Changes in the Mediterranean World

One God

Amidst the confusion of belief in various gods the world over, a great reformer arose from a tribal religion of Iran. He was a priest in that religion. Being eventually disillusioned, he aspired for better knowledge. He received a vision that there was only one God. He began teaching that there was only one god and this highest God alone was worthy of worship. This reformer was none other than Zoroaster or Zarathustra. His concept of monotheism went against the polytheism of Iranian religion, but influenced monotheistic religious - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Judaism

Fundamental to Judaism is the belief that the people of Israel are God's chosen people who must serve as a light for other nations. The worship of "Yahweh" (God) was centered in Jerusalem. The first temple at Jerusalem was attacked by Babylonians. Jews were exiled to Egypt. Moses was born in Egypt. Yahweh Revealed himself and commanded him to become a prophet. Moses pleaded pharaoh for the release of Israelis. Moses led his people through 40 years of wandering in wilderness to reach the promised land. But he died before he could reach the promised land.

Christianity

According to Mathew and Luke, Roman emperor had ordered people of Palestine to return to the place of their family origin to be enrolled for census. Joseph and Mary had to reach Bethlehem, their family origin. Their journey from Nazareth was full of hardships. Mary was an innocent expectant mother. On reaching Bethlehem they found no place in the inn. Mary gave birth to a male child in a stable. 

Three wise men from a far off place came to see the child. They said "The King of Jews" is born here (That was Jesus). 

Herod, the cruel emperor of Rome, became furious at the prophecy that the new born child would be the king of Jews. Joseph and Mary had to protect their child from the fury of Herod. They took the child to a safer place. Nothing is known about the child-hood of Jesus, the son of Mary.

It is said the wise men who acted on an omen to find the newborn "King of Jews" were the followers of Zarathustra, who believed in one god. By this time however Zarathushtra's followers had become dualistic, believing in gods of good and evil and incorporated the practice of astrology into their religion.

It was subsequent to the death of David. Joseph and Mary with Jesus, who was now twelve years old, traveled from Nazareth to join the feast of passover at the temple of Jerusalem. High priests and scholars at the temple then were astonished at the boy's questions and his answer to their questions.

Jesus, when thirty years old, began his teachings that has brought him many followers. His teachings were very simple - "Repent and live in the kingdom of God; Love and service to a sufferer enabled man to enter the kingdom of God".

At Nazareth where he was brought up, people could not understand from whom and where the boy of their village could learn all the big things he spoke. They bitterly opposed him. Jesus left the place and said, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own Country, amongst his own kin and in his own house."

 He triumphantly entered Jerusalem. Crowds joyfully welcomed him. Jesus was seen on the back of a donkey. According to Mathew, it was just dramatizing the prophecy of a messiah's arrival - "Lo, your king comes to you triumphant and Victorious is he, humble and riding an ass."

On entering the temple, Jesus saw a large number of merchants and money changers actively doing business with the throngs of those who had come to celebrate passover. Jesus drove them all out saying, "My house shall be called a house of prayer. But you have made it a den of robbers." 

The high priests could not control their anger against Jesus. But they had to wait for a better chance to get rid of him. After the last supper the Apostates followed Jesus to a garden. Suddenly the small garden was filled with light and noise. A crowd of armed men with temple guards and men bearing torches entered the garden. Jesus was arrested and brought to the high priests. The high priests' only concern was whether Jesus claimed to be the son of God. Jesus replied, "If I tell you will not believe." 

Then Jesus was taken to the Roman prefect Pontiac-Pilate. This prefect nursed a deep contempt for both the Jews and the high priests who brought Jesus to him. It has ignored all the complaints brought against Jesus by the high priests and just asked Jesus, "Are you king of Jews?" 

Jesus answered, "you have said so," without responding to any other Question.

Meanwhile, Roman governor of Syria ordered Pilate back to Rome, to stand trials for crimes in office. Pilate brought Jesus to Herod Antipas, who got Jesus clothed in royal robe and encouraged his soldiers to mock the prisoner and passed the burden of decision back to Pilate. Though Pilate tried to save Jesus, he could not go against the Roman law and the opinion of the crowd.

Jesus was crucified.

Followers of Jesus not withstanding, began to spread his message to other Jews. News Came to Jerusalem from Syria that numerous Gentiles had been converted there. It was in Syria that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Framework of the growing missionary assumed shape over here. In spite of repressions and bloody persecutions, the churches grew in the Mediterranean World. The Roman emperor Constantin the Great was the first to become a christian emperor.

The Greek religion, which has extended its influence throughout the Mediterranean World, faded away making way for the spread of Christianity. Highly organized missionary enabled the spread of Christianity in Europe and other lands.

Decaying divide of the caste system

One day a lively old gentleman with his bright old wife came to our street. He was searching for a person who lived in a house just in front of ours. The old man appeared to be disappointed to find that his friend had vacated the house and moved to his own new flat. I was impressed by the old man's manner and language.

I requested him to come in and take rest for a while in my house. I was shocked when he politely refused to enter my house because he was born as an untouchable. I reminded him of the struggle of young people of his cult for attaining social equality and told him that he was not contributing to their noble cause.

