Church Attacks, Conversions & Holy Fathers..

Faith Under Attack? Which Faith?

Times of India's detailed everday coverage of the recent Karnataka Church Attacks & the aftermath under the heading "Faith Under Attack" is intriguing. Maybe the intention behind the repeated use of the words "attack", "danger", "assault" and all that is to denote the damages to a few Churches by a few angry Hindu youth. Maybe these youth are from Bajrang Dal or some other organization or even a section of frustrated general public.

But I think, the phrase "Faith under attack" should ideally be used to denote the concerted Christian efforts involving ALL sects and Churches of India & their global masters at converting gullible and poor Hindus by overt and covert means. That is an attack, an aggresion, a war, an invasion of much higher and alarming proportions.

It is an open secret that these Church groups which are in focus now are part and parcel of aggressive global evangelist missions like the "Joshua Project". When some of them say "oh we dont do any conversion" in the Indian media, it is an utter lie and flies off their face - The details and facts speak for themselves. ALL global Christian evangelist websites openly declare India as their No.1 focus.

For example, "Joshua Project" even has a running counter of a large list of all Hindu castes in India that shows what % of each caste has become Christian, and that is proudly denoted as "progress". Analagous to "planting of bombs", they speak of doing "Church planting" in every nook and corner of India. The Times of India iteself carried a report "The Businees of Faith" (7 Sep 2008, By Amrita Singh, TNN) on this. The Churches "planted" this way - do they have any sanctitiy, sacredness or noble purpose associated with them? The correct description for them is aggression camps or fradulent shops.

Aggressors pretending as Victims

The so called "normal" Hindus who are "pained" by attacks on Churches by Hindu "mobs" who are converting Karnataka into a battleground better become aware of all this. It is the Christian missions who are converting parts of India into "battleground" in their impatient, Adharmic quest to convert the whole world into a "harvest ground" for Christianity. Great ancient nations and cultures like Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and even many parts of China are falling for them, unfortunately. Alas, these cultures, having lost their vigour and virility are falling a prey to the Christian evalengelization.

"Normal" Hindus, ask yourself - is that what you want to happen to Bharat Bhumi also? You better learn a bit about the track record of "peace loving" Christain missions all over the world - in Africa, In South America and parts of Asia. Has that been *any* different, other than the common results of destruction of native cultures, exploiting and impoverishment of native tribes, stifling of freedom and libetry, engineering of long lasting ethnic conflicts (like in Rwanda and in our own Orissa tribal belts) and capture of political power thru religion? We in India have seen the face of Christian terror for so long in the North East. For example, frustrated by not getting converts over decades, the Baptist Church of Tripura deliberately engineered ethnic conflicts in the 1980s that resulted in large scale conversions. The deep nexus between the Christian missions and North eastern terrorsit outfits (like NLFT and the Baptist Church of Tripura) is very well documented. (Book: PG Varghese, 'India 's North-East Resurgence: Ethnicity, Insurgency and Governance, Development ' 1996).

The initial physical attacks on Churches in Karantaka were violent. They are no doubt condemnable - whoever is the guilty should be arrested and punished in accrodance with the law. But viewing them with myopic "secular" eyes as just "yet another act by the fascist saffron Brigade" is either utter stupidity and igorance or deliberate act of omission. It is very surprising to see the so called "intellectuals" who are supposed to be well-read in the world history and current affairs view these just as "goonda acts" and NOT as a relatively mildly violent Hindu reaction given the curernt scale of Christian aggression on Hindu Dharma and society.

The attacks had one good result in that they intially sparked a much needed discussion and debate on the Christian evangelist missions in Karnataka - viz. their activities, motives, their sources of funds, their impact on the society and demography and their political agenda. But in the chorous of the shrieking noises by the Christian bodies posing as "victims" and the overt Christian-appeasing acts by the Central govt. and the state opposition parties, the real issue abt Christian evangelization and conversion is now deliberately being pushed to the back seat.

Going by the facts and details of the reports about the later "attacks", particularly the burglary/intrusion in two Bangalore Churches, a strong suspicion arises whether these are stage managed shows by the Christian bodies themselves to increase the pitch of their "victimhood" stories. Given the track record of Christian groups in India and the world over, they are very adept at this. We have not forgotton the over-hyped stories about "murders" of Christian priests in Gujrat and "rapes" of nuns in MP a few years back none of which were real incidents but concocted stories deliberately propagated by the Christian missions. This has to be borne in mind.

