narrative. But he has resolved the issue of Kaikeyi’s character beautifully. Manthara is an agent of Ravana and versed in the dark arts. She drugs Kaikeyi to keep her in her room and transforms a slave to the splitting image of the queen. Then the slave, looking like Kaikeyi, acts out the events of that fateful night. Kaikeyi remains true to her character and her honor is maintained. This of course is Banker’s invention but how I hope this had been the truth.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Last month the Vatican newspaper published a list of seven deadly sins that were rampant in the modern world. These were genetic modification, human experimentations, polluting the environment, social injustice, causing poverty, financial gluttony and taking drugs. With the old seven deadly sins of lust, gluttony, avarice, sloth, anger, envy and pride, the total now becomes fourteen.
Sin and religion are inextricably linked, because one of the functions of religion is to keep people away from sin. In my understanding sins that require Divine punishment, such as the deadly sins, are those moral or ethical transgressions that cannot be covered under human law. The old seven deadly sins fit this description.
The new list of the seven deadly sins, however, is somewhat puzzling on several counts. One would expect the new sins to be a product of modern society. In fact the Vatican announcement said just that. But social injustice, causing poverty and financial gluttony are almost as old as human civilization. If one believes that these transgressions did not exist in feudal Europe when the power of the Vatican was at its zenith, then one is turning a blind eye to history. Environment pollution and taking drugs are punishable by law therefore need not be left to Divine retribution. To call genetic modification and human experimentations sins is myopic. It is a step back to the ages when Galileo was tried for heresy and had his eyes put out.
If the new seven deadly sins are baffling then the reasons for declaring them are more so. If the Catholic Church wants to stem its dwindling flock then it has to take a more inclusive approach to diversity rather than brand diversity as heresy. It needs to take a leaf out of Hinduism in this regard.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Christian myths have been handed down the last two thousand years virtually without change. In their original perspective they are so far removed from the concerns of modern young people that they are in danger of being forgotten.
Reverend Harrison of St. John’s Church at Hillingdon, London, has rewritten ten popular stories from the Bible in a way to make them more appealing to a modern audience. These stories include David and Goliath, the Garden of Eden, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, the Ten Commandments and Noah’s Ark.
In the Garden of Eden Harrison emphasizes Adam’s fixation on Eve’s beautiful body. This strikes a chord with our preoccupation with the female form be it in advertising or beauty pageants. Goliath is depicted as having lost because he was suffering a hangover from the previous night’s overindulgence. How often do our sports pages report that better teams have lost because key players began celebrating a bit too early. It is to the credit of the Reverend that he has published originals from the Bible alongside the makeover versions so that there can be no mistaking that his are changed versions.
Hindu myths have always been in a process of evolution. The originals found in the epics and the Puranas are considerably varied in themselves. Later every writer of note has molded these stories to suit the social compulsions of the times. I have written earlier on this theme earlier in The Rewriting of Mythsand The Makeover of Pururava. Though Hindu purists have decried these changed versions of scriptural tales, the fact of life is that if you do not change then you die. It now remains to be seen how the Christian purists react.
The blog is in response to a news article Vicar rewrites 10 most famous Biblical stories.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Holi is a time for letting ones hair down and a number of songs celebrating Holi are legion. Bollywood, the Hindi movie industry, has come up with songs that have become a part of Holi folklore.
Rang Barse, the most popular Holi song ever is from a 1981 film Silsila, meaning The Affair. It starred some of the greatest actors in the industry. The closest friend of the hero dies in a plane crash leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend. The hero is obliged to forsake his girlfriend to marry his friend’s so that she is not shamed. Years later the hero meets his girlfriend who is also now respectably married. But old flames are kindled and an affair blossoms. During the course of the affair the lovers and their spouses and some friends get together to celebrate Holi. Bhang, an intoxicant, is traditionally consumed during Holi, andthe hero drinks too much. This is the setting for the song, which cuckolds the husband and celebrates the lover. I give below the translation of the lyrics. The Hindi lyrics are available at Lyrics and Song.
The colors are flowing and the lady with the scarf is getting drenched, Who has sprayed you with colors and wet your bodice, It is the colorful reveller! The colors are flowing and your scarf is drenched.
The dinner is set out in a plate of gold, But it is the lover who eats while the husband looks on helplessly.
A mouth freshener is prepared with cinnamon and cloves, But it is the lover who chews on it while the husband looks on helplessly.
The bed is laid out with fragrant flowers, But it is the lover who sleeps on it while the husband looks on helplessly.
It is Holi! The colors are flowing and your scarf is drenched.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Working at my desk today I noticed three red-letter days on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of March. 20th is Id-e-Milad, a Muslim holiday, 21st is Good Friday, a Christian holiday, and 22nd is Holi, a Hindu holiday. India perhaps is the only country in the world where these three important days of different faiths are all public holidays. And this speaks volumes of the way Indians have assimilated diverse cultures and religions.
