The imparting of the ways of the Subtle is not easy.  It is not in the reading of the book.  Nor in the written or oral exams and tests.  Nor in distinctions.  It is a subtle dimension that is very individual in nature.  And, although it can be developed by an individual on his / her own, it requires tremendous and unflinching work.  Very few have that ability.  That is why this “Science” was imparted from One who had walked and perfected a path to a serious seeker.

In the aftermath of invasions, unfortunately, the very instruments and institutions of imparting this subtle knowledge were destroyed.  And during that time, the only path that can be taken on one’s own most easily, if one has the required craziness in his/her devotion – Bhakti – took precedence.  Bhakti Yogis were amazing and great beings.  But they had no or little understanding of the “Science” behind the whole work that had been done in this land to impart these systems in a systematic way.  A society where every part of one’s life was used and lined up in order to seek the highest, was suddenly being viewed through the simplistic lens of a romantic.  The Romantic was not wrong or bad.  He just had “one” perspective of the way to the Truth.

Spiritual Sadhana requires dedicated work.  Bhakti requires crazy stirring of emotions.  While its difficult to indulge in the former easily, it was and has been easier to feign the latter.  Keep long hair, act idiotic and chant and jump like a lunatic and to the world you may be one heck of a Saint.  The benchmark is internal and the journey is internal.  How does one differentiate between Bhakti and Feigning?

It is this loss of importance of Sadhana and distortion of Bhakti that has come to define the Hinduism of today.  Most passionate Hindus aren’t willing to undertake Sadhana but are wont to profess their love and passion for something that they don’t really care enough about.  For, on the path of Bhakti, if you really .. REALLY care… you would be a complete misfit for the society.  No Bhakti Saint has ever been able to deal with the ways of the society.  For they have their own world and moral, social, relational compass of that world runs totally counter to one who is bent upon complete dissolution.

What we have in our midst now are lazy, ill-informed but passionate people who call themselves Hindus.

Hinduism is nothing to pride in, Dharma is!  Dharmic living has no preset notions and no principles as it is not predicated on Beliefs.  It is defined by Seeking, Transformation and Realization.  Believing is pretense.  Rather fooling oneself and others that one has “found” the goal.  Realization is the ONLY culmination of the urge to know.  In many ways, it is like Mathematics.  You cannot solve an equation by “Believing” in something.  You have to seek the solution with all that you have.  And at some point the solution emerges.  Clear and Bright as a Diamond Crystal.

This land – the land of Seekers was a land of those who looked beyond the “easy”, the “fooling around”, the parochial.  That is why from rituals to temples to ponds to cities (like Varanasi) were built to take a person from an unaware human to one whose consciousness had touched Divine levels.

A Ratnakar, the dacoit, when he confronted the Sages, was never given a lesson in Morality or Social Good.  He was put on the path of Sadhana.  And we had a Valmiki.   Naren was not given books to read or lectures to watch and attend to solve his urge for the Ultimate.  He was taken through Sadhana.. Hard Sadhana.  And from that emerged Swami Vivekananda.

Inclusiveness of a Dharmic Society – which has found expression in the texts and utterances of Hinduism – is under threat.  By Exclusive mindsets and people.  But Hinduism cannot save it.  Those who shun Sadhana but hug passionate feigning of Bhakti cannot save it.  It needs Swami Vivekanandas and Valmikis.  It needs hard work and tough journeys.  Journeys that can again make Dharma the sine qua non of India.  Not beliefs.

Such has to be the Ruthlessness of self sacrifice and Sadhana that if all the stories and beliefs that we have installed due to our coloring from Belief mindsets – when Sanatana Dharma became Hinduism – were to fall on the wayside in our quest for Truth.  Then so be it.

Pursuit of Dharma is not easy.  It should never be.  Believing is easy.  There is no benchmark, no way to test yourself other than profess passion through words or even hurting others.  And that is what everyone in the world has been doing.. with more finesse and created large dumps of skeletons all over the world.  But this land – that we call India – has not become divine by a bunch of people believing in something and “fighting” for it.  Rather, it has been raised to the level of Divine possibility through sheer hardwork and sacrifice.  Sadhana – unflinching, relentless and personally ruthless – has been the bedrock of this transformation culture.

It is time we move from Hinduism to Sanatan Dharma.  From Belief to Realization.  From Passion to Sadhana.  And from Ordinary people to those who are worthy of predecessors like Shiva, Ram, Krishna, Vashishta, Valmiki to Ramana, Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

Given the Spiritual work done in India, collectively known as Sanatan Dharma, the level of nonsense that is perpetuated by the combination of Devotional Leverage and Intellectual Egotism is remarkable in its masochism and stink.

For most part, what passes of as Devotion is nothing more than Deception. Very few are even capable of Devotion. Those who intellectualize certainly cannot. Because Intellectuals – actuals and wannabes – have a damning ego. Wannabe-Intellectuals, of course are a class in their own right. When such a person swears on something as if his life depended on it, then you can be sure that it is mere deception on his part for himself.

Nobody amongst the Enlightened Beings has been as great a victim of utter deception cloaked under Devotional Leverage as Krishna himself. Tomes have been written about his love with Gopis and Radha. In fact, his name is always taken with Radha in some places. And, that love was special. But not in the way it is often portrayed as.

Krishna left Vrindavan for Mathura at the age of little over 10. He gave his flute to Radha and bid adieu to all in that town. And, he never came back to Vrindavan after that. In fact, the life after Vrindavan for Krishna was of a Statesman, Politician and a Dharma-Guru.

But take any illustration of Krishna and Radha, and you find that the relationship is depicted as amorous and one that would only be possible for people in their 20s.

Here was a kid, precocious and naughty, but one in a small town (almost a village) at the age of 10. He was playful and cute and loving, so many women would want him as their son or love his antics. But, to equate his antics to amorous intent is taking too much of poetic leverage. Even if he started young for a lover, what could a 10 year old have done?

When Bhakti movement ruled the roost in North India specifically, Bhakti became commoditized. Everybody with queer looks and song on his lips could easily pass off as Bhakta no matter how much that act of his was a put on. This commoditization was especially rampant amongst the Sufis. Say something interesting – well constructed poetry – which sounds profound but lacks thoroughly in devotional element and you have a Sufi Saint or a Bhakta constructed for you.