Acts of folly by the Holy Fathers

The Karnataka state government has handled the issue really well. The Managalore police maintained extreme restraint even at the grave provocation of attacks by Christian protesters from Churches and cemetries.

The public snubbing of Karnataka Chief Minister by the Bangalore Archbishop in the full glare of the media is a highly condemnable and an utterly cheap act. What authority does the Archbishop have that he dares to humiliate the Honourable Chief Minister, that too when the CM has come as a guest to Bishop's house? Is this the "Atithi Satkar" that his Christian Values have taught him?

The Archbishop is really out of his mind, "Attacks worse than terrorism" he thunders in Times of India (24 Sep 08, Bangalore edition). Pray God, can he or anyone explain what that means? These skirmish attacks in which none died or even injured, in his view, are *worse* than terrorism that killed close to thousand Indian citizens, including our brave soldiers and policemen - What kind of Indian is this guy? Does he have any sense of belonging to this country and its people? I can understand his affections for the religion and the "Blessed sacrement", but such a statement?

Probably The Archbishop takes all his orders from Vatican and values them even more than the interests of the nation he is born into and its constitution. In that sense, he is just a lowly stooge of Pope, a tinpot dictator sitting in his Christian banana republic and exhorting his followers all over the world... And he makes faces and gets agitated in front of a well-respected and beloved person of Karnataka, a person holding the democratically elected highest office of the State govt.! His master dares to summon the Indian envoy in Vatican and questions about some small incidents happening in some states of India ! What an arrogance - so befitting to the religion of aggression that these holy men seek to propagate!

Conversion - is that all that is to your religion, Bishop?

Another perl of wisdom from Rev. Bernard Moras - "conversion is a relationship between God and human being. if it is under duress, I will not call that person a Christian" (TOI, 24 Sep 08). Its really neat, I think... he said it so clearly in his own words - The relationship between God and man - the pivot of his religion is not Bhakti or Prem (love), not Jnana (spiritual quest), not Seva (service), not Sadhana (divine practices) or any such thing - it is *conversion*.. If the idea of "conversion" is removed from the Christianity that he practices and preaches, there will be nothing left ! Conversion is both the means and end to such evangelical Christianity which is what *most* of Indian Christians are into, unfortunately, with very few exceptions of truly spiritual and worship-oriented Christian sects.

And there are theological reasons to it. Sitaram Goel, famous Scholar and a great historian observes -

"The Vedic tradition advises people to be busy with themselves, that is, their own moral and spiritual improvement. Several disciplines have been evolved for this purpose tapas (austerity), yoga (meditation), jñAna (reflection), bhakti (devotion), etc. A seeker can take to (adhikAra) whichever discipline suits his adhAra (stage of moral-spiritual preparation). There is no uniform prescription for everybody, no coercion or allurement into a belief system, and no regimentation for aggression against others.

The Biblical tradition, on the other hand, teaches people to be busy with others. One is supposed to have become a superior human being as soon as one confesses the *only true faith*. Thenceforward one stands qualified to *save* others. The only training one needs thereafter is how to man a mission or military expedition, how to convert others by all available means including force and fraud, and how to kill or ruin or blacken those who refuse to come round."

(Preface of the book VINDICATED BY TIME - The Niyogi Committee Report
On Christian Missionary Activities, Voice of India Publications, New Delhi) .

The whole meaing of freedom to relgious conversion has to be understood in such a theological context. There is an ocean of difference between religions that just accept converts that come by naturally (Hinduism, Buddhism) and cults which have conversions as their main goal, aiming not for any liberation of individual but for dominance and power (Christianity, Islam).

The Indian Christian missions should realize that slogans like "Nagaland for Christ", "Karantaka for Christ" and the biggie one, "India for Christ" should all be rejected outright for the well being of Indian nation, with its grand and beautiful legacy of religious diversity from time immemorial. They should start respecting other religions and stop the conversion activities. Otherwise such "missionary position" that is not just dull, uninspiring and boring :)), will also continue to pose great danger to the the social harmony and freedom in India. And thats true for the world at large, too.

