barney

Vaishnavas, Shivaiats what is the difference? All prayers and rituals goes to the Supreme Being we call by many names. But here you claim to know everything while I am mundane yet you do not seem to understand a simple logic. Dividing the Hndus will not help you or anyone else. Are you saying Adhi Sankara was not a divine birth or that Buddha was mad man? Please search your heart, I know sometime your love for one manefestation alone would blind your vision of the jiwatma. You must spend time looking on both sides too. If you only look straight ahead and cross the road you are bound to meet with an accident. From young we have been thought to look left and right before crossing a road. I have a better idea, why don't you tell me which direction I should look and I will see if it is a clear path and may be I will explain later why I prefer to cal myself a hindu rather than a Vaishnava. The ball is in your court now.

Chapter Two Offensive War to Spread Islam Muhammad and his successors initiated offensive wars against peaceful countries in order to impose Islam by force as well as to seize the abundance of these lands. Their objective was to capture women and children and to put an end to the poverty and hunger from which Arab Muslims suffered. So, Islam was imposed upon Syria, Jordan, Palestine (Jerusalem), Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Iran, all of North Africa, some parts of India and China, and later Spain. Undoubtedly, the concept of an offensive war to spread the faith is a genuine Islamic concept; it is known as a Holy War for the sake of God. We will see what Muslim scholars have explicitly determined that this is the essence of Islam. They also indicate that if sufficient military power is available to Islamic countries, they ought to attack all other countries in order to force them to embrace Islam, or pay the poll tax and be subject to Islamic rule. Muhammad (as well as all the Caliphs who succeeded him) called for holy wars . All scholars and lawyers acknowledge that. Those who say that the Islamic wars were always defensive do not understand Islam and have not read sufficient history. It should be evident that offensive wars to spread Islam are the heart of the entire religion of Islam. They embody the meaning of "Striving for the cause of God"—holy war to make the Word of God supreme over the whole world. Our study will be filled with objective quotes from the statements of scholars, along with a throng of true stories. The Sayings and Deeds of Muhammad and His Companions One of Muhammad’s popular claims is that God commanded him to fight people until they become Muslims and carry out the ordinances of Islam. All Muslim scholars without exception agree on this. Muhammad said: "I have been ordered by God to fight with people till they bear testimony to the fact that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammed is his messenger, and that they establish prayer and pay Zakat (money). If they do it, their blood and their property are safe from me" (see Bukhari Vol. I, p. 13). Scholars understood this claim to mean the waging of offensive wars against unbelievers in order to force them to embrace Islam as individuals or communities. This is exactly what Muhammad himself did in carrying out God’s commandment to him. Azhar’s Scholars in Egypt In his book, "Jurisprudence in Muhammad’s Biography", the Azhar scholar, Dr. Muhammad Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti says the following (page 134, 7th edition): "The Holy War, as it is known in Islamic Jurisprudence, is basically an offensive war. This is the duty of Muslims in every age when the needed military power becomes available to them. This is the phase in which the meaning of Holy War has taken its final form. Thus the apostle of God said: ‘I was commanded to fight the people until they believe in God and his message ..."’ Dr. Buti deduces from Muhammad’s statement that this is the concept of offensive war—this is Holy War as it is known in Islamic jurisprudence. Notice by his statement also that this matter is a duty incumbent on every Muslim in every age. The time will come when East and West, as well as politicians and military personnel all over the world will realize that the real military danger is the Islamic community. When the needed military power becomes available to them, they will wage wars and invade other countries ! Saudi Scholars In his book, "The Method of Islamic Law", Dr. Muhammad al-Amin clearly indicates: "No infidel [unbeliever] should be left on his land as it is denoted from Muhammad’s statement: ‘I was commanded to fight the people¼ ’" This claim by Muhammad and its generally-accepted meaning are recorded not only by these contemporary scholars in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but are also quoted in the following sources: ° The Sahih of al-Bukhari, part I, p. 13. ° The Sahih of Muslim, part I, p. 267 (The Interpretation of the Nawawi). ° The Commentary of Ibn Kathir, p. 336 ° The Muhalla (the Sweetened), Vol. 4, p. 317 ° "The Ordinances of the Qur’an" by al-Shafi’i, p. 51, part II (on the authority of Abu Huraira). ° Mishkat of al-Masabih, part 1, p. 9. Almost all major Islamic references have quoted this statement because it is one of the most famous sayings of Muhammad which he followed and which he commanded his followers to implement. Many provocative and painful events were inflicted on individuals and tribes in the course of Muhammad’s life. Muhammad, as we will see, used to exhort his followers: "Invitation first (that is, call them first to embrace Islam). If they refuse, then war." In other words, he told his followers not to kill anybody unless you first invite him to embrace Islam. Only if he rejects it, must he be killed. This is evident in the story of Abu Sufyan: When Muhammad and his followers were about to attack Mecca to subjugate it to Islam, his adherents arrested Abu Sufyan, one of Mecca’s inhabitants. They brought him to Muhammad. Muhammad told him: "Woe to you, O Abu Sufyan. Is it not time for you to realize that there is no God but the only God?" Abu Sufyan answered: "I do believe that." Muhammad then said to him: "Woe to you, O Abu Sufyan. Is it not time for you to know that I am the apostle of God?" Abu Sufyan answered: "By God, O Muhammad, of this there is doubt in my soul." The ’Abbas who was present with Muhammad told Abu Sufyan: "Woe to you! Accept Islam and testify that Muhammad is the apostle of God before your neck is cut off by the sword." Thus he professed the faith of Islam and became a Muslim. There are many sources which record this story: ° Ibn Hisham, part 4, p. 11 ("Biography of the Prophet’) ° "The Chronicle of the Tabari", part 2, p. 157 ° Ibn Kathir, "The Prophetic Biography", part 3, p. 549, and "The Beginning and the End" ° Ibn Khaldun, the rest of part 2, p. 43 and on ° Al-Sira al-Halabiyya, Vol. 3. p. 18 ° Al Road Al Anf, part 4, p. 90, by Al Sohaily It is also mentioned and attested to by contemporary scholars such as Dr. Buti in his book, "The Jurisprudence of Muhammad’s Biography", p. 277. He repeated it on page 287 because such stories incite the admiration of the Buti and bring him joy. Yet Dr. Buti feels that some people will protest, especially liberals and the civilized international society, who believe that faith in a certain creed ought not to be imposed by the threat of death. Therefore, he said (p. 287) the following: "It may be said, ‘What is the value of a faith in Islam which is a result of a threat? Abu Sufyan, one moment ago, was not a believer, then he believed after he was threatened by death.’ We say to those who question: ‘What is required of an infidel or the one who confuses other gods with God, is to have his tongue surrender to the religion of God and to subdue himself to the prophethood of Muhammad. But his heartfelt faith is not required at the beginning. It will come later."’ This is God in Islam, my dear friends—a God who is satisfied with the testimony of the tongue of a person who is under the threat of death. But "the heartfelt faith" will come later! The important thing is to increase the number of Muslims either by threat or by propagation! Dr. Buti was more than frank, and we would like to thank him for that, yet we would like to tell him that Christianity rejects the testimony of the mouth if it does not stem from faith that is rooted in the heart first. In Christianity, a person has sufficient time to think quietly before he makes his decision, as the Gospel says: "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5). God reveals His attitude in the Bible when He says: "My son, give me your heart" (Prov. 23:26). When the Ethiopian eunuch expressed his desire to be baptized, the evangelist Philip told him: "If you believe with all your heart, you may" (Acts 8:37). God even rebukes the people of Israel and says: "These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me" (Isa. 29:13). The story of Abu Sufyan reveals clearly that Muhammad does not care much about the faith of the heart, especially at the beginning, as Dr. Buti suggests. What is really important is that professing faith is a natural response to the threat of death. The threat is very clear: Testify that Muhammad is the apostle of God or you will be beheaded. The story concludes: Abu Sufyan professed the testimony of "truth" immediately! In his book, "The Biography of the Apostle", part 4, Ibn Hisham says (page 134): "Muhammad sent Khalid Ibn al-Walid to the tribe of the children of Haritha and told him: ‘Call them to accept Islam before you fight with them. If they respond, accept that from them, but if they refuse, fight them.’ Khalid told them: ‘Accept Islam and spare your life.’ They entered Islam by force. He brought them to Muhammad. Muhammad said to them: ‘Had you not accepted Islam I would have cast your heads under your feet"’ (refer to page 134, and also see Al Road Al Anf, part 4, pp. 217, 218. You will find the same incident). We see in this story the main Islamic concept: First, an invitation to accept Islam, then war against those who refuse to do so. This was Muhammad’s order to Khalid Ibn al-Walid. It is also noteworthy to examine Ibn Hisham’s statement that "they entered Islam by force." Muhammad himself told them later: "Had you rejected Islam, I would have beheaded you and cast your heads under your feet." This was an undisputed threat: Either they accepted Islam or they would have been beheaded. The brutal irony is that he uttered these words with ruthlessness and relentlessness instead of congratulating them on their new faith! What a strange man who failed to show any love or genuine compassion. His act was an act of a first-class terrorist. He did not congratulate them because he knew that they entered Islam by force. Is this man really the prophet of freedom, compassion, and human rights? Listen carefully! These oppressive attitudes and actions are as clear as the sun on a bright summer day. Muhammad’s words are self-explanatory: "Had you not accepted Islam I would have beheaded you and cast your heads under your feet!" What human rights! What compassionate, kind, meek and noble characters! Undoubtedly, this alone is enough to uncover the dreadful dark side of Muhammad’s character and his religion. Azhar scholar Dr. Buti adds on p. 263 of his book: "The apostle of God started to send military detachments from among his followers to the various Arab tribes which were scattered in the Arab Peninsula to carry out the task of calling (these tribes) to accept Islam If they did not respond, they would kill them. That was during the 7th Higira year. The number of the detachments amounted to ten." Would God’s help be sought, Oh Muhammad, to fight peaceful tribes whose only crime was that they could not believe that you are an apostle of God? Satan (not God) assists wicked people to commit these things! No wonder all these tribes so quickly became apostate and relinquished Islam after the death of Muhammad. Abu Bakr Al Sadiq waged the aforementioned wars to force them to re-embrace Islam. Dr. Buti states this in chapter six of his book, under the title, "New Phase of the Mission". He quotes a statement made by Muhammad which proves that those wars were offensive wars. Muhammad said, "From now on, they will not invade you, but you will invade them." Now let us see what Muhammad’s followers did who implemented the same principle: Ali Ibn Abi Talib In his book, "The Biography of the Prophet" (part 3, p. 113), Ibn Hisham relates this episode: "Ali Ibn Abi Talib encountered a man called ’Umru and told him, ‘I indeed invite you to Islam.’ ’Umru said, ‘I do not need that.’ ’Ali said, ‘Then I call you to fight.’ (This was the same policy Muhammad used with those who rejected his invitation.) ’Umru answered him, ‘What for my nephew? By God, I do not like to kill you.’ ’Ali said, ‘But, by God, I love to kill you"’ (see Al Road Al Anf part 3, p. 263). It is obvious from the dialogue that ’Umru does not like fighting because he does not want to kill ’Ali while he is defending himself. He wonders, "What for? I do not want to embrace Islam." But ’Ali says to him, "By God I love to kill you," and he did kill him. We would like to conclude these stories by relating another moving episode which the Muslim Chroniclers recorded, among them, Isma’il Ibn Kathir in his book, "The Prophetic Biography" (part 3, p. 596). Ibn Kathir says that Muhammad’s followers met a man and asked him to become a Muslim. He asked them, "What is Islam?" They explained that to him. He said, "What if I refuse it? What would you do to me?" They answered, "We would kill you." Despite that, he refused to become a Muslim and they killed the poor man after he went and bade his wife farewell. She continued to weep over his corpse for days until she died of grief over her slain beloved who was killed for no reason. Dr. ’Afifi Abdul-Fattah On the cover of his famous book, "The Spirit of Islamic Religion," which was reprinted more than nine times, it says the following, "It has been revised by the committee of Azhar scholars with introductions made by the greatest Muslim professors and judges of Islamic legal courts." On page 382 Dr. ’Afifi says: "Islam has approved war so that the Word of God becomes supreme. This is war for the cause of God (Holy War). Muhammad, therefore, sent his ambassadors to eight kings and princes in the neighborhood of the Arab Peninsula to call them to embrace Islam. They rejected his call. Thus, it became incumbent on the Muslims to fight them." On page 384, we read the following: "Islamic law demands that before Muslims start fighting infidels (unbelievers), they first deliver the message of Islam to them. It was proven that the prophet never fought people before he called them to embrace Islam first. He used to command his generals to do so also." Dr. ’Afifi (along with the Azhar scholars who revised his book) boasts that the prophet never fought anybody before he called them to Islam first! Those people fail to realize that human rights emphasize that when you call people to embrace any religion and they refuse to do so, you must leave them alone! You are not to fight them in order to force them to accept the new religion as Muhammad and his followers did. We did not say that Muhammad did not call them to believe in Islam first. We acknowledge that, but we blame him because whenever they rejected his invitation, he fought and killed them Are these the human rights? Don’t you understand, Dr. ’Afifi? Do Muhammad’s teachings make you so blind that you fail to see the simplest principles of human rights? Do you not respect man’s freedom to believe in whatever he wants? Muhammad had the right to call people to embrace Islam and to commission Khalid along with his followers to carry out this task; but he did not have the right to kill them if they refused to accept Islam. Dr. ’Afifi says that eight kings and princes declined to accept Muhammad’s mission; thus it was incumbent on the Muslims to fight them. We ask him: Why it was incumbent on them to fight those kings and princes? Is their refusal to accept Islam a reason for the Muslims to fight them? "Yes!" This is what all Muslim scholars say, without exception. Let the people of the West and of the East ponder these events which took place in the course of Islamic history and during the life of Muhammad and after his death. Beware, nations of the world, for any strong Islamic country would implement the same policy of war to obey God’s order and his messenger! !