If Bhakti is tough, then Jnana Yoga – Intellectual route – is even tougher. One has to literally work against himself. Again, just as most devotion passes off as deception, attempts as Jnana Yoga are mired in Intellectual nitpicking. Debates, intellectualizing, and discussions have nothing to do with Jnana Yoga. Jnana Yoga can only be trodden by a razor sharp intellect which is humble and self annihilating. It uses its sharpness only to cut through its own existence. Humility of a Jnana Yogi isn’t easy to perceive but it is the single most important element.

In both these paths – Bhakti and Jnana – we have bastardized our pursuits.

I want to give two examples which have dismayed me.

One, the use of “Gods / Goddesses” in the regular Hindi TV soaps. It has always been fashionable to push superstition and worship as a way to attain riches and desires by movies and soaps in India. As if God is some kind of “On Demand Butler”. But with soaps these days it is getting worse. They are straight away invoking the Gods as directly intervening in the lives of people. They “come down” in human form or “look from heaven” (whatever the heck that is) – and do all sorts of antics borne out of writer’s mind. The Bull-shit churning in the writer’s or director’s mind passes off as Spiritual message from say, Krishna or Shiva.

First, to use say, a Krishna, no more than a Butler and a backer of all kinds of superstitions is denigrating him enough. And then to start juxtaposing all kinds of abilities and emotions to his is really worse.

And no, these guys aren’t out there to malign Krishna. Quite the contrary. They are displaying their constipated Bhakti in the popular medium. That it shows their inability to rise to any level is natural consequence.

One can see the one of the clips from an episode of “Chhoti Bahu”. Here Radha – of Krishna’s childhood fame – in heaven is jealous of the devotion of the protagonist, Radhika. Radha thinks that she is greatest devotee of Krishna, and in order to show that Radhika’s devotion is weak, she – rather foolishly – puts the protagonist in all kinds of tough (often life threatening) situations. The negativity of the legendary Radha, as displayed by this character sitting in Heaven is rather remarkable.

Maybe Radha was a jealous woman. We don’t know. We don’t know what kind of love did she have. Even if you were to write about your deepest love for someone, I can bet that you will fall short of expression. Whatever you feel can never be shared. And whatever will be shared will be incomplete. And whatever will be understood by the other, will be nowhere near what you intended in the first place! If such is the case with your or my expression, imagine the level of distortion that has been brought by these wild interpreters of Radha’s love and bhakti for Krishna!

It is time, mindless expressions of Bhakti with no understanding of what devotion really means or is – are rejected for the farce that they are.

Two, was the onslaught by a bunch of Hindus in Houston on a lecture by Sadhguru Jaggi. I was having an email discussion with one of the most vociferous critics of Sadhguru’s words and this guy, touted as scholarly and one who teaches Gita and Upanishads locally. In that email exchange he was distraught that we need strong people in Hindu society who can stand up to the onslaught from the threats in the world to Hinduism. And, in his intellectual ego, he exclaims – we need to “throw out Yoga and Meditation” from Hinduism.

Hmmm.. really? If you throw out Yoga from Gita, what do you get? Put another way, except from Yoga, what else is there in Gita? Gita is known as “Yoga-shastra”, because every chapter details a different type of Yoga. Unless this gentleman meant “Asanas” (postures) to be Yoga. Which is even worse. For any Hindu to equate Yoga with just Asanas shows his illiteracy.

With such low level of intellectual rigor and sky-high ego, these Hindu “Activists” go about raising hell for others and fellow Hindus as well. Mind you, these are all Intellectually minded guys who think just because they have achieved a certain level in their profession and read Gita “X” number of times, they can now go ahead and teach Krishna himself some of his own Gita! That is the level of Ego.

This ego works both ways. As much as Hindu intellectuals push their own brand of nonsense as Jnana, certain liberals use petty logic to start rejecting traditions, which may have been based on sound spiritual principles. Its the ego of intellect after all.

Final Word

For most people, Bhakti is not a possibility. They have too much junk in themselves. So isn’t Jnana – because the modern education has bastardized the meaning of Jnana (knowledge – self knowledge in Spiritual terms). If I can crack the toughest scientific equation it doesn’t mean that I have the ability to look at life with the sharp-ness that is required for a Jnana Yogi. In fact, the more educated one is, the worse off he/she is on this path.

Nothing short of total revolution and an abundant doze of humility is required to turn the tide, which has taken Dharmic Spiritual tradition to farcical limits.

Nataraj

Sometime back, I had a series of discussions with people who weren’t born Hindus but now have embraced Hinduism. I wanted to ask them about their experience and reasons for taking such a journey. Here is a discussion with Tāṇḍava Nadesan, who runs a blog Western Hindu, which I am sure you will profit from.

1. How did you know for the first time that you were a “Hindu”?  What did it mean?

2. Beyond all the ideological stuff, what is it about Hinduism that appeals to you?

3. Since everyone can have a God of his/her own making (out of the 330 million already articulated), people find Hinduism to be a maze.  A confusing amalgam of “stuff”.  How do you make sense of it all?

4. In your spiritual journey, what is it that you look forward to?  If you had all the time, will, health and resources, what would you like to do?

5. In the world of evangelists and Islamists, how can and should Hinduism hold its own?

6. Given that you have come to Hinduism from “outside”, what would be your advise to Indian Hindus?

And with that I felt at ease. I found that –- quite by accident –- I was a Hindu. The Sanatana Dharma was the natural dharma of my soul. It had always been so. I just didn’t know it until later in life.

Let us read about her thoughts on “being a Hindu”. Please visit her blog to learn more.

1. How did you know for the first time that you were a “Hindu”? What did it mean?

I first began to do prayers to Devi nine years ago, and that is when I realised that I was following a definite ‘Hindu’ path. I had practiced yoga as physical exercise since I was a child, but only in my 30s had I begun to incorporate the more spiritual aspects of yoga practice into my life. Those included study of Patanjali and prayers to Shiva. But it was not until I began to read the Upanishads and other texts and to understand that Shiva and Shakti could not be separated, any more than whiteness can be separated from milk, than wetness can be separated from water that I began to understand how all-embracing the ‘love of God’ was from a Hindu perspective. So I’d begun incorporating prayers to Shiva & Shakti and their mantra into my yoga practice, and things began to feel very complete. But I’d never felt comfortable saying “I am Hindu” until about 3 years ago. Mainly because everyone expects Hindus to be Indian, and I was unfamiliar with the more cultural aspects of Indian-Hindu life.