Power Gurus and Hindutva : "The Week" story

Here is my letter to The Week, regarding their recent cover story "The Power Gurus" .

Dear Editor,

Whatever maybe the motives behind this cover story, please accept my compliments for such a wide coverage. Your story will serve to highligh the need for Hindu Gurus to be concerned not just about the Hindu religion and spirituality, but also the challenges, pains and aspirations of the Hindu society. Needs that cover politics as well as social reforms. This time around, such "alerts" will not make the Gurus and their followers to move away from the social mobilization, as many in the "secular" side would wish, but will hopefully serve as further impetus to get deeper and broader into it.

The interview with Mata Amritanandamayi is a gem. Thank you for publishing the full text version as well. To a leading question on the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva, her answer ".. selflessly serving one's nation and its people is Hindutva" conveys a divine blessing and reassurance for countless Hindutva activists across the world, including those inside and outside the Sangh Parivar.

The perspective of Koenraad Elst that Hindutva does find very many vibrant experssions and is not just confined to the grand old, elephantine organisation called RSS is very refreshing. RSS leadership should take his harsh criticism in the right sprit, as a doctor's prescription, as Elst, the author of "Decolonizing the Hindu mind" deeply knows the symptoms of the diseases that ail the self alienated Hindu society.

Thanks,
Jataayu

Maharishi attains Maha samadhi - A Tribute & some thoughts

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has attained Maha samadhi at the age of 91. He was a great soul and one of the greatest Yogis of this era, who brought Yoga, meditation and Hindu spirituality on the world stage. Particularly to the west, particularly at a time when the west was heading towards moral and spiritual degeneration. He was truly a pioneer to the many globe trotting Hindu spritual Masters and Gurus of today.

Born "Mahesh Prasad Varma" in the ywar 1911 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, he became a close disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the then Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, Badrinath, a Guru well respected all over North India at that time. Upon his Guru's passing away, Mahesh became his spirtual heir and started teaching what is now known as "Transcendental Meditation" (TM). Millions of aspritants and Sadhaks all over the world have benefitted from this practice.

Credited as the author of more than 16 books, including commentaries of the Bhagavad Gita and some portions of the Vedas, Maharishi expanded his work to include many aspects of Vedic teachings. He also established universities, townships and many organizations towards this end.

In an act that is truly a hallmark of great Yogis, On January 11, 2008, he announced his retirement from his normal activities: "Invincibility is irreversibly established in the world. My work is done. My designated duty to Guru Dev is fulfilled." He resolved to use all his remaining time to complete his commentary on the Veda. He passed away less than a month later.

Humble Pranams to the glorious memory of Maharishi.

Something that is very saddening is NOT Maharishi's passing away, he lived a very fulfilling life of 91 years, but the way the media (both the Indian and western) portrayal at this time - Ignoring all the great contributions, but harping on silly controversies that surrounded him.

The New York Times : Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Spiritual Leader, Dies
The Times of India: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, guru to the Beatles, dies
In line with TOI, *all* Indian newspapers have "Beatles Guru" in their headlines.

The only fitting tributes, are an aricle by Dr. Deepak Chopra and the IndiaTimes Pay your tributes page.

An insightful comment from a good friend of mine -

"... While the results of his techniques could be a subjective experience, as most such spiritual exercises always are, he was the first who showed the world glimpses of what Yoga could achieve if one had a serious bent towards it for which he had given a simple technique to start with. It would be entirely naïve to believe that one would become a Rishi by chanting a mantra for twenty minutes twice a day, but that seemed to have been the expectation of those who were disappointed by trying his techniques. I have personally seen and experienced the sharpening of certain human faculties as one learned some of what he called as advanced techniques. He proved with clinical results as well so many beneficiary factors of his techniques.

Yes, he seemed to have gone overboard on quite a fewoccasions, but then he had so much of positive contribution to the world of Indian Spirituality which make one feel sad that he would be remembered today as the Guru of Beatles, who hardly even acquired any level of mental maturity after being personally acquainted with him, other than create some of their best songs in that period ofassociation.

What makes me feel sadder is not the negligence of the Western Media or how they caricatured him. It is the negligence of our own people of whose spiritual legacy he was an exponent of. What a tragedy!"

