Kautilyas (An)arthashastra

Most of us know that Chanakya (370–283 BCE) was a shrewd and brilliant teacher. Indeed he is regarded as great, especially his ideas on spying  theories, law and order etc.. to mention few, but modern social reformers have questioned the foundation of his theories, this is one such view. Ardent Hindu Nationalists declare him super patriotic highlighting his role in formation of Mauryan Empire & citing his work "arthashastra" a political treatise.

Alas it immediately occurs to a person who reads Arthashastra that Chanakya was not a visionary but

·  A blind believer and not advanced of his time. [ citation Arthashastra-5  ]

·  Kautilya snaps freedom of expression from women, shudra and other equivalent class of his time, essentially Kautilyas arthashastra is built upon pillars of Discrimination denial of freedom to so called lower castes. [ Citation  Arthashastra-1  ]

·  Kautilya framed many property inheritance laws which left Sudra and like classes  economically weak. Kautilya was shrewd enough to know 2000 years ago that  economically weak section cannot raise its voice.  One shall find many laws that impose different fines/punishments based on caste for the same crime committed. Most of the cases Brahmin of his time is exempted or fined a meager penalty for the same crime committed, but a shudra and like class of his time is levied a highest penalty in most of the cases cruel death awards.

Kautilya could have been given a clean chit considering his social ignorance and policy of Equality unknown to India in a true sense until the 20 Century AD; if at all a person named Buddha was not born about 300 years before him. Buddha questioned the false practices in the predominant Hindu religion of his time. Vivekananda in one of the instance declares Buddha as the greatest sage to be born in India.

Kautilya shrewdly ignored the message of Buddha to humanity, also was well aware of Chaturvarna system and its detrimental effect on suppressed people. He consciously framed laws keeping misquoted chaturvarna and ensured suppressed class remains uneducated, economically weak slaves.

Kautilya remains questionable and weak as[himself being an expert in all kinds of educational disciplines of his time chiefly Vedas, astrology, politics and economics] he was unable to emphasize Equality among people at least when he framed laws, forget in reality. Discrimination against women also is a key factor gives an insight that he wanted to build a nation on the basis of Manushastra which was designed to leave the majority  uneducated and slaves.

Did not the Upanishads declare All men are Equal, Did not Buddha reiterate it in his own way. Was not chanakya aware of these... yes, but Chanakya was also shrewd, he had an agenda in his mind that supported caste domination and hence he formulated such cruel laws.

So much of Chanakya is being advertised and popularized by Hindu political parties and their ardent wings in recent past; it shows the sentiments and their deep hidden thoughts about society and their plans.  Do they want to build a nation considering religion as its basis, a theory which is ridiculed by likes of Bhagath Sing, Vivekananda?  Thus he blew the trumpet whose noise suppressed the uneducated section of society. The same noise became music to people who wanted to revive Hinduism by culling Buddhism during post Mauryan period.

One shall find flaws in Kautilya's arthashastra which are detrimental to any  human society that can exist in all times.

Arthasastra citations-discriminating

Caste Based Discrimination |
Legacy Chaturvarna |
Economic Discrimination |
Women Discriminated |
Blind Belief 


was Chanakya really great, chanakya and modern views, social reformer.
Image courtesy uploader.Reach here with:  chanakya flaws, blind believer, chanakya  caste offender, chanakya caste discrimination, chanakya  manusmriti… , arthshastra,,

Arthasastra citations-discriminate

Caste Based Discrimination |
Legacy Chaturvarna |
Economic Discrimination |
Women Discriminated |
Blind Belief 
<Caste Based Discrimination>
How cruel becomes chanakya here..., for the same crime committed Shudra is burnt alive...
Sudra burnt alive

“A Kshatriya who commits adultery with an unguarded Bráhman woman shall be punished with the highest amercement; a Vaisya doing the same shall be deprived of the whole of his property; and a Súdra shall be burnt alive wound round in mats” [ArthaSahstra]

If at all someone who is Veda parangatha, can he decide such a cruel punishment?
That limb of a Súdra with which he strikes a Bráhman shall be cut off. ” [ArthaSahstra]

Kautilya intelligently with below law ensures Sudra not to be raised to the level of Brahmana

When a Súdra calls himself a Bráhman, or when any person steals the property of gods, conspires against the king, or destroys both the eyes of another, he shall either have his eyes destroyed by the application of poisonous ointment, or pay a fine of 800 panas [ArthaSahstra]

How will caste matter here, sudra receives death punishment, where as Brahmana receives a simpler punishment..... Adultery is adultery...
Adultery is adultery

A man who commits adultery with a woman of low caste shall be banished with prescribed mark branded on his fore-head, or shall be degraded to the same caste. A Súdra or a svapáka who commits adultery with a woman of low caste shall be put to death, while the woman shall have her ears and nose cut off. [ArthaSahstra]

No fresh liquor other than bad liquor shall be sold below its price. Bad liquor may be sold elsewhere or given to slaves or workmen in lieu of wages; or it may form the drink of beasts for draught or the subsistence of hogs [ArthaSahstra].

<Legacy Chaturvarna>

Here Kautilya clearly throws the noble conception of chaturvarna into fire Kautilya probably toughens the stand of Manushastra

Sons begotten by a Súdra on women of higher castes are Ayogava, Kshatta, and Chandála; by a Vaisya, Mágadha, and Vaidehaka; and by aKshatriya, Súta...
[ArthaSahstra]

Sudra need not get alphabetical knowledge?

The duty of the Brahman is study, teaching...
That of a Kshatriya is study, performance of sacrifice.....
That of a Sudra is the serving of twice-born (dvijati), agriculture, cattle-breeding, and trade (varta), the profession of artisans and court-bards (karukusilavakarma) [ArthaSahstra]

Here Kautilya puts a stamp to his previous above mentioned law....and says Shudra must adhere to occupation.

