Nice article sanat. But how do we get a consensus on how hinduism is defined? The flexibility to the definition of what is one's dharma that hinduism accepts is also the reason that makes it undefinable.

Sanat's response: The point is not whether we get a consensus. The point is to ensure that the plurality, and the seemingly conflicting philosophies are presented. As the article says, I dont think we can ever include every philosophy.

Also, it is important we recognize where we have gone wrong.

Excellent article! Very insightful even if brief account of the sheer diversity and complexity of Hinduism through history. Sanat Mohanty has provided a clear, critical and insightful Hindu counterpoint to the shrill assertions of the Hindutvadis.

An excellent article. Captures in its very essence the perils of sectarian intervention in determining what is taught in schools.

Kudos to Sanat Mohanty.

Superb article. The very idea that Hinduism is monotheistic is inspired by reformist movements developed under the inferiority complex of the British Raj where proving Hinduism to be monotheistic was felt as required for the redemption of Hinduism's dignity.

Teaching Hindu kids that Hinduism is monotheistic is one sure way of converting them all to Christianity.

Great article Sanat - a very balanced perspective - especially in comparison to the mono-acoustic chorus of the Sangh's smear campaigns. Hope you will not be similarly targeted by the rabid Hindutva brigade.

That Sanat's article reeks of misinformation is obvious when one considers the following:
1.He is unfairly lumping scholarly work like this California issue, with that of non-scholarly, emotional claims of million years of Hinduism, etc.
2.When he points to 'imposter' dalit sites, he does not realize MOST dalit sites are run by Christian fundamentalists or Marxists, and are anti-Hindu, which is not the majority dalit view. So what if there are a few that have a pro-Hindu rendition? Are dalits not largely Hindu?
3.Sanat does not understand that Hinduism teaches 'All paths lead to God', and gives individuals the right to offer their own rendition of God, much as no two artists would draw a picture exactly the same. He may not be aware that the concept of unity of Godhead brought to the west by dynasties such as the Mittani's are now believed to have brought mono-atheism to the Abrahamic religions, which were otherwise born in regions well known for their multiplicity of Gods.
4.If he claims to be a Hindu, he appears to be a self-loathing one, because while he is right on the money about untouchability being horrible, he is unfairly equating a economically triggered social evil with the sacred philosophy of Hinduism(his own, and probably hundreds of generations of his ancestors'). Does he share the same passion in inisiting on the horrible practices of slavery, Crusades, genocides, etc. carried on by the other religions be highlighted in this history book also?
5.Sanat has apparently not read the textbook in question, in relation to how it makes Hinduism look like a superstition based cult, and cleanses Christianity and Islam of all their baggage and faults, and appears as their marketing tool(which is fair if all religions were treated that way).
Most of all, Sanat should be proud that his Hindu God is not 'jealous', and will NOT punish him for his apostasy.

Let me congratulate the author on a nice write up. The article misses the crucial point. The author has tried to explain everything except the core issue in CA text book case. When all other religions are portrayed positively, why Hinduism is to be portrayed negatively with all misinformation.

The author probably either did not review the text book in question or did not follow the discussion closely.

If one writes missing core points, it will not serve the cause.

Nothing wrong in keeping the true history. But the point is the law says that since every religion has bad things in the past, the 6th graders don't have to know such things. It is for scholars to discuss at college level.
Also touchability is a social evil and has nothing to do with Hinduism. Since Chankya was a Brahmin and Chandragupt a Dalit. But still Chankya took him to Takshshilla - and no one opposed him as being Dalit or untouchable. Not only that he was made the King of Whole of Bharat. So 2500 years back there was no such thing as untouchabilty. So the question should be asked when it creeped in? Also for last 1000 years there was Muslim and British Rule. Why they did not make a law to ban such disgusting society? But when after 1000 years when the rule came into the hands of a Brahmin Hindu - the first thing he did was bring about the law to curb it. And while it still exists in the remote villages - its not between Brahmins and Harijans but between Dalits and Harijans. A recent Tsunami in TN - was the proof of it. Read Fraoncois Gautier. Anyways while it still exists 96% of it is abolished. And we have had dalit MPs, MLAs, PMs and Presidents from those classes.

Nimesh

This will change u forever !!!!!!!!!
I have decide to counter those who hate our Hinduism, please go through this and reply if u can. A challenge to all Hindus.