The old man laughed loudly and said, 'Where is the need for such demonstrations? The world has become smaller for human beings. Humans from various parts of the world interact with one another without caring for the race, faith and caste. Untouchability in India is a fast dying curse. It is dying a natural death. The shouts and demonstrations of the people who say that they are struggling for equality are just reminding of the social discrimination. There are some people in families who believe that to allow a person of a low birth to enter their house is against their old custom. I do not want to hurt the feeling of such people, who cling to such old belief. That is why I hesitate to enter your house'.

Now I felt it easy to make this man and his wife step into my house. I told him that Gandhiji's teachings and guidance made the Indian masses work together, to attain independence and live together, forgetting their state of birth. On hearing the name of Gandhiji they entered my house with a broad smile on their faces.

After coffee the old man began to tell that many young educated people of his caste mixed with their friends of upper caste. He told how they played and worked together and so on. There was a great deal of talk on Art and its influence on society. After the old couple left, my thoughts ran back to the village where I lived eighty years ago.

I was just seven years old. My father was a Shanubhog of five villages (Shanubhog was an official who maintained all the records of lands around few villages, collected land taxes, to be paid to the Tahasildar during 'Jamabandi', i.e., Tahasildar's meeting with all the Shanubhogs and land owners). One day I was walking barefoot by the side of my father across a ploughed field. It was a hot day. An untouchable who was coming towards us has stopped at a distance and with folded hands told my father, 'Sir, I shall manufacture a pair of Girki Chadaav (special footware used by such people) for our young master'.

We had almost forgotten his offer. On a fine day he came with the Girki Chadaav, that when I wore, perfectly fitted my feet. My father could not hide his jubilation. He queried with exclamation, 'How could you make this fit my boy's feet without taking the measurement?'

The humble artisan could only smile. He told me in a hushed voice that he took measurement of my footprint on the field! My father asked him to climb the elevated veranda and sit in front of him. My mother gave him something to eat.

The priest of the local temple happened to pass through that street. He saw the untouchable sitting in front of my father on the elevated veranda. Within few seconds all the brahmin leaders of the village assembled in front of our house. The priest shouted at my father and asked him to move into the house.

Everybody entered the house and my father followed them. One of the brahmins asked my father, 'How could you allow an untouchable to sit on the elevated veranda in front of you? You are a Sanskrit scholar. We are horrified at your act of shattering the dignity of brahmin community'.

My father had a broad smile on his face when he began to say 'I stepped short of what our Acharya (spiritual guide) did'.

The priest was very angry. He cried, 'How dare you throw the sin of your action at our noble Acharya?'

My father maintained his cool and said, 'Ramanujacharya was pleased with the services of untouchables when he was proceeding from Melukote towards Delhi to get back the idol of Sri Thirunarayana Swamy. He threw his arm around shoulders of the leader of the untouchables and said in Tamil - Neengal periya kulatthar that means all of you belong to a noble family'.

The temple priest quietly left the place. Other brahmins expressed their regret and followed him.

Ramanuja, Basavanna and many spiritual leaders have guided people to live in harmony. But somehow the feeling of untouchability haunted our society for a long time.

Our village was an exception to the bitter divide of caste system. Though people of various castes had their own way of life, mutual economic dependence and love of art made the whole village work together. The festival of 'Honneru' (golden plough), the festival of crackers and few other gatherings have left their magnificent impression on my memory.

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Opinion

[16/08, 08:18] C T Joshi: What Varaaha Murthy has said about social discrimination and untouchability is true. It is still prevalent but it needs to be made clear that it is not so prevalent as in the past.

Making too much of something  not much relevant will not serve any purpose. It also needs to be noted that ALL Brahmins and other upper caste people DO NOT practice untouchability and other forms of social discrimination. Not a small is the number of progressive people of these castes. In fact they have been in the vanguard of movement to eradicate untouchability and bring about social harmony and social equality. 

One way of bringing about  social harmony is by promoting widow marriages and  inter-caste, inter-community marriages. I will just give two incidents from my own family.

My parents from old orthodox generation did actually perform a widow marriage when it was still a taboo. Nowadays it's no more a taboo. In another incident, my cousin had married inter-community. She was hesitant to come to our house. When I learnt about it, I myself called her up and invited her. Regularly she visits us and we visit her family people, who are extremely nice. They have given her full freedom to practise all Hindu religious rites in their house. Kudos to such progressive people of all castes and communities.

Let us hope whatever social discrimination that still prevails also goes away.

[16/08, 14:53] B S Ranganath: You're right. Casteism is vanishing for the community's benefit, and common these days are intercaste and intercountry marriages.

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FANATICISM, EXPLOITATION, TERRORISM AND SOCIETY

Today the trade, commerce and industry have brought nations closer to one another. But human society is being haunted by fanaticism, superstition and exploitation. I was once confronted by some religious fanatics.

A small organization invited me to hoist national flag on an independence day. After hoisting the flag, all of us sang our national anthem. I commanded for a salute with a slogan "Jai Hind" (This slogan reminds us of the war launched by Subhash Chandra Bose against the British rulers). Somebody in the group shouted "Vande Matharam".

