Recently while browsing through the random clicks of my travelogues, I stumbled upon this intricate Jain temple door. In spite of the blazing sun in the opposite direction, I had dared to click this as it had mysterious, intricate and the glimpse of the rich culture of belief. My mother dotingly visited the main temple cursing me for not being religious and respectful enough, while I stayed away curiously clicking pictures of everything around God but GOD.
Today, after getting this picture ready with necessary edits with the presumption that I will be showered with red hearts on posting this, I couldn’t come to terms to post it with any suitable caption as the idea of the temple ( any kinds ) seemed upsetting.
While the actual happening on this earth is getting heart wrecking and soul-crushing then god’s version of hell. My faith tells me your Karma follows you not only in this lifetime but till eternity, hence the guiding path of my actions are for the betterment of my own life. I am no advocate or torchbearer of activism or fake solidarity, just humble attempt to decipher the happenings around me with my own version.
What intrigued me post this incident is an amusing placard march that who’s who of our great nation did, and that brings to me my first question who is Hindustan? ( reference : https://www.instagram.com/p/BhjfHRLB4Qu/?taken-by=reallyswara shared just one but there seems to be whole campaign where I AM Hindustan, I am ashamed ….. )
Etymology
Hindustan is derived from the Persian word Hindū cognate with the Sanskrit Sindhu. The Proto-Iranian sound change *s > h occurred between 850–600 BCE, according to Asko Parpola. Hence, the Rigvedic sapta sindhava (the land of seven rivers) became hapta Hindu in the Avesta. It was said to be the “fifteenth domain” created by Ahura Mazda, apparently a land of ‘abnormal heat’. In 515 BCE, Darius I annexed the Indus valley including Sindhu, the present day Sindh, which was called Hindu in Persian. During the time of Xerxes, the term “Hindu” was also applied to the lands to the east of Indus. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan)
Why didn’t the card say I am India and I am ashamed. Or I am Human and I am ashamed?
The very reference to Hindustan in this protest makes the protest absolute and tendentious. Picking an incident as a reason to create outrage against “A FAITH” is nothing but another form of ammunition for extremist thinking. They might be leftist and you might be right-winged but while being on the stand we forget you both are extremes.
in context of byline abuse of Hinduism, let’s get down to the second question what and who is Hindu?
Let’s first do the quick crash course of Hinduism and what is Hindu faith.
Excerpts from @hindolsengupta’s Being Hindu.
In Hinduism, there is no truth to be found outside oneself, ‘all this universe is Brahman. The self of all bring is Brahman’ says Mandukya Upanishad. ‘he who sees the self in all brings and all brings in the self, henceforth, had no more remorse, says the Isha Upanishad. The truth is hidden behind Maya, ‘the cosmic ignorance thrown up by the material world”.
the recognition that the world and its contents are an illusion, that material objects inevitably decay, that skills and talents fade, that no relationship lasts forever, is the first step towards moksha and enlightenment….
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Adi Shankaracharya is famously singing about in his most glorious hymn ‘chidananda roopah shivoham shivoham’
translates as, ‘ i am no the mind, nor intellect, nor ego , nor the reflections of inner self ( Citta), I am not the five senses, I am beyond that, I am not the ether, nor the earth, nor the fire, nor the wind ( the five elements ). I am indeed, that external knowing and bliss, the auspicious ( sivam ), love and pure consciousness.
Or, as Vivekananda said,’ Never forget the glory of human nature! we are the greatest god…..
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Who is one true God as per Hindu?Hindu fundamentally believe that there is no one true God. There is, therefore, no false God. ..
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One of the Hinduism’s greatest achievement is this recognition that our way is not the only way….
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I won’t cite the whole book here but summarising the point following a ritualistic fast, offering prayers at Ganga ghat, or cleaning a deity with milk, calling the gods for blessing are merely a ritualistic way through which a Hindu expresses or choose to practice the religion whose objective is to find oneness within. Over the generations merely the process has stayed mainstream making the new followers forget the essence of Hindu cornerstones and the belief system itself.
An irony here is this has further digressed to an extent that bigots are serving own agenda by malign the world’s oldest faith by linking the hideous act with Hindu mythological characters. Again, for records mythology not belief or religious FAITH. Painting a mythical God, or deity of any religious faith for abuse isn’t a form or art or protest. (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/complaint-against-hyderabad-journalist-for-insulting-fb-cartoon-on-ram-devotees/story-dnUNpiHXUosg7hQJgSarvN.html )
Coming to the real issue,
We are nothing but the nation full of selective outrage who chooses to raise voice on the subject that suits #hashtags, #trending topics, and political agenda. Because, if your heart shivers at rape story of 8 years old, It should shiver at every rape irrespective of caste, region, or age. It should be outraged in every corner of the city, everyone needs to be vigil for their home, society, area, workplace, city. Every rape case in your country needs to be punished to an extreme that next time the mind shivers before the “inhuman desire” comes over on weak physical being irrespective of caste or motive. But rather actions we fall prey in hands of few social media strategist, political advisors, upcoming elections and fascist media. because honestly if you are outranged then you should be equally outranged at every RAPE that has happened in INDIA ( not HINDUSTAN ).
Rape is the fourth most common crime against women in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2013 annual report, 24,923 rape cases were reported across India in 2012. Out of these, 24,470 were committed by someone known to the victim (98% of the cases). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_India)
A rape in any part of my county is rape if you are bothered about a subject talk about RAPE not the case, state, communal angle because by doing so you further invite extremes of other sides with ammunition of cascading outrage. because this ( https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/20-year-old-labourer-killed-girl-to-take-revenge-on-her-father/story-Jw0L5QF2hWIHRMopAsVdOK.html ) didn’t get campaings , support of placards and candle march across the nation.
Choose well ! before showing your solidarity first understand the responsibility it entails.