Before u read this Please Please, donot Assume things automatically that this is from a SFI student or Marxist Or communist or Islamic fanatic or CHristian monk or something that can make u feel better and many people escape from these statements by saying so or divert others by saying so. I can never be none other than a Pure Hindu and can never be converted, as I have Hindu Genetic imprint on my each and every cell of my Body !! I believe in our HIndus, live as a Hindu and Democratic and die with it !!!! Please raad on

1. Abolition of Intellectual Slavery (about 100 years ago) brought INdia into 21st Century and paving the way for goodness of our Hindus for the first time. Brahmin Tribe is the one who invented this slavery. Intellectual slavery is worst invention human being has ever invented !
Most of our hindus have surrendered their intellegencia to the higher caste people in the name of God and they were not allowed to read or write or think!!!

2. EVERY PROBLEM HAS ITS PAST But let me tell u to those who are ignoring
our Hindus. There is no heaven or salvation, when u ignore our past
history. Every problem has Past > Any problem that any one has : first
thing u ask is : what happened ? then u tell them about past events of
that problem ?
2.a) The problem is suffering of 250 million Hindus who are
untouchables ? So like any problem it has 'start and end'. Past is very
important to know and diagnose exactly and to come up with plan of action
for solution. The better u understand our past of the problem the
easier it is to solve.
2 b) Some times just making aware of the problem brings
solution , as simple as that. So 'Awareness' of the problem is vital. I
am very firm with Authority of my Concept but gentle and sweet when
administering my authority on this Concept. Ple ase don't use Instinct
response like young Gulls(bird) open their mouths for food as soon as a
beak like shape with a red spot on it appears above the, because this is
how the mother gull looks. A piece of wood bearing a red spot will
produce the same response. In the past people depended entirely on the
trustworthiness of the source of our scriptures that is passing on the
learning.
2 c) Majority of Hindus meet this knowledge through the possibly
prejudiced eyes of the person who is handing on the learning. Understanding
our Hinduism is like process of changing an unfamiliar process into
familiar one so that all our Hindus will know what to do about our altered
facts and real facts. This understanding of our Hinduism is a very
powerful process because it is the means by which our hindus multiply their
Knowledge. Some people may say 'Why Bother' . why should one bother to
try and understand what happened exactly to our Hinduism

3. Ekalavya tribe :I was surprised to see in Zee TV recently that : ekalavya tribe
still exists in India who are so scared of using their thumbs(even now !!)
and they have shown people using other fingers during their archery ??.
Ekalavya Syndrome is compelling evidence of Emotional Abuse and
Intellectual Slavery> This century old Emotional Rapism still existing in India !! and one can imagine impact in the lives of our hindus of other Psychological Trauma and its long term consequences.

4. Parasurama ?? Lord was in my House and my son noticed his Violence
depicted on the picture we are praying on him ( he killed his own mother
and kept on killing Kshatriyas a kind of Genocidal Barbarism) I took
Parasurma's photo from my house and as I could not explain and give the
same altered and well coated meanigs sayiing" he is God's Avatar and he
can do it and he has purpose to do it" these over decorated meanings are
disturbing my mind. I think he was made GOD even though he Massagcred
millions almost wiped out Kshatriyas. Brahmins are good at making NonBrahmins( like Lord Rama, Lord Krishna as Gods and induct them into Brahminism by saying that they are avatars of God, infact all these Non Brahmins Gods donot belong to brahmin tribe.
5. Chandayoga : I was told that We were beef eaters and it was well established
facts that chandayoga permitted the same. For centuries we were doing this
pratices in Vedas, including Animal sacrifices. Meat eating stopped only when Gautam Buddha and Jainism competed with Brahmins.??

6. Most astonishing fact: for me shocking revelation was: PurushaMedha
Yagna ??(sacrifycing Humans in the name of God !!) please explain what it means and without giving any decorated meanings. I am so disappointed by this ritual and was ashamed when some one said that this practice is equal to Cannibalism.
were we so bad and did we really practice. I know Ashwa Medha Yagna.
people say we are very good at giving changed, altered, well decorated
meanings to our history facts so that it looks and feels good to listen
to and read too but also keeps our Hinduism and our dominanation as
Brahmins upbeated.

7.Mass Hypnotism: I could not answer this statement: please shed some light : "Mass hypnotism/mass exploitations of Emotions with highly successful 'Fear
factor' of Hell and Pain was extensively used and attached for not
following their orders in name of GOD and thus Conditioning every Innocent
non Brahmin Hindus to castism making a permanent system that continues
to propel their superiority" do we have statements or evidence of facts
and truth with some proof do deny this ?? Crores of Hindus now take it granted that
it is their fate to be born poor or illiterate hoping may be in next birth they will born in another caste or world.