2. Beyond all the ideological stuff, what is it about Hinduism that appeals to you?

Beyond the ideology and philosophy, it’s daily puja, reciting mantra, satsang with my teacher, and studying (right now, I’m reading the Isha Upanishad) that are the practices I feel most bonded to as a Hindu. As far as what aspects of Hinduism most appeal to me – karma, reincarnation and the truth that eventually everyone and everything will return to Oneness with Brahman, no matter how long it takes, no matter how many lifetimes, and that eventually as this universe is dissolved, a new universe will come into being out of the sheer creative necessity of God’s love. These beliefs of how the universe is, what God is, and the eventual liberation of all souls, was just entirely in-tune with what I had always believed as long as I could remember. The teachings of the faith I was raised in were entirely at-odds, on these issues, with how I felt the world must be, what the universe must be, and what God/dess must be. Hinduism, once I had properly learned what it was, simply was ‘right’ to me.

3. Since everyone can have a God of his/her own making (out of the 330 million already articulated), people find Hinduism to be a maze. A confusing amalgam of “stuff”. How do you make sense of it all?

Ah, well, I have a really good teacher! And when I am sitting quietly in front of the images of Shiva & Devi that evoke the most emotion and thought in me, I feel at peace and things just feel right and I am able to let go of (most of!) my thoughts and just let myself feel and be in the presence of God, then things don’t seem complex or confusing, they just feel right. But – to be fair, to reach that point, I asked my teacher a great many questions and read an enormous amount of books. I study the Hindu religion/way of life and work at it until things make sense and once they make intellectual sense, I let my emotions take over and let things settle into me organically – things all eventually begin to feel at-home and natural within the daily working of my life. It can be daunting coming from the Western milieu and having to shake off a lot of presumptions and notions that were inculcated into you about what Hinduism is, what Hindus believe, etc. But once I was able to view Hinduism on its own terms and let go of old baggage, I was free to let the emotional side of my faith, love for God, come to the forefront.

4. In your spiritual journey, what is it that you look forward to? If you had all the time, will, health and resources, what would you like to do?

Oh, I think of that all the time. For myself, I would carve out more time in each day to do puja, asana and meditate. For my community, I would like to offer yoga, meditation and mantra chanting classes for people who usually don’t believe they can afford such things (in the part of the world where I live, things like yoga and meditation actually cost so much money people think of them as elite activities and not something that can be of benefit to everyone). I would like to work with some charities that I now give a little to, but which need much more support.

5. In the world of evangelists and Islamists, how can and should Hinduism hold its own?

Very good question and very simple answer: on its own terms. Hinduism must not get into a defensive position where, in western nations (I am speaking specifically of the USA and the UK, where I have lived most of my life), it feels it has to speak apologetically about its differences from the dominant religions. While sharing knowledge and explaining things is wonderful, Hindus in the part of the world where I live must never apologise for being what it is. Never apologise for worshipping God in many forms, for not believing in only one prophet or messenger, for not having only one holy text, etc.

For instance, I find the question “What is your bible?” to be possibly offensive and definitely getting off on the wrong foot with a Hindu person. Because it presumes that one particular religion and its focus on a single, authoritative book is *the* standard of how all religions should be. To even begin a conversation asking that kind of question sets up an antagonistic relationship and tries to put the Hindu in the position of defending why they are different, believe differently and worship differently. It closes the door or truly loving understanding between people.

Finding a way to be positive and confident in the face of people who are determined to vilify Hinduism or belittle it, is very important. I cannot speak to how this can happen in parts of the world I’ve not lived in, where conflicts can quickly turn deadly — but in the US and the UK, this is an issue mostly of public perception and private rhetoric.

6. Given that you have come to Hinduism from “outside”, what would be your advice to Indian Hindus?

Basically, have a bit of faith in converts. We really are sincere. We know that there have been, over the past few decades particularly, many instances of people who seem to have just been spiritual tourist breezing by Hinduism as if it were a fad. But I genuinely believe those times are, if not past, then coming to a close. The people who are non-Indian and say to you that they are Hindu are most likely to be sincere and devoted. One of the things that all non-Indian Hindus I have met or spoken with have said over and again is that there comes a moment when they want to go to temple or join in with a local Hindu community, only to feel intimidated or fearful that they will not be welcome. Some of the responses that Hindu converts get on the internet, in discussion forums or on some blogs, can be quite off-putting as well, making us feel that we will never have a chance to know other Hindus in our communities and be respected for being sincere.

In this attempt, I will bring interviews with some non-Indian Hindus to learn their perspective and their travails. It is important to look at this ethos from the viewpoint of someone who didn’t grow up in it.

Somehow the Indian Hindus have this ego that they know “Hinduism” simply because they heard the words and chants. That is nonsense. In fact, I find Indian Hindus to be remarkably ignorant about the ethos, the spirituality and the philosophy.

So, this series will be an attempt for the Indian Hindus to learn something. Towards that, this is the first interview with Yathavan Ramanuja Dasan who writes on the blog “A Western Sri Vaishnava”. For more of his writings, please do visit his informative blog.

I would like for the non-Indian Hindus to share their opinions bluntly and openly. If they find something drastically wrong with the Indian Hindus, I would like for them to share it. So, please read these interviews with a sense of open-ness to learn.

I hope this will be a great learning experience for all!

1. How did you know for the first time that you were a “Hindu”? What did it mean?

First off I’d like to say that I never considered myself “Hindu”. Having come from a background in history and archaeology I’ve always known the origins of the term and what it meant. Having said that I have described myself as such, as such a term can not be avoided in the west, due to ignorance and popular use of the term in the west. In fact during my initiations (samashrayanam) in to the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, I accidently said hindu and my Guru stopped me and corrected me stating Hinduism is a foreign word that has no real meaning and from this point on I am a Sri Vaishnava.

To answer your question, I have always been drawn to Sanatana Dharma. Having grown up in the UK and having many Indian mates, some of my earliest memories are depictions of the Lord and other Devas, but was never quite sure how to approach this path. Many times in my life I had an opportunity, but it never seemed quite right or I totally ignored it thinking it was just nostalgia from when I was younger.

