Chapter 2
Of the 450 religions that existed, which was Hindu religion? We shall explore gradually.
The situation was exactly same in those days as the Aryans tries to cross the Himalayan valleys and the Indus river to enter into the present India. How difficult is it to cross the rugged Himalayan mountain valleys as compared to our muddy rain soaked streets? The rivers had no banks in those days due to less erosion and thick forest, steep mountainous paths infested with wild animals and the Aryan ladies had no resolve to cross such hurdles. They begged to drop such wild journeys which was ignored. “Those who has the courage can follow us or else stay in this place itself” was the ultimatum to the ladies. As the Aryan crowd entered India from Afghanistan, the population of the ladies was only miniscule. On historical account, the population of ladies as compared to the men was only miniscule. They only left their ladies behind them. However, they took their “Manu smiruthi” with them.
“Manu”?
Everyone cannot read the Vedas! To understand the deep meanings of Vedic verses, a common man did not posses adequate intelligence. Hence, the intellects came forward to simplify and layout in detail for the masses, the commandments and the actions to be taken according to Vedas. Vedic “Simplicity” was the theme of the “Manu Dharma” or Manu Justice! For the sake of “Simplicity” the “Manu” was born.
The three social divisions advocated in Vedas, based on an individual’s capacity to perform tasks, was permanently split by the “Manu” into three separate class groups. In addition, “Manu” added another group below them namely “Shuddhirarkal” and they were simply assigned to manual labors. While “Manu” assigned to the “Bramanan” eleven “Gunas” (characteristics) such as “Thavam”(meditation), “Veda arivu”,(Vedic knowledge), “Gyanam” (knowledge), “Vingyanam”(science) it instructs guidelines to “Shuddhirans” as follows :
“To “Suddhirans”, do not facilitate to get any kind of knowledge. Do not preach to him any kind of religious doctrines. In case of a fight or quarrel between two groups, punish the side of the “Suddhiran”. Kick him if necessary.” These are the kind of instructions advocated by “Manu” against the “Suddhirans”. They declared all the native people of the migrated land (present India) as “Suddhirans”, and they shall be always under the control of the “Brahmins”. The grand plan by the “Brahmins” to control the native population worked “well”. The other two groups, who were already under the control of the “Brahmins” yielded to the mandate to use the “suddhirans” for menial and manual labors only. Manu went beyond Vedas and created four different caste systems.
While, Vedas advocated harmony with nature by saying, “Here child! Here is the milk. You drink this and enjoy. Live happily”, “Manu” twisted the Vedic philosophy to say “This milk shall be taken by only certain class and others are forbidden to taste it. This person shall drink without contacting his saliva and this person shall only graze and tend to the milking cows”. Thus, “Manu” has split the humanity and established a permanent class system to protect the interests of the male “Bramanan”.
Remember, earlier I wrote that the Aryans did not accompany with their female counterparts, as they fled the Afghan region? To justify this statement let us look at a “Slokha”(Verse) from “Manu” : “Balye pithivase vishtethu Panigrahaa yevvane Puthraanaam bharththarii prethu Nabhajeth shthree svathanthrathaam”
“Girl, you must listen to your father during your childhood. After you are grown up and get married, you must listen to your husband. As you have a baby and when he is matured enough you must listen to your son. This is your fate. You are not entitled to live a free and independent life. You must obey the commands of the male.” This is the freedom granted by the “Manu” to the ladies. Yet another location, the “Manu” gives instructions to the male “Bramanan”, “Ladies are dirty species. The “Manthropadhesha Samskaras” (mantra teachings and rituals) that is granted to you (male) is not to be taught for her. Do not bestow any respect for her”.
All the restrictions imposed on the female sect was accepted as Gospel by people of other “Varnas”. All social restrictions imposed on the other sects and other “Varnas” was based an autocratic manner. “God has dictated these regulations. You must follow these regulations otherwise you will be cursed”. This message was imbedded in the “Manthras” (Sacred verses) and the people were threatended. Several hundred years passed. Just like a criminal law the “Manu” has kept the society under its wraps. Instead of preaching to the society all the social justice actions to be followed, the “Bramanan” brought all other classes such as “Tschathriyars”, “Vaishiyars”, and “Sudhdhirars” under his control. Everyone became obedient to the “Bramanas”. At this social and religious environment prevailing at that period, a voice emanated from present day Nepal.