This people (loka) consisting of four castes and four orders of religious life, when governed by the king with his sceptre, will keep to their respective paths, ever devotedly adhering to their respective duties and occupations. ) [ArthaSahstra]

A Vainya becomes a Rathakára, chariot-maker, by profession. Members of this caste shall marry among themselves. Both in customs and avocations they shall follow their ancestors.
They may either become Súdras or embrace any other lower castes excepting Chandálas. [ArthaSahstra]

<Economic Discrimination>

Here Chanakya clearly curtails freedom of speech. With Buddhism being in peak, people were questioning Vedic rituals which were costly and not so meaningful according to Upanishads also.
To avoid such things.. below law  was framed

If among Bráhmans, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Súdras, and outcastes (antávasáyins), any one of a lower caste abuses the habits of one of a higher caste, the fines imposed shall increase from 3 panas upwards (commencing from the lowest caste). If any one of a higher caste abuses one of a lower caste, fines imposed shall decrease from 2 panas. [ArthaSahstra]

When a person steals or destroys cocks, mangoose, cats, dogs or pigs, of less than 54 panas in value, he shall have the edge of his nose cut off or pay a fine of 54 panas. If these animals belong to either Chandalas or wild tribes half of the above fine shall be mposed. . [ArthaSahstra]

<Women Discriminated>

If a widow marries any man other than of her father-in-law's selection (svasuraprátilo-myenanivishtá), she shall forfeit whatever had been given to her by her father-in-law and her husband.[arthashastra]

Again Male Domination:

If she brings forth only females, he has to wait for twelve years. Then if he is desirous to have sons, he may marry another for twelve years.
If under any other excuse than danger, a woman gets out of her husband's house, she shall be fined 6 panas. If she gets out against the order (of her husband) to the contrary, she shall be fined 12 panas. If she goes beyond her neighboring house (prativesagrihatigatáyah), she shall be fined 6 panas

Where is the freedom for prostitute son here, if he wants liberty he has to pay money. Is not it slavery

A prostitute shall pay 24,000 panas as ransom to regain her liberty; and a prostitute's son 12,000 panas. [ArthaSahstra]

Chanakya supports prostitution in temples, but Gandhi condemns it. Devadasi’s belong to lower castes, thus chanakya approved priests of enjoying women in temple premises which was pre existing. If he was great he could have stopped it…

Prostitutes (devadási) who have ceased to attend temples on service shall be employed to cut wool, fibre, cotton, panicle (túla), hemp, and flax. [ArthaSahstra]

<Blind Belief>
Chanakya blindly believes Karmic philosophy and declares that a shudra can never get elevated because, he can only carry forward sin birth after birth. Thus Kautilya ensures with this tricky law that Sudra is a sinner by birth.

A Súdra witness thus:--„Whatever thy merits are, in thy former birth or after thy death, shall they go to the king and whatever sins the king may have committed, shall they go to thee,if thou utterest falsehood; fines also shall be levied on thee, for facts as they have been heard or seen will certainly be subsequently revealed.?[ArthaSahstra]

Poets_reformers_Temple

Here i present you two poems by  Giants of Indian Literature Kuvempu and Tagore. Time and again progressive thinkers have questioned the Temple structure and its intentions. Its very clear that social reformers were frustrated about how priests ran the temples by advocating inequality, blind beliefs, false devotion as a result they reduced the temples to a mere set of stone walls.

Expression of both the poems are different but finally they converge at the same point.....

Poem By Tagore [ from Gitanjali]

Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the pathmaker is breaking stones. He is with them in sun and in shower, and his garment is covered with dust. Put off thy holy mantle and even like him come down on the dusty soil...

ದೇವರು ಸೆರೆಯಾಳ್ (by kuvempu, in 14-7-1936)

God the prisoner ( Kuvempu, simple transliteration by me)

ದೇವರು ಸೆರೆಯಾಳ್, ದೇಗುಲ ಸೆರೆಮನೆ ಕಾವಲು ಪೂಜಾರಿ ನೀನಾವಾಗಲು ನನ್ನಯ ಬಳಿಯಿರೆ ಬಲು ತೊಂದರೆ ಎಂದು ಗಿರಿಶಿಖರದೊಳತಿದೂರದಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿದೆ ಗುಡಿಯನು ನಿನಗೊಂದು ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಗೋಪುರ, ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಗೋಡೆ ದುರ್ಗದವೊಲು ಬಲು ದುರ್ಗಮ ನೋಡೆ! ಸೆರೆಯನು ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳದ ತೆರದಲಿ ಅರ್ಚಕ ರಕ್ಷೆಯಿದೆ; ತೆಂಗಿನ ಕಾಯೊಳೆ ತಲೆಯನು ಬಡಿಯುವ ಪೂಜೆಯ ಶಿಕ್ಷೆಯಿದೆ ಪುರಸತ್ತಾದರೆ ಕೆಲಸದೊಳಿಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಸರ ಪರಿಹಾರಕೆ ಬಹೆನಲ್ಲಿ

God is the prisoner, temple is the prison priest is the sentry! troublesome it is, if thou near to me for ever So I Built a temple far over the hill tower made of stone, wall made of stone looks like an impenetrable fortress such is the priest's shelter Thou Cannot escape the confinement Thou receives an adorable punishment when thy head smashed with coconut to be releived of boredom shall visit there If found leisure in here [ forgive me if the transliteration is poor , send your comments to srikgn@gmail.com]

Further reading:

Origin of temples    Temples- a Social tyranny   Temple citations.