Hailing Indira killers as martyrs - Please, someone condemn SGPC

News item "Indira killers are martyrs, says SGPC" in TOI today. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Indira_killers_are_martyrs_says_SGPC/articleshow/2679313.cms
A highly condemnable, criminal and anti-national act by SGPC.

But it is evident that media is totally playing down on this news without giving adequate coverage. It appeared as a small news item in page 6 or 7 of Times of India today. BJP and the Hindutva groups are observing deathly silence. Congress is so numb to even dare a rebuttal - it probably does not want to antogonise Sikhs at this point, with Paaji Manmohan Singh at the helm.

Media deliberately and consciously avoids showing Sikh religious leadership in bad light even when it is involved in such an act.

Remember how media kept harping on the passing comment of another Vedanti, Mr. Ram Vilas Vedanti of Varanasi a few months ago? The one abt cutting Karunanidhi's toungue, as a punishment against TN CM's insult on Sri Rama. This was a simple intimidation by some lower rank individual in the VHP and the media trumpeted it as an example of "Hindu intolerance" for a long time, in spite of Vedanti retreating from it!

This act of SGPC, the highest body of Sikhs legmitises and sanctifies the killers of a former PM thru a religious ceremony, aimed at sowing the seeds of terrorism and separatism.

Super-appeasement of the Sikh fundamentalism by the media and all political parties, including the "anti-appeasement" BJP! This is a very, very dangerous precedent.

Please, someone condemn SGPC.

What Actually Happened in Orissa?

Here is an account of the Orissa incidents that I received from Sri. Ashok Sahu, IPS (Retd), Former Inspector General of Police. He is a valiant officer who fought insurgets in north east while at service and is an expert on Naxal groups, North east insurgency and Church-terrorist nexus.

Facts on 'Clashes among Christian Missionaries and the Tribals in Kandhamal District of Orissa'.

Reports of communal violence involving the converted Christians led by the Missionaries on one hand and the Tribals on the other, in Kandhamal District of Orissa by the media since 25 th December 2007 are vastly distorted and motivated which in public interest need beclarified much before the national image is tarnished before thegeneral public and the international community. The whole series of incidents started from unprovoked and preplanned attack on Vedanta Keshari Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati who was visiting his disciples in Darsingbadi village in Kandhmal District on 24 th December.

Swamiji, 82 years old has been working relentlessly in the District since 1967 to protect the local population where more than 75% are below thepoverty line and are not literate. He has opened schools and hostels, hospitals and temples to protect mainly the tribals and the down-trodden from the clutches of Missionaries who are operating with massive fund from foreign countries and pumped into NGOs in disguisedoperations to convert the local tribals into Christianity.

Chief of such NGOs is one 'WORLD VISION' patronized by one Mr. RadhakantaNayak, a local of Darsingbadi village from 'Pana' community but later got converted to Christianity. He happens to be an employee of the State Government promoted to the IAS and retired, and now a Member in the Rajya Sabha. His henchmen were the assailants who attacked Swamiji on 24 th December.

Meanwhile, the Kui tribals among the Kandhs in the District were agitating on the conspiracy by Mr. Nayak who is engineering forgetting a Presidential notification under the provisions of the Constitution, to get his 'Pana' community, who are scheduled castes relisted as scheduled tribe along with the Kui on the ground that the former also speak the Kui dialect. Various reservation facilities to which scheduled tribes are entitled are not available to persons converted to Christianity.

On hearing the assault news on Swamiji, the already agitated Kui community reacted and protested through out the district against the 'Pana' community converted to Christianity. Interestingly, the Maoist (Naxalites) activists in the district arealso mostly from among the recent converts to Christianity. Among 47 Maoists arrested in connection with recent burning of villages inhabited by Hindus ( Brahmanigaon, Jhinjiriguda, Katingia, and Godapur) as a counter to attacks by tribals on the Churches, 20 guns have been recovered by the security forces from them.

It is evidentthat the Maoists and the Church are hands in glove with each other to spread fratricidal killings and clashes among the tribals which is evident also from incidents in Karbi-Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts in Asaam. Conversions of poor tribal villagers are being conducted on gun point and by spreading terrorism.