Did I say that you are a fool? Thousand apologies. The messages I post are for all Hindus be thy Krishan, Vishnu, Shiva, Sakthi, Ganesha and Murugan. Your idea is to seperate your belief from Hinduism which true Hindus would not accept. Why, I never knew a man of your calibre would retaliate in such a manner? Praising Krishna or Vishnu alone is not enough but you must know the essance of their spoken words. I repeat again, if I have said such please forgive me coz I realize that i am the fool here. May the Grace of God be with you.

Hinduism and Sri Ramakrishna By Swami Vivekananda (Translated from Bengali).` The foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa By the word ‘Shastras’ (scriptures) the Vedas without beginning or end are meant. In matters of religious duty the Vedas are the only capable authority. The Puranas and other religious scriptures are all denoted by the word ‘Smriti’. And their authority goes so far as they follow the Vedas and do not contradict them. Truth is of two kinds: (1) that which is cognisable by the five ordinary senses of man, and by reasonings based thereon; (2) that which is cognisable by the subtle, super-sensuous power of Yoga. Knowledge acquired by the first means is called science; and knowledge acquired by the second is called the Vedas. The whole body of super sensuous truths, having no beginning or end, and called by the name of Vedas, is ever existent. The Creator Himself is creating, preserving and destroying the universe with the help of these truths. The person in whom this super-sensuous power is manifested is called a Rishi, and the super-sensuous truths, which he realises by this power, are called the Vedas. This Rishihood, this power of super-sensuous perception of the Vedas, is real religion. And so long as this does not develop in the life of an initiate, so long is religion a mere empty word to him, and it is to be understood that he has not taken yet the first step in religion. The authority of the Vedas extends to all ages, climes and persons; that is to say, their application is not confined to any particular place, time and persons. The Vedas are the only exponent of the universal religion. Although the super sensuous vision of truths is to be met with in some measure in our Puranas and Itihasas (history) and in the religious scriptures of other races, still the fourfold scripture known among the Aryan race as the Vedas being the first, the most complete, and the most undistorted collection of spiritual truths, deserve to occupy the highest place among all scriptures, command the respect of all nations of the earth, and furnish the rationale of all their respective scriptures. With regard to the whole Vedic collection of truths discovered by the Aryan race, this also has to be understood that those portions alone which do not refer to purely secular matters and which do not merely record tradition or history, or merely provide incentives to duty, form the Vedas in the real sense. The Vedas are divided into two portions, the Jnana-Kanda (knowledge portion) and the Karma-kanda (ritual portion). The ceremonies and the fruits of the Karma-kanda are confined within the limits of the world of Maya, and therefore they have been undergoing and will undergo transformation according to the law of change, which operates through time, space, and personality. Social laws and customs likewise, being based on this Karma-kanda, have been changing and will continue to change hereafter. Minor social usages also will be recognised and accepted when they are compatible with the spirit of the true scriptures and the conduct and example of holy sages. But blind allegiance only to usages such as are repugnant to the spirit of the Shastras and the conduct of holy sages has been one of the main causes of the downfall of the Aryan race. It is the Jnana-kanda or the Vedanta only that has for all time commanded recognition for leading men across Maya (the deluding potency of the Lord) and bestowing salvation on them through the practice of Yoga, Bhakti (devotion), Jnana (knowledge), or selfless work; and as its validity and authority remain unaffected by any limitations of time, place or persons, it is the only exponent of the universal and eternal religion for all mankind. The Samhitas of Manu and other sages, following the lines laid down in the Karma-kanda, have mainly ordained rules of conduct conducive to social welfare, according to the exigencies of time, place, and persons. The Puranas etc., have taken up the truths imbedded in the Vedanta and have explained them in detail in the course of describing the exalted life and deeds of Avataras and others. They have each emphasised, besides, some out of the infinite aspects of the Divine Lord to teach men about them. But when by the process of time, fallen from the true ideals and rules of conduct and devoid of the spirit of renunciation, addicted only to blind usages, and degraded in intellect, the descendants of the Aryans failed to appreciate even the spirit of these Puranas etc., which taught men of ordinary intelligence the abstruse truths of the Vedanta in concrete form and diffuse language and appeared antagonistic to one another on the surface, because of each inculcating with special emphasis only particular aspects of the spiritual ideal. And when, as a consequence, they reduced India, the fair land of religion, to a scene of almost infernal confusion by breaking up piecemeal the one Eternal Religion of the Vedas (Sanatana Dharma), the grand synthesis of all the aspects of the spiritual ideal, into conflicting sects and by seeking to sacrifice one another in the flames of sectarian hatred and intolerance. Then it was that Sri Bhagavan Ramakrishna incarnated himself in India, to demonstrate what the true religion of the Aryan race is; to show where amidst all its many divisions and offshoots, scattered over the land in the course of its immemorial history, lies the true unity of the Hindu religion, which by its overwhelming number of sects discordant to superficial view, quarrelling constantly with each other and abounding in customs divergent in every way, has continued itself a misleading enigma for our countrymen and the butt of contempt for foreigners; and above all, to hold up before men, for their lasting welfare, as a living embodiment of the Sanatan Dharma, his own wonderful life into which he infused the universal spirit, and character of this Dharma, so long cast into oblivion by the process of time. In order to show how the Vedic truths- eternally existent as the instrument with the Creator in His work of creation, preservation, and dissolution- reveal themselves spontaneously in the minds of the Rishis purified from all impressions of worldly attachment, and because such verification and confirmation of the scriptural truths will help the revival, reinstatement, and spread of religion- the Lord, though the very embodiment of the Vedas, in this His new incarnation has thoroughly discarded all external forms of learning. That the Lord incarnated again and again in human form for the protection of the Vedas or the true religion, and of Brahminhood or the ministry of that religion- is a doctrine well established in the Puranas etc. The waters of the river falling in a cataract acquire greater velocity, the rising wave after a hollow swells higher; so after every spell of decline, the Aryan society recovering from all the evils by the merciful dispensation of Providence has risen the more glorious and powerful- such is the testimony of history. After rising from every fall, our revived society is expressing more and more its innate eternal perfection, and so also the omnipresent Lord in each successive incarnation is manifesting Himself more and more. Again and again has our country fallen into a swoon, as it were, and again and again has India’s Lord, by the manifestation of Himself, revivified her. But greater than the present deep dismal night, now almost over, no pall of darkness had ever before enveloped this holy land of ours. And compared with the depth of this fall, all previous falls appear like little hoof-marks. Therefore, before the effulgence of this new awakening, the glory of all past revivals in her history will pale like stars before the rising sun; and compared with this mighty manifestation of renewed strength, all the many past epochs of such restoration will be as child’s play. The various constituent ideals of the Religion Eternal, during its present state of decline, have been lying scattered here and there for want of competent men to realise them- some being preserved partially among small sects and some completely lost. But strong in the strength of this new spiritual renaissance, men, after reorganising these scattered and disconnected spiritual ideals, will be able to comprehend and practise them in their own lives and also to recover from oblivion those that are lost. And as the sure pledge of this glorious future, the all-merciful Lord has manifested in the present age, as stated above, an incarnation which in point of completeness in revelation, its synthetic harmonising of all ideals, and its promoting of every sphere of spiritual culture, surpasses the manifestations of all past ages. So at the very dawn of this momentous epoch, the reconciliation of all aspects and ideals of religious thought and worship is being proclaimed; this boundless, all-embracing idea had been lying inherent, but so long concealed, in the Religion Eternal and its scriptures, and now rediscovered, it is being declared to humanity in a trumpet voice. This epochal new dispensation is the harbinger of great good to the whole world, specially to India; and the inspirer of this dispensation, Sri Bhagavan Ramakrishna, is the reformed and remodelled manifestation of all the past great epoch-makers in religion. O man, have faith in this, and lay it to heart. The dead never return; the past night does not reappear; the spent-up tidal wave does not rise anew; neither does man inhabit the same body over again. So from the worship of the dead past, O man, we invite you to the worship of the living present; from the regretful brooding over bygones, we invite you to the activities of the present; from the waste of energy in retracing lost and demolished pathways, we call you back to broad new-laid highways lying very near. He that is wise, let him understand. Of that power, which at the very first impulse has roused distant echoes from all the four quarters of the globe, conceive in your mind the manifestation in its fullness; and discarding all idle misgivings, weaknesses, and the jealousies characteristic of enslaved peoples, come and help in the turning of this mighty wheel of new dispensation! With the conviction firmly rooted in your heart that you are the servants of the Lord, His children, helpers in the fulfilment of His purpose, enter the arena of work. ===================================

I do my best to protect my religion with the limited knowledge I have of my religion. I really feel sorry for the dalits. They have been vicitmized and it is the duty of every Hindu to make ammendments. I hear many stories of Hindus explointing this race and many have suffered and are suffereing for generations. I hope and pray in their next birth God qould be kind to them. I know there are evil Hindu landlords and tyrants who mistreat this poor souls and one day they will pay for their cruel act. We must always remmeber that others may not be watching our bad deeds but we cannot escape the watchful eyes of GOD.

Can you understand it now? Cain and able had a sister and from than on the populaion exploded.

I may be dull but looks like you are ignorant. Blinded by your own ignorant. Because "YOU ASK FOR IT"

I do not know where you got the notion that race and religon are one. Hinduism is a way of life thought to us by great rishis and our forefathers have been following for genaration after genaration withour knowing the true meaning of it. Yes I agree that some selfcentered bramins have exploited the so call non bramins because they have kept the Vedas as a secret document only to be view and read by bramins. The truth is all Indians are bramins by birth but due to the ignorance they have been divided not by religion but by race. Any one who follows strictly to the agamas is a bramin if not he falls under the catogary of a mundane. Or in plain language a dalit. Why do the bramins call you the untouchable that is because of you behaviour and practice. The dalits are not vegetrains, they do not read or understand the vedas. There is no other reason except for this. You and your people must change your ways and God willing in the next generation you will be automatically branded as bramins. If you do not understand this than I feel sorry for you and your people. The Muslims of the middle east were nomads of the desert in Pre-Islamic period. They were robbers and rapist. The most viscious and barbaric kind of people this Arabs were once. Although they had a certain kind of religious movement yet they were heartless human being ever to live next to the Tartars and Vikings of Europe. It was after Islam and ivasion of India that they began to educated themself and the strict laws of their religin could curtail their barbaric behaviour yet it runs in their gene that is why todaya we see them killing innocent lives around the world with their jihad. The Christians too are not as innocent as they look today. History wil tell us how they killed the tribes of south America just because they had no knowledge of the Christian religion. How they brought the Africans as slaves to their country to work their farm and serve them. They believed that black is evil and so they must be treated like animals. You have been painted a beautiful picture of this two religion but the truth is that they were real morons who believed that they were the chosen race by God and that the res were all evil people. Open your eyes and you will know the truth.

Any fool will know God is one but manifestation any many. Brahma, Vishnu, Sadhashiva hara, hara, hara, Mahadeva. If you cannot undestand this formula than I would say you are half baked pundit. It is up to an individual which form he wishes to focus on. All prayers and rituals to any form will reach the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and all prevailing Supreme Being we call GOD. Being born a human is the greatest gift a soul had received and it is like a doorway to the celestial world and if you do not, I repeat if you do not understand this simple formula I am sorry to say you passage will be delayed may be another few more birth before you realize the truth.

Why do you believe that you are born of your father? Is so because that you mother told you? Do you believe your mother that she is telling the truth? Think again coz there may be not may be yes but it is up to you to believe it or not. If you believe than he is you father if not than there is a BG question mark.