I smiled at him and said, "We regularly sang 'Vande Matharam' after flag hoisting during our struggle for independence". But the young man argued with me claiming that our national anthem "Janagana Mana" should be replaced by "Vande Mataram", as Hindus are a majority in our country. This prompted me to say a few words about Hindu ways during my speech in a hall after flag hoisting. I said, "Hindus believe that the Great Veda Vyasa Maharshi who wrote Maha Bharatha, is yet alive. He will be present in every meeting where a person addresses a huge gathering. He expects the speaker to impress the audience that they are living in a happy world where people are mutual admirers and interdependent. The speaker has no right to provoke mutual suspicion, fear, hatred, violence or intolerance".

I concluded my speech with Gandhiji's invocation "Sab ko sanmati de bhagawan", which means "O God, grant good thoughts to everybody".

All in a sudden there was a rush of young men and women entering the hall through all doors. They began distributing a small piece of red thread and offered to tie it around my left wrist. When I said that I could help myself, one of them turned towards the audience and began to address them in a loud voice. He began saying, "Hindus will have no place in India. Muslims are going to capture lands belonging to holy places like Amarnath. Hindus must unite and fight Muslims".

I did not want him to continue his speech of hatred. I got up and asked him to sit down. He stopped speaking, but did not sit down. I reminded the audience what I had told in my speech that Vyasa maharshi does not like people who instigate fear, hatred or violence. I also told them that when I lost my father when I was just nine years old and my mother left the village and came to a town with six children, it was a Muslim who helped in all our needs, so that my mother could send us to schools.

The organizer proposed vote of thanks and I was almost hustled out of the hall though it looked like their reminding of my programme elsewhere while leading me to the vehicle waiting outside.

Demolition of Babri Masjid is an example of exploiting the simple faith in a common man for achieving political command. Common man was made to believe that "Lord Rama was born in the place where Babri Masjid stands. Muslims constructed a Mosque there, against the wishes of Hindus. This wrong deed done long back needs to be corrected. It is the duty of every Hindu to volunteer for Kar-Seva (service by hands)". The Masjid was demolished.

As a proud Hindu, I feel deeply hurt when I see some people disturbing peace in society in the name of protecting Hinduism. These people do not bother to look into the real strength of this ancient religion, 'Hinduism'. This is a religion that expects every individual to feel VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM (The whole world is my family), SARVA DEVA NAMASKARAM KESHAVAM PRATHI GACCHATI (Worship of all Gods reaches the Supreme Power whom we call 'Keshava) and SARVE JANAH SUKHINO BHAVANTHU (Let all people be happy).

International terrorism had its evil influence on some Hindu Enthusiasts also. A suicide bomber from Srilanka killed herself while assassinating a popular and most beloved Indian leader Rajiv Gandhi. Peace loving Indian society was thrown into inconsolable grief over this unforeseen dreadful horror. Apart from this, terrorist acts in the name of religion killing innocent people added fuel to the fire of disturbed Hindus.

Maoists and Naxalites are other groups taking pride in cowardly acts of causing death of innocent people and loss of public property. Government of India has not yet used its muscle power to put down Naxalites and other such organizations. It wants the leaders of such organizations to come forward and explain their aims so that the Government can help them in serving those people for whose sake they are wasting their energy on criminal acts.

Religions and socio-economic theories suffer many changes at the hands of clerics and other self styled guardians of the pride of a religion or a theory. Al-queda, which is against the spread of influence of western ways over Islam, has resorted to terrorism as a means of warning people.Taliban is strictly against freedom for women. Their anti-women laws are not just limited to enforce Muslim women to wear 'Burkha' (a dress which covers womans's body from head to toe). It also restricts them from going out for work.

There was a heartening report that a Muslim lady asked Muslim women the world over to "kill silence for liberty". She was celebrating 'International Women's day'.

Both Al-queda and Taliban made border region of Pakistan their safe haven, after being hunted out of Afghanistan.

Pakistan which took birth as an Islamic country and which nursed its own terrorist activities, is now facing countless terrorist activities by Taliban. The latest attack killed hundreds of Ahmedias, whom Taliban brands as 'incomplete Muslims'.

The world now has a two-fold immediate responsibility. One is to unite and fight terrorism of any kind, anywhere in the world. Second is to organize a world wide net-work to educate people to rise above all sorts of divisive forces and work for the welfare of society, while improving personal living condition.

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Dwelling with Soligas

Lifting up the poverty stricken Soligas (a tribal community), and merging them with the better economy of the mainstream. This was a mission often pursued by Varaaha. He had many stints dwelling with them to educate them according to the demand of that time. Go through his own narration (with even the relevant graphic created by him), on how he resolved a problem affecting two families, during one of his stays at B R Hills, the origin of Soligas in Karnataka – India.

I remember with deep reverence the popular Kannanda writer and affectionate friend Siddavanahalli Krishna Sharma. He encouraged my adventurous desire to live in a forest and work for the aboriginal tribes. Gandhi Smarak Nidhi asked me to go to BR Hills (mount of the deity Biligiri Ranga) and work for the Soligas. KV Balakrishna had done an excellent ground work to establish an institution for the welfare of Soligas. My wife insisted upon staying with me in the forest. We had to take our two little children also with us. Balakrishna had got a large hut built for us. It was a nice place for us to live in.