Vivekananda: Origin of Temple | Vivekananda condemns priests for making temples trade centre  

[ images courtesy: uploaders]

Social_Reformers_and_temples-1

In the previous blog i discussed historical and social views about temples. Here i am trying to offer thoughts expressed by Basavanna, kuvempu and Rabindranath Tagore on temples:-

Vachana in English [ Commentary ]	In Kannada
ಉಳ್ಳವರು ಶಿವಾಲಯವ ಮಾಡುವರು ನಾನೇನ ಮಾಡಲಿ ಬಡವನಯ್ಯ ಎನ್ನ ಕಾಲೆ ಕಂಬ ದೇಹವೆ ದೇಗುಲ ಶಿರ ಹೊನ್ನ ಕಳಸವಯ್ಯ ಕೂಡಲ ಸಂಗಮದೇವ ಕೇಳಯ್ಯ ಸ್ಥಾವರಕ್ಕಳಿವುಂಟು ಜಂಗಮಕ್ಕಳಿವಿಲ್ಲ	Rich build temples to shiva, what can i build ? A poor man, Lord am I !, My body is the shrine Its pillars are my legs, The golden pinnacle my head Hear me, kudala sangama Lord standstill perishes, which moves alone persists

Vachana by Allamaprabhu
Having built a stone temple, And chiselled God out of stone, If you put one stone on another, Where did your God go ? He who installs the stone Linga Goes to hell, O Guheswara !

These vachanas are so crystal clear that they need no further explanation. If there is a temple, it must have priest. Priests of yesteryear ruined the harmony among fellow hindus by tweaking chaturvarna system, shastras and agamas according to their needs and made temples as their means to enjoy the worldly pleasures. As swami vivekananda puts it , "Its not the problem of hinduism but its the problem with the orthodox people in it, its the fault of the priests".

Commentary
Further reading
Basavanna's Vachana needs to be understood in the backdrop of
1. All along the history we have seen that Temples catered a particular section of people especially financially strong class and suppressed people were denied entry in the name of chaturvarna.
Basavanna who is deeply pained with the behavior of temple priests expresses a great social concern, he says Let us respect the human beings first, so what if you are denied entry to temple, here   we are, the body itself is a temple, our Legs are the pillars, this body is the shrine and Head is the Golden dome.
2. Some Orthodox and traditional hindus argue that, basavanna did not condemn the temple concept but just the ill practices carried out by them.  
 For such, the answer lies in the last line, Basavanna says bluntly, that which is standstill will perish just like those ancient huge fortresses which remain as ruins. So this applies to Church, temples and Masjids also..., if at all mankind is progressing then all such barriers will have to be overcome, such structures will eventually fall as time passes and collective human mind becomes rational.

References: Basaveshar-Ambedkar [ De ja gau ]

Temples caused the Degradation of Indian Culture

Vivekananda condemns the intention of the priestly class in strong words that pushed for temples, infact he  ridicules the priests for the atrocities they committed
It  seems Temples in India did not originate with a Noble motive, but originated in order to give new breath to dying Hindu Culture and also Puranic Hinduism[Very different from Vedic scriptures, for e.g. Veda says man is Shatayushi[100 yrs life span] purana's say 1000 years life span isalso possible which is foolish to believe] required a symbol for worship. But soon temples which were supposed to be the source of inspiration and devotion unfortunately lost their way when they became mere offices which performed four basic duties

"Of course, the idea of the impersonal[1] is very destructive: it takes away all trade from the priests, churches, and temples. In India there is a famine now, but there are temples in each one of which there are jewels worth a king’s ransom. If the priests taught this idea of the impersonal to the people, their occupation would be gone. Yet we have to teach it unselfishly, without priestcraft. You are God and so am I.  Who obeys whom? Who worships whom? You are the highest temple of God; I would rather worship you than any temple, image, or Bible. [ Swami Vivekananda]

a) Financial centres and commerce
 It’s hard to digest Temples accepting costly donations from corrupt people like Janardhana reddy [recently arrested Mining czar] and also Tirupathi temple refused to return back the Diamond studded "Kireeta" gifted by Janardana reddy. Riches unearthed at Padmanabha temple will not be surprising to someone who knows history. Temples were always rich because priests pushed for donations and offerings by instilling false beliefs in the minds of common men that sins will be washed away with acts of offerings and donations.

Below statements S1 and S2  from Historian Romila Thapar confirm the above facts.

[ S1 , S 2]

b) Social tyranny:

Pooh! India is to be raised, the poor are to be fed, education is to be spread, and the evil of priest craft is to be removed. No priest craft, no social tyranny! [ Swami Vivekananda]

 1) Systematic way of spreading Inequality among fellow human beings by enforcing chaturvarna system citing Manushastra and justifying it with imaginary Puranic cock and bull stories.

2) Denial of Entry to temples, if one thinks its no more in practice,  then  get updated its rampant in Tamil Nadu, Orissa , Gujrat then imagine the fate of other states

3) We all know how Govt is being run in Gujarat and Karnataka.  They have extensively made use of temples to appease a certain class of people. The two leading states of India Gujarat and Karnataka we find inequalities followed in temples.

4)  In its bid to end the age-old practice of untouchability and ban on entry into temples in certain pockets of the state, Orissa government has prepared a strategy to deal with such situation

To this day Dakshina Kannada temples are the store house of inequalities one can say. And a   SURVEY OF 1,655 VILLAGES IN GUJARAT FINDS NOT A SINGLE ONE WHERE UNTOUCHABILITY IS NOT PRACTICED..... Vibrant Gujarat a Myth

c) Spread Blind Beliefs

 I think we need not talk about this but to cite few

1)  we all know how nagarpanchami is celebrated by offering Milk to snakes, we know that snakes dont drink milk. 

2)  Its unfortunate to till this day their exists a blind rituals like Made sanana @ kukke Subbramanya temple [ messy’ custom where the devotees roll on the left over meal of uppercaste], what are priests doing why can't they educate people

3) How can a Hindu priest say he is tolerant when he justifies denial of entry[to temple] to Yesudas. Then the priests should pour themselves molten lead into their ears because they surely would have listened to the devotional songs sung by Yesudas.

