Hindu Monotheism

[von bek]

Shankara wrote some extraordinary devotional poetry to various aspects, including Lalita Tripurasundari.f

I had no idea that Shankara wrote of Maa Tripura Sundari. Thanks for sharing that!

 

[Kirran]

I had no idea that Shankara wrote of Maa Tripura Sundari. Thanks for sharing that!

No worries!

He wrote devotional stuff for Shiva as well, I think maybe other aspects also.

 

[ajay0]

Arya Samaj is also a popular monotheistic Hindu sect in India and abroad. It's popularity lies due to its emphasis on equality and fraternity amongst all Hindus and people, and rejection of caste system, untouchabiity, widow burning and gender inequality.The Arya Samaj promotes the equality of all human beings and the empowerment of women.

The Arya samaj was instrumental in driving many reforms in Hindu society like the abolition of animal sacrifices,child marriages, polygamy and discrimination against women, and supported widow remarriage.

I have been to a Arya Samaj havan and meeting and was pleasantly surprised to see commoners and ladies chanting the Vedas without any issues, which I have never seen in any other Hindu institution.

The teachings of equality and fraternity taught in the Arya Samaj persuaded many converts to Islam and Christianity to revert back to Hinduism then and now.

Nearly a third of the rajputs is said to have converted to Islam under Aurangzeb, and some rajputs were similarly reconverted back to Hinduism through the Arya Samaj. Such reconversion attempts were not pursued in other Hindu institutions due to their nonchalant attitude and lethargy. This is one of the reasons why Sind, western punjab and Kashmir became muslim majority states.

The Arya Samaj have also checked to some extent the large scale conversions to Islam happening in India even now amongst the lower castes.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati was also influential in the Indian independence movement, especially the first war of Indian independence, and his writings and views influenced Indian revolutionaries like Subhash Chandra Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Ramchandar Bismil, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhagat Singh.


The former Indian president and scholar Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, on Shivratri day, 24 February 1964, wrote about Dayananda: Swami Dayananda ranked highest among the makers of modern India. He had worked tirelessly for the political, religious and cultural emancipation of the country. He was guided by reason, taking Hinduism back to the Vedic foundations. He had tried to reform society with a clean sweep, which was again needed today. Some of the reforms introduced in the Indian Constitution had been inspired by his teachings.

The richest man in India and entrepreneur par excellence, Dhirubhai Ambani was also an Arya Samaji.

I am not a believer in religious rituals. I was brought up in the Arya Samaj environment which taught us to shun rituals. Puja, of course, but simple, elegant and brief. - Dhirubhai Ambani


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayananda_Saraswati

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arya_Samaj

 

[duvduv]

'Satyartha Prakash' is one of the worst books that I have ever read.

duvduv, I have meticulously answered all your posts. If there be more questions, I am ready for them and waiting.

What's your problem with the book? I haven't read it all, but parts. It sounds interesting.

 

[duvduv]

Ajay0, what do you think of Dayanand Saraswati's understanding of the changes in what has become known as Buddhism? It sounds as if his understanding of the original teachings (Nikaya) that were simply regularly Vedic?

 

[Marcion]

Arya Samaj is also a popular monotheistic Hindu sect in India and abroad. It's popularity lies due to its emphasis on equality and fraternity amongst all Hindus and people, and rejection of caste system, untouchabiity, widow burning and gender inequality.The Arya Samaj promotes the equality of all human beings and the empowerment of women.

It would be interesting to see a systematic comparison between all the Hindu reform movements to see what these movements found essential for spiritual life and what they chose to discard as unimportant or unnecessary.

 

[duvduv]

It's kind of hard to understand. On the one hand we find Hindu apologists agreeing with the reforms proposed by Arya Samaj to do away with the primitive accretions such as discrimination against women and the caste system yet the apologists resist any reforms in relation to the multiple deity belief system by groups such as Arya Samaj which must channel alot of money from desperately needed social needs to rhe huge religious superstructure.

 

[Kirran]

It's kind of hard to understand. On the one hand we find Hindu apologists agreeing with the reforms proposed by Arya Samaj to do away with the primitive accretions such as discrimination against women and the system yet the apologists resist any reforms in relation to the multiple deity belief system by groups such as Arya Samaj which must channel alot of money from desperately needed social needs to rhe huge religious superstructure.

You're conflating entirely separate things.

Familiarise yourself with the Ramakrishna Mission! They perform plenty of "idol-worship" and also are one of the biggest social work providers in South Asia, with an international presence also.

 

[duvduv]

You're conflating entirely separate things.

Familiarise yourself with the Ramakrishna Mission! They perform plenty of "idol-worship" and also are one of the biggest social work providers in South Asia, with an international presence also.

