Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 144)

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Parts 1 to 143 were posted earlier. This is part 144. Your comments are welcome... Vivekananda Centre London

Earlier postings can be seen at http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm

 

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS

By Sister Gayatriprana

part 144

e) In Northern India the Masses Were Kept within the Fold of Hinduism at the Cost of New Thoughts and Aspirations

1. The Vedantic Movements under the Muslims Preached the Muslim Idea of the Equality of Human Beings

To the Muslim rule we owe that great blessing - the destruction of exclusive privilege. That rule was, after all, not all bad; and nothing is all good. The Muslim conquest of India came as a salvation to the downtrodden, to the poor. That is why one-fifth of our people have become Muslims. It was not the sword that did it all. It would be the height of madness to think it was all the work of sword and fire.(12)

The movements in northern India during the Muslim period are characterized by their uniform attempt to hold the masses back from joining the religion of the conquerors - which brought in its train social and spiritual equality for all.

The friars of the orders founded by Ramananda, Kabir, Dadu, Chaitanya or Nanak were all agreed in preaching the equality of human beings, however differing from each other in philosophy. Their energy was for the most part spent in checking the rapid conquest of Islam among the masses, and they had very little left to give birth to new thoughts and aspirations. Though evidently successful in their purpose of keeping the masses within the fold of the old religion, and tempering the fanaticism of the Muslims, they were mere apologists, struggling to obtain permission to live.(13)