4) COW SHIT PURIFIES WHAT A HUMAN BEING MADE UNCLEAN

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/retired-dalit-officers-room-cleansed-using-cowdung-water/640465.html

d)Temple women and Prostitutes

Gandhi considered a situation in all its aspects and so when he was keen to raise the status of women in India to its rightful place, he took into. account the question of the prostitutes and Devadasis. He felt very pained at the problem of Devadasis, because he felt that it was deceiving God to use young girls for the priests' carnal pleasures under the guise of service to God. Similarly, he considered the existence of the institution of prostitutes a shame on society and more so a shame on men. In connection with the problem of Devadasis, Gandhi considered the name 'Devadasi' a euphemism for prostitutes

. He considered it in the same light as that of prostitution. And to him this crime of man against woman was much more serious than that of a hungry man stealing a banana or that of a needy youngster picking a pocket. Gandhi believed that this vice was prevalent in cities and the majority of villages were more or less free of it.

He felt that after India became free, the system of temple women and brothels must be abolished. Even though on paper we have abolished the system of Devadasis, rampant exploitation of women as sex servants has continued.

Gandhiji was very disturbed by the plight of this low caste untouchable section of the society, namely the Devadasis. (See also: The Temple Women) He was hurt by the miserable way the children of brothels were treated. He had made elaborate plans for their rehabilitation. He declared that protecting women's honor was important and as holy as protecting cows. His book "Women and Social Injustice" contains discussions of very deep thoughts and solutions on the topic. He felt that after India became free, the system of temple women and brothels must be abolished.

[Devadasi are the priestly gift to Hindu culture ]

 Citations:-

This link has a collection of all modern day Priest craft Activites and their atrocities...

http://www.anti-caste.org/

Vivekananda: Origin of Temple | Vivekananda condemns priests for making temples trade centre  |Romila thapar: Temple - commerce- priests
Hindu Temples influenced by Greeks | Earliest Religious building
No Recitation of Vedic literature in temples  | Temples and Maithuna Figures
Gandhi Condemns priests  | Devadasi are the priestly gift to Hindu culture


Temples Even Today are spreading Inequality among fellow human beings, a black mark on my nationInequality practiced in Dakshina Kannada temples Even Today  |Vibrant Gujarat a Myth, 1655 villages practice Inequality source tracked to temple
TN Priests happy allowing discrimination | Even now untouchability rampant in Orissa temples
COW SHIT PURIFIES WHAT A HUMAN BEING MADE UNCLEAN

Grand Padmanabha sitting inside the jail called rich temple is silently watching around him the blind ritual of pouring milk on snake in the name of nagapanchami , made snana rolling on left over meal plates of upper caste by devotees, poor people who dont have any thing to eat but in temple is lying wealth, and oppressed caste is still unable to open eyes under the misguidance of Priest craft....

Origin of temples

History says India was a land of saints [Rishis] but in the course of time it became a land of temples. Undoubtedly we can say this transition marked the beginning of philosophical and cultural degradation of India. Early India had no concept of temples they worshipped Agni, Indra etc just like Persians who considered Fire as the supreme.

Reasons that learned cite for the origin of Hindu Temples:

a) Puranic Hinduism required a location where the deity could be established permanently in an appropriate building for worship. Even though the worship was devotional and awaited the grace of the deity, an icon could be the focus for devotion and the giving of gifts.

An icon was not necessary but gradually became common. The centrality of the icon further distanced purnaic Hinduism from the Vedic religion.[338 wonder that was India]

b) Basic rites of Vedic religion were sacrifice that of Hinduism is worship. The temple originated as a small wooden but enshrining a rough icon or fetish. Temples played no part in Vedic religion and none has been traced in archaeological sites from before the Christian era. It is possible that they were introduced as a result of the wave of foreign influence following Greek and saka invasions. [338 wonder that was India]

c) Vivekananda says Buddhists were the first to use Images/symbols which was unknown before then. Which means until 6th BC India never depicted any form of Human God. Buddha was the first human God if we can say so.

"By and by, there arose huge temples and all the paraphernalia. The use of images was unknown before then. I say they were the first to use images.There are images of Buddha and all the saints, sitting about and praying. ~Swami Vivekananda"d) Indologist Bhasham makes Close observation between Hindu temples and Greek temples. Greeks had built temples much before Indians which suggests Hindu temples were inspired by Greeks. [ Source]

e) Also as a part of Revival of Vedic Hinduism which had taken a back seat with spread of Buddhism, likes of Shankaracharya built Mutts which were nothing but counter part of Buddhist Monastries [ Source]

Agni, Indra and varuna were the chief Gods during the vedic age and were frequently invoked with Vedic Mantras who fulfilled the wishes of Vedic priests irrespective of the sanctity, moral degree of the Man who carried out the ritual under the supervision of the priest. Commit a Sin recite the Vedic Mantra, Commit a Sin dip in Ganga get rid of the sins that you committed. This was the central philosophy of puranic Hinduism, hence it extensively propagated offerings and donations and made it almost mandatory for common men and thus became financial centres. [ S1 , S 2]

 But Upanishads which condemned these silly Vedic rituals and the Emergence of Light of Asia "Buddha” gave way to new religions and theories which were well embraced by the common people who were not able to bear the costly Vedic rituals. Post Buddha as discussed above Human Gods like Rama, Krishna etc arose who virtually finished the Vedic Gods and became the Supreme Gods and bag full of stories were written to support them.

Thus for historical reasons Indra and agni and Surya were ditched and Puranic Hinduism a brain child of the priest craft a lower version which is must and necessary to comprehend the higher philosophy as claimed by priests in comparison to Upanishad Hinduism ditched Agni,Indra and surya introduced Human Gods like Rama, Krishna etc.