EMANCIPATION From The Mahabharata Aswamedha Parva, Section XVII Translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguli Vasudeva said: Touching the feet of that sage (Brahmana), Kasyapa asked him some questions that were exceedingly difficult to answer. That foremost of all righteous persons then discoursed on those duties that were referred to. Kasyapa said: How does one become emancipated after passing through a repeated round of painful births? How does Jiva (embodied soul), freed from the body, attain to what is different from it (viz., Brahman or Supreme Reality)? Where do the acts exist of one that is devoid of body? Urged by Kasyapa, the emancipated sage answered those questions one after another. The Brahmana said: Whatever acts, good or bad, Jiva does in a former body, have certainly to be enjoyed or endured by him. By such enjoyment and endurance former acts are exhausted, and other acts, again, accumulate, till Jiva has succeeded in acquiring a knowledge of the duties included in that contemplation which leads to Emancipation. Regarding this, I shall tell thee those acts by which Jiva, while coursing through a repeated round of re-births, becomes happy. Gifts, observances of austerity, Brahmacharya (celibacy), bearing Brahman according to the ordinances laid down, self-restraint, tranquillity, compassion for all creatures, restraint of passions, abstentions from cruelty as from appropriating what belongs to others, refraining from doing even mentally all acts that are false and injurious to living creatures on earth, reverently serving mother and father, honouring deities and guests, worship of preceptors, pity, purity, constant restraint of all organs, and causing of all good acts, are said to constitute the conduct of the good. From observance of such conduct arises Righteousness which protects all creatures eternally. Such conduct, one would always behold among persons that are good. Verily, such conduct resides there eternally. That course of practices to which persons of tranquil souls adhere indicates Righteousness. Among them is thrown that course of practices which constitutes eternal Righteousness. He who would betake himself to that righteousness would never have to attain to a miserable end. It is by the conduct of the good that the world is restrained in the paths of Righteousness when it falls away. He that is a Yogi is Emancipated, and is therefore, distinguished above these (viz., the good). Deliverance from the world takes place, after a long time, of one who acts righteously and well in every occasion as he should. A living creature thus always meets with the acts done by him in a former life. All these acts constitute the cause in consequence of which he comes into this world in a state different from his true form. There is a doubt in the world as regards the question: ‘By what was the acceptance by Jiva of a body first determined’? The Grandsire of all the worlds, viz., Brahma having first formed a body of his own, then created the three worlds, in their entirety, of mobile and immobile creatures. Having first himself assumed a body, he then created Pradhana. That Pradhana is the material cause of all embodied creatures, by whom is all this covered and whom all came to know as the highest. This that is seen is said to be destructible; while the other is immortal and indestructible. This that (is seen) is said to be Kshara (the destructible); that, however, which is Para (the other) is the Immortal, (as also) Akshra (the indestructible). Of each Purusha taken distributively, the whole is duality among these three. Seen first (to appear in an embodied form) Prajapati (then) created all the primal elements and all immobile creatures. Even this is the ancient audition. Of that (acceptance of body), the Grandsire ordained a limit in respect of time, and migrations among diverse creatures and return or rebirth. All that I say is proper and correct, like to what a person who is endued with intelligence and who has seen his soul, would say on this topic of previous births. That person who looks upon pleasure and pain as inconstant, which, indeed, is the correct view, who regards the body as an unholy conglomeration, and destruction as ordained in action, and who remembers that what little of pleasure there is, is really all pain, will succeed in crossing this terrible ocean of worldly migration that is so difficult to cross. Though assailed by decrepitude and death and disease, he that understands Pradhana beholds with an equal eye that Consciousness which dwells in all beings endued with consciousness. Seeking the supreme seat, he then becomes utterly indifferent to all other things. O best of men, I shall now impart instruction to thee, agreeably to truth, concerning this. Do thou, O learned Brahmana, understand in completeness that which constitutes the excellent knowledge, as I declare it, of that indestructible seat. The Brahmana said: He who become absorbed in the one receptacle (of all things), freeing himself from even the thought of his own identity with all things, - indeed, ceasing to think of even his own existence, - gradually casting off one after another, will succeed in crossing his bonds. [Note: Without even retaining the consciousness of his own identity with everything. Not even thinking that he is existing. The Sanskrit wordings ‘purvam purvam parityajya’ implies the gradual merging of the grosser in the subtler, i.e., the successive stages of Yoga before absorption into Brahman.] That man who is the friend of all, who endures all, who is attached to tranquillity, who has conquered all his senses, who is divested of fear and wrath, and who is of restrained soul, succeeds in emancipating himself. He who behaves towards all creatures as towards himself, who is restrained, pure, free from vanity and divested of egoism is regarded as emancipated from everything. He also is emancipated who looks with an equal eye upon life and death. Pleasure and pain, gain and loss, agreeable and disagreeable. He is in every way emancipated who does not covet what belongs to others, who never disregards any body, who transcends all pairs of opposites, and whose soul is free from attachment. He is emancipated who has no enemy, no kinsman and no child, who has cast off religion, wealth and pleasure (Dharma, Artha, Kama), and who is freed from desire or cupidity. He becomes emancipated who acquires neither merit nor demerit, who casts off the merits and demerits accumulated in previous births, who wastes the elements of his body for attaining to a tranquillised soul, and who transcends all pairs of opposites. He who abstains from all acts, who is free from desire or cupidity, who looks upon the universe as unenduring or as like an Aswattha tree, ever endued with birth, death and decrepitude, whose understanding is fixed on renunciation, and whose eyes are always directed towards his own faults, soon succeeds in emancipating himself from the bonds that bind him. He that sees his soul void of smell, of taste and touch, of sounds, of belongings, of vision, and unknowable, becomes emancipated. [Note: The Soul being destitute of these Chinmatra, i.e., a pure Chit without the attributes superinduced upon it by Nescience or ignorance.] He who sees his soul devoid of the attributes of the five elements to be without form and cause, to be really destitute of attributes though enjoying them, becomes emancipated. [Note: Formlessness implies subtlety. ‘Without cause’ implies increate or as identical with eternal Brahman. Dissociation from attributes while enjoying them implies an emancipate condition,] Abandoning with the aid of understanding, all purposes relating to body and mind, one gradually attains to cessation of separate existence, like a fire unfed with fuel. [Note: The Sanskrit word Nirvana, according to orthodox commentators, implies the annihilation or cessation of separate or individual existence by absorption into universal and external Brahman.] One who is freed from all impressions, who transcends all pairs of opposites, who is destitute of all belongings, and who uses all his senses under the guidance of penances, becomes emancipated. [Note: The impressions caused by objects outside self are destroyed by those belonging to contemplation. The latter, again, should be destroyed before absorption into Brahman can occur.] Having become freed from all impressions, one then attains to Brahman which is eternal and supreme, and tranquil, and stable, and enduring, and indestructible. After this I shall declare the science of Yoga to which there is nothing superior, or how Yogis, by concentration, behold the perfect soul. I shall declare the instructions regarding it duly. Do thou learn from me, those doors by which directing the soul within the body one beholds that which is without beginning and end. Withdrawing the senses from their objects, one should fix the mind upon the soul; having previously undergone the severest austerities, one should practice that concentration of mind that leads to Emancipation. [Note: ‘Fixing the mind upon the soul’ is that concentration which leads to Emancipation. This becomes possible in consequence of severe austerities undergone previously.] Observant of penances and always practising concentration of mind, the learned Brahmana, endued with intelligence, should observe the precepts of the science of Yoga, beholding the soul in the body. If the good man succeeds in concentrating the mind on the soul, he then, habituated to exclusive meditation, beholds the Supreme Soul in his own