While in active government service Mr. Radhakanta Nayak IAS (Retd.) and Mr. John Nayak IPS (Retd.) both converted Christians were instruments of the Church to proselytize the poor and illiterate'Pana' and tribal communities in Kandhamal district of Orissa. Under guise of NGOs thousands of dollars are pumped into the country for conversion of tribals in Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and the North-East.



Taking advantage of the poverty and lack of education, thousands have been converted who are also being trained for separatist movements like NSCN in Nagaland and Maoist insurgency in the aforesaid states. This trend is more pronounced since 1970 which is evident from the census reports till 2001. In Kandhamal District alone the Christian population hasincreased from 6% in 1970 to 27% in 2001, despite an Act enacted by Orissa Legislature in 1967 to prevent conversion by allurement,coercion, bribery and cheating.

Swamiji has been fighting a lone battle by making the tribal district his home for last 40 years, who has been targeted by the Church to finish him off. Earlier to the recent attack, there were two other lethal attacks on Swamiji in 1971 and 1995. Since then the government has provided armed protection to Swamiji. Inspite of that, he was attacked by armed assailants on 24 December 2007 in which he and his driver and armed security personnel were seriously injured and hospitalized in Cuttack Medical College Hospital.

Hence, the recent clashes manifest the various ramificationsof the socio-economic, political and cultural tribal issues and the deep-rooted conspiracy by the Church to destabilize our society and our economy . Let the Nation awake and protect our tribal brethren and the national media stop distorting the facts.

Ashok Sahu, IPS (Retd.),
Former Ispector General of Police.

Orissa Burning - NDTV Coverage of recent Orissa happenings

Taslima, Gujrat, freedom, secularists… and shame

When the Islamist cowards were buring Kolkata from the bylanes last week, crying for the expulsion of Taslima Nasreen, with the hapless Leflist government unable to control them, I had suggested that Gujrat, the Indian state that stands for growth, freedom and liberty should voluntarily welcome her and offer her residence and protection. I had requested some of my friends in the BJP to take this suggestion to Narendra Modi, Gujrat CM.

With the news of central government lodging the Bengali writer in “undisclosed locations” and the shocking rumors of the government asking her to leave the country trickling in, Narendra Modi has welcomed her to Gujrat in a public meeting yesterday, in his first election meeting. I am only too happy to know this.

Kudos to him. Modi, you have made India proud. You have made us feel that we are indeed the land of the free and home of the brave.

"If the Centre lacks the courage to give security to her, then I have the courage. Send Taslima to Gujarat. The youngsters of Gujarat are keen to provide security to her."

"Bangladeshis are staying in lanes and bylanes of this country but no one is ready to evacuate them. Taslima, who is a writer exercising freedom of expression, is being harassed by fundamentalists."

.. She is a woman who is fighting for the truth. By giving her protection, the government should have set an example of the glorious tradition of India."

Well said, Narendra bhai. Taslima, the writer not only stands for staunch feminism, free thinking and her bold statements against Islamic fundamentalists in literary prose, but also for daring to expose the untold atrocities against Hindu minorities by the Muslim fundamentalists of Bangladesh, the fundamentalists in the government, politics and society. In that sense, she is also a brave champion of Hindu human rights.

The Leftists and the pseudo secularists of this nation stand exposed in their ugly nakedness, when they surrender the spirit of freedom and liberty to the bullying of law breaking Muslim mobs and rowdyism. What a shame! The shame is manifold than Taslima’s anguish in ‘Lajja’ when Niranjan’s family helplessly moves out of Bangladesh into India.

A hundred years ago, Sri Aurobindo wrote,

"The idea that by encouraging Mohmmedan rowdyism, the present agitation may be put down, is preposterous; and those who cherish this notion forget that the bully is neither the strongest nor the bravest of men; and that because the self-restraint of the Hindu, miscalled cowardice, has been a prominent feature of his national character, he is absolutely incapable of striking straight and striking hard when any sacred situation demands this."

(Aurobindo, september 4 1906, Bande Mataram)

Has anything changed? Same rowdyism. Same reaction from the spineless secularists.

What really has Taslima done to derive such anger from Muslims? She has not written anything offensive or insulting against that holy camel of Islamists, their Prophet or their holy Q Book. She has even spoken against stereotyping of Islamic scriptures as anti-women, calling for reinterpretation of Quran verses.