I am familiar with them, and they existed in the days of Dayanand Saraswati when they were identified as "Neo-Vedanta." An extremely interesting subject all round. However, there is a chronic contradiction between maintaining adherence to multiple gods while at the same time approving of the strong opinions of Arya Samaj and others regarding other aspects of Hindu life.

 

[duvduv]

It would be interesting to see a systematic comparison between all the Hindu reform movements to see what these movements found essential for spiritual life and what they chose to discard as unimportant or unnecessary.

The chapter I saw in Dayanand Saraswati's book (I think 9) pulls no punches about other reform movements. He was very harsh about their attachment to western colonial ideas about India. He singled out the group Brahmo Samaj who were not nationalistic and were not supportive of Vedic teachings and education in favor of western culture.

 

[LuisDantas]

I am familiar with them, and they existed in the days of Dayanand Saraswati when they were identified as "Neo-Vedanta." An extremely interesting subject all round. However, there is a chronic contradiction between maintaining adherence to multiple gods while at the same time approving of the strong opinions of Arya Samaj and others regarding other aspects of Hindu life.

While I disagree, it is indeed an interesting question to try and answer. How do sympathisers of Arya Samaj's political goals deal with his theological expectations exactly?

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

While I disagree, it is indeed an interesting question to try and answer. How do sympathisers of Arya Samaj's political goals deal with his theological expectations exactly?

Namaste,

I for one consider myself a sympathiser of the Arya Samaj, the core idea of the Samaj is "Back to the Vedas", this is in no way against any Hindu aspirations, what the Veda says or means is a continual debate amongst the Hindus, and has been so for most our post Veda history. Dharmah, Karma, Samsara, Yoga, Rejecting Caste, Equal rights, Universal Brotherhood, critical thinking and questioning these are espoused by the Samaj and no Hindu (IMO) would disagree with all of this. We don't have to agree to everything a Rishi or MahaRisi says, that is why we have so many of them with so many differing and contradictory views.

I agree with a lot of the teachings of Maharishi Swami Dayananda Saraswati, but i also agree with a lot of what Sadguru JagiVasudev says, also agree with Sri Sri Ravishankar, and Rajiv Malhotra all these people disagree and agree with each other on separate issues and i also have my disagreements with all of them.

Being a person (speaking for myself here) that does not require "One" Thing, nor accepting only one world view or one idea as being valid or God given, it is fairly easy for me to accept and reject what fits my Dharmah.

Anything that vibrates with MY inner Self, I consider as MY natural tendency, anything that does not hit the right cord I don't consider as relevant to ME.

Dhanyavad

 

[Aupmanyav]

What's your problem with the book? I haven't read it all, but parts. It sounds interesting.

The way it blasts Abrahamic religions and falsely. Even as a Hindu I could not bear it. And his translation of RigVeda is bull.

On the one hand we find Hindu apologists agreeing with the reforms proposed by Arya Samaj to do away with the primitive accretions such as discrimination against women and the caste system yet the apologists resist any reforms in relation to the multiple deity belief system by groups such as Arya Samaj which must channel alot of money from desperately needed social needs to the huge religious superstructure.

Not at the cost of falsehood contained in his translations and teachings. And, reforms and what a person should believe or not believe about God/Gods/Goddesses are two completely different things. Hindu temples do not require a tithe. It is your choice if you will give or not.

However, there is a chronic contradiction between maintaining adherence to multiple gods while at the same time approving of the strong opinions of Arya Samaj and others regarding other aspects of Hindu life.

As Kirran said, I too do not see any contradiction. Reforms OK but who is Dayanand to dictate that I should worship one God or many or none at all? As I said, Hindus are not impressed by names. We are too individualistic.

And declaration of reforms and their acceptance in the society are two different things. Arya Samajis still marry in their own castes, widows over 35 generally do not marry because it tears them from their adopted family, and dowry is expected, given and accepted. Sikh, Muslims and Christians too claim that they do not have caste differences, but in India they will generally marry in their own caste. Caste is such a tenacious thing. Inter-caste marriages, widow remarriage is happening in India in 'Sanatan' Hindu society too, but that is because of spread of education and meeting of people in colleges and in job environments. It so happens that all four daughters-in-laws in my (extended) family are from castes other than our own. Two love marriages and two chosen by us.

 

[Aupmanyav]

While I disagree, it is indeed an interesting question to try and answer. How do sympathisers of Arya Samaj's political goals deal with his theological expectations exactly?

Arya Samaj is not into politics other than supporting the Hindu Party BJP. If they do not support BJP, it would not worry BJP too much. BJP has its own followers and admirers. Recently an Arya Samaj leader, Agnivesh, was roughed up by BJP supporters.

 

[Kirran]

I am familiar with them, and they existed in the days of Dayanand Saraswati when they were identified as "Neo-Vedanta." An extremely interesting subject all round. However, there is a chronic contradiction between maintaining adherence to multiple gods while at the same time approving of the strong opinions of Arya Samaj and others regarding other aspects of Hindu life.