soul. Self-restrained and always concentrated, and with all his senses completely conquered, the man of cleansed soul, in consequence of such complete concentration of mind, succeeds in beholding the soul by the soul. As a person beholding some unseen individual in a dream recognizes him, saying – This is he,- when he sees him after waking, after the same manner the good man having seen the Supreme Soul in the deep contemplation of Samadhi recognises it upon waking from samadhi. [Note: Having seen the Supreme Soul in Samadhi, upon waking from it, he recognises it in the universe, i.e., regards the universe to be nothing else than the Supreme Soul.] As one beholds the fibrous pith after extracting it from a blade of the Saccharum Munja, even so the Yogi beholds the soul, extracting it from the body. The body has been called the Saccharum munja, and the fibrous pith is said to stand for the soul. This is the excellent illustration propounded by persons conversant with Yoga. When the bearer of a body adequately beholds the soul in Yoga, he then has no one that is master over him, for he then becomes the lord of the three worlds. He succeeds in assuming diverse bodies according as he wishes. Turning away decrepitude and death, he neither grieves nor exults. The self-restrained man, concentrated in Yoga, can create (for himself) the godship of the very gods. Casting off his transient body he attains to immutable Brahman. No fear springs up in him at even the sight of all creatures falling victims to destruction (before his eyes). When all creatures are afflicted, - he can never be afflicted by any one. Devoid of desire and possessed of tranquil mind, the person in Yoga is never shaken by pain and sorrow and fear, the terrible effects that flow from attachment and affection. Weapons never pierce him; death does not exist for him. Nowhere in the world can be seen any one that is happier than he. Having adequately concentrated his soul, he lives steadily on himself. Turning off decrepitude and pain and pleasure, he sleeps in comfort. Casting off this human body he attains to (other) forms according to his pleasure. While one is enjoying the sovereignty that Yoga bestows, one should never fall away from devotion to Yoga [Note: One should not fall away from the practice of Yoga, tempted by the puissance that Yoga brings.] When one, after adequate devotion to Yoga, beholds the Soul in oneself, one then ceases to have any regard for even him of a hundred sacrifices (Indra). [Note: The scholar and commentator Nilakantha notes that this indicates that only that Yogi who has not advanced much may be tempted by the desire of enjoyment. He, however, who has adequately devoted himself to Yoga feels no regard for Indra (the king of gods) himself.] Hear now how one, habituating oneself to exclusive meditation, succeeds in attaining to Yoga. Thinking of that point of the compass that has the sun behind it, the mind should be fixed, not outside, but in the interior of that mansion in which one may happen to live. Residing within that mansion, the mind should then, with all its outward and inward (operations), behold in that particular room in which one may stay. At that time, when, having deeply meditated, one beholds the All (viz., Brahman, the Soul of the universe), there is then nothing external to Brahman where the mind may dwell. Restraining all the senses in a forest that is free from noise and that is uninhabited, with mind fixed thereon, one should meditate on the All (or universal Brahman) both outside and inside one’s body. One should meditate on the teeth, the palate, the tongue, the neck likewise; one should also meditate on the heart and the ligatures of the heart. {Note: ‘That point of the compass which has the Sun behind it’ means the instructions laid down in the Vedanta as based upon Srutis. Sanskrit words such as Pura implies a city, a citadel, or a mansion. Here it refers to the body. The Avastha within the pura refers to the Chakra or nervous centres beginning with what is called Muladhara. At the time when Brahman is realised, the whole universe appears as Brahman and so nothing exists, besides Brahman, upon which the mind can then dwell.] The Brahmana continued: thus addressed by me, that intelligent disciple once more asked me about this religion of Emancipation that is so difficult to explain. How does this food that is eaten from time to time become digested in the stomach? How does it become transformed into juice? How, again, into blood? How does it nourish the flesh, the marrow, the sinews, the bones? How do all these limbs of embodied creatures grow? How does the strength grow of the growing man? How occurs the escape of all such elements as are not nutritive, and of all impurities separately? How does this one inhale and again, exhale? Staying upon what particular part does the Soul dwell in the body? How does Jiva, exerting himself, bear the body? Of what colour and of what kind is the body in which he dwells again (leaving a particular body)? O holy one, it behoveth thee to tell me all this accurately. O sinless one, - even thus was I interrogated by that learned Brahmana. I replied unto him after the manner I myself had heard. As one placing some precious object in one’s store-room should keep one’s mind on it, so, placing the mind within one’s own body, one should then, restraining all the senses, seek after the Soul, avoiding all heedlessness. One would, becoming always assiduous in this way and gratified with one’s own self, within a very short time attain to that Brahman by beholding which one would become conversant with Pradhana (that from which the entire universe has been created.) He is not capable of being seized by the eye; nor even by all the senses. It is only with the lamp of the mind that great Soul can be seen. He has hands and feet on all sides; he has ears on all sides; he dwells, pervading all things in the world. {Note: This answers the question respecting the form of the soul.] Jiva (embodied soul) beholds the Soul as extracted from the body (like the stalk from a blade of Saccharum Munja, when knowledge comes). Then casting off Brahman invested with form, by holding the mind in the body, he beholds Brahman as freed from all attributes. [Note: The ascension of the Yogi from Brahman vested with attributes to Brahman divested of all attributes. The Tam refers Brahma as endued with hands and feet on all sides, etc.] He sees the Soul with his mind, smiling as it were at the time. Depending upon that Brahman, he then attains to Emancipation in Supreme Brahman. Addressing Arjuna, Vasudeva (Krishna) said: That best of Brahmana, O son of Pritha, having said these words unto me, on that occasion, properly relating to the religion of Emancipation, disappeared then and there. Has this discourse been heard by thee, O son of Pritha, with mind directed solely towards it? Even this was what thou didst hear on that occasion while thou wert on the chariot (in the middle of the two armies in the battle-field of Kurukshetra). It is my opinion, O son of Pritha (Arjuna), that this is difficult of being comprehended by one whose understanding is confused, or who has acquired no wisdom by study, or who eats food incompatible with his body, or whose soul is not purified. O chief of Bharata’s race, this is a great mystery among the deities that has been declared (to thee). At no time or place, O son of Pritha, has this been heard by man in this world. O sinless one, no other man than thyself is deserving of hearing it. It is not, at this time, capable of being easily understood by one whose inner soul is confused. The world of the deities is filled, O son of Kunti, with those who follow the religion of actions. The cessation of the mortal form (by practising the religion of inaction) is not agreeable to the deities. [Note: Heaven is the reward for those who follow the religion of Pravritti or acts, such as sacrifices, religious observances, etc. The followers, however, of the religion of Nivritti or inaction, i.e., they who betake themselves to the path of knowledge, become emancipated. The deities derive their sustenance from the former and become even jealous of the latter, for the emancipate state is higher than that of the deities themselves. For more details on ‘Pravritti-Nivritti’ see the column on the left] That goal, O son of Pritha, is the highest which is constituted by eternal Brahman where, one, casting off the body, attains to immortality and becomes always happy. By adhering to this religion, even they who are of sinful birth, such as women and Vaisyas and Sudras, attain to the highest goal. What need be said then, O son of Pritha, of Brahmanas and Kshatriyas possessed of great learning, always devoted to the duties of their own orders and who are intent on (the acquisition of) the religion of Brahman? This has been laid down with the reasons (on which it rests); and also the means for its acquisition; and its complete attainment and fruit, viz., Emancipation and ascertainment of the truth regarding pain. O chief of Bharata’s race, there is nothing else that is fraught with happiness greater than this. That mortal, O son of Pandu, who, endued with intelligence, and faith, and prowess, renounces as unsubstantial what is regarded as substantial by the world, succeeds within a short time in obtaining the Supreme by these means. This is all that is to be said,- there is nothing else that is higher than this. Yoga takes place in his case, O son of Pritha, who devotes himself to its constant practice for a period of six months.