Balakrishna had to go back to his native place. So he felt the need to introduce me to the facts around us before he could hand me over complete charge of the mission. His first choice was to show me the relationship between animals and man in a forest. He took me out into the forest around a small lake. On our way I could hear the noice of barking turigs. I stopped. Balakrishna also stopped. We saw a huge tusker elephant rushing towards us and Balakrishna asked me not to move. Elephant which was rushing towards us with wide spread ears, also stopped. It turned back and moved towards its herd, where we could witness a few female elephants with calves. Another encounter with elephants was when we were walking towards a town. Some Soligas joined us on the way. A group of elephants came very close to us. The Soligas shouted in a shrill voice. We also joined them. The whole group of elephants turned back and ran away. The Soligas also walked away in the opposite direction and vanished behind the trees. They were searching for beehives to extract honey. We were lucky to walk with them when danger was close at the sight.

Balakrishna left me with full responsibility to work for Soligas and returned home. My first activity as a humble worker was a very complicated one. I came to know from a forest guard that a woman had contagious fever and was made to stay far away from her hut. When I went there to see her, I was not allowed to go near her. She was lying under a tree. A plate full of food was kept close to her head. I went to the oldest man in the group of huts and spoke to him. He was happy when I told him that they were right in segregating the patient. But it was difficult for him to accept my suggestion that a doctor may be brought here to check the spread of the disease and also help the patient to recover. At last he spoke to men and women around, and agreed to my suggestion.

I was lucky to find a young doctor who looked at it as a pleasure to work in a forest. He and his two assistants walked eleven miles from the town to reach our hut. Next morning they began inoculating Soligas. Soligas who dislike people of plains were charmed by the doctor and his assistants. All the Soligas in various group of huts were inoculated. The patient also showed symptoms of recovery. An unexpectedly huge number of Soliga boys and girls joined our residential school (we had to permit the children to go home in the evening and return next morning to the school, before breakfast).

One day a few elderly Soligas, cudgels in their hands, entered our premises. They were angry. They wanted to discuss a very important matter with me. I sat with them. One of them said, We should kill that boy. After a prolonged inquiry I came to know that a girl belonging to their group eloped with a young man of another group. The other man said something blurry, from which I 've been able grasp just two sentences: The water filled pot is yet lying on the path. The boy and the girl were seen digging for roots near the hillock. 

It was not easy for me to understand the full story. The story is that when a boy and a girl love each other and know that their parents are against their marriage, they fix a date and time to run away together into the forest. When the people of the girl’s family find the water filled pot lying on the path and the girl missing, they are sure that the girl has eloped. The search for her begins. Soligas are experts in following traces of human movement left in forest, when they move. Somebody finds the couple in a far off jungle. Then begins the firing of insults by the girl’s party at the people of the boy’s household.

I was unable to think of any action in the matter. I only said, "Anger ruins the future of your beloved girl". There was an immediate change in their moods. They began a hushed conversation among themselves. The elderly person among them told me, We will ask the father of the boy to build a hut for the young couple. All of them expressed their gratitude to me and left. I stood wondering what I did for them to change their attitude.

A few days passed. I came to know that the father of the boy was reluctant to take full responsibility of building a hut and both the parents of the boy and the girl should together do the work. This was agreed upon as the prestige of both families was retained. The young couple were invited to live in the new hut built near the hut of the boy’s father.

On one of the research oriented occasions, Balakrishna was warned by soligas against living in a house. It was stated, a ghost lived on a tree near that house used to pester a girl of their community. According to their version, a water filled pot on her head got knocked off due to intimidating efforts of that ghost. Balakrishna immediately noticed a string to be used for drying clothes, tied between the tree (believed as haunted) and a window grill of that house. He convinced the superstitious Soligas that the girl with the pot on her head has invariably walked under the string. The pot fell down when it was hit by the string. The girl agreed that she walked under the string. The ghost left them once for all.

There is a Srivaishnava temple at the top of BR Hills. The story is that the deity married a Soliga girl and decided to stay on the hill. This story did not make much of an impact in Soligas’ life. They continued to follow their own customs while participating in temple activities. They worship Jadaya Swami (a form of Shiva).They celebrate Fire walking. They are very careful about the people from plains, and they have contacts with agents who buy forest products like honey, oil seeds etc., from them. Self-prestige is very important for Soligas. 

Jealousy, hatred, cunning nature etc has no place in the minds of Soligas. Though they live in various groups, they belong to a greater harmonious society.

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Opinion

[09/08, 17:22] C T Joshi: Again Varaaha Murthy's piece is lucid and extremely readable. More so since people do not know much about Soligas, one of the major tribes. This piece is a sort of introduction to them and their interesting life style. The piece makes known about their traditions , their superstitions and general way of life. 

But it is scrappy, I feel. One doesn't get to know much about them. It is more a personal account. While personal account is good and engaging, it should have been integrated with the larger account of Soliga living.

As I understand, several persons have lived with Soligas, tried to reform them, and bring them into the mainstream. Among them is well-known Dr.H R Sudarshan, who has worked much among them and received Alternative Nobel prize, which is as valued as the Nobel prize.

Incidentally who is Balakrishna? readers would like to know.