Finally, 10 years ago, I was a practicing buddhist, but something always didn’t seem quite right. As if something important was missing.


I met a wonderful Gujarati couple at a place of work who immediately warmed up to me, the wife was always trying to marry me off LOL and the Husband, for no reason started teaching me the basic tenants of SD. So I incorporated all that I learned from him into my established buddhism. Things felt better and I wish now I had learned more and embraced it more, but I think I wasn’t truly ready. Which I wasn’t, shortly after I fell into a fairly deep despair and held no spirituality at all for a few years, being totally miserable.

Then two or so years ago, I was in a bad relationship, was out of work and really hit rock bottom. Now before I write the next part, please understand that at this point spirituality was the least of my worries and I do not have flights of fantasy. Anyway, late one night, about 3 am I was jolted awake with the sound of AUM in my ears, I sat up and closed my eyes and I see this figure before me. I open my eyes and close them again and there was Sri Ram (I didn’t know this at the time) with four arms and smiling in a warming way. I felt a warmth in my chest and I found myself unable to think or speak, no words were exchange but it felt like we talked for hours and when I opened my eyes I knew what I needed to do. I got right up and went straight to the computer and started searching. In fact I was dogged in finding something and for two weeks I went round and round in circles, neglecting my work and everything trying to seek an answer. Finally, I had to stop.

I was driving myself mad and made the decision to stop searching and the next day I had my first break though. So I started again and had three things that popped in my head.

First, I realized Sri Rama/ Vishnu awakened my Jiva. Second, I was drawn to the vishishtadvaita philosophy, which I found the most compelling and fit best with my understanding. Thirdly, I needed to find a Guru to help me.

All three of these things came to me out of the blue, before these three things I come to the conclusion that either I give up, join ISKCON (which I did not want to do) or follow up on an inquiry I made to the Nimbarka Sampradaya that wasn’t quite the right fit. The next morning, armed with these three things, I found the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya.

Actually, I found Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, but in my ignorance, I passed it thinking I was drwn to Sri Rama and they place importance on Srimannaraya. Wow was I ignorant haha.

So then I found the Ramanandi Sect and made some friends, and one who was a pandit helped me get started. Soon, something seemed to be missing yet again. Like I was close but just couldn’t make it over the river. I was telling this to a Vadakalai friend I made through my blog and then he asked me why the Ramanandi and I told him it fit all three of my inspirations but felt hollow and told him of my initial draw to the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, but didn’t follow through because of my love and devotion to Sri Rama. He had a huge laugh and from that point on he became like a brother to me and it all started clicking, it was all making sense and I finally felt at home. a year later I travelled 2300 miles to receive samashrayanam from HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.

And honestly, I’m the happiest I’ve been in years and so many doors have opened to me.

As for what did it means to me? Simple, the world.

2. Beyond all the ideological stuff, what is it about Hinduism that appeals to you?

Besides the fact that SD is the most complete, vast and correct system ever? Well I really can’t say it’s the indian culture like most of my western brothers and sisters. Perhaps I should expound upon this.

I do not wish to get dressed up and play at being Indian. I incorporate enough of the culture in order to practice my faith fully. I understand I am a westerner, I have my own culture and ancestral history. I am proud to be a Gaidheal (Celt). I am descendant of the Cenél nEógain branch of the Uí Néill dynasty.

And as you will see below that the Celts had a varna system, thus if we are judged by birth I would be the equivalent of a Kshatriya. But in the end, whether we are Hindustani, Dravidian or Celtic, only our bodies are this. Once we die, our Jivas either obtain moksha or we still have karma and born again. This white body I inhabit will be burned and all ashes look the same. No one but the Lord will know in a 1000 years if I was a white westerner.

So in the end, it is the most complete spiritual path, that not only resonates within me, but is a part of my cultural roots (more later on this) and I need no other flashy things to keep me interested or drawn to it. Just the love of the Lord.

3. Since everyone can have a God of his/her own making (out of the 330 million already articulated), people find Hinduism to be a maze. A confusing amalgam of “stuff”. How do you make sense of it all?

Out of 330 million Gods, there is only one God, so says the vedas. This is where a lot of confusion for westerners stem. I have seen many people have trouble consolidating this idea due to preconceived notions.

As I mentioned before I spent two weeks searching for an answer to my awakening going in circles. Many westerners view hinduism as a singular religion with some variations and it is not until you immerse yourself that you realise how vast it really is. This is why I state on my blog that those new to Sanatana Dharma cannot learn it though the internet. All you will do is drive yourself mad. So my advice I give is:

Know God- who are you drawn to, when your Jiva is awakened it is a confusing time and I believe the Jiva is awakened based upon your karma, I believe that this process is due to the fact that our karma dictates that we do not have to awaken in the next life, but we had to get to a certain point in this life to see the truth, and when we are ready to see the truth the Lord comes to us and touches our hearts, thus awakening our jiva. A little hard to believe, but seems to makes sense once you think of it. And the manifestation of the Lord is the manifestation we need. For me it was Sri Rama, and once I started learning his story, it made sense, it was the teaching and example I needed at that time.

Second bit – What Makes Sense to You: The philosophy. If you are drawn to Vishnu or his manifestations I point people towards the Schools of Vedanta. To read about the various schools and find the one that makes sense to you. For me, as soon as I read about vishishtadvaita I knew it was for me.

Find a guide, make friends with Devotees: This is the most important once you decide what philosophy reflects your understanding of the world. Making friends with devotees of that particular tradition will fill you in on the deeper meanings of the philosophy, view of God and point you in the right direction. One of the hardest things starting out with little knowledge is putting what little knowledge you have into practice. How do you go from reading the Gita to serving the lord? Native Hindus know, they are brought up with the traditions and sadhana, we are not and need help to get to the feet of the Lord.

4. In your spiritual journey, what is it that you look forward to? If you had all the time, will, health and resources, what would you like to do?

Well beyond Moksha, the end goal, I’m not sure. I am still a child getting to know a Father that was missing most of my life. I look forward to the day that I can but understand a miniscule amount of the lord and how best to surrender to his lotus feet.

If I had the time and resources, I would do what I can to make the transition easier for those who are drawn to the Lord but have become overwhelmed. If I had the money I would make more core works available in english at an affordable price.

