Why does RSS keeps talking about Vedas and not Upanishads?
In the Brahmanas focus is shifted from the Vedic gods to the sacrificial ritualism itself. In a sense to the priestly class who conducted the rituals became more important than the Vedic gods, who subsequently lost their power. However, in Upanishad’s focus is shifted from outer action to inner meditation (self as Atman) a as part a reformation and discontinuity of Vedic gods and ritualism of Brahmanas. In the Upanishads the Brahmanas, as well as the sacrificial ritualism, lose significance. It is because of the spirit of Upanishad Hindu religion became a quest and not conformity.
It is in Upanishads we see focus shifting to an individual in the society. This is one of the reasons as to why rise of a powerful all-powerful church to organize society based on dogma and creed was avoided. However, answer to this by ritualistic Mīmāmsaka priestly class was Purusha Suktam, Manusmriti and Puranas to organize and control society based on birth-based hierarchy, equivalence and tradition.
In 1947 after India's society was organized based on democracy which depended on citizens being able to engage with one another without being reduced to their group identities. Hindutva is nothing but Manuwadism which demand blind obedience combined with hatred for minorities.
From the cruel banality of public hate speeches to the grotesque horror of lynchings of minorties to the intricate sophistication of inextricable BJP-RSS, fringe and Akhara Sadhus, and everything in between,...BJP-RSS and benighted so called sadhus have got Evil in all its forms & manifestations covered, no loose ends...
This brilliant essay has energy & honesty that makes words practically shimmer, an intellectual feast. There is not a single para that does not disrupt well-seated intellectual beliefs. It is deep, effortlessly iconoclastic, factually rigorous, exhaustively documented, and ferociously compelling. Extremism is a beauty contest that the ugliest win. We should brace for more extremism in the future. There is no difference between the BJP-RSS and the so-called fringe, one and the same, violent extension of what the core believes.
Going off the topic, I have a request to you to kindly use your capabilities to puncture fake/jingoistic nationalism in India and Pakistan. One concrete step to reduce fake/jingoistic nationalism is to request the head of states (and other senior people) in India and Pakistan to stop the daily ceremony at Wagah border post. This ceremony with people cheering from the sidelines is the most grotesque example of fake/jingoistic nationalism. Like Air and Sea borders, the land borders need to modernize with time and stop this gate opening and closing. Other international borders in India don't do such a thing.
Please write a letter to the President of India, President of Pakistan, Head of Army and other people. If you can get other people to sign the letter it will be great.
This will truly reduce the fake/jingoistic nationalism based on hate/anger towards other.
'Will any political party, Congress or otherwise, stand against the creation of a Hindu Rashtra and successfully fight the 2024 national poll on that basis? Perish the thought.' Will SG, RG and PGV prove SR wrong?
I agree with you that India has crossed Rubicon and things are worsening each day. Believing as many do that Hinduism has intrinsic strength that would come into play and save the country getting into hands of extremists, is a pipe dream. Things are turning worse by the day and the so called intrinsic strength of Hinduism is nowhere in sight.
The idea of revitalizing Hinduism by looking to Vedic roots is by itself not a a bad idea. Because I believe India is a center right nation at heart owing to a certain religious affiliation. The challenge I think is that the RSS cannot tolerate dissent and that automatically means the voices they attract are already converts. But Hinduism is not a monolith and sooner or later the inherent fissures will surface and the RSS do not have the tools of tolerance to manage or address this. What will save Hinduism from the Hindutva brigade is the diversity Hinduism is comprised of. No force will make Hinduism a look alike religion similar to Islam or Christianity. Time is what is needed but the damage along the way can be real if alternate voices to the RSS do not speak up and organize to be an effective counter.
Excellent article.
Why does RSS keeps talking about Vedas and not Upanishads?
In the Brahmanas focus is shifted from the Vedic gods to the sacrificial ritualism itself. In a sense to the priestly class who conducted the rituals became more important than the Vedic gods, who subsequently lost their power. However, in Upanishad’s focus is shifted from outer action to inner meditation (self as Atman) a as part a reformation and discontinuity of Vedic gods and ritualism of Brahmanas. In the Upanishads the Brahmanas, as well as the sacrificial ritualism, lose significance. It is because of the spirit of Upanishad Hindu religion became a quest and not conformity.
It is in Upanishads we see focus shifting to an individual in the society. This is one of the reasons as to why rise of a powerful all-powerful church to organize society based on dogma and creed was avoided. However, answer to this by ritualistic Mīmāmsaka priestly class was Purusha Suktam, Manusmriti and Puranas to organize and control society based on birth-based hierarchy, equivalence and tradition.
In 1947 after India's society was organized based on democracy which depended on citizens being able to engage with one another without being reduced to their group identities. Hindutva is nothing but Manuwadism which demand blind obedience combined with hatred for minorities.
From the cruel banality of public hate speeches to the grotesque horror of lynchings of minorties to the intricate sophistication of inextricable BJP-RSS, fringe and Akhara Sadhus, and everything in between,...BJP-RSS and benighted so called sadhus have got Evil in all its forms & manifestations covered, no loose ends...
This brilliant essay has energy & honesty that makes words practically shimmer, an intellectual feast. There is not a single para that does not disrupt well-seated intellectual beliefs. It is deep, effortlessly iconoclastic, factually rigorous, exhaustively documented, and ferociously compelling. Extremism is a beauty contest that the ugliest win. We should brace for more extremism in the future. There is no difference between the BJP-RSS and the so-called fringe, one and the same, violent extension of what the core believes.
Brilliant!
Going off the topic, I have a request to you to kindly use your capabilities to puncture fake/jingoistic nationalism in India and Pakistan. One concrete step to reduce fake/jingoistic nationalism is to request the head of states (and other senior people) in India and Pakistan to stop the daily ceremony at Wagah border post. This ceremony with people cheering from the sidelines is the most grotesque example of fake/jingoistic nationalism. Like Air and Sea borders, the land borders need to modernize with time and stop this gate opening and closing. Other international borders in India don't do such a thing.
Please write a letter to the President of India, President of Pakistan, Head of Army and other people. If you can get other people to sign the letter it will be great.
This will truly reduce the fake/jingoistic nationalism based on hate/anger towards other.
'Will any political party, Congress or otherwise, stand against the creation of a Hindu Rashtra and successfully fight the 2024 national poll on that basis? Perish the thought.' Will SG, RG and PGV prove SR wrong?
We welcome Ms Sonali Ranade’s return to Twitter. It feels incomplete without her.
I agree with you that India has crossed Rubicon and things are worsening each day. Believing as many do that Hinduism has intrinsic strength that would come into play and save the country getting into hands of extremists, is a pipe dream. Things are turning worse by the day and the so called intrinsic strength of Hinduism is nowhere in sight.
Excellent, as always ! Relieved to see you back at writing ! Have a great new year.
Thanks for showing the mirror to their wickedness, sonali. Personally, I see little hope of redemption. We are on a suicide mission
RSS should ban like Al Qayda
The idea of revitalizing Hinduism by looking to Vedic roots is by itself not a a bad idea. Because I believe India is a center right nation at heart owing to a certain religious affiliation. The challenge I think is that the RSS cannot tolerate dissent and that automatically means the voices they attract are already converts. But Hinduism is not a monolith and sooner or later the inherent fissures will surface and the RSS do not have the tools of tolerance to manage or address this. What will save Hinduism from the Hindutva brigade is the diversity Hinduism is comprised of. No force will make Hinduism a look alike religion similar to Islam or Christianity. Time is what is needed but the damage along the way can be real if alternate voices to the RSS do not speak up and organize to be an effective counter.