[09/08, 19:11] B S Ranganath: Having compiled the essay Dwelling with Soligas at his fag end of life and expired much before we carried it here, there's know way to have his personal answer to the question "Who is Balakrisnna?"

What we guess from the blog post anyway is that he too represented Gandhi Smarak Nidhi like Varaaha.

Basaveshwara, the great proponent

Learned scholars often grow arrogant and quarrel with one another in the name of God. Bhakthi margis (those in spiritual path), who experienced the presence of God around them had shown that scholarship was not the only way to please God. This had led common man who has no idea of deep devotion to go in for superstitious practices. From time to time, the need arises for social reform, that could help man live in a harmonious society.

Let’s understand the master Basavanna’s philosophy, most needed at that time and even now:

Veera Shaivism became acceptable to masses of Karnataka – India, through a rebel leader, who has born at Bagevadi in Bijapur district (Karnataka), to a Shaiva Brahmin couple (Madiraja and Madamba) in 12th century.

The boy was named Basava and was brought up in the Vedic tradition of Brahmins. The boy could not reconcile himself to many customs of Vedic tradition like sacrificing animals in Yagnyas. He could not tolerate the injustice being heaped upon the lower caste of people by the upper class. The ignorance and superstition of the down trodden had created many bad spirits which were to be pacified by ridiculous practices. Women in general were always treated as inferior to men. Brahmanas were highly educated. They wielded enormous power both in political field and in the social set up. Young Basava had a natural urge towards equality of the human race. Basava was quick to assimilate whatever he was taught. Parents celebrated his Upanayanam, a ceremony which promotes a boy to learn advanced brahminical knowledge, wearing Yagnopaveetha (a holy thread). Basava did not enjoy the ceremony which pushes him to cultivate a feeling of superiority over other castes. His unusual powers of comprehension helped him to learn fast and have good education. His view about the social condition around has invited bitterness between him and his parents, and also elders of the society, of the that day.

His parents passed away leaving him an orphan. The sorrow of parents' death brought him even the freedom, to come out of the clutches of brahminical orthodoxy. He tore off the Yagnopaveetha (sacred thread), and went to Kappadi Sangama, a holy place at the confluence of the rivers Malaprabha and Krishna. A holy man named Shivaguru gave him shelter. Basava devoted himself in the worship of the Shivalinga there. He lived there for many years. Once Shiva appeared in his dream and commanded him to go to Mangaliveda and meet the King Bijjala. It was not easy for Basava to decide to leave Shivalinga and move far away from it. But it was Shiva himself who appeared in his dream and commanded him to go.

Bijjala of Kalachuri race was a governor of Chalukyas. He had gradually grown in power and had usurped the Chalukya kingdom during the period 1157-62 AD. Bijjala was impressed by the appearance of Basava and appointed him as an employee in the treasury under Siddha Dandadhipa. After the demise of Dandadhipa, Basava, now called Basaveswara, took over as the chief of treasury. He married Gangadevi and Neelalochana, daughters of two high ranking officers.

Wealth, power and even happily married life could not hold Basaveswara from worship of Shiva and serve Shiva Bhaktas. He served Jangamas and Shiva Sharanas (Jangamas are those who carry the message of Shiva Bhakthi to masses, and Shiva Sharanas are those who devote their whole life on worship of Shiva). Basaveswara’s generosity and hospitality attracted many people around him. All and sundry came to his house in the guise of Shiva Bhaktas. Basaveswara exercised a lot of patience in serving even them as real Shiva Bhaktas.

After some time, Basaveswara shifted to Kalyan, the capital of Bijjala. There he founded an institution called Shivanubhava mantapa (a house where people experience the grace of Lord Shiva). This Mantapa brought about great social revolution. Caste was not a barrier for becoming member of this mantapa. Women enjoyed equal status, while honest physical labour was an integral part of religious or spiritual life. Shivanubhava mantapa was the birth place of Veera Shaivism of today.

Vachanas or poetic prose of Basaveswara and his followers guided people to lead a life which pleased Shiva. His philosophy of life was taught through Kannada Vachanas which could be easily followed by common man.

For Example let us see his most popular Vachana, which conveys great philosophy in simplest language:

Steal not, kill not,

Never utter untruth.

Boast not, malign not.

Never feel disgust at others

This is how you clean

Your inner self and

This is your external cleanliness

This is the way to

Gain the favour of God

For those who aspire for divine abode, he said ‘Kaayakave Kailasa’ which means honest physical labour is itself the abode of God (Kailash).

Shivanubhava Mantapa, organized by Basaveswara and presided over by Allama Prabhu, became a nucleus round in which people of all ranks and professions gathered. Women also took part in the discussions that ranged from great spiritual truths to social problems. The popularity of Shivanubhava Mantapa and the great social revolution brought about by it could not be tolerated by people, who were inimical to Basaveswara. They plotted to ruin the relationship of Bijjala with Basaveswara, whose honest work and efficiency were well established. They complained to the king that Basaveswara misused the state funds for entertaining his personal guests. Though Bijjala did not heed to the complaints in the beginning, rumours floated by harmful people were so bad as to gradually sour his relationship with Basaveswara.