“In the name of God, and in the name of ‘Karma’ you are exploiting the innocent people with no imagination capacity to comprehend your hypothesis. Who bestowed these rights upon you? Is it God? If it is where is He? Do not drag Vedas to justify your livelihood! Do not discriminate among the humanity based on the ’Varnas’. If putting this humanity into constant misery is your wish, then you do not need ‘Vedas’; you do not need ‘Manu’; you do not need God; and you certainly need ‘Karmas’. What you really need is justice towards humanity.” In that exploitive environment, a very, very, very different voice was heard. That was the voice of Budhdha. In these days, we name the testing of atom bombs as “Budhdha’s Laugh”. If Budhdha was exploding imagine the atrocities committed by the “Bramanas” in those days towards other castes!
Earlier we saw that Budhdha raised his voice against various atrocities committed against the innocent people in the name of “Vedas”. After he raised his objections, what were his actions to rectify the societal ills? What effect these actions brought up? Let us look at it now. With royal comfort, younger Budhdha was enjoying his life with his wife Yashodhara. After came in contact with the sufferings by humanity, he resolved and determined to abandon the family life. No more ladies and no more the palatial comforts! He resolved to exit the palace and pursuing exploring the happenings outside the palace. He made up his mind. Suddenly, he left behind his young wife Yashodhara and his infant baby boy Rahul and left the palace.
After he exited the palace, what he had witnessed in the outside world lead Budhdha to the battle ground. Wherever he turned, nonsensical mindless habits among the ignorant people, entire villages and towns were surrounded with smoke from fires. In that smoke neither the people can see through externally with their physical eyes nor they were enlightened through the intuitive internal intellectual eyes. The people were exploring through the smoke! Why the smoke from the fires? The ‘Bramanas’ answered emphatically, as the smoke had engulfed the countryside, “ for the welfare of the villages and for the prosperity of the society, we must raise fire and sacrifice ‘Pasu’ (four legged animals) in that fire. Those of us who has learned the Vedas are conducting these ‘yaagams’ (sacrificial fires). By sponsoring the animals for the ‘yaagam’ and paying our fees for services you will be able to get ‘punniyam’ (blessings) from us”.
(Even in those days, have the ‘Bramanas’ sacrificed ‘Pasu’(cow) during their ‘yaagams’? You may wonder! ‘Pasu’ means in Sanskrit language four legged animal. During later days this word was loosely referred to milking cow. On a lighter note, today the four wheeled vehicle carrying the people (bus), we can colloquially call ‘pasu’).
Among the smoke clouds, as the ‘bramanas’ reciting ‘manthras’ the masses were listening to them without understanding what they meant. The reason? The people were speaking a language called ‘praakrutha’ while the ‘manthras’ were in Sanskrit. They neither did understand the Sanskrit language nor the meaning of the ‘manthras’. Budhdha assessed the situation. He decided that if he has to wake up the masses, he must send his messages only in the language that they will understand namely, ‘praakrutha’. During that time Budhdha saw with his own eyes and realized the cruelty and vulgarity of the ‘ashvametha yaagam’. What is this ‘ashvametha yaagam’?
In those days, the kings used to let a male horse loose and they will be driven away by beating and other scare tactics. Wherever the horse ran through, the king’s army will march towards and conquer the extent of those territories. At the conclusion of the conquest, a victory celebration takes place which includes ‘ashvametha yaagam’. The tired male horse, who ran through various territories of various kings will be tied in the barn. A female teasing horse will be let loose around this male horse. As the courting rituals taking place, the penis of the male horse gets erected. At this time the female horse will be retired and ladies of the royalty, especially the queen, shall hold on to the erected penis of the horse with her hands during the entire night. This responsibility is principally assigned to the queen. I am shamed to write this frankly and openly. However, what can I say? Even the ‘slokam’ (verse) that describes the ‘yaagam’ goes like :
“asvashya chathra Cishnanthu Pathni kraakyam prachakshathe”
Like goes on this ‘slokam’(verse). How the king’s wife queen shall worship the ‘Ashvam’ (horse) is described in this ‘slokam’. During the night, this ceremony continues and the next day they will put that colt in the ‘yaagam’ fire and witness till he turns into ashes. This is ‘asvametha yaagam’.