But this is not what has prompted this blog because these three occasions are public holidays every year. I was amazed at the coincidence that they fall on consecutive days. It must be remembered that each falls on different dates each year according to the Gregorian calendar. In my memory it is the first time they are occurring on consecutive days. During the extended week end Indians would do well to ponder over how important it is to maintain communal harmony and to participate in religious occasions of other faiths. Meanwhile here is a brief write up on the three holidays.
Id-e-Milad is observed as the birth and death anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed. It falls on the twelfth day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic Calendar. During the twelve days preceding Id, sermons on the deeds of the Prophet are delivered in mosques.
Good Friday is observed as the anniversary of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It falls on the Friday before Easter. This is a day of mourning.
Holi essentially celebrates the onset of spring. In most parts of India it is celebrated by applying colors on each other. The name derives from that of the she-demon who was burnt in the flames when she tried to kill the devotee Prahlad.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
One’s heritage is important. One must be aware of it, be proud of it and respect it. But if one allows heritage to obstruct natural evolution then heritage becomes counterproductive. When different cultures co-exist, as they have to do more and more today, then heritages must be allowed to intermingle to create new heritages.
Much has been said of the Hindu Muslim riots in India. These riots are against the grain of natural society and are the handiwork of politicians or other powerful interests. Ever since the Muslim invaders decided to settle in Hindustan the Hindus and Muslims have created a unified society with mutual love, respect and admiration. One of the surest testimonials to this unity is the fact that Hindus flock to the dargahs of Sufi saints confident that their wishes will be fulfilled after paying obeisance there.
The Hindu Puranas are much older than Islam and therefore do not and cannot contain tales of Hindu Muslim unity. They do however describe stories of the intermingling of various Hindu factions, for example the Shaivites and Vaishnavites. But Hindu religion has evolved since the time of the Puranas. There are myriad local folk beliefs that have interwoven current events with religious narratives to create a fabric of inter-religious harmony.
One such example is the shrine of the Muslim saint Vavar, which stands close to the Ayappa Swami temple at Sabarimala. A Muslim priest performs the daily rituals and pilgrims to Sabarimala make it a point to worship here as well. This is because there are many tales about the interaction between Lord Ayappa and Vavar. The most narrated one being that Vavar was a pirate who was defeated by Lord Ayappa. He then became an associate and the most ardent follower of Ayappa.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Sabarimala is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. From November to January devotees undertake an arduous 41-day pilgrimage to the shrine. Women between the ages of 10 and 50, which is between puberty and menopause, are not allowed to participate. In ancient Hindu societies women were considered unclean during their menstrual cycle and hence were isolated during that period. This notion was perhaps then valid because of the inadequacy of personal hygiene products. Today, this is not the case, and therefore most of the restrictions have been done away with. The restriction on worship however remains.
In most temples there is no ban on women entering. Women are aware of this restriction and generally comply willingly. However in Sabarimala the restriction is an enforced one. Women have been regularly arrested for trying to enter the temple precincts, the latest incident occurring in November last year. This prompted the Indian Young Lawyers Association to file a case in the Supreme Court challenging the ban. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which is the duly constituted governing body, claimed that it had statutory authority to form the rules and regulations and was upholding age old religious practices in not allowing women to enter. They have provided some reasons. The State of Kerala, where the temple lies, was also made a respondent. It made ambivalent statements in an attempt to defend both vote banks. It said that it decried discrimination against women, but at the same time the scholarly reasons for the ban need to be understood. Hence it proposed the setting up of a committee that would examine if the ban confirmed to the principles and philosophy of Hinduism.
A single judge heard the case on March 7, 2008, and referred it to a three-judge bench considering the far-reaching consequences any judgment will have.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Ashok Banker last year completed his six volume opus on the Ramayana. The work would not classify as “mythology” because Banker has shown a lot of inventiveness. I guess the correct classification would be “fictional history”.
Banker has created events and relationships to heighten the drama. But these have been done with finesse and integrity. For example he has depicted Kaikeyi’s maid Manthara as being dedicated to Ravana and an enemy within the royal household. Sita fights the demon armies of Khara and Dushana alongside Rama in a bitter battle. There is an epic battle between the two giants Hanuman and Kumbhakaran. To reveal more would be to spoil the fun for those who want to read the books.
But Banker has been true to the characters as portrayed in the several earlier versions of the epic and as enshrined in our collective memory. Also Banker has taken adequate care not to offend the sensibilities of the devotees of Rama who would be among his readers. Perhaps “taken adequate care” is not a correct choice of words. It implies something done with forced will. Banker would inherently be aware of the sanctity of the subject matter and would not desecrate it because it is dear to him more than for any other reason.