The social revolution initiated by the movement had developed into gigantic waves resulting in the marriage of a Brahmin girl to a harijan (untouchable) boy, since both families had embraced the Veerasaiva cult. The commotion and social unrest was so bitter, as to force Bijjala to pluck out the eyes of the fathers of the boy and the girl. The followers of Basaveswara could not digest the cruel act of Bijjala. As a reaction they attacked Bijjala and assassinated him. In the melee that resulted, Basaveswara escaped to Kappadi Sangama, but the cruelty of Bijjala and that of his followers bitterly haunted his thoughts. He voluntarily drowned himself at the confluence of the rivers there.

Basaveswara, as a young man had a natural urge towards social equality. He came out of the clutches of caste superiority and went to Kappadi Sangama. His devotion to Koodala Sangama Deva made him rise to saintly heights. He used every thing he had, wealth, power, good name in the service of his Lord and his devotees. But the caste system of the day caused his decision to end his life. His Vachanas in common languages of the masses, dealing with deepest philosophical thoughts and also simple ethics of day to day life, are yet a class of Kannada literature which elevates man to live an ideal life.

Basaveswara's teachings were carried on by more than 300 saints like Allama Prabhu, Channa Basavanna and Akka Maha Devi. Veerashaivas or Lingayats believe Shiva as the supreme God. Linga is the sole emblem of Shiva. Panchakshari Manthra ‘Namasshivaya’ is the spiritual formula.

The social revolution part of the movement has gradually fizzled out, due to rigidity of caste system that has still a way over Hindu society. But its religio-philosophical system has enriched Hinduism.

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Opinion

[31/07, 15:08] C T Joshi: Basavanna (also known as Basaveshvara) was from 12th century, but even after nine decades  he is relevant. Showing a  great revolutionary.   

A rare person, he was four-dimensional -- a true religionist, spiritual leader, social reformer and a literary man of the masses. In fact he lived beyond his times and would have naturally fitted into the 20th or 21st century.

 As usual, Varaaha Murthy has done well to write about such an outstanding person. As usual it is simple, lucid and easily readable.

But let me express my own views, verified thoroughly, about some points referred to by Varaaha Murthy.

There was no doubt large social discrimination and persecution in India of by-gone days. But it is wrong to link them to Vedas. These latter never prescribed or supported them. They were themselves simple, natural outpourings of man unsophisticated as his present-day successor is. There are many prejudices and wrong notions about Vedas and Vedic religion.

Similarly it is wrong to propagate that Brahmanism is responsible for all that is bad in Hindu society. There were other higher castes too. A large section of Brahmins certainly practised social discrimination but not ALL Brahmins. This section has had it's just desserts.

Basavanna was a superb literary man who founded an important branch of  literature in Kannada, his mother tongue. The significance of Vachana literature is that it goes straight into common man's heart, not stopping at his brain and that it is about a universal, eternal and fulfilling way of life. It would have been better if Varaaha Murthy had dwelt at a greater length on it. He would have then done full justice to this universal man of all times.

 Also if Varaaha Murthy had written a whole, separate essay on Basavanna's entire movement itself, it would have been a significant addition to his outstanding literary output.

Understand the Generation Gap

Since days unknown, a powerful invisible force is bringing about change in human behaviors and their ways of life. It is TIME that is marching ahead with powerful steps silently unhindered. History can just take us back to the time when tribes living in a small area crossed their limited borders and confronted other people belonging to different faiths and languages. They fought to establish their supremacy over the other tribe. Kingdoms were founded. War weapons were improved.

Humans fought in the name of religion. There were crusades and Jihads. Religious institutions dictated terms to kings or rulers. The power of religion over society was once so great as to burn a girl (Joan of Arc) alive, because she pleaded that saints spoke to her.

Time went on making changes in human behavior. Man was busy in finding new methods of enforcing his superiority over people of newly captured lands. Helpless humans were sold as slaves.

Great men taught masses that all humans were born to enjoy self respect. Slaves were liberated. There were world wars; highly powerful war weapons of mass destruction were developed. Man learnt to fly and drop bombs to destroy a whole city. Wars went on till the worst kind of weapon of mass destruction, Atom Bomb was dropped on Japan.

Time allows man to think and act in his own way. Man felt it futile to spend resources, time and energy in waging wars. Nations united to work for liberty, equality and dignity of human beings. Major wars ended. Enlightened leaders had thought of communism, socialism and democracy as political means to bring peace and joy to mankind. Industry, commerce and trade created wealth and prosperity to nations.

Today, amidst the reports of suicide bombers killing many innocent people, newly married young couple are being killed in the name of Honor Killing, because their marriage was against the traditional customs. Moral police is harassing young people who have assembled to celebrate a happy occasion. I received two marriage invitation cards which roused my attention towards the great changes, that time has brought about.

One of the invitation cards was exactly in the traditional form followed by orthodox Brahmans. But the contents were far from orthodox ways. The tradition dictates orthodox Brahmans to select a suitable boy from a dignified family of another orthodox Brahman of the same sub sect, and hand over their girl in marriage with the selected boy. But the invitation was for the marriage of a Brahman girl with a non Brahman boy, which is a daring deviation from orthodox customs. The most touching part in the invitation was that the parents of both boy and girl had requested us to be present without fail.