 Citations:-
Vivekananda: Origin of Temple | Vivekananda condemns priests for making temples trade centre  |Romila thapar: Temple - commerce- priests

Hindu Temples influenced by Greeks | Earliest Religious building

No Recitation of Vedic literature in temples  | Temples and Maithuna Figures

Gandhi Condemns priests  | Devadasi are the priestly gift to Hindu culture


Temples Even Today are spreading Inequality among fellow human beings, a black mark on my nationInequality practiced in Dakshina Kannada temples Even Today  |Vibrant Gujarat a Myth, 1655 villages practice Inequality source tracked to temple
TN Priests happy allowing discrimination | Even now untouchability rampant in Orissa temples
COW SHIT PURIFIES WHAT A HUMAN BEING MADE UNCLEAN

Temple Raj Citations

Vivekananda: Origin of Temple | Vivekananda condemns priests for making temples trade centre  |
Romila thapar: Temple - commerce- priests

Hindu Temples influenced by Greeks |
Earliest Religious building

No Recitation of Vedic literature in temples  |
Temples and Maithuna Figures

Gandhi Condemns priests  |
Devadasi are the priestly gift to Hindu culture


Temples Even Today are spreading Inequality among fellow human beings, a black mark on my nation

Inequality practiced in Dakshina Kannada temples Even Today  |
Vibrant Gujarat a Myth, 1655 villages practice Inequality source tracked to temple
TN Priests happy allowing discrimination |
Even now untouchability rampant in Orissa temples
COW SHIT PURIFIES WHAT A HUMAN BEING MADE UNCLEAN

<Vivekananda on origin of Temples in India>

There have been three things in Buddhism: the Buddha himself, his law, his church. At first it was so simple. When the Master died, before his death, they said: "What shall we do with you?" "Nothing." "What monuments shall we make over you?" He said: "Just make a little heap if you want, or just do not do anything." By and by, there arose huge temples and all the paraphernalia. The use of images was unknown before then. I say they were the first to use images. There are images of Buddha and all the saints, sitting about and praying. ~Swami Vivekananda

<Vivekananda condemns priests for making temples trade centre>

Of course, the idea of the impersonal [1] is very destructive: it takes away all trade from the priests, churches, and temples.
In India there is a famine now, but there are temples in each one of which there are jewels worth a king’s ransom.
If the priests taught this idea of the impersonal to the people, their occupation would be gone. Yet we have to teach it unselfishly, without priest craft. You are God and so am I.
Who obeys whom? Who worships whom? You are the highest temple of God; I would rather worship you than any temple, image, or Bible.
[http://www.ramakrishna.org/activities/message/weekly_message7.htm]

<Vivekananda condemns priest craft a social tyranny>

Pooh! India is to be raised, the poor are to be fed, education is to be spread, and the evil of priest craft is to be removed. No priest craft, no social tyranny!
[Vivekananda, http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/writings_prose/to_my_brave_boys.htm]

<Romila thapar: Temple - commerce- priests>

The temple was by now fulfilling many roles. Where a matha was attached to a temple, this complex was the counter part to the stupa and monastery of the earlier period where it received grants of lands or villages; it too became a land lord with accompanying powers. The temple was the institution of the puranic sect and as such it played a civic role; as a symbol of royal or local power depending on who was its patron; investing in commerce and credit; as an employer; and if it became a centre of pilgrimage it would also acquire a market. Those who managed temple property provided a nucleus for agrarian or urban corporations where the temple invested in commerce; its priests had close associations with administrative and commercial organization. [478, Early India, Romila thapar]

<Romila thapar: Temple a financial centre>

Because the temple received offerings and donations it was also a treasury and a financial centre. The giving of gifts – data- to Brahmins and to the temple was an appeal to the deity through an intermediary. As a institution with managerial functions the reach of the temple included extensive areas surrounding it. [479, Romila]

<Bhasham: Temple post Vedic and a Greek Influence>

Puranic Hinduism required a location where the deity could be established permanently in an appropriate building for worship. Even though the worship was devotional and awaited the grace of the deity, an icon could be the focus for devotion and the giving of gifts.
An icon was not necessary but gradually became common. The centrality of the icon further distanced purnaic Hinduism from the Vedic religion.
Basic rites of Vedic religion were sacrifice that of Hinduism is worship. The temple originated as a small wooden but enshrining a rough icon or fetish. Temples played no part in Vedic religion and none has been traced in archaeological sites from before the Christian era.
It is possible that they were introduced as a result of the wave of foreign influence following Greek and saka invasions. [338 wonder that was India]

<Bhasham: not fundamentally different from the ancient Greeks >

The standard type of the Hindu temple which has persisted from the 6th century AD to the present day was not fundamentally different from the ancient Greeks. The heart of the temple was a small dark shrine –room [garbhagriha], containing chief icon. Then hall [mantapa] etc … [358, wonder that was India, basham]

<Bhasham: Earliest Religious building>

The earliest free standing religious building of which traces remain is a small round tall, probably originally containing a Buddhist stupa, at bairat near jaipur; this dates from 3rd BC and was made up of brick and wood.
The next land mark in temple architecture is the temple generally known, from the modern name of the site, as that of jandial excavated from one of the moulds which covered the city of takshashila. [357 wonder that was India, basham]

<Bhasham: Temples did not recite Vedic literature>

In any case by Gupta times India was probably as much a land of temples as she is present. Often a tank or a flight of steps leading down to a river adjoining the temple, for ritual ablution, important at all times had by now become as essential part of religious observance. The temple might also contain a meeting hall, where epics, puranas and other non Vedic sacred literature were recited.

<Bhasham: Temples and Maithuna Figures>

Maithuna figures of couples closely embracing or actually in coity, are common enough as decorative features of many Indian temples, but those of konark are exceptionally vivid.
Many suggestions have been made as to true significance of these figures. It has been suggested that they merely served mundane purpose of advertising charms of the devadasis or temple prostitutes. Or that they were indented to represent the world of the flesh in contrast to the bare and austere interior which symbolized the spirit or it may be that they represent delights of heaven, on its lower planes or they were connected; in the minds of the designers, with sexual mysticism which played so great a part in medieval Indian religious thoughts. [364 wonder that was India, basham]



Temple women and Prostitutes

Gandhiji was very disturbed by the plight of this low caste untouchable section of the society, namely the Devadasis. (see also: The Temple Women) He was hurt by the miserable way the children of brothels were treated. He had made elaborate plans for their rehabilitation. He declared that protecting women's honor was important and as holy as protecting cows. His book "Women and Social Injustice" contains discussions of very deep thoughts and solutions on the topic. He felt that after India became free, the system of temple women and brothels must be abolished. Even though on paper we have abolished the system of Devadasis, rampant exploitation of women as sex servants has continued.