This is no caste ground. Here we discuse about our religion to gain knowledge on how to make this world a paradise for all living being. So, please confine your quries to religion. Sorry, but a line must be drawn here. Caste has always divided the people of India and I hope the Indian government will ban all caste base associations in order to unite the people of India.

Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood? I Don’t Think So! By Rev. G. R. Gaudreau -- There’s an ongoing debate between Christians and Sceptics concerning the Eucharist, sometimes referred to as the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Sceptics, generally speaking, charge that it’s cannibalism and Christians argue that it’s not. My opinion in this matter is twofold: As far as Roman Catholicism is concerned, I maintain that it’s outright cannibalism, because of the literal way they interpret the Eucharist passages in the NT. But a lot of Christians believe that Jesus’ words were to be taken symbolically, ergo, I maintain that these last are practicing symbolic cannibalism. The most oft quoted passage, where this doctrine is concerned, is found in John 6 and reads as follows in the KJV: 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. The Roman Catholic Obscenity of Transubstantiation From this passage, and others like it which tell of the Last Supper, it is clear that, at the very least, some kind of flesh eating and blood drinking must take place in order for one to gain life. (v. 53, 54, 57, 58) Personally, I just can’t see the Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation in any passage in the NT. However, because they maintain that at Mass, the bread (wafer) and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Jesus by the words of the priest, then anyone who eats the bread, or drinks the wine, is engaging in cannibalism. I don’t see how anyone can logically escape this conclusion. Webster’s dictionary defines cannibalism as “the usually ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being.” <http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary> This is pretty clear language and I think we can all agree on this definition; I know I do. If, as Catholics maintain, the bread and wine’s substances are miraculously transformed into the body and blood of Jesus, then it stands to reason that Catholics are guilty of cannibalism by eating and drinking those. But Catholics object that they would never engage in such a practice. In fact, they recoil at the accusation of cannibalism. Unfortunately, their doctrine tells another story. The Catholic Encyclopedia web site <http://newadvent.org/cathen/> has a search function which yields an interesting answer when the word “cannibalism” is entered. The site directed me to this URL <http://www.newadvent.org/faq/faq028.htm> and here’s what it had to say concerning the charge of cannibalism against Catholics: The questioner, real or not, asks: "Your answer to the question about cannibalism and the Eucharist in the December 1990 issue of This Rock disturbs me. The promise in John 6 of the flesh of Christ to eat and his blood to drink sounds literal. Christ is present substantially (rather than supernaturally); if we eat only the accidents (appearances), how do we eat Christ, who said unless we eat his flesh and drink his blood we will not have life?” The reply is given: “Your question unnecessarily posits a conflict between a supernatural presence and a substantial one. Jesus is both substantially present (bread and wine really become his body and blood) and supernaturally present (transubstantiation occurs by the supernatural action of God; the accidents of bread and wine remain without the substances of bread and wine).” “In consuming the Eucharistic elements, the physical mechanisms of eating injure only the accidents of bread and wine. The process of consuming the host doesn't involve ripping and tearing Christ's body, despite its substantial presence. This is why the charge of cannibalism won't work.” “We can still say Christ's flesh and blood are consumed sacramentally in Holy Communion because what is eaten is literally his body and blood, even if the physical action of eating affects only the accidents of bread and wine.” Note what the person answering states: “Jesus is both substantially present… and supernaturally present.” This establishes clearly that Catholics believe that the bread and wine are actually (magically?) the body and blood of Jesus. If this is so, then, ipso facto, they are practicing cannibalism. But the answer person goes on to state: “In consuming the Eucharistic elements, the physical mechanisms of eating injure only the accidents of bread and wine. The process of consuming the host doesn't involve ripping and tearing Christ's body, despite its substantial presence. This is why the charge of cannibalism won't work.” This is utterly ridiculous as well as very contradictory! If Jesus is, as maintained by this person, “substantially present,” then when you eat the bread and drink the wine, you’re eating Jesus and drinking his blood! You can’t have it two ways, despite the theological double speak utilized by the answer person to eschew the charge of cannibalism. On the one hand Jesus is substantially present and is consumed by the Catholic faithful, but on the other the charge of cannibalism is nul and void because Catholics “injure only the accidents of bread and wine.” How can one “injure only the accidents of bread and wine” if those “accidents” are actually, and in fact, the body and blood of Jesus by some “supernatural act of God?” This person's argument is ludicrous! It’s clear, at least to this writer, that Catholics, by their very words, are practicing cannibals. They may look in disgust at the practice of cannibalism in other peoples, but they do so hypocritically. This practice is no less cannibalistic, because of the literal way they interpret the words of Jesus, then those members of some tribe who ritually eats human flesh. The Fundamentalist and Evangelical Symbolic Obscenity of Communion Fundamentalists and Evangelicals, who accuse Roman Catholicism of being the Devil’s religion, maintain that the eating and drinking of Jesus is purely symbolic and that there is no supernatural intervention of God to change the substance of the bread and wine. I happen to agree with them on this wise. However, even though the whole thing is symbolic, what it represents is still the body and blood of Jesus. If one eats, symbolically or otherwise, this body and blood, it follows logically that cannibalism is practiced. The words of Jesus were pretty clear that the bread represented his body and the wine represented his blood. When one consumes the bread and wine, symbolically representing Jesus’ body and blood, the one is unquestionably engaging, at least at a symbolic level, in cannibalism. How can one possibly avoid this conclusion? If you symbolically eat the body (bread) and blood (wine), then you are symbolically eating the person of Jesus. This is cannibalism by any definition, though symbolic in nature. Again, I fail to see how a person can avoid this charge. There’s no logic in maintaining otherwise, but then again, I’ve yet to see the Christian faith being logically demonstrated. The whole thing, from start to finish, is chock-a-block with myths, inconsistencies, errors and outright lies. Conclusion No matter how they slice it, Catholics are, by their very words, cannibals in practice. And no matter how much the other Christians try to rationalize it, they are still guilty of cannibalism, though in a symbolic way. Whether the bread and wine merely represent or actually are the body and blood of Jesus, the charge of cannibalism stands, unless it can be logically demonstrated that my reasoning is wrong. I have yet to see any Christian do that, so I maintain that they are all cannibals of one sort or another. This is a disgusting doctrine and practice, no matter how you define it. Unfortunately, it is but one of the obscenities in the Bible.

Jesus' Faulty Reasoning By Peter Murphy -- What kind of person was Jesus? We know from the bible evidence, which was all written long after the fact by people who never knew Jesus, that his own family and townspeople considered him mentally deficient. Considering that every time he was questioned he resorted to personal attacks, slander, and violence, it is no wonder the Jews rejected such an unbalanced preacher. To get an idea of how unbalance Jesus was, let us look at one of his apparent sayings. John 5: 46-47, "46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words." Here is a statement, that the NT claims Jesus made. But the statement reveals an unbalanced mind at work for several reasons. 1) Jesus is using what is called a loaded alternative. He has linked belief in Moses, to believe in himself. This is a fallacy: a) one can believe in Moses and utterly reject Jesus; b) one can believe in Jesus, and utterly reject Moses; c) one can believe in both; and d) one can believe in neither. This is a fallacy used by a weak debater, who attempts to link his opinion to an authority figure. 2) Jesus then makes a false claim, for traditionally Moses wrote the Torah, and Jesus claims Moses wrote about him. That is utterly untrue for three reasons: a) the Torah never makes mention of Jesus in name or character; b) there is no evidence that Moses wrote the Torah, but there is sufficient evidence to prove that the first book of the Torah, and the last book of the Torah, were written long after Moses by unknowns, and if two of five are without authority, it logically follows that the remaining three are equally without authority as the word of god; and c) all evidence points to the Torah being originally a verbal, not a written account, in which case, the only thing written were the basic commandments placed in the Ark. Jesus admits the weakness of his arguments, concerning his mission and person. He appeals, like a cult leader who no longer can defend himself logically and with Reason to signs and miracles. It is an admission of defeat for his teachings, and his person. John 10: 37-38, "37 If I do not the works of My Father, do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." But, according to another part of John, Jesus never did anything publicly! John 7: 3-5, "3 His brothers therefore said to him, 'Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may behold your works which you are doing. 4 for no one does anything in secret, when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.'" What was he hiding from? What else, exposure as a fraud. His brothers put the cards on the table, Jesus was seeking public recognition, but was too cowardly to do it. For look at Jesus' ministry, almost all of it is private and skulking in the wilderness; look at the supposed resurrection, more skulking in the recesses of mountains, the inner chambers of rooms, beaches, in disguise so that he would not be identified; instead of the unknown writer of Matthew having dead saints walk around the city, it would have been more believable for the resurrection story if Jesus had entered the temple in a public sign, which he promised, but never delivered in Matt. 12: 40.. The whole story of miracles is self-defeating, for a miracle is a cop-out, a trick to deceive the crowd. "Of all the modes of evidence that ever were invented to obtain belief to any system or opinion to which the name religion has been given, that of miracle, however successful the imposition may have been, is the most inconsistent. For, in the first place, whenever recourse is had to show, for the purpose of procuring that belief (for a miracle, under any idea of the word, is a show), it implies a lameness or weakness in the doctrine that is preached. And in the second place, it is degrading the Almighty into the character of a showman, playing tricks to amuse and make the people stare and wonder." -- The Age of Reason In the final analysis, Jesus was a cult leader, with delusions of kingship. His cult survived, but so has Jim Jone's and David "Christ" Corish. Cults have a way of existing for centuries. Peace, Peter M.

