From: "Gilbert Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
...................................................Do I understand from this (below) that Goan Catholics were converts from non-twice born Hindus? Then, prior to their conversion they were 'sudras, outcastes and untouchables'? In other words, the Hindus changed their religion, their village of residence and their caste?
You do not have to be polite, sensitive or avoid being derogatory. It is more important to be clear and scientific. Is the account below accurate (documented with facts and figures) or is it a Goan hand-me-down story?
In fact your account debunks a whole myth that Hindus were forcible converted by militant Portuguese and their confrontational Catholic counterparts. It would appear from your account, the Christian conversion was the old fashion way - voluntary and a decision for personal (material and / or spiritual) gain. Regards.
Antonio Menezes: A Hindu who has led a pious life is rewarded with another birth: a very good but not yet a perfect life leads to rebirth as a brahmin; and in decending order one could be born as a kshatriya or as a vaisya. These three castes are collectively known as twice-born castes. Whereas for some mysterious reasons known only to the good old bhagwan other persons are born as sudras, outcastes and untouchables. Since the word sudra has a derrogatory connotation, i thought it would be safer to use instead the words ''non twice-born'' to describe this overwhelming majority of social class before their conversion to christianity. antonio
The moot question is: Are the Bhandari[ the farming and the working classes that form the major vote bank in Goa] , who worship Sateri devi [and Lairaee, Tulzai, Kelbai, rastroli,Bodgueshwar, etc.],really HINDU ? Are Veer Shaivaite and Vaishnavites of the same religion like Catholics and Protestants?
Any answers from the cognizenti and intellengentia?
Viva Goa.
Miguel