Just like the citizens, the royal family was also under the control of the ‘manthra yaagam’ performed by the ‘bramanas’. At the conclusion of the ‘yaagam’ the ‘bramanas’ would say “Hey king, now that the ‘yaagam’ has been performed well and has been completed. For our efforts you have bestowed us with gold and other materials as ‘dhakshinai’ (donation). In addition, you must donate, according to the rules of the ‘yaagam’, the queen who has participated in the ‘yaagam’ and later on you can take her back”. After witnessing these atrocities, Budhdha ,became extremely furious. He went to the places where these ‘yaagams’ were performed and questioned the ‘bramanas’ “You have burned into ashes the human justice as well as kindness towards the animals by burning them in your ‘yaagam’ fire. How do you justify your actions?”. The ‘bramanas’ answered “The horse will get liberated (go to heaven) and that this world will become prosperous”.
Budhdha retorted “You are so generous in sending an illiterate horse, ignorant of his upbringing, existence and death, by burning him in the ‘yaagam’ fire. But shouldn’t you ‘bramanas’, who are literate, and knows the Vedas, God and all about liberation as well as everything else in this world, attain ‘moksha’ (liberated)? If we throw all of you ‘bramanas’ conducting these ‘yaagams’ into the same fire pit where the ‘yaagams’ are performed, wouldn’t you also be blessed with liberation that everyone is longing for?”
As Budhdha asked this very question, in ‘praakrutha’ language that every citizen understands, among the masses, the ‘bramans’ were shocked.
Later on ….?
“If the horse, who runs around wild, goes to heaven, shouldn’t you ‘bramanas’ who are very cultured and able to recite Vedas get the same ‘agni kunda moksha’ (fire pit liberation) ?” As Budhdha went to the places where these ‘yaagams’ were conducted and put this question, it set a blaze much larger than the fire from ‘yaagams’. Can a crow peck and bring down a banyan tree? Just like a banyan tree, which is rooted and supported through its trunk as well as through its branches, the Vedic controls and ‘Manu’ justice were deep rooted in the soil as well as among the population. Though at first the Budhdha’s doctrines and calls for justice was wobbling, and not heeded by the masses, slowly it started gaining the momentum. As a first task, he determined to save the animals from this cruel destruction. Later on he determined to save the people from the destruction that was gripping the world. He selected few youth who were in sync with his philosophy.
At that time, Budhdha was approximately thirty years old. Well developed muscular body. Bright sharp eyes. Constantly thinking and analyzing. Along with the youth of similar character, he walked through
various highways to reach everyone on the country side. If anywhere he got the wind of a ‘yaagam’ being performed, his youth army will rush to that place. On whose behalf the ‘yaagam’ is being carried out, they approached them and said “You see! What benefit are you going to gain by sacrificing lives of so many animals? Last time, an individual near by, was conducting several ‘yaagams’. While he spent considerable amount of money, he gained nothing. Feed and raise those animals, you have scheduled to sacrifice. You will gain lot more by keeping them alive than sacrificing them. Do not trust these Vedic sacrifices. These are nothing but a cheating game resulting in loss for one individual and livelyhood for another.” Thus, the Budhdha’s army was sending out messages in ‘praakrutha’ language that peeled away from conventional wisdom. Though those conducting the ‘yaagams’ did not suspend the actions immediately, they promised not to conduct any more ‘yaagams’.
Budhdha walked. Walked house after house. Nowadays, during the elections, the candidate’s parties go to each house and worship the house numbers for their votes. Likewise he walked, except he was not looking for any posts, and entered each house and spread the message “Do not conduct ‘yaagams’. Do not throw the innocent animals into fire and inflict death to them. Use your intelligence for a prosperous life” This is the essence of Budhdha’s teachings.