For example, how silly is it that I have had the panchasamskarams into the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, and cannot find the divya prabandham in English. This collection of the devotional hymns and songs by Alvars that was organized by Sri Nathamuni is one of the cornerstone sacred texts of my Sampradaya and we westerners have no easy access to it in English. I would like to change this, as well as make other translated works by Ramanuja and others available.

5. In the world of evangelists and Islamists, how can and should Hinduism hold its own?

Native Hindu’s need to realize how beautiful and full their own spiritual culture is. They need to stop buying into the Victorian definition of “Ekam sat, viprah bahudhaa vadanti”. This pluralism is detrimental to the faith and causes nothing but misery and the Islamists and evangelists take advantage of this. We need to realize this was to encapsulate sattvic, Dharmic faiths only.

Islam and Christianity are not compatible to Dharmic thought. It breaks my heart that every Hindu is familier and use the term “Ishwar Allah Tere Naam” what absolute rubbish and this thinking is detrimental to the faith as no Islamist is saying this, I see all over the net islamists cursing Bhagavan. They do not buy into this so why must we? Especially the native hindus. This is one thing that, as a westerner, in the faith, that native hindus will spout out these detrimental phrases, yet turn around and shun us westerners who practice SD with full love and devotion at the lotus feet of the Lord.

We are not the enemy, we should be embraced as a ray of hope. For we understand the beauty that SD has to offer and have embraced it with all our hearts. So instead of native hindus repeating “Ishwar Allah Tere Naam” they need to stop this pluralistic bollocks with tamasic faiths and yell at the top of their lungs in adoration to the Lord “Jai Bhagavan!” “Jai Sri Krishna” “Jai Sita Ram” “Jai Shivai” or what ever. Be proud of the richness of your faith, but don’t be nationalistic about it. Bhagavan is the Lord of the Universe, not just of Bharata.


6. Given that you have come to Hinduism from “outside”, what would be your advise to Indian Hindus?

Well besides what I wrote above? I say that as the world plunges further into Kaliyuga that more and more westerners will be coming to SD. We must remember that Europe and India share the same family tree, linguistic roots and yes even religion. A fact that is now coming out of scholastics is that the Celts (modern day Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Brittons from france) had a religion not too terribly different than Hinduism. There is not enough extant materials to totally revive the faith but there is more than enough evidence to say they had many similarities. There are many articles about this online and even Hinduism Today ran a story about it. We are not so different. We have common roots so it is only natural that we will return to our natural birthright so to speak. So as we progress into Kaliyuga we are drawn back to our original faith.

Within two generations our numbers have increased and yet we are still viewed by some as Avarnic mlecca dog-eaters, but the majority view us as novelties or a part of some passing fad. Yes there are many westerners that get discouraged, both by the vastness of SD, but also by the not so welcome looks and attitudes we sometimes meet with, though admittedly the looks are only from a select few.

As indians spread throughout the world and their culture becomes more and more present, we will see this number rise further, and I’m afraid it is no passing fad. I know western hindus that are still faithful 30+ years later having been introduced to SD via Iskcon or the multitude of Neo-hindu smarta groups that came.

Lastly, we westerners are not all avarnic, nor unclean nor untouchable. The Bhagavad gita states we are all born of the three gunas, not just within the borders of Bharata, but ALL are. And it is our inherent natures that makes us who we are. A westerner who take upon the mantle of a brahmin is just as pure as a native hindu brahmin, it says so right in our scriptures. I understand that in the past westerners have not had the best of intentions, but now I assure you all that we are just as capable to preserve the faith as any native.

In its most foundational sense, it is something sacred and indeed at the heart of mankind’s survival. Not because it belongs or is linked to what is now called a “religion”, but because in its most practical, philosophical and spiritual sense has always given freedom to mankind.

Meaning of Hindutva

Hindutva literally means the Core of Hindu – the Tatva of being Hindu – where Hindu is not a “tag” but a state of being. If I live my life a certain way, then I am a Hindu. Being a Hindu doesn’t just come from my name or the temple in my house, or my belief or faith. It is beyond all that. It is my QUALITY.

And that is important to understand, if one has to save it from attack – both from within and outside.

Those who have made it their mission to bring the “Hindu” history and culture of India down have done a very simple thing. They have created a box called Hindutva – which they have campaigned to define as something “Bad” and evil. Then, its very easy to drown anyone they wish to bring down and finish him off. Simply push him into that box and ipso facto he is evil as well. There is no need for any sane argument. No logic or intelligent articulation of what is the real situation is attempted by such people. “He is proponent of Hindutva” + Smirk + Self confident pat on one’s chest and one’s entire debate is done.

Such is the impact of this campaign that no one even stops to find out – “Why is Hindutva evil”? And more importantly What is Hindutva? And that is where I want to start.

What is Hinduism

But to get there, I want to discuss what is Hinduism – because that is where the understanding of the Core comes from.

Hinduism is not just a word. Hinduism didn’t come in to existence the day someone called a certain population as “Hindus”. The people were already living a certain way of life. There was a thread of a common spiritual heritage – which enshrined some basic central precepts:

• The highest goal of a person, after survival and living well, was to look at getting rid of all sorrows in life. Nevertheless, in the spectrum of well being and happiness one could choose to be at any point – fulfillment of a desire, any desire or level of desire; or choose to be totally liberated of the desires.
• One can decide what one finds to be sacred and useful. One person’s nightmare could be another’s doorway to God or Eternal Bliss. Each to his/her own.
• Everyone can find their own way and every path/method is valid in its own way, even though one may not agree with its principles.
• One cannot fight to impose one’s way of liberation or ideology on another.

Religion vs Hinduism

Not once until the first Islamic invader came our way, did anyone ever fight to impose one’s way to find Divine. That was not a sticking point. People would engage in debates, discussions and arguments on which way is more logical or better suited to a certain lifestyle but it was never the central reason for a battle. Even Adi Shankara engaged in debates on various hues of Religious and Spiritual practices to establish some that he thought were better, but he had no possession or weapons with him.

There were several ideologies and methods, but there was no “religious” division. No one was persecuted because he believed in something that I didn’t.