This is why authors who write fictional history must share the same cultural background as their subjects otherwise they are bound to step over the line as the London based Jaishree Mishra has allegedly done in her novel on Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. She portrays a fictional love affair between the queen and Robert Ellis, a political agent of the British East India Company, which has been interpreted as sleeping with the enemy, and has hurt sentiments.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The much awaited Hindi movie Jodha Akbar released this week. It took over two years in the making, had a budget of over $10 million and starred two of the greatest icons of Bollywood – Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bacchhan. However the movie has encountered a wave of protests, including stalling of the screening of the movie, from the Hindu Rajputs against alleged incorrect portrayal of a Rajput princess.
The first claim of the protestors is that Jodha was not Akbar’s wife but his daughter-in-law. Many eminent historians have come out in support of this. The historians claim that The Akbarnama is the most substantive and authentic record of Akbar’s reign. It mentions that he married a Rajput princess but does not mention the name. The princess does not get a second mention in The Akbarnama. Gowariker and UTV, the movie’s producers, have come out with a list of sources in their defense. Let me add my two bit. We were taught in our history class way back in the 1960s that Akbar did marry Jodha, the sister of the Rajput chief Man Singh in order to cement the alliance between the Mughal Emperor and the Rajputs. But we have also learnt now that not everything taught in our history class was indisputable.
The second claim by the protestors is that the portrayal of a love affair between Jodha and Akbar is out of character and is a slur on the Rajput image. Even if the marriage had taken place for political compulsions, a Rajput princess would have treated it as a sacrifice for the good of her clan. She may have given her body to the Mughal King but never her heart. The producers of the movie admit the romance is fictional but within the realms of possibility.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi passed away on February 5, 2008 in his home in the Netherlands. In January he had declared that his life’s mission had been accomplished and that he would devote the rest of his to complete his publications. However that was not to be. But he passed away peacefully in his sleep, without illness and without suffering, the way most of us would want to go, but very few are fortunate enough to do so.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was one of the first to take Hinduism to the west as a practical discipline rather than merely an academic study. He received tremendous popularity when the Beatles became his disciples, but unfortunately that relationship did not endure.
Mahesh Yogi is best known for founding Transcendental Meditation, a meditation technique aimed at eliminating stress, promoting good health and attaining inner fulfillment. He himself was the best proof of his theories living a healthy life to the age of over ninety. Transcendental Meditation encouraged both followers and copiers and has remained one of the most popular practices till date.
Transcendental Meditation soon became big business and it provided Mahesh Yogi the means to implement his other schemes. Prominent were the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, and the Maharishi Vedic City, a few miles north of Fairfield.
Mahesh Yogi was born as Mahesh Prasad Varma in the central Indian town of Jabalpur. He studied physics at Allahabad University and later became the disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, who was the Shankaracharya of the Jyotir Math. It was under the influence of Swami Brahmananda that Mahesh Yogi developed his spiritual capabilities.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
The right to worship the way we want should be a fundamental right. If a person wants to convert out of dissatisfaction with his present belief or even because of inducement offered then he should be at a liberty to do so.
In this context the brouhaha being made by several Hindu organizations in India will be counterproductive in the long run. There are two reasons for this. The choice of religion is a fundamental right that cannot be taken away. And the concept of conversion itself has no place in an inclusive religion like Hinduism. When a religion propagates that all faiths are different paths to the same God how then can it condemn a person for choosing a different path.
The perceived problem arises because the other major religions are exclusive and do not accept Hinduism as a valid path to God. This provokes a childish reaction “If you do not accept my way as valid then I will not accept your way”. In India there is perhaps significant conversion away from Hinduism to Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. This is largely a backlash of the caste system which has over the centuries been given a religious overtone. It is also the inability of the well do to sections of Hindu society to reach out to their economically deprived brethren.
I think it is high time that the Hindus once again see their inclusive philosophy as their strength and not their weakness. Whatever drawbacks exist in the administration or perception of their religion, need to be addressed. It is important to realize that world over people are beginning to value the inclusiveness and tolerance Hinduism offers and this will be lost by the constant bickering against conversions.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Samavratee translates as “a wife who has the same mission as her husband”, and is the epithet given to Vishnupriya, the wife of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the ballet. Vishnupriya always knew that her husband was an extraordinary person. His learning and wisdom were beyond compare. He had introduced compelling changes in society like abolishing animal sacrifice and permitting of all castes to worship God. She desired to share the simple pleasures of life with Gouranga. Gouranga was the birth name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When she saw other couples playing Holi together she too desired moments of intimacy with her husband.