Some of the pre-Islamic Sources for material in the Quran Arabian Sources The Quran repeats fanciful Arabian fables as if they were true. "Arabic legends about the fabulous jinns fill its pages" (G.G. Pfander, Balance of Truth, pp. 283). "The story of the she-camel who leapt out of a rock and became a prophet was known long before Muhammad" (Suras 7:73-77,85; 91:14; 54:29). The story of an entire village of people who were turned into apes because they broke the sabbath by fishing was a popular legend in Muhammad's day (Suras 2:65; 7:163-166). The gushing 12 springs story found in Sura 2:60 comes from pre-Islamic legends. In what is called the "Rip Van Winkle" story, seven men and their animals slept for 309 years in a cave and then woke up perfectly fine (Sura 18:9-26)! This legend is found in Greek and Christian fables as well as Arabian lore. The fable of the pieces of four dead, cut-up birds getting up and flying was well known in Muhammad's time (Sura 2:260). It is also clear that Muhammad used such pre-Islamic literature as the Saba Moallaqat of Imra'ul Cays in his composition of Suras 21:96; 29:31,46; 37:59; 54:1, and 93:1. Jewish Sources Many of the stories in the Quran come from the Jewish Talmud, the Midrash, and many apocryphal works. This was pointed out by Abraham Geiger in 1833, and further documented by another Jewish scholar, Dr. Abraham Katsh, of New York University, in 1954 (The Concise Dictionary of Islam, p. 229; Jomier, The Bible and the Quran -- Henry Regency Co., Chicago, 1959, 59ff; Sell, Studies, pp. 163ff.; Guillaume, Islam, p. 13). 1. The source of Sura 3:35-37 is the fanciful book called The Protevangelion's James the Lesser. 2. The source of Sura 87:19 is the Testament of Abraham. 3. The source of Sura 27:17-44 is the Second Targum of Esther. 4. The fantastic tale that God made a man "die for a hundred years" with no ill effects on his food, drink, or donkey was a Jewish fable (Sura 2:259ff.). 5. The idea that Moses was resurrected and other material came from the Jewish Talmud (Sura 2:55, 56, 67). 6. The story in Sura 5:30,31 can also be found in pre-Islamic works from Pirke Rabbi Eleazer, the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziah and the Targum of Jerusalem. 7. The tale of Abraham being delivered from Nimrod's fire came from the Midrash Rabbah (see Suras 21:51-71; 29:16, 17; 37:97,98). It must be also pointed out that Nimrod and Abraham did not live at the same time. Muhammad was always mixing people together in the Quran who did not live at the same time. 8. The non-biblical details of the visit of the Queen of Sheba (Saba) in Sura 27:20-44 came from the Second Targum of the Book of Esther. 9. The source of Sura 2:102 is no doubt the Midrash Yalkut (chapter 44). 10. The story found in Sura 7:171 of God lifting up Mount Sinai and holding it over the heads of the Jews as a threat to squash them if they rejected the law came from the Jewish book Abodah Sarah. 11. The story of the making of the golden calf in the wilderness, in which the image jumped out of the fire fully formed and actually mooed (Suras 7:148; 20:88), came from Pirke Rabbi Eleazer. 12, The seven heavens and hells described in the Quran came from the Zohar and the Hagigah. 13. Muhammad utilized the Testament of Abraham to teach that a scale or balance will be used on the day of judgment to weigh good and bad deeds in order to determine whether one goes to heaven or hell (Suras 42:17; 101:6-9). Heretical Christian Sources One of the most documented and damaging facts about the Quran is that Muhammad used heretical "Christian" Gnostic gospels and their fables for material in the Quran. Encyclopedia Britannica comments: "The gospel was known to him chiefly through apocryphal and heretical sources" (15:648). This has been demonstrated many times by various scholars (Richard Bell, Introduction to the Quran, pp. 163ff. See also: Bell, The Origin of Islam in Its Christian Environment, pp. 110ff, 139ff; Sell, Studies, pp. 216ff. See also Tisdall and Pfander). For example, in Suras 3:49 and 100:11O, the baby Jesus speaks from the cradle! Later on, the Quran has Jesus making clay birds come alive. The Bible tells us that the first miracle Jesus did was at the wedding at Cana (John 2:11). Sabean Sources Muhammad incorporated parts of the religion of the Sabeans into Islam (Encyclopedia off Islam (ed. Eliade), pp. 303ff.; International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, pp. 1:219ff.). He adopted such pagan rituals as: Worshiping at Kabah Praying five times a day towards Mecca (Muhammad chose five of the same times the Sabeans prayed). Fasting for part of a day for an entire month. Eastern Religious Sources Muhammad derived some of his ideas from Eastern religions such as Zoroastrianism and Hinduism. All of these things were in existence long before Muhammad was born. The Quran records the following things which are ascribed to Muhammad but in reality were previously known stories now attributed to him for the first time (Sell, Studies, pp. 219ff.). The story of a flying trip through seven heavens. The Houries of paradise. Azazil and other spirits coming up from Hades. The "light" of Muhammad. The bridge of Sirat. Paradise with its wine, women, and song (from the Persians). The king of death. The peacock story. Arab Racism According to the literal Arabic translation of Sura 3:106, 107, on Judgment Day, only people with white faces will be saved. People with black faces will be damned.

From the Creation to the Last Judgment he uses Jewish ideas. Allah is Yahweh; Allah is a contraction of al-Ilah, an old Kaaba god; a kindred word was used in various forms in divers Semitic languages to express divinity; so the Jews used Elohim, and Christ on the cross appealed to Eli. Both Allah and Yahweh are gods of compassion, but they are also stern and warlike deities, capable of many human passions, and resolved to have no other god besides them. The Shema’ Yisrael of the Jewish ritual, affirming the unity of God, is repeated in the first article of Moslem belief—”There is no god but Allah.” The Koranic refrain that Allah is “gracious and compassionate” echoes the same frequent phrase in the Talmud.’ The designation of Allah as Rahrnan, the merciful, recalls the rabbinical use of Rahmana for Yahweh in the Talmudic age.32 The Talmud loves to say, “The Holy One, Blessed be He”; Moslem literature follows with the oft-repeated words, “Allah” (or “Mohammed”), “Blessed be lie.” Apparently the Jews who acquainted the Prophet with the Bible also gave him snatches of the Talmud; a hundred passages in the Koran echo the Mishna and the Gemaras.33 The teachings of the Koran about angels, the resurrection, and heaven follow the Talmud rather than the Old Testament. Stories that make up a fourth of the Koran can be traced to haggadic (illustrative) elements in the Talmud.34 Where the Koran narratives vary from the Biblical accounts (as in the story of Joseph) they usually accord with variations already existing in the haggadic literature of the pre-Moslem Jews. From the Mishna and halakah—the oral law of the Jews—Mohammed seems to have derived many elements of ritual, even minute details of diet and hygiene. Ceremonial purification before prayer is enjoined, and the hands may be washed with sand if no water can be had—precisely the rabbinical formula. The Jewish institution of the Sabbath pleased Mohammed; he adopted it with a distinction in making Friday a day of prayer for the Moslems. The Koran, like the Mosaic Law, forbids the eating of blood, or the flesh of swine or dogs, or of any animal that has died of itself, or has been killed by another animal, or has been offered to an idol (v, ~ vi, 146); the Koran, however, allows the eating of camels flesh, which Moses forbade, but which was some- times the only flesh food available in the desert. The Moslem method of fasting followed the Hebrew model. The Jews were bidden by their rabbis to pray thrice daily, facing toward Jerusalem and the Temple, and to prostrate themselves with forehead to the ground; Mohammed adapted these rules to Islam. The first chapter of the Koran, which is the basic prayer of Islam, is essentially Judaic. The lovely greeting of the Hebrew—Sholom aleichem— parallels the noble “Peace be with you” of Islam. Finally, the Talmudic heaven, like the Koranic paradise, is one of frankly physical, as well as ecstatically spiritual, delights. Some of these elements in creed and practice may have been a common heritage of the Semites; some of them—angels, devils, Satan, heaven, hell, the resurrection, the Last Judgment—had been taken by the Jews from Babylonia or Persia, and may have gone directly from Persia to Islam. In Zoroastrian, as in Mohammedan, escharology, the resurrected dead must walk upon a perilous bridge over a deep abyss; the wicked fall into hell, the good pass into a paradise where they enjoy, among other dainties, the society of women (houris) whose beauty and ardor will last forever. To Jewish theology, ethics, and ritual, and Persian escharology, Mohammed added Arab demonology, pilgrimage, and the Kaaba ceremony, and made Islam. Excerpts from Will Durant's The Age of Faith Pages http://www.sullivan-county.com/x/durant_koran.htm