<Priests of temples used young girls for carnal pleasures... >

Devadasis & Prostitutes: As said earlier, Gandhi considered a situation in all its aspects and so when he was keen to raise the status of women in India to its rightful place, he took into. account the question of the prostitutes and Devadasis. He felt very pained at the problem of Devadasis, because he felt that it was deceiving God to use young girls for the priests' carnal pleasures under the guise of service to God. Similarly, he considered the existence of the institution of prostitutes a shame on society and more so a shame on men. In connection with the problem of Devadasis, Gandhi considered the name 'Devadasi' a euphemism for prostitutes. He considered it in the same light as that of prostitution. And to him this crime of man against woman was much more serious than that of a hungry man stealing a banana or that of a needy youngster picking a pocket. Gandhi believed that this vice was prevalent in cities and the majority of villages were more or less free of it.

He felt that after India became free, the system of temple women and brothels must be abolished. Even though on paper we have abolished the system of Devadasis, rampant exploitation of women as sex servants has continued.


What Ever historians and People like Basavanna,Vivekananda and Gandhi commented on Temples and their power misuse by priests... even today exits.
Below link and citations

<Inequality practiced in Dakshina Kannada temples Even Today>

The below links [ in kannada] explain how people seated for lunch in the temple [ kunjaru-Giri Temple] were asked to get up even before the lunched was served to them just because they belgong to a different caste...

http://www.prajavani.net/web/include/story.php?news=2412§ion=31&menuid=14
http://www.prajavani.net/web/include/story.php?news=2459§ion=31&menuid=14

<Devadasi are the priestly gift to Hindu culture>

The below links does not talk about predated devadasi's but they explain the plight of the women who are forced to become prostitutes in the name of Hindu religion. current day updates and atrocities on women are detailed here

http://www.sikhspectrum.com/052007/devadasi.htm
http://www.anti-caste.org/.m/2010/09/devadasi-prostitutes-of-god.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/prostitutes-of-god-2082290.html

<Vibrant Gujarat a Myth, 1655 villages practice Inequality source tracked to temple >

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-07/india/28073890_1_untouchability-navsarjan-trust-dalits

SURVEY OF 1,655 VILLAGES IN GUJARAT FINDS NOT A SINGLE ONE WHERE UNTOUCHABILITY IS NOT PRACTICED
Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN Dec 7, 2009, 04.21am IST
AHMEDABAD: Sunday was Dr B R Ambedkar's death anniversary, 'Nirwan Diwas' as Dalits call it. And we hate to be doing this. But the bubble of a Vibrant Gujarat needs a prick in the bottom. At the lowest level of the society, Gujarat is not happy. Untouchability still exists in various forms in Gujarat. In a first-of-its-kind study on a large scale, representing 98,000 Dalits across 1,655 villages in Gujarat. it comes out that 97 % respondent’s feel they have 'no entry' at certain places in their own villages, including a temple or where a religious ceremony is taking place.

< TN Priests happy allowing discrimination>

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-03/chennai/29498919_1_dalits-asra-garg-caste-discrimination

MADURAI: Villur, set in a typical agrarian backdrop with about 1,200 households was once a peaceful village that was until the dalits challenged the diktats of the upper caste' Thevars.For dalits of Villur, about 50km from Madurai and the scene of violence on Saturday night, buying a motorcycle was a sign of extreme luxury just few years back. But only after they managed to buy one they realized that the bigger challenge was riding it down the neatly laid Kaliamman street in the village that leads to their colony.

< Even now untouchability rampant in Orissa temples>

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/orissa-plans-to-end-untouchability-ban-on-dalits-temple-entry/830663/

In its bid to end the age-old practice of untouchability and ban on entry into temples in certain pockets of the state, Orissa government has prepared a strategy to deal with such situation

< COW SHIT PURIFIES WHAT A HUMAN BEING MADE UNCLEAN>

What are priests doing, can’t they educate people. What part of Hindu culture says this purification has to be done and whom are these priests safeguarding.
COW SHIT PURIFIES WHAT A HUMAN BEING MADE UNCLEAN
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/retired-dalit-officers-room-cleansed-using-cowdung-water/640465.html

Modi-Raja-Dharma

Raj Dharma and Modi’s Dharbar:-

An Excerpt from Vajpee’s 2002 letter [ to modhi that enough was not being done to handle After Godhra]

“Its tenor makes it clear that Vajpayee was concerned if enough was being done for relief and if a sense of assurance and security was being really conveyed to those who had fled and taken shelter in makeshift camps. ….. Vajpayee's advice to Modi that as CM, he must adhere to “Raj dharma" and not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or religion.” [ Source ]

Dear Mr. Vajpayee,

Vajpayee ji you should be very happy that Word to word of your advice wrt Raja dharma is being followed by Narendra Modi.  Just like the Yester year kings, just on the lines of Chanakya who wanted to build kingdoms whose foundation was Manushastra which was detrimental to 85% of lower caste Indians and women. Yes sir Modiji has already built a huge fort in Gujarat whose foundations are Vedic Hindu sentiments. His governance is reminding us the rule of Kings-Priests which ensured a section of people had all the benefits. Narendra Modi is the king and RSS are these neo priests who give advice. Just like the Priests gave advice to kings “keep away shudras from temples and deny them education” Modi also has made sure for e.g. all dalit and Muslim cops are given ordinary postings and positions.  Such mentioning of favoritism list goes endless.

Also sir, All along the history if you see priestly class has encouraged people to commit blunders because they own the powerful Vedic mantras whose recitation counter and clear people of all the blunders in one go.

Unless they commit the blunders when is the God to be remembered? How do the Hindu values get circulated? For each blunder…there is a God designed and assigned the task to free the sinners.