My wife and I made it a point to attend the marriage. The huge crowd in the marriage hall consisted of people belonging to all castes of Hindus and many from other communities. The rituals of the marriage began exactly according to the custom of Brahmans. The custom of non Brahmans followed this. May be, this prolonged rituals caused a lot of physical strain to the bride and the groom. They looked a bit tired. The dinner was the most enjoyable one. People of different castes sat together exchanging joyful conversation. We were wondering whether there was any barrier of caste or religion in our country.

The other invitation card was a blatant disregard to our tradition. It was in the form of a photograph of the boy and the girl seen close to each other, at the top of which names of parents and a few words of invitation were printed. We could not attend this marriage. But people who attended the marriage reported that there was no warmth of people participation and the lunch was also peculiar. A menu card was issued to each person and one had to select an item which may please him. This marriage was between a boy and a girl belonging to the same caste. The marriage was totally a show of economic status of the families of the bride and groom.

When time could bring about a great change in human relationship so that an inter-caste marriage in India could be celebrated in a grand manner, there are yet people who cannot come out of the clutches of old customs and tradition. If such marriage was to happen in an area where people feel themselves protectors of tradition, the newly married couple would be killed in the name of Honor Killing, and the supporters would be banished.

France has banned Burqa. This brings back to our memory that an Islamic organization in India has banned Jeans, and use of cell phones for girls. We also remember that some film artists and politicians have silently rejected Burqa. A women’s organization could force the in-laws of two women to take back the daughters-in-law, who were decreed by Mullahs with Talaq.

There is a shocking news from Aliah University, West Bengal, which follows the guidelines of U.G.C which does not mention any dress code. Here a woman has a right to choose a face veil. But Sirin Middya, a lady guest lecturer was thrown out for refusing to wear Burqa, inside the class room. Abdus Sattar, Minister for Higher Education and Minority, instructed the university to reinstate her. The force of students’ council was so strong, that the university could not abide by the instructions of the department or the minister. Female students began to wear Burqa. Students’ council wants the university to strictly enforce the Islamic dress code for women. This is another instance where a rigid custom is being thrust upon unwilling people.

These are the days when women cannot live confined to religious restrictions. Men and women have to work together in this enlightened society.

Violent enforcement of rigid customs of the past is now being silently and forcefully rejected by the society. The economic trend of the world has changed the structure of families. Today young men and women go out to work for nearly fourteen hours a day. They cannot spare time for the needs of elders and children at home. They can make arrangements for child care and other needs of children. Of course the elders at home are there, ready to take responsibilities. But these elders also need better attention at home. They feel that they are not properly cared. In some countries, there are reports that robots take care of the elderly people at home. Such arrangements lack the warmth of relationship which the elders need most.

There are other points which haunt the old people. Retired people remember their bright old days when their wishes were implicitly materialized in society and also within their family. Retirement has taken away all thier power and authority. The discipline which once ruled the family is today outdated. Children who came up under their strict guidance and care, find no time to speak to them. Old people feel that they cannot understand our views about society and family. Younger people also cannot really guess why their beloved parents are not able to understand them. They work hard and earn enough money to equip their houses with all kinds of modern equipment. But these things cannot bring their old parents closer to their hearts.

The wide gulf of understanding between the old generation and the new one is termed as Generation Gap. Time has its own way of bridging this gap. Old age homes cannot infuse the warmth of a family life, where grand-parents and grand children together bring about a heavenly joy, and the young people feel themselves free to spend holidays as joyfully as they can. Accepting the changes in social order leads to understanding one another. We are marching towards a world order, with happy families contributing for the human race to enjoy tranquility.

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Opinion

[28/07, 08:13] C T Joshi: This essay is one more illustration to Varaaha Murthy's deep insight and understanding of the society and human relationships. That is if  illustration is indeed needed, because these qualities have been coming out practically in each one of  his writings.

 

As usual it is not just theorizing he does. His contentions are backed by concrete examples and experiences of life.

 

Again as usual language is simple and goes right in to reader's heart.

But unlike most of his writings this one is a bit rambling. It is a bit out of focus. The beginning itself confuses the reader as to where he is being lead.

Still it is a piece, which is enjoyable, realistic and extremely relevant these days of torn society and torn human relationships.

Madhwacharya, the giant in Yogic Powers

Trayacharyas (the trinity of philosophers) influenced Indian thoughts after the ages of the Vedas and Puranas.

Madhwacharya is the last among those three spiritual masters, as he succeeded Sri Shankaracharya and Shri Ramanujacharya.

The manner in which Varaaha Murthy viewed the Trayacharyas is unique. Below, I reproduce the script mirroring his interpretation of Madhwacharya, the propounder of Dwaita Siddhanta (philosophy). Even the graphic supporting the script is an artwork by Varaha.

Madhvacharya was born to Madhyageha Bhatta in the village Paajaka near Mangalore. Parents named him Vasudeva and later he was named Poorna Prajnya and Anandateertha by his masters. As a young child, Vasudeva exhibited many miraculous powers. As a boy, he spent several days alone in Narayana temple, in the forest surrounding Kadavasal village, Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu, India.