8 100% Reservation by Brahmins:This statement was mind bongling and dumbfounded and unable to answer to my fellow friends who confronted me with this big Concept: It says:"Brahmins enjoyed > 100% 'RESERVATION in education:You bloom where planted and the concept of reservation is planted by these people and now it is blooming their backyard. Brahmins enjoyed 100% ( more than
100%) Reservation for centuries ( Educational Monopoly).Now it is time
for Kshudras and other non Brahmins to take reservation and go upto 100%.
For them there is pot of gold at the end of Rainbow. So I say to these
people abandon all hope , ye who enter here and in this book. Poor
people entertain with heart while others indulge in Soma Juicy ( potent drug,famous juice in Vedas) drink which was used by all Aryans in Vedas for centuries as a powerful Drug.

9.Agni-hotras -- the prototype of the Brahmin Tribe as of today"Agni-Hotra" Preserver of Fire .Yagna was Orignally the Cooking Process for the Tribe. According to one hypothesis, the origin of the clergy in India goes back to the days when humans learnt to ignite fire through friction. Initially the fire must have been obtained from an already bur ning source like forest fires. In these circumstances, before the days of
ignition the task of tending the fire was very crucial. Accidents
happen in best regulated tribes like in any race and it was by accident only
that word Brahmin was attached to 'Agni Hotra" Fire was then, as it
still is, an object of worship.

10.Soma Juice: Is it true that it was mentioned in the Rig-Veda, much of the
Brahman literature is embellished with instructions for the careful
performance of new sacrifices, such as the rajasuya, or royal consecration,
the vajapeya, a strength-drinking rejuvenation ceremony, and the
Chandogya, permit the consumption of meat.

11 .Pre Aryan Kshudras It is widely agreed that the Shudra caste of
Indian society was largely constituted from the pre-Aryan inhabitants of
India who were subjugated by the Aryans. Is this a fact or fiction and do
we have proof for it.

12. Gotra - The Common Cowpen These clans which were based on ownership
of cattle came to be termed as Gotra which literally means a cowpen. In
this environment rival clans strived to obtain cattle, the principal
sources of wealth, by war when they could not successfully breed it. The
word used to describe a war was Gavishti which literally means 'to
search for cows Here qualities such as greed and accumulation of wealth in
the form of cattle could thrive.

13.Origin of Brahmins: Are we really Cooks in the Vedic times( like Udipi and Woodlands hotels) :The origin of the Brahmins as cooks can be understood only in
the context of the Yagna being looked upon as a ritualization of the
cooking function. The Yagna is a term we popularly understand as a fire
sacrifice involving the offering of grains, clarified butter, sandalwood
etc, to a fire . This fire is ignited in a special fireplace called the
Kund, which literally means a "Pot". This indicates that the original
yagna could have involved a pot.

14. Dana and Dakshina for Brahmins and Kar, Shulka, Bali for the
Kshatriyas While the Kshatriyas acquired their share of the social surplus
through the force
of arms in the form of taxes (kar, shulka, bali, etc.), forced labour
(vishti, balutam, etc.), tithes and other privileges. The Brahmin clergy
enforced its claim to the social surplus through a moral deterrent
which was based on strength of the tribal morality of distribution. The
Brahmins who were now not only tenderers of the fireplace any longer, but
had come to acquire the status of representatives of Gods on earth}
secured their share in the surplus by propagating beliefs that those who
looked upon their own needs without a thought of the Brahmins were
eaters of sin. This was how the practice of Da na was born.

15.Thread Ceremony: DO we agree on this historical facts told by my Professor: Upanayana - Thread Ceremony - was a tool by which the Brahmins could
preserve their hold over the Kshatriyas . The Upanayana ceremony like any
other religious ceremony could be performed only, by the Brahmins. After
undergoing Upanayana, the Kshatriyas had to pledge to be protectors of
Brahmins and
recognize the higher status of the Brahmins in the caste hierarchy. In
doing this, the Brahmins had the support of the emotional hold they had
over society as a whole by means which they could differentiate between
warriors baptised as Kshatriyas and the unbaptised 'degraded'
Kshatriyas.

16.Historical Crime Did we really commi t this Crime: when some say: " Historical
crime has been committed by these Untouchable Brahmins.The enormity of
crime is indescribable. The very fact of this crime collapses whole
Brahminism and thus Hinduism.The account of peace and happiness is credited
when Untouchability and Intellectual slavery is remembered , but debited
when it is forgotten. This is self victimizing religious Phenomenon.
By definition they became Criminals of History and continue to commit
emotional crimes with their criminal mind. This emotional crime has no
objective evidence involved. It brings Spiritual blackmailing, which
enhances Emotional Terrorism.