It was her courage to expose the institutionalized Islamic cruelty against Hindus in Bangladesh that earned her fatwas that demanded her head. This very expose was labeled as “anti-Islamic stand”. And the likes of her heart-rendering account of chilling acts of Islamic cruelty in “The Bangla Crescent” (A docu film by Mayank Jain) - “12 year old Gauri was raped in front of her mother, and then the mother was raped in front of Gauri, again and again..”

So, what are *Indian Muslims* protesting against her for?? That, she exposed the true face of an Islamic society and government in dealing with the minorities, in *Bangladesh*? And what are the political parties in India supporting these zealots' demands for?

Sitaram Yechury has accused BJP of “double standards” in the cases of Taslima and MF Husain. The nasuating debates about “freedom of expression” applied to both cases makes one puke. This, after Taslima herself quoting Husain’s safety and well being as a counter example against what is happening in her case!

Husain depicted the images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses in nude and sexually perverted ways that will quality as offensive in the eyes of any neutral observer. He justified this in the name of Artistic freedom (which, I think is subtly different from “freedom of speech” that relates to facts and realities of life, not just art)… and here too he was not honest, as he depicted Islamic women in a fully clothed and “dignified” manner. When questioned about this, he chose to mock at the criticism and refused to accept his hurting of Hindu sentiments.

But for one small scale attack on one of Husain’s studios, all that the Hindu activists (and numerous simple Hindu individuals, not connected to any groups) have done is to file cases against him in various courts in India. And the courts have admitted all these cases, as they are credible under various sections of Indian laws. In what better dignified manner can civilized people register their protest in a democratic nation?

But the “brave” Husain, anticipating long drawn legal battles where his “artistic freedom” will be scrutinized, does not want to return to India from UK. He makes long faces in public and laments about the “treatment” meted out to an Artist of his caliber in his homeland. And our secularist friends want Hindus to *withdraw* all the cases *voluntarily* so that the offending artist is spared from the legal proceedings, unconditionally. The never-hesitating-to-bow-to-Muslim-mobs secularist friends!

What an unbiased, neutral and impeccably honest secularist yardstick !

Now pray, tell me, who has “double standards” here? The Hindu activists or the secular brigade? Who should hang their heads in shame?

Burk-E-Albani : Islamic Kamadhenu?

I stumbled upon this interesting piece of art while searching for original oleographs published by Raja Ravi Varma Press -



Is this the representation of the horse Harak, climbing which prophet mohammed is supposed to have visited different worlds? Or some other motif mentioned in Islamic books?

I am amazed at the ease with this artist from Southern India (not Ravi Varma, some other artist) has blended motifs and icons from different cultures and religions.

Rama Sethu : Sacred geography and sacrilegious central govt.

“No evidence to prove existence of Ram, Centre to SC”, today’s newspaper headlines blared.

In the midst of the ongoing agitations calling for preservation for Ram Sethu and the central and TN state governments bent upon going ahead with dredging in the Ram Sethu as part of Sethu Samudram Canal Project, Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has come out with such a pearl of wisdom. It has also asserted that Ram sethu is not man made and can not be considered a national monument.

The multi-crore rupee Sethusamudram project that proposes to provide a shorter sea route from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka has been in controversy for quite some time. There were deep concerns regarding livelihood of a large number of fishermen communities, damage to marine ecology and aquatic life and also strategic interests as the sands of the coast are rich in Thorium deposits. Canada based Tsunami expert Tad S Murthy had also elaborated the possibility of presence of Ram Sethu having saved much of the Indian east and west coast from large scale ravage by Tsunami. Plus, there is opposition on the count of Ram Sethu being one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots and object of devotion to Hindus. As of now, all the other groups have almost become silent thanks to the powerful lobby of shipping companies and the influential project contractors with strong political connections who want to dub anyone opposing this project on any count as retrograde and anti-progressive! It is to be borne in mind that the Hindu groups are not against the project per se, but are only asking for considering alternate routes without damaging the sacred Sethu, at an incremental cost overhead.

At this juncture, such statements from the ASI and the central government have been made in ignorance and bad taste and above all, are unnecessary in the context of ongoing issue.