After Upanayana he had to study under the care of a priest. Vasudeva spent most of his time in running, wrestling and swimming, rather than attending classes. When teachers objected, he proved before them that he knew all that was taught in the school and also pointed out where the teacher had to improve himself knowledge-wise.

At the age of sixteen, Vasudeva took Sanyasa Deeksha (monastic vows) from Achyutapreksha, the pontiff of a monastery at Kaare near Udupi. He was given a new name Poorna Prajnya. The new ascetic began to receive instructions in the doctrines of Advaitha. Very soon serious differences cropped up between the teacher and the disciple.

The teacher was astonished at the sharp memory and remarkable scholarship of his student. He gave his student another name, Anandathirtha, and made him the pontiff of his monastery. Madhava, the synonym of his real name became more common and popular, as he is well known as Madhvacharya. Madhvacharya was a giant both physically and intellectually. His yogic power added to his personality.

Many scholars who were arrogant because of their learning, challenged Madhvacharya. They had to accept defeat against the knowledge, power of argument and analysis of ancient scriptures by Madhvacharya. They subsequently converted themselves to his views.

During his pilgrimage to South India, in one of his meetings, he was challenged by some scholars to explain the scriptures. They were taken aback when he said that each Vedic Sukta had three meanings, the Mahabharata had ten, and each name in the Vishnu Sahasranama had a hundred meanings. Madhvacharya showed the challengers that what he said was far from dispute.

His confrontation with the scholars of various schools, like those of Shankara and Ramanuja, convinced him of the need for a new school of thought regarding Vedantha. It is said that he visited the famous pilgrimage – Badrinath, where he spent time even around inaccessible regions of upper Badri, met Vedavyasa who lived there with his disciples invisible to ordinary human beings. It is also said that he received his instructions about Brahma Sutra, Mahabharata and Pancharathra Agama, which has established the glory of Narayana. Then he wrote his commentary on Brahma Sutra and Travelled back to South India.

In South India, two great scholars Shobhana Bhatta of Godavari region and Swamy Shastri from Kalinga accepted Madhvacharya’s views on Vedantha and became Sanyasis. They were renamed Padma Nabha Teertha and Narahari Teertha. They, later on, wrote commentaries on the works of Madhvacharya.

Achyutha Preksha, who was his Guru, accepted the views of his student and became the disciple of his own pupil. During his stay in Udupi, he came across a huge lump of mud (Gopichandana). He carefully removed the mud and washed it in a nearby lake and was overjoyed as the lump assumed the beautiful idol of Sri Krishna. He personally carried the idol to his monastery. He was so inspired that he composed Dwadasha Stotra on Vasudeva. The hymn refers to the idol. It says that the idol was carved out by the divine architect and sculptor Viswakarma and it was worshiped by Gopis of Brindavan and also by the queen Rukmini.

It is very important that he brought about a great healthy reform in sacrificial rites. He introduced animal forms made of a paste of black gram powder and ghee instead of real animals and included them in devotional disciplines. During his second pilgrimage to Badri, it is said that he performed many miracles which show that he was a giant in yogic powers. When he was staying in Udupi, the manuscript of his works was stolen by rival scholars but was recovered those in a miraculous way.

During this period he won over a great scholar – Trivikrama Panditha. Trivikrama Panditha later wrote an elaborate commentary on Brahmasutra Bhashya of the Acharya.

He established a temple of Lord Krishna at Udupi and arranged for unhindered worship to go on. He gave the responsibility to eight Sanyasis who were his disciples, fully satisfied with the work he had done throughout his life. Madhvacharya mysteriously disappeared from his seat while teaching Aitareya Upanishad to his disciples, leaving a bouquet of flowers on the seat. He left behind a vast treasure of his works.

Madhvacharya advocated dualism and realism. His philosophy accepts Pancha bhedas or five kinds of difference which are real and permanent. They are: God is different from the soul; He is also different from nature; various kinds of nature are different from one another; various souls are different from one another.

The great successors of Madhvacharya have kept the Dwaita Vedanta philosophy alive. Jaya Teertha, Vyasaraya, and Raghavendra were the most popular saints amongst those who propagated Dwaitha Siddhanta. Dasakoota has nourished the tradition of Bhakti (Devotion to God Krishna, Narayana or Vishnu).

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Opinion

[22/07, 11:08] C T Joshi: Acharya Madhwa is one of the three super religious leaders of Hinduism known particularly for his propagation of Bhakti maarga (devotional path to spiritual deliverance).
His contribution in sustaining Hinduism is as great as of the other two of trinity of Hindu spiritual leaders Acharya Shankara and Acharya Ramanuja. But unfortunately he is not as well-known as the other two.

May be one reason for this is that his followers, Maadhwas, are mostly concentrated in parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

One important trait of all the three is that they were not only religious leaders but also social reformers. Unfortunately this trait too has not received as much attention as it deserves.

Varaaha Murthy has pointed out that Madhwacharya brought about changes in Yagnya Tradition. Notably, Varaaha Murthy says, replacement of live sacrificial animals by their images made of paste. But this humanitarian reform came much before Madhwacharya. Whenever it may have come, it has received only a passing mention in Varaaha Murthy's well-researched well-presented write up More about his reformist work would have been in order.