This entire social and cultural heritage got branded by outsiders whose wont was to live by categories and branding and imposing their own brand as superior – as Hinduism. Simply because someone gave that culture a name – didn’t mean that it was born then. No more than one can say that God was created on the day English language came up with the word “God”! The language simply assigned a word to a phenomenon or an idea that had existed since birth of mankind.

Branding of Hinduism was the assault of lower level of being on culture that enjoyed the most inclusive society in terms of search for divine.

That Hinduism should be considered a “Religion” – an extremely egotist and parochial way of approaching the question of search for Divine – is itself an assault on an inclusive cultural phenomenon that not just survived but flowered for many millenia! Calling Hinduism as a religion or comparing it with any religious framework is an insult to that inclusive sensibility.

It is like pushing a culture of inclusivity into the muck of exclusivity.

Why should a cultural mind which has not known anything beyond fighting battles for their ideas of God, be allowed to even define the landscape of a world that should be free from such mess?

Why should a mind which has at its very best only known the concept of Tolerance (I hate you but I will tolerate you) be allowed to evaluate a culture that is defined by Acceptance (I don’t care who you are, but I accept you as an equal)?

Its a disgrace to the sensibility of mankind that the level of our existence is defined by an idea that is inherently so low as Religion. Specifically, an ideology – a restrictive and exclusive one – cannot in anyway define the Liberation that was sine qua non of the culture that came to be branded as Hinduism.

Ideology is a strait jacketed box that people create for the sake of survival. Its a one time attempt by an individual or group to live a life of no thinking. If I have an ideology – which has a certain point of view of the world in a certain way, then I don’t need to engage the world thereafter the way it presents to me. I then start interacting with the world based on the pre-decided ways I have defined for myself. I am bound to reduce the profundity of any situation to a mockery of my preconceived notion versus what offers to me at that moment.

And Divine is never experienced in interacting with life in a pre conceived way.

The tragedy of mankind has been that the brute force of unthinking ideologues has attempted in the last 2500 years to subjugate the vulnerable elegance of experiential existence. What can only be experienced cannot be defined. What is defined of it, is not the Truth. How can one even put it in ideology? Whatever idea of the destination you will have will be a failure to begin with for any Spiritual traveller. And yet, whatever you will say, will be correct – very restrictively and in a very limited way.

Those Who Use Hindutva

Those who use Hindutva politically use it in exactly the same sense as those they are battling. They reduce the core concept of Hinduism down to a religious ideological framework denying and extinguishing any questioning or discussion. That direction also hits on the central inclusivist core.

That the Abrahamic Exclusivism has to be handled is not the most intelligent conclusion for the future of an Inclusivist society to prosper in India (and the world by extension) – but before you go out to tackle such fundamentalism you need to be drenched in the core juice of your own identity.

Shri Krishna said in Gita that reading or memorizing the Vedas is of no use. Knowing its Core is everything. Beings like Krishna don’t come along easily, but would it need another Krishna to again put the core message for us?

Need for Awareness

The only way that Hinduism can be saved and Hindutva be reclaimed from the two opposing forces – yet mutually propelling each other – is not blind belief or faith.. but Awareness rising out of razor sharp questioning intellect. At every point, this intellect has to question.

So much so, that we have to plant the “bug” of questioning – serious, not shallow or ideologically oriented – in everyone’s minds. Friends and foes alike.

This will require one to be ready to fight. Fight against one’s own lackadaisical life and enter into a fight to the core. Core of one’s own being! Nothing short of that will do. For, if we have to save this Core of the most Inclusive Framework ever established in any society in the history of mankind, then it will require a core that is as revolutionary and unique.

Its a tough fight, but it has to be undertaken.

…In the area of vocal ornamentation East and West come close. I once played a Claddagh recording of Maire Aine (Ni Dhonnacha) singing `Barr an tSleibhe’ for an Indian Professor of Music who refused to believe, until I showed her the sleeve of the record, that it was an Irish song. She claimed, and demonstrated by singing to me, that the song bore a strange resemblence to an Indian (North) raga about a young girl being lured toward a mountain. The Professor was interested in the mode, the pitching of the voice, and certain notes which were characteristic of both the raga and `Barr na tSleibhe’…

Druids were members of the learned class among the ancient Celts in the modern Ireland. Druid is a combination of Dhru and Vid – Dhru in Sanskrit means “Firmed up/Enconsed” (same root as Dhruv – North Star) and Vid means knowledge – so Druid really means Firmed up in Knowledge. Very little is known of Druids because they had a tradition of Oral History as opposed to Written History. Therefore, when first, the Romans under Ceaser conquered the Celts and then Christianity wiped out Druidism – a Earthy religious/spiritual practice from Ireland – the details on Druids and Celtics were distorted by the evangelists.

The urge to make Druids look uncivilized because they followed rituals, practices, chants and even sacrifices (sometimes Human) to play with energy, health and powers – little understood (and feared) outside a certain circle – was strong for the Romans. A practice which the Christian invaders and evangelists carried on and used profitably in India as well.

Christians – in a complete reverse of what they had suffered at the hands of Romans – became the persecuting force in Europe until Druids and all the Pagans were finished.

It is no coincidence that flags of Ireland and India bear such resemblance. The Spiritual foundation and many practices, rituals as well as philosophies built on top of that foundation were very similar. And, had it not been for some tenacious resistance of the Hindus in India, even the fate may well have been the same. For, the foes and their tactics, even arguments (of barbarianism) were eerily similar.

Celtics are widely believed to be polytheistic, although under this diversity of deities runs a common and homogenous philosophical stream. Interestingly, most deities in the Gaulish and the Celtic culture appear as couples: such as Rosmerta and ‘Mercury’, Nantosuelta and Sucellos, Sirona and Apollo Grannus, Borvo and Damona, or Mars Loucetius and Nemetona.

Matres or Mother in Celtic culture (similar to the Sanskrit word) referred to the Mother Goddesses in that culture which was a recurrent feature in the pantheons of deities. Many of the Goddesses were actually river deities who were venerated for their life-giving qualities. Even in the Vedic culture, from Saraswati to Ganges to Gomti to Kaveri to Godavari – all the rivers have been revered as Goddesses. In other cultures, however, the rivers took male names in most cases.

Druids also believed in reincarnations, transmigration of souls and also cause and effect laws like Karma. The Universe has a balancing mechanism, Druids believed, and is the Rule, Judge and the Juror – reminiscent of the conception of Sanatan Dharma – the Eternal Law of the Universe. Karma, reincarnation and transmigration, all fit in together with the Vedic concept.