It is not of any significance to go into the question of whether Rama Sethu is man made, monkey made or nature made. Because Rama sethu is a part of “sacred geography” that defines most of the Hindu holy places and is an inseparable part of Indian culture. The very word “Tirtha” that denotes Hindu holy sites means water streams and rivers. All the Hindu holy places are invariably in riverbanks, mountains, seashores, forests and even in caves, like the famous Ma Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu. These places became Tirtha’s because of their holy association with the nature and were also made sacred by the footsteps of countless Rishis, Yogis and sages thru ages. The pilgrimages of Arjuna and Balarama narrated elaborately in the Mahabharata, do not mention temples, but only Tirthas. Magnificent temples were built later in these Tirtha’s to further add a touch of divinity to them. The sacred seven hills of Thirupathi, the confluence of three rivers in Prayag and three oceans at Kanyakumari are all inherently holy and not because of any “man made” structures. The natural flames that come out of earth at Jwalamukhi in Himachal Pradesh themselves are worshipped as the manifestation of Jwala Ma. What “man made” structure exists in the holiest mount Kailas, the abode of Shiva other than the cosmic glory of nature in all its grandeur?

Ram Sethu is also such a holy spot. The unbroken chain of beautiful formations is clearly visible in satellite photographs. Let them be anything - underwater coral reef or the deposits of sand and rocks that have accumulated there over long time, they are all part of this sacred geography. Many travelers have reported seeing the remnants of the rocks believed to be have been used in the construction of the Sethu still lying around on the shores Rameswaram, which really float on water, when thrown into the sea!

Go to any district of any states of India, you always find so many places that will have a holy association with Rama and Sita or say, Bhima, Arjuna or Draupadi. The big banyan tree (Akshaya Vata) at Gaya is supposed to have been a witness to Sita’s words. So is the polished stone at Panchvati, (Nasik) where Sita used to make turmeric paste. Hampi in Karnataka boasts of a cave where Rama and Lakshmana stayed at the outskirts of Kishkindha. All along the eastern coast of Tamilnadu, starting from Karaikal near Pondicherry and all the way up to Rameshwaram, you will find numerous big and small temples that adore the footsteps of Rama (“Ramar paada kovil”) who walked on the sands of this coast!

What does this tell us? The epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata have permeated so inseparably into the language, customs, arts, sculpture and the very soil of Bharat and the very cultural consciousness that unites India. Isn’t the natural rainbow called “Ram Dhanush” (Rama’s bow) in Bengali and “Indra Dhanush” (Indra’s bow) in a host of Indian languages? The legend and heritage of Rama Sethu built by the Vanara Sena of Shri Ram is of such nature. From an Indian cultural viewpoint, it is sheer ignorance, nay even sacrilegious to think of Sethu as a mere material or physical structure and to go looking for its historical roots.





The references to Sethu are found in the Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharata and many other Puranas which revere it as a sacred spot. The Classical Sangam literature of Tamil (1st century CE) adores the Sethu and so do much of the later literary works. These firmly establish the fact that the “Sethu” is a sacred national monument. In fact, ASI’s close cousin, Survey of India has the words “aasetu himaachalam” (From Sethu to Himachal) in its official logo and seal!

Doesn’t this make a strong case to call for its protection and preservation? Sure it does. The questions about “man made” and “archeological” are not just unnecessary but may set a dangerous precedent for vested interests to exploit and destroy Hindu holy places.

Let us hypothetically assume that some commercial interests want to exploit the seven hills of Thirupathi (say, quarrying, destroying its forest habitat or do anything they like on the hills). Since this act does not touch the “man made” ancient monument of Sri Venkateswara temple, should this be allowed? If this comes up in court, will we have another similar performance from ASI, saying “No evidence for the presence of Balaji and Padmavathi on these hills, so it can be allowed”? Will the same logic be applied for Shabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa or Vindhyachal in MP, the seat of Devi Vindhyavasini?