This is the same tactic applied by Modiji, whilst his followers are reciting the mantras in the background, Modiji himself has taken the leaf from Gandhiji who breathed his whole life “Ishwara alla tero naam, sabko sanmati de bhagwan” and performing a sadbhavana fast. Vajpayeeji Post Godhra was a splendid way of handling Communal harmony. It’s a common sense that any riot if there is a political will cannot remain for more than a Day. But in Gujarat it went for 5 days. RSS sorry the Neo priest craft ensured by imbibing broad Hindu sentiments in the Minds of people whose side effect was that “Forget minorities & innocent being massacred even “Upper caste Pregnant women was seen  ransacking the shopping Malls”.  Police stations had become shops storing the looted items. Every 3 members out of 4 arrested post Godhra, their address were traced to posh apartments of Gujrat. [Godhra - A Journey to Mayhem by Nirendra Dev ]

Yes sir this Sadbhavana fast is to confess and free himself from the sins that he committed post Godhra spefically. Also to revive the broad Vedic Hindu sentiments instilled in the minds of Gujratis by RSS sorry the Neo priestly class. What a marvelous depiction of communal harmony? History says Akbar was great King. But those Hindus of his period only knew what they had to undergo. At least Akbar was able to regain his sense and worked towards communal harmony. We have to wait and watch Modis durbar filled with communal sadbhavana takes us to …. It seems Redfort….?

[ Why Modi carrying a Sadbhavana fast ? Vajpayee was unhappy about godhra wrote a letter ]

Regards

Helpless Indian

Astrology a kingly-priestly Sin

      An unfortunate Saga from Astronomy to Astrology -  Can we revive astronomy in our minds?

By the time we reach end of this article we shall witness that it’s a heinous crime to associate Astrology with Early India [who had scientific approach]. We shall see how Astronomy became Astrology. One should be proud of  28 stars they identified ranging from ashwini to revathi, lunar cycle & heliocentric theory to mention few were all science.

A teenager called Srinivas Ramanujan from a not so famous city Kumbakonam in 1900s arrived at  Eulers formula  eix= cos(x) + isin(x) by playing with math equations, which Euler had discovered 200 years ago. Yes Ramanujan was not even aware of Euler at that point. Why did this happen to a Nation that had discovered Pythagoras theorem when the people of west were still barbarians and Archimedes was yet not born.Aryabhata and varahamihira are the last know contributors, for centuries there was zeroachievement in the field of Astronomy. We had to wait for 25 centruies for a man of class C V Raman. Still we have not produced a man of class called Einstien.

Priestly onslaught: reason for Astronomy becoming substandard astrology in India:

Astronomy developed under the shade of enlightened saints called Rishis. In the guise of vedic rituals to build altars geometry, trigonometry etc developed. But soon were controlled by a selfish class of people called priests who were busy counting money earned by performing rituals. Knowledge remained with priest class, ah! from where a Rishi is to be born to carry the legacy. Rishis were frustrated with this priestly act and their thought process went inward. unquestioned Priests forgot science, they froze it and announced themselves there is nothing to be discovered further they became

ambassadors for Rahu,kethu, they ensured that people feared eclipse- a celestial class act, churned out beautiful stories to support them, learned people say you will find such stories only in puranas not in vedic scriptures. Priests coupled with Kings created an unhealthy environment for the development of science. Science requires space for objective analysis and thought process. Ah how could you think further on solar eclipse, it’s a sin, you can’t question rahu because purana say so. Lack of freedom for objective thinking [basic need for science] received severe hindrance by subjective sectional interests resulting in false praising and blind following of vedic karmas and citations. Astronomy[Khagola-vignyana or Jyotishya ] treats SUN as a star. Even now the Astrology[Phala jyotishya] call SUN as a planet. People of West were better as Galileo was just tortured, in India they ensured Galileo’s remained unborn.                                  

kalaya tasmai namaha

They classified directions as auspicious and inauspicious. can you believe these people called  astrologers classified time. They differentiated time as good and bad. Sanskrit Shloka says "kalaya tasmai namaha" which has a great meaning "Salutations to that great entity called TIME" but selfish astrologers mask this to instill fear among people, to take advantage of weak minds. All just for money. Poets have written loads and loads of poems  on "Time" with great reverence. It’s disgusting to talk about such people...

Hindu Scriptures:

It’s a Blasphemy to believe in Astrology after reading the enlightened statements from some of Hindu scriptures.

Yogavasista lays down that what is not consistent with reason should not be accepted even if Brahma were to tell it. No human being is absolutely and perpetually blameless.[ Swami Sharvananda taittiriyopanishattu, p 68, 1956]

Charaka samhita's scientific voice says: "Any success obtained with lack of logic is just a coincidence" [ G T narayana Rao, “Srinivas Ramanujan Lived here”, P 185]

There is a famous Shloka in Sanskrit that says “ sarvam khalvidam brahmham”, now  let me know from where did these planetary objects come in between.

Upanishads have declared “jnana yajna” is the best… but still no priest or Astrologer reveals this to us, either they are dumb fellows Or they are masking the bright words of self confidence and reasoning from common people with an Agenda. What is their agenda, it seems to control us.  No two astrologers come to a consensus both in prediction and also in providing scientific justification for Astrology. Each one has his own hypothetical interpretations, as Yoga Vasista lays down, we should not believe in Astrology. It’s Astronomy what we should believe.