But she also began to realize that Gouranga was destined for great things. Particularly after the demise of his father, Gouranga’s affinity for the worship of Krishna increased and he desired to devote the rest of his life to unhindered union with his God. Vishnupriya saw that Gouranga was torn between his desires and his duty as a husband and decided to take the call. She adopted Gouranga’s mission as her mission and earned the title of Samavratee. Completed crushing her own aspirations she released Gouranga from all responsibilities towards her and thus gave the world Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Her sacrifice may seem out of place in a world where attainment of one’s desires at all costs is the norm. It may seem ridiculous in a world where even in the sporting arena sportsmanship has given way to gamesmanship. But it is precisely for this reason we need to be reminded of men and women who were able to see the larger picture and were able to put the good of all before their personal pleasures. In this respect Vishnupriya as Samavratee stands tall.
The ballet was performed in the classical Manipuri style by Bimbavati Devi and her troupe.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
In his Return of the Aryans Gidwani paints a plausible picture of the Indus Valley civilization at about 5000 BCE. The Indus valley was a fertile land and the tribes settled there squabbled for space for their increasing numbers. War between tribes was common with losses of life on both sides. This necessitated a way of life in which preparation for war preceded all other activity. Tired by this thoroughly unproductive and undesirable state of affairs some learned men sought to find a way out.
One of the first approaches to resolution was to permit inter-tribe marriages. The resulting blood ties put an end to the desire to fight. Religion has been a strong force throughout time and was so then. The second step was to start worshipping each other’s deities. In the beginning this took the form of two different tasks but over generations the deities were fused into a common thread and into a common mythology. As more and more tribes integrated into one common civilization the number of Gods kept on increasing. It is interesting to note that the dominant tribe did not force its Gods onto the weaker tribes that sought integration but assimilated that tribe’s beliefs into its own.
This theory put forward by Gidwani in the form of a fictional history explains some aspects of Hinduism. First it explains the multitude of Gods that Hindus worship. As explained in The Pagan Origins of Hinduism, when Vedic thought evolved to the realization of one Supreme God these ancient deities were still worshipped and remained a part of the Hindu tradition. Simultaneously the theory explains the Hindu tolerance and even acceptance of other religions. Hindus are comfortable with any other religion because they see Hinduism itself as a fusion of diverse ideas.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Washoe County in the state of Nevada has proclaimed January 12 as Sanskrit Day. This has been received heartily by all Hindu followers as the relaying of the news across Hindu sites on the Internet suggests.
The proclamation was made by Robert M. Larkin, the Chairman of Washoe County Commission, and recognizes the importance of the Sanskrit language. Sanskrit Day will be accompanied by a two-day Sanskrit language seminar-cum-class conducted by the prominent Hindu chaplain, Rajan Zed. Readers will remember that Rajan Zed had recited Hindu prayers in the U.S Senate on July 12, 2007. He has earlier recited the prayers in Nevada State Assembly.
As the proclamation mentions, Sanskrit’s importance lies in the understanding of Hinduism, which is drawing an increasing following in the West. However the importance of Sanskrit is far greater than that. Its perfect grammatical structure can play a role in the development of a universal language. Because of its similarities with the languages of the Middle East and Europe it can help trace the migration of man. Some details are available in my article “The Reverse Aryan Invasion”.
Whereas few would argue with the importance of Sanskrit, I do not agree with the quotation of Mahatma Gandhi – “Without the study of Sanskrit, one cannot become a true learned man”, which forms a part of the Washoe proclamation. The list of true learned men and women who did not know Sanskrit would be fairly long and easy to construct.
Without undermining the importance of this event, I would also like to point out that World Sanskrit Day is celebrated world over on the full moon day of Sravana month according to the Hindu calendar.
Posted by Harsh Nevatia
Bhagwan Gidwani’s The Return of the Aryans was first published in 1994. At that time my journey in Hinduism had not commenced. I was taught in school that the Aryans were a foreign race that invaded India, then settled there and started the Vedic way of life. Hinduism and the Aryan Influence provides insights on this theory. Gidwani advocates that the Aryans were first Hindus and left India in about 5000 BC to find a better life outside India. I initially viewed the book as another attempt to make money by being anti-establishment.
As I engaged in my discovery of Hinduism, I began to realize that there is merit in Gidwani’s viewpoint. The Reverse Aryan Invasion elaborates on this point of view. Several times I thought of reading the novel, but stayed away for two reasons. First I did not have sufficient exposure to Hinduism to make an independent assessment of Gidwani’s take. Though Gidwani’s novel was based on extensive research, I felt I needed to read more on the early history of Hinduism before taking up the novel. The second reason was that at almost 1000 pages the novel would have intruded on my other commitments.
Now I have started on the book. It moves at a brisk pace but I do not know how long I will take to complete it. There is an issue I am especially looking forward to. It is universally advocated that the term Hindu is a Persian corruption of the word Sindhu; the ancient name of the river Indus. Gidwani does not hold this to be true. He claims that the term Hindu evolved organically from within the Vedic culture. His reasoning would be interesting.
Undoubtedly there will be more blogs on The Return of the Aryans.