Here, I have to point out an important message. Several decades after Budhdha, was written the sacred text of Christians the Bible, in which St. Michael writes the following statement : “Don’t pour innocent matters into the fire, God wants your love only”. This message of St. Michael namely don’t throw innocent animals into fire, rather God wants only your love, was spread from house to house, several centuries before Jesus by Budhdha and his disciples.
If he had to spread this anti Vedic message in full force, Budhdha realized that he has to retain an image that will stick in the minds of the people. What to do? He can shave his head. Minimize his clothing. These are external changes that may distinguish and enhance his image. Just like removing hair from the head and reducing the extent of clothing over his body, he must also get rid of desires from his mind. He realized that he must get rid of two wants namely women and wealth and exit the house. He communicated this message to his associates. Youth heaped up to serve his cause. He abandoned his house and resolved his foremost task is to spread his principles to masses and never to stay in anyone’s house. Where to go?
Budhdhist ‘Viharam’(hut), tiny simple huts were taking shape to accommodate Budhdhist monks. They are like temples where the Budhdhist Bitsus (monks) were staying and called ‘Vihar’. The teachings and broadcasts of all these Budhdhist monks were carried out in, ‘praakrutha’, the language of the natives. The number of ‘Vihars’ started mushroom everywhere as more and more volunteered to become monks. Bihar is a constitutional state of India and there exists a historical note that attributes its name to ‘Vihar’ as numerous ‘Vihars” were concentrated in this part of the country. (Translator’s Note (T.N.) : Bihar is the state adjacent to Nepal where Budh Gaya is located and considered as the birth place of Buddhism. In this region substituting ‘B’ for ‘V’ is very common).
After the Budhdhist era, as his non-violence, realization, teachings spread and expanding into other regions, the ‘bramanas’ began to reexamine their ‘Karma’ pathway of sacrifices. They decided to reduce the animal sacrifices in their ‘yaagams’. The greatest strength of the ‘bramanas’ is adoption! If they find something good in others way of worship or actions, they will make it as their own. Did they adopt only ‘jiva kaarunyam’ (non-violence)? No! Nowadays everyone talks about ‘Matam’ (Center for conserving religion) and bickering among various executors of these ‘Matam’s over extent of their territories. They learned the concept of ‘Matam’s from Budhdhist ‘Vihar’s. Slowly, the Budhdhists started to expand from Northern India to Southern India and the ‘bramanas’ were also following them. Then?......
“Budhdham saranam kachchaami Dharmam saranam kachchaami Sangam saranam kachchaami”
This soft chanting beginning to fill up the air in ‘Thondai Mandalam’ (North Arcot and South Arcot area of Tamil Nadu). Here the Tamil culture was at its civilization’s zenith. It was encompassing the literatures of ancient academies, nature, worship, love and devotion and ruled by powerful Tamil kings. World over the evolution of worship has a common thread and was shaped gradually as the humanity became aware of the nature and environment. The evolution pattern can be stated as follows :
i) Worshipping stone Fitish worship ii) Worshipping animals Totomism worship iii) Worshipping humanly figures Shamnaism worship iv) Worshipping statues Idol worship
The evolution of worship patterns basically happened on the basis of cultural and civilization growth. However, the Tamil civilization was at its peak in their sculptural arts. The Tamil kings even during ancient days, exemplified their supremacy loud and beyond the future history, by erecting monumental size temples, with exclusively artistic and fine sculptures, and offered it for worship. These temples were erected for specific deities and contained their specific statues.
What is Tamil worship? ….
Even though, Tamils had the precision and capacity to turn a stone into attractive piece of sculptures, they also had their tender side that spilled over their culture. They picked various flowers, offered and started conducting his worship through it. Next to it will be a ‘Nandha Vizhakku’ (ever-lit lamp) will be burning at all times. Using the flowers worshipping in the light of a lamp that was ever-lit was their very first mode of worship.