Citations: Click your choice

Vivekananda and Buddha trash Astrology    Shivarama karanth     Basavanna-english      DVG-english   Srinivas Ramanujan

Kuvempu    Thiru Gjnaana Sambandar    R K Narayan

What Great Modern Indian Scientists say  Astrology and Astronomy    

/************************************************************************************************************/

 

Further Reading for Interested keen readers:

Vivekananda and Buddha trash Astrology:

"It is the coward and the fool who says, 'This is fate'" — so says the Sanskrit proverb. But it is the strong man who stands up and says, "I will make my fate." It is people who are getting old who talk of fate. Young men generally do not come to astrology. We may be under planetary influence,but it should not matter much to us. Buddha says, "Those that get a living by calculation of the stars by such art and other lying tricks are to be avoided"; and he ought to know, because he was the greatest Hindu ever born. Let stars come, what harm is there? If a star disturbs my life, it would not be worth a cent. You will find that astrology and all these mystical things are generally signs of a weak mind; therefore as soon as they are becoming prominent in our minds, we should see a physician, take good food and rest. [Man the maker of his destiny  - Vivekananda ]

I think the Greeks first took astrology to India and took from the Hindus the science of astronomy and carried it back with them from Europe [ Vivekananda ]

Shivarama karanth:

   Astrologers predict both past and future. If even 25% of their statements about your past are true. You shall  believe the future he predicts with 250% trust. If one notes down all these and checks after 20-25 years, he would be convinced that predictions were mere predictions.[ Mookajjiya kanasugaLu ]

Basavanna-english:

Say It’s auspicious when minds agree Say Zodiacs have already approved the bondage Say Moon and stars are arrayed already Say today is better than tomorrow [ basavanna vachana ]

ಎಮ್ಮವರು ಬೆಸಗೊಂಡಡೆ ಶುಭಲಗ್ನವೆನ್ನಿರಯ್ಯಾ ರಾಶಿಕೂಟ ಋಣಸಂಬಂಧವುಂಟೆಂದು ಹೇಳಿರಯ್ಯಾ ಚಂದ್ರಬಲ ತಾರಾಬಲವುಂಟೆಂದು ಹೇಳಿರಯ್ಯಾ ನಾಳಿನ ದಿನಕಿಂದಿನ ದಿನ ಲೇಸೆಂದು ಹೇಳಿರಯ್ಯಾ ಕೂಡಲಸಂಗಮದೇವನ ಪೂಜಿಸಿದ ಫಲ ನಿಮ್ಮದಯ್ಯಾ! - ಜಗಜ್ಯೋತಿ ಬಸವಣ್ಣ

DVG-english: [1]

Can astrologer correct the planetary rhythm with a horoscope? Position and Movements are fine universe thy steering  Unless Embraced tolerance,clinging phase persists      Patience is the solid armour – DumbChap [Mankutimma] || [ #366, mankutimmana kagga]

ಗ್ರಹಗತಿಯ ತಿದ್ದುವನೆ ಜೋಯಿಸನು ಜಾತಕದಿ ? ವಿಹಿತವಾಗಿಹುದದರ ಗತಿ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿವಿಧಿಯಿಂ ಸಹಿಸದಲ್ಲದೆ ಮುಗಿಯದಾವ ದಶೆ ಬಂದೊಡಂ | ಸಹನೆ ವಜ್ರದ ಕವಚ - ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||

Srinivas Ramanujan

Ramanujan is in critical condition fighting death, her mother helpless takes the horoscope to Phala jyotishi  advises her “if the bad phase has to go away soon, ask Ramanujan to keep away from his wife”. Ramajujan defies it saying it’s foolish. [  Tell me who would take care of him who is in such bad condition ].

R K Narayan:

 In his novel “English Teacher” [ Unofficial Autobiography, My Days his official Autobiography]  discusses that he persisted to marry his Girl despite  the horoscopes did not match.

Kuvempu , [Sri Kuvempu]:

 Echoes Vivekananda and says its “ it’s a sordid game of people who wanted to earn their lively hood in a easy manner, donot believe them”.  He opines that when Astrologers made it a profession,  astronomy declined. [ he says “hotte horeyuva vidye” ].

Thiru Gjnaana Sambandar, Saivite Saint: [ Source ]

A Saivite Saint Thiru Gjnaana Sambandar sings in Thevaaram:-

"Naazh En Seyum--Kozh en seyum"=What stars,planets, good or bad days can do on me ?

"Kumaresan Thaalum,Tholum,Sadhngaiyum en Munnay Thondridinay"=if Lord Muruga's feet, shoulders and His ankle jewels come before my eyes ?

He defied Astrology and its advices yet succeeded.

Another Saivite saint Thiru.Appar.says "when Lord Siva's image is before me,the Lords of Sun,Moon,Mars,Mercury,Jupitor,Venus and Saturn (Astrology) would stand before me and can do me all benevolence only.

What Great Modern Indian Scientists say: [ Source ]

Gautham -- Most consult an astrologer if pressed, so struggle is futile.
Balasundaram -- Tests of astrology are indecisive, it needs demystifying.
Tiwari -- Vedic = beyond sensory experience. How can Vedic be science?
Gupta -- Astrology may be a science-like knowledge but more difficult.
Mandal -- We either accept astrology and reject evolution, or the reverse.
Ganeshaiah -- Issue is nonsense vs good information, not arts vs sciences.
Abhyankar -- Astrologers offer only therapy by talking. Why be fooled?
Narlikar (review of Astrology: Believe it or not?) -- Not! Recommended!
Sitaraman -- Science not threatened by Vedic astrology or any other.

Very Nice link that explains the difference between Astrology and Astronomy

http://shadesbreath.hubpages.com/hub/Is-astrology-a-science-Relation-between-astrology-and-astronomyInclude-palmistry-too_

Conclusion:

Why do you spoil the celestial show By Inducing planetary fear, Spectator you are Universe is waiting for your applause  [Srikgn]

We are unaware of  fate Rationality is our heartbeat O Astrologer pack your bags Market  the fear else where After all It is  Sublime Nature  [Srikgn]

Trust No Future, how ever pleasant Let the dear past bury its dead Act-act in the living present! Heart within, and God o’erhead [ H W Longfellow , "A psalm of Life]

 Great numbers of Galaxies are being found. We are able to witness farther and farther Celestial dance. It would be very novice to believe that only solar system will have an effect on human beings. Modern authors of India and visionaries like Vivekananda have discarded astrology by terming it as a sordid game of priests who enforced it on people so that they can earn their livelihood.

"Past is  misery, Future is mystery, present is pleasant" this is the trick used by astrologers.They succeed when we miss the present pleasant trick

I thank for people who created these 2 Images .