Dear Ms. Aparna!
I have not read all the scriptures, just few including Rigveda. Born in a
Brahmin family with strict religiousity and strong Sanskritic intellectual
traditions, I grew up with listening to the verse from ramayan and Mahabharat.
But to comment on a religion one needs not to have read all the scriptures that
have remained the monoploly of the priestly classes as words acquire meaning
through usage. The SDharmshastras -- the Law books -- and their authors -- the
Law givers-- like Manu Maharaj -- seek to perpetuate a Dharma i.e the
Varnashrama Dharma and lay the blame at the gates of Brhma by declaring him the
creator of the universe. This Varnsashram Dharma not only sanctifies inhuman
social division and social inequalities but also is ardently anti -feminist, as
is cleare from this quotation of Manusmriti, "In her childhood she should be
subject to her father and to her lord after the marriage, when her lrod is dead
to her sons, a woman must never be
free". This prescription of Manusmriti is well known that moltyen lead should
be poured into the ears of Shudra and women if they happen to listen to the
mantras of Vedas ewvcen by mistake. The word Hinduism and HGindutva asre not
indigenous but have Arabic origin and came in usage after 9th-10th century AD.
Hinduism is nothing but the Varnashrama system.
I dont want ito debate over tolerance of Hinduism that is clear by the heineous
acts of champions of Hinduttva -- the Bajrangis by raping women ang organoising
pogroms of innocent tribals and Muslims. Even if ther Maoists have taken the
responsibility of killing the VHP goons, the tolerant hinduttva is going on
burning killing and raping. "By mistake" they raped and killed a "Hindu"
college student working in a orphange to support her studies.
kabir was thrown away by a mother as he was born out of the sanctioned
Brahmanical order, which necessarilly is patriarchal(All the religious orders
are). Kabir was not part of Hinduism but he challenged its system as he did to
Islam. Kabir's was a protest against religious ritualistic stuipidities.
Budha's wasd also a protest and an alternative philosophy of life agaiunst the
ritualistic Brhamanical social/religious order. All the system contain the
seeds of their nemesis within. as far BValmiki is concerned, we know that he
was a bandit(naturally a Dalit) through legends. He was sanskritized and became
the upholder of the Brahmanical/.patriarchal order by eulogising an unethical
and patriarchal charecter as Maryada Purushottam.
Rest again.
May God bless you, if there is one.
regards
Ish Mishra
