Hi,
I did not mean to write at this point of time --as I had come prepared to the cybercafe to practise for my GRE ---along with the Oxford Dictionary --to check back when GRE--BIBLE software seems to give a new meaning to a word in the verbal practise section.
Well, that particular computer is busy --even at 9 pm --and I am waiting.
I just now opened the dictionary --glancing cursorily through the first page --it surprisingly gave me the introduction I was looking for -
for explaining the cacophony of words and chapters I have come across since last night --when I sat up till 2 in the morning --trying hard to go through the Atharva Veda (Hindi translation -without the originnal text) --to get the one infamous line --which is the bane of Hinduism --which should show that Brahmans should punish(torture) Shudras for reading or reciting the Vedas --many Dalit websites quoted this --especially the now defunct www.dalitstan.org.
I tried hard -- came across many ancient exhortations and eulogies --of unknown Demigods --besides a few known ones --like Indra (Rain God)) and Agni (Fire God)--Odan seemed like the "Odin" --the God of death of ancient Germans (Goths)or Norsemen -as portrayed in Asterix comics. They worshipped Supreme God as Brahm ----and had no "Hindi" word like Bhagwan or Ishwar to describe the supreme being.
The warlike people prayed for removal of diseases, getting a wife (even saying --Lord take away her wisdom so she becomes mine), death to enemies so that their wives beat their breasts and wail with oopen hairs (so much like Genghis Khan -the world's greatest conqueror from Mongolia--who got the highest pleasure while crushing the dead enemy's head beneath his feet while the enemies wives wailed and howled)
Brahman was not defined --but seemed those people who were involved in activities devoted to God (Brahm or Param Brahm) are Brahmans. Perhaps just likke a person who deal in Gold is called Goldsmith, or lock maker is called Locksmith, a person of the army is called "army man" --similarly --a person who dealt in Brahm --was called "Brahm-man or Brah-man ----now in English written as Brahmin --although still pronounced "Braah' man"
Shudra is somebody who dealt in low matters and Brahman someone who dealt in high matters.
Perhaps like the Maharajah of Jaipur ---who still like to hold on to the title of "King" though has never performed the duties of King or ruler ----- perhaps becauuse someone in his family did rule -----similarly ---the so called Brahmans of today and also Kshatryas of today --still like to hold the title ---though they have never performed the duties of Brahman (i.e. a person dealing in God --praying and performing priest like activities)
or a Kshatriya.
The Vedas are said to be based according to families of Rishis -as the Christian website said ( http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15318a.htm )--- that too can be explained ---as no family who got respect through a profession would like to "squander" it away on an outssider ---just like a famous lawyer or CA would like that the practise pass on to his heir --rather than to a stranger.
But the fact remains that "Brahman" has become a dirty word today --[Just like "demagogue" --which originally meant --a leader of the people -('demo' --people ; 'agogue'--leader) --now hass degenerated to mean --a tyrant -a despot --as Norman Lewis's "Word Power made easy" --tells me] much maligned by the Evangelists, Dalit leaders and deeds of so called Brahmins themselves.
Mahabharata says --that in current age (Kali Yug) all are born Shudra --ie --we all are concerned with material affairs --only some develop intterest in Godly affairs.
So we are all safely Shudras ----- Brahmins please excuse.
Would any so called Brahmin like to object ??
Please do.
Umesh
PS -- Oxford Dictionary says : ENGLISH belongs to the INDO-European family of languages (so much importance to India ---comparing it equally with the whole of Europe!! ) , a vast group with many branches, thought to be derived from a common ancestor-language called Proto-Indo-European.
Perhaps this explains why the Vedic beings --resemble so much the likes of Mel Gibson --in Brave Heart (movie) or the Gladiator ---- in the setting with lots to do with horses, swords, natural environs, passionate outbursts about defeating enemies and winning their lady love --by love potion or yagya (fire worship) --and how a Rishi (saint) tried to reason with the audience -why the cow should not be killed --and why the milk of a cow should not be taken -who is to be killed -for sacrifice(???)
So, perhaps among the earliest Hindus -there were people who ate cows --like the tribals of today's India --and were not scalped by the then Hindus for that --only sought to vean them away throughh logic -- unlike the lynching of Dalits in Haryana last year --on the "rumour" that a cow was killed --I bet scores of cows are butchered in Mumbai slaughter houses --daily --and no Hindu leader dares do anything about it --as was mentioned in a India today issue -which highlighted the efforts of a Muslim couple to stop this practise in the name of communal harmony.
For all the surrealism --in Atharva Veda -- two points stand out :
1. One line near the end speaks of how the COW was created --how the various Brahm and the various demigods formed the head,skin, bones stomach etc,Brahmins and Kshatriya formed the shooulders; and surprisingly --how DevGans (the Gods) formed rectum or anus (so called dirtiest part of the body).
No mention of Shudra anywhere --mind you!!
and in similar manner describes how Man was created -along with how envy , hatred, love, lust etc entered the human body.
2. It goes on to say --"in conclusion : Brahm (God) is within the human body and also without it (outside it) -----this is thus a very beautiful conclusion --same as what Krishna says in Gita --and same as is said in the controversial Christian Bible --which says "the Kingdom of God is within you and around you -in th trees and nature --and NOT in the churches and buildings etc --
{I remember seeing a Hollywood movie about this on HBO perhaps--based on a a true incident in which the then Pope and the Vatican try to destroy the copy of this anti Church -hence anti Vaatican Bible --which was surprisingly revealed to a young girl(??) in 1930s --(by a Saint who had accompanied Jesus Christ to the last supper ) and try to kill the girl also}
Although the Vedic people do seem to suffer from a cultural hangover of a somewhat European past --they too seem to have evolved --and the modern Hindu techniques -of Yoga -the concept of Universal God and Gita --are as mucch a product of Indian environment --as Gautama Buddha's enlightenment is an Indian experience --though he was from another region. Perhaps after an initial struggle in establishing themselves in a new land -called Bharat --where they ought diseases besides wild beasts, nature and enemies --those charismatic people underwent spiritual transformations after settling down --giving us the gems of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc
The current breed of Hinduism espousers -equates Hinduism to Indian-ism -- for instance -- RSS which equates Indian cultural nationalism to Hinduism --quite forgetting the the Vedic rishis may not have been of Indian origin.
These guys should not feel guilty of --as the Evangelists and Muslims accuse ---of defeating and enslaving the local people --the dravid people . Muslims convertedd the Iranians and Africans etc through force --and so did Christians ---as with American Red Indians , the Negro slaves , and even Goans in Portuguese ruled Indian Goa state -thru St Xavier.
What matters is whether your faith is genuine --logic believable ----- not brute force --or hazy back saving Hindu nationalistic logic.
Hinduism was an International faith -- in its origin in the Vedas -- and in 21st century --should seek to assert its internationalism --if it has to save its secoond generation NRI children --from the clutches of the Christian NRI evangelists --and local Indian populace from the evangelists' divisive logics
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