Poo (Flower) + Sei (Do) = do with flowers. When joining both together becomes ‘Poosei’, which nowadays called ‘Poosai’. This is brought out through the research publication by prominent Dravidian language linguist DR. S.K. Chatterji. Not only in worship but also even in devotion the Tamil culture was in the forefront. The famous Tamil literature ‘PariPaadal’ (Song of horse) states the grammar for devotion thus : “The love you have towards your wife, have the same intense love towards God. The love you have towards your husband, show the same intense of love towards God”. The Tamil culture has also gave to the world ‘Naayakan Naayaki Bhaavam’ which describes in detail the expression of relationship between a hero and a heroine. Thus, the Tamil culture had advanced to a point that it had accepted God as their counterpart, male or female, and painted pictures and described His/Her features in detail.
Under these circumstances, the Buddhism and the Jainism started to spread in Tamil Nadu. Spreading not just in the Northern boundary. The Jainism extended all the way into Tamil Nadu and touched the largest town in the Southern part of Tamil Nadu, Thirunelveli. The Buddhism spread and touched the Southern coastal city of Nagapattinam. Those Vedic ‘bramanans’ challenged by the Buddhism, migrated away from Northern parts of India, followed the others and touched Southern India. It is believed that one of the famous king of the ‘Pallava’ dynasty is one of those migrants. Buddhists have integrated into the Tamil society to an extent that they became ‘in-laws’ and at this stage ….
The ‘Pallava’ kings have sowed the seeds of Vedas and the Vedic discipline. The Vedic teachings that was challenged by the Buddhism in the Northern India started to flourish in Tamil Nadu with the efforts of the migrant ‘bramanas’. When the ‘bramanas’ migrated to Tamil Country, the thread that they were wearing around their chests, i.e., ‘poondiruntha nool’(worn thread) (‘poo nool’), I hope now you understand the source of the name for the sacred thread, everyone in the Tamil Country wondered about the thread. When they asked about the significance of the thread, their reply was that “This thread is the status symbol that declares to the society that they belongs to the highest class of the society”. Realistically, the sacred thread story is a bizarre.
As a matter of fact, when one performs Vedic rituals, according to Vedic rules, they must wear their top piece over their left shoulder and across their chest. (T.N.: Basically the men wore two pieces of flat piece of clothing; one around their hip to cover the lower part of the body; the other over their upper body to cover their chest. Probably, one needs to avoid loose flowing clothing around the fire pit during ‘yaagams’. Hence, Veda laid out the rule that one must tie this piece for safety.) The ‘bramanas’ were trying to wear the cloth as per the Vedic rules. However, as they raise their arms up during the performance of Vedic rituals and as they get up and sit down during the rituals, the piece gets untied and fell to the floor. They were searching for ways to make it permanent so they need not be concerned about loosening of the cloth during the rituals. Hence they thought about wearing a thin strip of clothing to restrain the top piece in place, just like a belt over their shoulder and chest. They started to wear a strip of thin and narrow strip of clothing (‘vasthram’) permanently crossed over their upper body. Eventually this ‘vasthram’ transformed into just thread … ‘Sacred Thread’.
For the ‘bramanas’ who claimed that wearing the ‘poonool’(sacred thread) was a status symbol, some of the Jain and Buddhist doctrines were very much in their favor. The average person was having difficulty in pursuing and adhering to their strict principles. According to Jainism, one should not even kill an ant as every life on earth has a soul that needs to be respected. While one is walking, they shall not even hurt the earth. Both these great concepts did not emphasize God and hence, they started to fade away within the society. As these changes were taking place, the Vedic culture found its acceptance and was over flowing among the communities. When the ‘bramanas’ saw the beautiful stone sculptures, they told the people “These are lifeless pieces of sculptures. However, using the sacred mantras they can make them Gods worthy of worshipping”.
“Poo Sei” was changed to “Poojai”. Did they change only the Tamil worship using flowers and everglowing lamps? ‘Bramanas’ also brought several cultural changes in the society. What are they? ….. ●●●●●
No comments:
Post a Comment