17. Self Destructive cycle of Hinduism: Untouchability----------> Illiteracy---> Intellectual Slavery --->Ignorance exploitations in the name of GOD------> Poverty-à->Emotional, physical, mental , spiritual Abuses(saying that they paying for their sins)------> 60% of Hindus are still in this Abused status currently------> pity is they donot know they were victims( Psychological Terrorism) ----->This Untouchability is more prevalent than Racism in Western Countries and it is very subliminal,

18.This bundle of hinduism consists of : All our Gods, all 4 Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharat, Ramayan, all our Traditions, All our Culture, all our Philosophy, understanding, rituals we are proud of and other things you can think of is in it.
this bundle we are holding so dearly for many Centuries proudly and lovingly which makes us feel Ego bloated anytime we want has produced following results to all of us as Hindus.
1. Untouchability 2. Castism 3. Intellectual Slavery 4. Illiteracy 5. one Billion People
6. Motherless children 7. disease and deaths 8. discriminations 9. dirt, filth
Only when Intellectual Slavery Abolished ------ Hindus Progressed for the last few decades after suffering centuries, most importantly "information revolution".
Irrespective of our excuses we come up with above points to explain; this bundle should have taken care of. IF we say these 9 points have reasons and it is because of some people doing this and that is not sufficient. Because this Bundle of Hinduism should have taken care of and overcome those hurdles and should have shown Resilience. We only feel self satisfied by giving excuses for the past deeds and continue feed our egos with our past. The above 9 points can never be God given gifts. They are man made. No more tongue twitings verbalogy or explanations to our sufferings . Lets meditate on this points.
Please be silent for a minute. NOW.

These 18 questions (like 18 parvas in Gita) are daunting task and big
mental and emotional hurdle we as a great hindus should face and get
above it and conquer not by giving some other meaning but showing
historical proof that will make these facts as myths and wrong way of looking
at Hinduism. Please Enlighten me and us and to every one who will face
this issue infront our Children. by Venkaraman Krishanan

Good luck with your thinking or ignoring these facts or ? do we have
anything to disapprove them ?? Greatest blunder of our Hinduism is
neglecting our own Hindus by telling that it is all maya and u suffer because of your past sins and paying for it now( this is down fall of Hinduism and at the brink of extinction, if are so selfish, nature will make sure we go exticnt, be very very careful)

Who Am I : I am a Hindu, can never be a Christain or Muslim in Million years, my body, mind and spirit and generation is full of Hindu Genes and My each and every cell reverbarates with Hinduism. I think Christian or Muslim or Marxism are unborn fetuses compared to mature adult of Hinduism.
JAI HIND

Posting and comments both under the influence of emotions and prejudices.10,000 years back or today what governs us is economy, an individual's, a single persons, the common man's economy, from which caste ans social varna are born.

As for god, out of "mukoti", except two all others are mortals, demi gods. The two exceptions are supposed to be one and the same. This came out of a few thousand years of meditation and spirituality.

We are all so hopeless, were, are and will be forever.
:) :) :)

I want to refer only to that part mentioning about the aheist schools of Indian philosophical systems and I am giving below my write up on the universality of philosophy.I hope that it clarifies certain misconceptions on philosophy in general. I feel that the terms philosophy and religion should not be confused with one another. Religion is what an individual believes while philosphy talks about the universal truths. Religion might have given rise to malpactices out of ignorance as to the real purport of scriptures but the philosophy talks about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.A philosophy that can be called universal is the one which gives a comprehensive view of life as a whole. The dictionary meaning of the word ‘philosophy’ is given as the pursuit of wisdom or knowledge especially of the absolute reality. The oldest notion of philosophy is the systematic study of reality which includes not only nature but also God, Self and even Time and Space.

Science based on observed facts and sensory data fails to satisfy man’s craving for a complete and rational understanding of the Universe as a whole. But philosophy, on the other hand provides a more comprehensive and coherent view of the Universe. Swami Vivekananda said that what we see is our own particular universe. Our view of reality is limited to the senses. Man cannot stop there but wants to find a comprehensive solution that explains all the individual universes.

The three main objectives of any philosophy are, the Absolute Reality, the world of sentient and insentient beings and the relationship between the two. These common objectives of all philosophical systems both East and West constitute the universal nature of philosophy as such. The quest for Truth is universal while the interpretations are different, ranging from the view of the idealist for whom the world exists only as an object of our consciousness to that of the realist who claims that the world has an independent existence.

