Guest guest Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 I was amused to see this posting on "The Indology" list.... http://listserv.liv.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa? A2=ind0211&L=indology&D=1&O=D&F=P&S=&P=4080 "I cannot imagine Brahmins in ancient times not being shocked to see representations of tiny Indra and Brahma at the feet of imposingly tall statues of the Buddha offering homage to him."..... I would say that this would have been expected rather than shocking....it probably would not have been liked by the vedic priests, but it wouldnt have been shocking at all. To the common people it probably wouldnt have made much of a difference either way... For eg: If one were to go a Shiva temple - there will be images of a host of other deities in smaller form offering homage to Shiva, in a Vishnu temple there would be a smaller image of Shiva etc....but I dont think Shaivaites or Vaishnavites would be shocked. The comments on the Indology lists offers a fascinating study of how Indologists think and this is an example of how 'Eurocentric' Indology and Indologists are. The Indologist is probably directly or indirectly influenced of like how the Christian Europeans were shocked at first seeing the Pagan Hindus... - when making such inane comments. Since many Indian's lack a knowledge of European history and the circumstances under which Indology came into being they blindly accept the categories, methods and labels and apply it onto India and Indians, both ancient and present. This is especially true of Indian-born academics. Regards, Subrahmanya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 INDOLOGY, "subrahmanyas2000" <subrahmanyas@h...> wrote: > > I was amused to see this posting on "The Indology" list.... > http://listserv.liv.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa? > A2=ind0211&L=indology&D=1&O=D&F=P&S=&P=4080 > "I cannot imagine Brahmins in ancient times not being shocked to see > representations of tiny Indra and Brahma at the feet of imposingly > tall statues of the Buddha offering homage to him."..... > [...] > For eg: If one were to go a Shiva temple - there will be > images of a host of other deities in smaller form offering > homage to Shiva, In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, we find the reverse. The shiva in the garbhagrham (tiru-uNNAzhi) is rather small, but Vishnu sculptures are rather huge. Vishnu's names perumaaL 'big person/god' and neTiyOn2 'tall/great person' are revealing. >in a Vishnu temple there would be a smaller > image of Shiva etc....but I dont think Shaivaites or > Vaishnavites would be shocked. > Vishnu temples very rarely portray Shiva. Also, many have criticized the sectarian troubles between Shaivaites and Vaishnavaites. The Buddhist art and mounuments, in general, predates the development of Hindu temples and iconography. While Buddhists took a hit at Brahma or Indra, these gods are very minor in Hindu temples. Indeed, Brahma scuptures are very hard to find, so too is Indra, percentagewise. Regards, N. Ganesan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmsunder Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Vishnu is Vedic god Shiva is pre-vedic God Shiva - Muruga are the basic deity of Tamils which is the mother of all the south indian languages and historian says that there was a Lemooria continent which was in Pacific ocean(now submerged) where the language spoken was Tamil. You can see lots of historic tamil scholars (eg. Nakkeeran, Tholkappiars) verses on Shiva and Lord Muruga. Thats why you find lots of shiva temple in the south where the predominant religion is Saivam - whereas north indian adopt Vedic gods - mostly Vishnu. It is not important which god one worship - as long as they dont interfere in other believers. Kind of MF Husain paintings, this Hindu gods worshippings Buddha depiction are uncalledfor and not in good taste. You see, relegion preaches non-violence - whereas most of the war in history are for establishing a religion. Budhdha preached Love and Ahimsa - but you see the countries where Budhdha is worshiped now - Japan, China etc - they kill everything and eat - thats how they have understood buddhas philosophy. Thanks & regards vmsunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindu12 Posted October 27, 2007 Report Share Posted October 27, 2007 Vishnu is Vedic god Shiva is pre-vedic God Shiva - Muruga are the basic deity of Tamils which is the mother of all the south indian languages and historian says that there was a Lemooria continent which was in Pacific ocean(now submerged) where the language spoken was Tamil. You can see lots of historic tamil scholars (eg. Nakkeeran, Tholkappiars) verses on Shiva and Lord Muruga. Thats why you find lots of shiva temple in the south where the predominant religion is Saivam - whereas north indian adopt Vedic gods - mostly Vishnu. It is not important which god one worship - as long as they dont interfere in other believers. Kind of MF Husain paintings, this Hindu gods worshippings Buddha depiction are uncalledfor and not in good taste. You see, relegion preaches non-violence - whereas most of the war in history are for establishing a religion. Budhdha preached Love and Ahimsa - but you see the countries where Budhdha is worshiped now - Japan, China etc - they kill everything and eat - thats how they have understood buddhas philosophy. Thanks & regards vmsunder again another crock of bs vishnu and shiva (rudra) are both mentioned in the vedas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmsunder Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 again another crock of bs vishnu and shiva (rudra) are both mentioned in the vedas. hi intelligent fellow Who said Rudra is shiva and do u know the very first tamil literature by Nakkeerar which date back 2000 yrs is on Lord Muruga - Thirumurugatruppadai Hope u worship Lord Hayagreeva - who worships - admits worshipping Sree Lalitha Parameswari the wife of Kameswara shiva - where do u find Kameswara in Vedas - where do u find Lalitha in Vedas - do u mean ur Hayagreeva bluffed. Lalitha Sahasranamam was given to Saint Agasthiya by Hayagreeva only - just go thru Lalitha sahasranama and its meaning before concluding that shiva and rudras are same. Few lines Manipoorantha rudhitha - Vishnu kranthi Vibhedhini Aakgna Chakkraalandhastha - Rudra kranthi Vibhethini Sahasrarambuja rooda - sudha saraabhi varshidha when we just try to come out of story reading and contemplate on these tantric lines - lot of knowledge will dawn upon. Lalitha saharanamam is a treasure if we really seek truth beyond stories (of historic heroes - who at the end committed suicide) thats all I can say and moreover thats not my job either - I just started and have a long way to grow beyond those story hereos Thanks & regards vmsunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inedible Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 It is possible that I've got it completely wrong, but I thought that one of the nice things about Hinduism was that everyone was free to choose Shiva, Vishnu, or anyone else who happens to be their favorite. I seem to recall that somewhere in the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that if you are sincere in your devotion you belong to Him no matter who you choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayaMahaDevi Posted December 29, 2007 Report Share Posted December 29, 2007 again another crock of bs vishnu and shiva (rudra) are both mentioned in the vedas. No this person is right actually. Shiva did have pre-vedic ancient forms, just like Kali Maa. They were assimilated into the vedic religion. Rudra was the vedic god identified with Shiva. You can find a good article on this here>>> http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/formsofshiva/ And even still, why would you say anything that anyone believes is a crock of BS? That is seemingly very rude. Also if it is such a crock of BS, then where is your evidence to support such claims? Jut wondering... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadheRade1657 Posted December 30, 2007 Report Share Posted December 30, 2007 Krishna says in the Gita that no matter what form you worship Him (God... who can also be a Her, but in the case of the Gita is a Him) then it is that form that He will appear to you in in your dying moments. The Rig-Veda says, "God is one, but is called by many names." I think we can all take a lesson from these two statements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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