Why is Druid History important for India and the World?

Given how the march of Christianity (and its transformation into a persecuting force – quite in contrast with its persecuted character) and Islam as they conquered one Pagan religious culture after another and thoroughly annihilated these cultures from Europe (Ireland, Germany, Greece etc) and Asia (Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia) – means that Evangelism enforced with historical baggage of hatred for Pagans (and extending to Hindus) is not a thing of the past. This is reinforced by the rhetoric of the Evangelists and the newly converted who target Hinduism in India by using EXACTLY the same story line as was used by the Romans and the Christians against Druid in 5th and the 6th century.

Christian Evangelist forces along with the Islamic forces have been very potent against multi-theistic and diverse societies in tune with nature, with reverence for Feminine Divinity and appreciation for diversity in religious and spiritual thinking. The Evangelist forces, by their very nature, are exclusivist; while Pagan cultures are inclusivist by design. There is a remarkably natural dichotomy between the two. One is a force of acquisition and the other a culture of Liberation. One thinks of imposition of its design, while other strives to explore nature and everything in it and have complete reverence to it.

Given that God is a man-made conception and is constructed by every society in its own image, it is probably better to have an Open Ended articulation of God which is synonymous with the Nature and Universe, as opposed to a set idea in stone. For, whatever has been decided and made to impose on everyone else can only lead to atrocities, as has been the case.

In US, Walmart has been successful in annihilating the local and diverse businesses which enjoined local character to the location. These small businesses were more humane and in tune with the local society, whereas Walmart follows the tune of the World Stock Market.

March of Evangelist Global forces have had the same effect and same potency. It would have been fine if the purpose of the Religion and God was commerce, but it is about finding the very Truth of our Source. An exploration that can only be undertaken by everyone personally.

But what the Evangelist forces – with simplistic and aggressive intent – give out are cookie cutter “answers” and stories, which are in the end … also into Commerce for the Vanquishers. It is no wonder that all the Colonists and Invaders – from Mohammad Ghori (Khwaja Chisti) to the East India Company – used Missionaries as a means of conversion and way to propagate and colonize the people and their lands. Extraction of wealth was the ultimate purpose. Its not that the newly converted Christians did not face the damning effects of poverty that was imposed on India during the looting and plunder of the country’s economy during the British (Two Millenia of India’s Economic Journey), but then the Vanquisher didn’t care less. The job had been done. Thank you very much. Hallelujah!

Depending on their tendencies, people – devotees and even Sages – have chosen to concentrate on one or few dimensions of Krishna. But knowing limited dimensions of him is to not know Krishna at all. He is the existence and life itself. You cannot say that I will live only 50% of my life today. You either live or you don’t. One cannot live in percentages. Similarly, you cannot understand Krishna in a few dimensions and leave out others. So, if Krishna has to be accepted, he has to be accepted in full. That is the greatness of Krishna and the difficulty in understanding him.

The holistic nature of Krishna is also reflected in the holistic nature of Bhagwad Gita itself. Very few Sages have gone beyond perfecting one Yoga. A Jnana Yogi who has reached the highest state can credibly share the journey as he took on that path. A Bhakti Yogi can discuss credibly about the power of devotion. But in no other case, has anyone been able to discuss all the four Yogas – Bhakti, Karma, Jnana, and Raja – like Krishna did. His discussion is not intellectual, but that of a Realized Being. Living life in complete intensity and clarity is an essential part to understand Krishna and his message.

कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः।
स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्॥४-१८॥

In this verse, Krishna says one who see Akarma (lack of Karma) in performance of Karma and Karma in not performance of Karma, is the real wise person. When one sees no Karma is being performed in every and any Karma, then one can freely attempt and do everything completely. Inaction, on the other hand, does not mean lack of Karma. Instead, meaningless inaction adds to one’s Karma.

The body and mind are nothing but instruments and repositories of Karma. There is nothing more to them and nothing less. To utilize these two instruments to the fullest yet knowing that these are but tools in “your” hands and not “you” is the point of realization.

Realization of unattached Karma and the primacy of the underlying “Chetna” or Consciousness leads one to perform all actions with complete passion without hesitation. That is the central theme of Krishna and his life. Complete Holistic life.

Beyond the material body is the energy state of our existence. If at the sub atomic level, everything is energy, then we are nothing more than energy states. Somewhere at the grosser level we manifest the body. This is the Physical fact. Biological fact does not see the non-material energy state existence. It deals only with material.

When one dies biologically, one dies physically. But at the energy level, what dies? That is the difference between Shareer (Body) and Shareeri (Atman). What is material (biological) can die. But that which is non-material (Energy state) cannot die. It is the same through the entire existence.

Violence and non-violence in material terms are of biological nature. At the energy level there is no violence nor non-violence.

Morals and convictions are for the material. At the energy levels there are no morals. To go beyond the Sattvik, Tamasik and the Rajas – the good, bad and neutral is to live as a liberated being.

Such a state does not come by living in percentages but from a life lived in its entirety. That is Krishna’s greatest legacy.

I don’t hesitate to say that I am, well ehmm (!!), a modern woman who can handle stilletoes and cotton sarees with equal elan. I, like many of the women internet users here, would read the historial background of this immensly popular fast kept for the well being of one’s husband on internet, in English and will be equally attentive while the neighbourhood auntiji will narrate the Vrat Katha during the pooja in the evening, when all the married women of the locality dressed up in bright colours and jewellery would sit in a circle and sing a traditional song rotating the Thalis (plates) containing sweets and fruits for their mother-in-law (MIL).

Also, I don’t mind saying that even this occasion will not go without my scurtinizing it nice and proper! I am traditional enough to dress up and fast the whole day for the long life of my husband but I am very much a woman of this age who would mould the rituals as per her liking and convenience (without affecting the very spirit of the occasion). (Like I skipped the parantha and had bread in sergi)

And above all, I am non-conformist enough to question the very faith, the very mythological tale behind the ritual of this fasting. And later in the post, I want to question why does the Indian husband not fast for his wife?

But, first let me give you a bit of the background.

The fast of Karva Chauth is observed by married women and sometimes by unmarried girls for praying for getting a good groom!