I think that Rama sethu issue should be looked from this viewpoint. Some Hindu activists starting their propaganda with historical evidences and NASA photographs is partly due to their own shallow understanding of these concepts and partly due to the inferiority complex that looks for western approvals of their own beliefs and traditions. Their overzealous attempts to only harp on “man made bridge” argument is proving to be not only counterproductive but also sets dubious and self-failing criteria for understanding and interpreting the extremely profound ideas of Hindu heritage and holy places. Their goal and mission is undoubtedly noble, but it needs a course correction to put the issue in the right perspective to counter the tirades of anti-Hindu secular media.

In essence, every Hindu should oppose the dredging of the Rama Sethu, because it is destroying a very important portion of our sacred geography itself, to which we have deep spiritual and emotional attachment. Besides, who knows what secrets these formations may reveal in future, to oceanographers, geologists, anthropologists and other researches? Should we simply destroy some object of reverence of centuries, out of short term commercial interests, because we don’t understand about it fully? Then we are denying the opportunity even to the future generations to explore it. Isn’t this destroying the future, akin to Taliban destroying the past by bulldozing the Bamiyan Buddha statues, because their hate-filled pea-brains could not comprehend them?

Aside, a comment about ASI and central govt misleading the nation about our epics.

The kingdoms, the heroes, the tribes and clans, wars, weapons, way of life, code of ethics – such mind boggling treasure of information about ancient India are present in the epics, which themselves have evolved over time, as living texts. The epics have much of human events and situations intermingled with supernatural elements. How can such a vast body of literature be totally based on imagination (like a mammoth science fiction written by an alien creature ?), without any influences from the society in which the authors were living – that is a common sense question, baffling the minds of researchers as well as commoners.

The truth is that eminent historians, academics and indologists who researched on the subject of historical connections of the epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata do NOT have any conclusive stand on the subject. There are way too many jigsaw puzzles to explore and solve. New discoveries facilitated by advanced technology and scientific knowledge, like the tracing of mythical river Sarsvati and the submerged city of Dwaraka only make this endeavor more interesting and exciting.

How arrogant are ASI and the central govt to brush aside all these realities and make such sweeping declarations regarding Ramayana, our national heritage! The affidavit filed by ASI speculates that the ram sethu was not built by any men or even monkeys as some artifacts like bones should have been found at the sethu if it is manmade. Are they serious? Have they gone utterly insane?

Or are they dancing to the tune of Italian-born Madame Maino who does not have any respect for the culture and traditions of this land? How dare is the central govt. to heap ridicule on Shri Rama and the Sethu like this? Does the congress party and its chamchas think Hindu traditions are laughing stock for them? Hindus, it is time we show them the door.

ரக்க்ஷாபந்தன் வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

அனைவருக்கும் ரக்க்ஷாபந்தன் வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

A very happy Rakshabandhan to all.

Though its not in Tamil tradition, we have been celebrating this festival for years now in the family and also in the neighbourhood.

Its such a wonderful celebration of love and brotherhood, that brings all sections of the society together. This is one festival that reminds us the timesless Hindu message of universal brotherhood and "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (one world family) that echoed itself in the expression of "Sisters and brothers of America..." of Vivekananda in 1893.

Its an ancient festival that is mentioned in the Epics and Puranas. Indrani tied the 'rakhsa' around Indra's wrist to give him strength in his fight against Asuras. Noble king Mahabali is supposed to have observed the Vrata of Rakhsabandhan. In the Mahabharata, Sri Krishna advises Yudhishtira to observe this vow of Raksha that unites and protects all citizens of his kingdom.

There is a medieval legend in which a Rajput princess of a small principality sends a Rakhi to Mughal emperor Humayun with a plea to save her kingdom from the invading Gujart Sultan. This moves the heart of Humayun (who himself was an oppressive ruler) and he rushes to save his Rakhi sister, abandoning his war in Bengal.. But before he could reach, the Rajput principality falls and all that Humayun gets to see was the ashes of the princess, who had immolated herself in an act of "Jauhar" to save her honour.

मा भ्राता भ्रातरं द्विक्षन्
मा स्वसारमुत स्वसा
सम्यंच सव्रता भूत्वा
वाचं वदत‌ भद्रया

May brothers and sisters not hate one another
May you all take the blessed vow (vrata) of unity and speak words of togetherness and benediction
- Atharva Veda, 3.30.3

See this inspiring news -

J&K: Schoolgirls tie rakhis to jawans
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070024144