I genuinely do not see why there would be a contradiction.

Also, it's a bit disrespectful that you still continue to plug this whole 'adherence to multiple gods' thing when several people have taken the time and consideration to explain to you that it's many forms of one divinity.

The Neo-Vedanta thing is just some label, everyone labelled as such is still a continuation of the ancient vedantic and yogic traditions of India. It is not a label with immense substance. What is important is that Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, of course their gurus Sri Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi and many others in that same spiritual family all knew God, the Absolute. All were genuine jnanis, or knowers. Any theorising and labelling falls away in the face of that.

 

[Marcion]

These are all the hindu reform organisations as given on Wikipedia:

Hindu reform movements - Wikipedia

All World Gayatri Pariwar
Ananda Marga
Arya Samaj
Ayyavazhi
BAPS
Brahma Kumaris
Brahmo Samaj
Chinmaya Mission
Divine Light Society
ISKCON
Parisada Hindu Dharma
Prarthana Samaj
Ramakrishna Mission
Sathya Sai Organization
School of Economic Science
Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Swadhyay Parivar (Swadhyay Movement)
Swaminarayan Sampraday
Tilak Mission
Transcendental Meditation movement
Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS)

Perhaps I will start a separate topic to briefly compare their characteristics and ideas.

 

[LuisDantas]

It looks like Hinduism knows how to accept the perception of the Sacred in varied forms and does not allow that to become much of a distraction.

Apparently that be go against the expectations of others who think of monotheism as a very meaningful and very consequential thing. Perhaps a bit fragile as well.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I genuinely do not see why there would be a contradiction.Also, it's a bit disrespectful that you still continue to plug this whole 'adherence to multiple gods' thing when several people have taken the time and consideration to explain to you that it's many forms of one divinity.

The Neo-Vedanta thing is just some label, everyone labelled as such is still a continuation of the ancient vedantic and yogic traditions of India. It is not a label with immense substance. What is important is that Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, of course their gurus Sri Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi and many others in that same spiritual family all knew God, the Absolute. All were genuine jnanis, or knowers. Any theorising and labelling falls away in the face of that.

Kirran, you too are insisting on one God/one divinity. That may be true for some Hindus, but it is not true for a large number of Hindus. This insistence also is disrespectful. No. Shiva and Vishnu or Mother Goddess are not the same, they are different divinities. Kartikeya/Murugan, Ganesha, Hanuman are not the same.

I do not know how much or what Sarada Devi knew or did not know. As for all gurus, past and present, they had different chosen Gods and different philosophies. Tulsi worshiped Rama, Haridas worshiped Krishna, the Nayanars worshiped Shiva and the Azhwars worshiped Vishnu. Ramanuja worshiped Vishnu, Madhva worshiped Krishna. Sankara mandated five or six divinities (I am not sure about it). Remove the variety and it is no longer Hinduism. We must cherish our diversity and not become Abrahamics. Do you also resent variety as duvduv here seems to do? For some one like me, there is no God, no Soul. So, how could the knowledgeables say that they knew God when there is none?

 

[Kirran]

Kirran, you too are insisting on one God. That may be true for some Hindus, but it is not true for a large number of Hindus. This insistence also is disrespectful. No. Shiva and Vishnu or Mother Goddess are not the same, they are different divinities. Kartikeya/Murugn, Ganesha, Hanuman are not the same.

I do not know how much or what Sarada Devi knew or did not know. As for all gurus, from past and present, they had different chosen Gods and different philosophies. Remove the variety and it is no longer Hinduism. Do you also resent variety as duvduv here seems to do? For some one like me, there is no God, no Soul. So, how could the knowledgeables say that they knew God?

What I disagree with is the insistence that by worshipping different forms one is denying the unity of the sacred in favour of superstition etc. The core figures of Hindu traditions, including in the modern era, centre themselves in oneness.

 

[Aupmanyav]

What I disagree with is the insistence that by worshiping different forms one is denying the unity of the sacred in favour of superstition etc. The core figures of Hindu traditions, including in the modern era, center themselves in oneness.

Who knows whether there is a unity or multiplicity? I may believe in 'unity', but that denies Gods. Others may say what they believe is 'unity' plus a God. All these are but our different views. Even belief in one God is a superstition. If you want to do away with superstition, then do not accept existence of God till you get a solid proof. Perhaps the core figures are yet to understand the truth, and might be unknowingly misleading us. Who made them core figures - the crowd that hangs around them?

Buddha said: Kalamas, do not go upon the consideration "The monk is our teacher (samaṇo no garū),
nor upon another's seeming ability (bhabba-rūpatāya*)"
* Bhabba-rūpatāya - Bhavya Rūpyatā (looking good/impressive, revered by so many, so what he/she says must be true).