States of India observing this tradition are Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Himachal Pradesh etc. Although in different states of India, this kind of fasting exists with various names like – Teej, Vat Savitri Puja, Mahashivaratri, Gangaur Pooja, Varalakshmi Vratham etc.

The rituals of Karva Chauth – Women fast from dawn to dusk without food or water. Before sunrise, women bathe and dress up (do shringar) and have food, sweets, fruits given by the mother-in-law (it’s called Sergi).

In the evening, it’s community pooja for many people, and many perform the pooja at home. But the community ritual is more prominent where, women sit in a circle and rotate the thalis seven times, singing the vrat song. One elderly woman would sit in the middle of the circle, with some pooja material and a doll made from dough, and will narrate the story to the women.

Afterwards, after seeing the moon and one’s husband (Pati Parmeshwar!), the women would break their fast. (And, this I need not elaborate upon, as this has been shown in the movies so many times! It’s so mushy mushy and romantic na?!)

The idiosyncracies – Mehandi (Hena), glass bangles, jewellery, and bright coloured sarees are a kind of a must for this festival. Women should not touch a knife or scissors or needles throughout the day.

How it could have started? Karva Chauth could have started when men would go out fight in battles or work in different place for long and women would worry and pray for their well being.

The Story behind the fasting is a little unclear. I have heard different narrations of the tale. So, things are not so fixed that way. But only thing is common that it was the two mistakes of the woman Veeravati which makes her loose her husband twice – once to death and the second time to another woman, the maid servant! So, the story is a way to teach women a moral lesson of virtue and tolerance.

The story in brief, this girl Veeravati (veera) goes to her parent’s place on her first Karva Chauth (so, if she was also observing this fast, then this tale can’t be the origin of the ritual). Her loving brothers light some fire and show the glow in the sky, saying that it was moon, so that she could break the fast and eat something. They did it out of affection for their younger sister. But, because Veeravati breaks the fast, her husband dies. (So, the fear factor put in the fast)

He not just dies, but has hundreds of needs pierced in his body (was he some Bhishma Pitamah?!) The poor girl prays to Shiva and Parvati and goes on taking those needles till it is next Karva Chauth (she kept a corpse at home for one year). But as the last needle is left on her husband’s body (who is a king too), she goes to buy Karva (a earthern little pot) for her fast. And the clever (or was she helping) maid pulls out the last needle.

The king regains conciousness and takes the maid as his wife (he had some memory loss too it seems!). The poor Veeravati waits and fasts, with a lot of tolerance.

Once, when the king was going out, he asks his wife and maid, what do they want? The wife (actually the maid) asks for jewellery and the maid (actually the wife) asks for a doll. Veeravati keeps saying this story of changed roles to the doll (Rani became Goli, Goli became Rani, goli probably was the name of the maid). When the curious king asks about it, Veera tells the truth. Now the king realises his mistake (Oh,now!) and accepts Veera as her queen.

Religion and Fear – If we really see that religion or rather religious practices have been as such which have put physiologial and emotional pressure on women to follow them. Somewhere women have been given a lower berth. Women, wanting a good husband would fast, wanting the welfare of husband or children would fast, chant mantras, pray, visit temples. Women somewhere have been idolized as someone capable of these divine practices or sacrifices, while men kept themselves away from him humdrum. I have heard about men performing Yagnas or poojas only as a profession or familial occupation ie., priests or pujaris.

Fasting in Today’s context -

In the current context, when rituals, customs, even true spirits of festivals have got subdued or diminished, and when only some symbolic gestures are left, which our generation doesn’t even understand or does it just for fun. How come then, such a rigorous fasting ritual has sustained the test of time, this surprises me! In fact, it does not. Our movies have definitely added a certain glamour to it and we should not forget that there is a number of retailing and service sector associated with women, which benefit from this custom. These could have been the factors for making this a popular ritual.

Karva Chauth is the time for shopping for self and mother-in-law. Gifts include heavy sarees, gold and diamond jewellery. Then women want their matching sandals, jewellery, glass bangles, bindis, cosmetics, hair accessories and flowers to dress up. Also, this is a booming time for beauty parlours as they offer special “Karva Chauth packages”! Skin clinics for hair reduction, skin upliftment, wrinkle corrector shots, specialised facials are the service areas which florish during this festive time.

And if you are not aware of the price tag, let me tell you that the humble Mehandi on both hands costs Rs 800/- on a day before KC, in prominent markets.

Physiological effect – Imagine, a woman on fast cooks for the whole family, feeds them but remains hungry herself. But, the husband gets some spiritual high of being born a male! When women are working as hard as the men are, then does this ancient ritual, dating back to the time when women were not working outside, needs a relook and some updation with changing times?

Is there something religious left in it? I doubt. sometimes love but mostly expectation from family or fear of some bad consequence makes women stick to the fasting, only to be left comparing and counting the gold bangles worn by other women are wearing during the pooja! For the wealthy, it’s a show off time also.

The Metrosexual Man still likes to be treated as a semi God – The aarti utarna and touching feet of husband gesture makes me feel disgusted. How can a man be some kind of God? Or was it something to do with respect? Men being much elder than their wives? Do women really need to treat their men like Parmeshwar, even now?? It defies logic! I feel disgusted by such acts. But women do it, take the ashirwad (blessings) of their husbands, standing on the roofs, roadsides, parks, surrounded by people! And husband also obliges! hufffff!

I thought love needed reciprocation ?! If it’s about love, why there is no reciprocation? And, by the way, buying jewellery is no reciprocation. Does it belittle a man’s social standing if he admits that he too fasts for his wife?? Does he make himself a butt of ridicule in front of his mother first and then his family and friends by showing his love for his wife? Why do Indian men don’t fast for their wives? Is it not the reflection of a society where they say that it’s difficult for a woman to live without a man – be it father, or brother or husband or son? And a man remarries within a few months of his wife’s death?

I know what I have written will elicit anger from the men readers or even some women. They may feel that if this is what this blogger woman feels, then why does she not leave the fasting ritual? Why she has to follow it? I would say that you think about it with a complete joint family society set up of our’s before shooting back.

But I would definitely like to know your views about this. Tell me how do you feel about it? Especially the feet touching thingy?! And your views about why men don’t fast?

RESTLESS MIND

(http://myworldmypercption.blogspot.com)