Among the western philosophers Kant is the more prominent and well known but his concept of Reality is confined to phenomena, though he accepts the existence of noumena., as things in themselves which are unknown and unknowable. But his successors were more metaphysical in their concept of Reality. The philosophers of the Renaissance like Descartes taught that the Universe is made up of two kinds of substances, body and the mind. But to Spinoza there no such dualism since there is only one substance, God, which constitutes the entire Universe. All the individual things are actually one great whole.

In India, however, philosophy is more than a mere disinterested pursuit of the knowledge of Reality. It is a Darsana, a vision of Reality. One vision differs from another not because the Reality is different but owing to a different level of spiritual evolution. But there are common grounds on which all schools seem to agree. They are the theory of Karma and rebirth, validity of the respective scriptures, Doctrine of Mukthi, a course of sadhana for emancipation and the concept of samsara which is anadhi, without a beginning but terminable. The points of dispute centers mainly on the theory of causation. To explain the different theories of causation will be a separate topic and cannot be discussed here.

It would be relevant and interesting here to refer to the view of Annie Besant on philosophy and theosophy. She says that every great religion has two parts, an inner and outer, a spirit and a body. The knowledge of the inner part known as Brahmavidya in the East is known as Theosophy in the West. Man is essentially a spiritual being, and emanation from the universal self or the universal spirit or God. Hence to know himself is to know his deepest self, that is , to know God. This is the universal experience of all seekers of Truth. The fundamental truth of philosophy is the immanence and the transcendence of the Absolute Reality, call it God or Brahman.

The body of facts concerning God, man and the universe may be conveniently classified under three heads, namely, Religion, Philosophy and Science. In considering the truths underlying these three we have recourse to a tradition of wisdom handed down in all civilized countries, ancient and modern, by a long succession of prophets, teachers and writers. In India it may be traced to Upanishads, puranas and ithihasas and the six systems of philosophy. It forms the basis of many of the Chinese systems especially Taoism and scriptures of the other countries and faiths The universal doctrine of religion is the unity and the manifestation of God.

The idea of the world perceived by us is partly determined by our organs of perception. Any perception as an experience necessitates an experiencer, who is inseparable from his consciousness. Thus the world of experience has no meaning apart from consciousness, not individual but universal. Pure consciousness is the indivisible reality which embraces the whole universe, subjective and objective. This universal consciousness, source of all life and phenomenal existence is designated as Brahman by Vedanta.

Vedanta, as interpreted by Swami Vivekananda, is the spiritual science seeking the total experiential reality which will enable us to understand everything else, ‘brahmavdya sarva vidyaprathishtaa ‘– ekavijanena sarvavijnanam) internal and external. The Upanishad proclaims that the Ultimate Reality is the Universal Consciousness – ‘prajnanam brahma- which the universe of sentient and insentient beings rises from, sustained by and merges into. ‘ Yatho vaa imaani bhoothaani jaayanthe yena jaathaani jeevanthi yasmin abhi samvisanthi thadvijinaasasva thath brahma.’

There is one transpersonal infinite spiritual reality which manifests, by virtue of its innate power, the Universe of animate and inanimate beings. Lord Krishna says in Gita “ If I remain at rest for one moment this Universe will be destroyed.” That creative energy working all around us day and night. The whole of creation exists, becomes finer, subsides and after a period of rest the whole thing is projected forward. Thus the creation is only a process of projection.

The whole universe is thus. An apparent modification of consciousness, Man derives his freedom of thought and action from his Self or Atman which is the pure consciousness. Man realizes more and more freedom by going beyond nature, not by conquering it but by transcending it, by discovering his true self. Man being the integral part of the universe the basic ultimate reality within the universe is the basic ultimate reality within him. It is his spiritual self or Atman which is one with Brahman.

Finally philosophy is n either an intellectual sophistry nor is it a matter of belief but it is a way of life. Similarly religion is not a mechanical performance of rites and rituals or attending church or temple regularly. ‘True religion is revolutionary in character’ says Dr.Radharishnan. But the revolution is not against state or society but internal, releasing the divinity and splendour of love within man, when the religion becomes a happy consort or handmaiden of philosophy and doesnot get divorced from it!

hey sanat i have a doubt whether you are a atheist or a hindu by religion or region definition. Better calrify yourself before writing any article. Hinduism is not a correct name but it should be VEDANTIST i.e one who follow the teaching of vedas.

So don't call yourself a Hindu. Anyone living in India irrespective of religion is a Hindu by geographical definition of the word Hindu.