Lord is to be understood, not believed The lord is not a matter for belief. He is a matter for understanding. This world is not a matter for belief because you perceive it. Therefore Lord is also not something to be believed, it is a challenge to understand him. If the Lord is in heaven, not within the range of your perception or inference, then He becomes a matter of belief. In that case you simply accept what you are told without asking questions. But the Lord of the Hindus is not a matter for belief. Hindus do not simply believe in God, they understand God. That is the reason why Hindus even worship space. There are temples in India that worship the five elements. You don’t require a particular altar to invoke the Lord. You can invoke Him anywhere because what is it that is not the Lord? The whole Order is the Lord, all the laws are the Lord. We are objective when we are alive to the reality. We are talking about what is and so there is no question of belief. We can see that gold is different from copper and that is different from lead because each metal has its own atomic weight, its own physical and other properties. But a physicist knows that all of them are nothing but energy, quanta of energy. That is not a belief. If someone says, ‘I don’t see that’, then that person may have to believe, but that is not a belief that one has to live with and die with. What we have here is belief pending discovery. There is something to be understood. We understand the difference and at the same time, understand the non-difference, something more than meets the eye. That is the vision of the Veda that this whole universe is non-separate from the Lord because He is the efficient cause as well as the material cause. Since the Lord is everything, he is all the names, all the forms and therefore we can invoke Him in any name, any form. This is the mature way of looking at the worship of God. We can pray to Him in any language because He is Omniscient and therefore should know all languages. In fact He should respond even before we call Him. This is not tolerance or anything, this is only understanding. They say that Hindus are tolerant of various forms of worship. We are tolerant no doubt, but in this particular case, we are not just tolerant. We have total acceptance as far as worship is concerned, prayer is concerned. That is why very often we find many devatas, deities in a typical room of worship. Every aspect of the Lord is represented there. We look upon the Sun as God, so we have Surya devataa. We look upon air as God, so we have Vayudevataa; we look upon earth as God: so we have Prthividevataa and so on. We worship the efficient cause, the intelligent cause and the material becomes the symbol for that. We worship the omniscient, omnipotent Lord through the symbol of the material. The sun, the moon, air etc become the symbol through which we worship the Lord. We have a variety of devatas (deities) through which we worship one God. The Only God We don’t even say, ‘one God’. We say ‘only God’. When you say there is one God, that means you are different from Him and He is situated somewhere else. If God is different from you, He does not include you, which means His power does not include your power. If He is different from you, then He is different from me and different from all the living beings. That means God’s power does not include the power that you have, I have, that other gods and demi-gods have, that the mosquitoes and the bugs have. Then He can only be mighty but not Almighty. He is like my uncle who is also a very powerful man. But even a mighty person is subject to limitations. Even the president of the U.S.A, a mighty person, is subject to mosquito bites and attacks from viruses! Similarly, the mighty God will also be subject to such limitations. So, understand, it is not that there is one God. There is only God and so if someone invokes Him as Allah, that is fine; if someone invokes Him as Jesus, that is also fine. We have no problem at all. If someone cannot accept the fact of people invoking God in different names and forms, it is his/her problem. We have no problem because we do not have many gods, we do not even have one God, we have only God. Om Tat Sat

Talmudic Doctrine: Non-Jews are not Human The Talmud specifically defines all who are not Jews as non-human animals, and specifically dehumanizes Gentiles as not being descendants of Adam. Here are some of the Talmud passages which relate to this topic. Kerithoth 6b: Uses of Oil of Anointing. "Our Rabbis have taught: He who pours the oil of anointing over cattle or vessels is not guilty; if over gentiles (goyim) or the dead, he is not guilty. The law relating to cattle and vessels is right, for it is written: "Upon the flesh of man (Adam), shall it not be poured (Exodus 30:32]); and cattle and vessels are not man (Adam). "Also with regard to the dead, [it is plausible] that he is exempt, since after death one is called corpse and not a man (Adam). But why is one exempt in the case of gentiles (goyim); are they not in the category of man (Adam)? No, it is written: 'And ye my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are man" (Adam); [Ezekiel 34:31]: Ye are called man (Adam) but gentiles (goyim) are not called man (Adam)." In the preceding passage, the rabbis are discussing the portion of the Mosaic law which forbids applying the holy oil to men. The Talmud states that it is not a sin to apply the holy oil to Gentiles, because Gentiles are not human beings (i.e. are not of Adam). Another example from tractate Yebamoth 61a: "It was taught: And so did R. Simeon ben Yohai state (61a) that the graves of gentiles (goyim) do not impart levitical uncleanness by an ohel [standing or bending over a grave], for it is said, 'And ye my sheep the sheep of my pasture, are men (Adam), [Ezekiel 34:31]; you are called men (Adam) but the idolaters are not called men (Adam)." The Old Testament Mosaic law states that touching a human corpse or the grave of a human imparts uncleanness to those who touch it. But the Talmud teaches that if a Jew touches the grave of a Gentile, the Jew is not rendered unclean, since Gentiles are not human (not of Adam).

Ancient Media (Medes) King ********** Herodotus's Dates ***** Length of Reign Deioces -------------- 700-647 ------------------ 53 years Phraortes ------------ 647-625 ------------------ 22 years Cyaxares ------------- 625-585 ------------------ 40 years Astyages ------------- 585-550 ------------------ 35 years 2 Kings 17:6: In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes Ancient country of northwestern Iran generally corresponding to the modern regions of Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and parts of Kermanshah. Media first appears in the texts of the Assyrian King Shalmaneser III (858 - 824 BC) in which peoples of the land of Mada are recorded. The inhabitants came to be known as Medes ..... Media: (Hebrew Madai) We first hear of this people in the Assyrian cuneiform records under the name of Amada about BC 840. They appear to have been a branch of the Aryans who came from the east bank of the Indus and were probably the predominant race for a while in the Mesopotamian Valley. They consisted for three or four centuries of a number of tribes each ruled by its own chief who at length were brought under the Assyrian yoke. From this subjection they achieved deliverance and formed themselves into an empire under Cyaxares (BC 633). This monarch entered into an alliance with the King of Babylon and invaded Assyria capturing and destroying the city of Nineveh (BC 625) thus putting an end to the Assyrian monarchy. Media now rose to a place of great power, vastly extending its boundaries. But it did not long exist as an independent kingdom. It rose with Cyaxares its first king and it passed away with him; for during the reign of his son and successor Astyages the Persians waged war against the Medes and conquered them, the two nations being united under one monarch, Cyrus the Persian (BC 558). The Cities of the Medes are first mentioned in connection with the deportation of the Israelites on the destruction of Samaria. Soon afterwards Isaiah speaks of the part taken by the Medes in the destruction of Babylon. Daniel gives an account of the reign of Darius the Mede who was made viceroy by Cyrus. The decree of Cyrus, Ezra informs us, was found in the palace that is in the province of the Medes or Ecbatana of the Greeks which is the only Median city mentioned in Scripture ......

This proves how much the Christian evangelist hates Hindu religion and yet the Hindus give much freedom to the Christians to preach their belief on Hindus. Christians and Muslims fear Hindu relgion because there are reports in UK the congeragation in churches are getting fewer this days and they fear the more Christians are turning to Hinduism. I'm sure if Muslims have no fatwa they to would revert to Hinduism. The freedom of religion will bring peace to this planet.

http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1161.cfm

Chapter 12 Eulogy of the Merits The Devi said: ‘And whoever with a concentrated mind shall pray to me constantly with these hymns, I shall without doubt put down every trouble of his. ‘And those who shall laud (the story of) the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaughter of Nishumbha likewise and those also who shall listen with devotion to this sublime poem on my greatness on the eighth, the fourteenth and on the ninth days of the fortnight with concentrated mind, to them nothing wrong shall happen, nor calamities that arise from wrong doings nor poverty and never separation from beloved ones. He shall not experience fear from enemies, or from robbers and kings, or from weapons, fire and floods. Hence this poem of my greatness must be chanted by men of concentrated minds and listened to always with devotion; for it is the supreme course of well-being. May this poem of my glories quell all epidemics, as also the threefold natural calamities. The place of my sanctuary where this poem is duly chanted everyday, I will never forsake and there my presence is certain. When sacrifice is offered, during worship, in the fire-ceremony, and at a great festival, this entire poem on my acts must be chanted and heard. I will accept with love the sacrifice and worship that are made and the fire-offering that is offered likewise, whether they are done with due knowledge (of sacrifice) or not. During autumnal season, when the great annual worship is performed, the man hearing this glorification of mine with devotion shall certainly through my grace, be delivered without doubt from all troubles and be blessed with riches, grains and children. Hearing this glorification and auspicious appearances of mine, and my feats of prowess in battles, a man becomes fearless. Enemies perish, welfare accrues and the family rejoices for those who listen to this glorification of mine. Let one listen to this glorification of mine everywhere, at a propitiatory ceremony, on seeing a bad dream, and when there is the great evil influence of planets. (By that means) evil portents subside, as also the unfavourable influence of planets, and the bad dream seen by men turns into a good dream. It creates peacefulness in children possessed by the seizes of children (i.e., evil spirits), and it is the best promoter of friendship among men when split occurs in their union. It diminishes most effectively the power of all men of evil ways. Verily demons, goblins, and ogres are destroyed by its mere chanting. This entire glorification of mine draws (a devotee) very near to me. And by means of finest flowers, arghya and incenses, and by perfumes and lamps, by feeding Brahmanas, by oblations, by sprinkling (consecrated) water, and by various other offerings and gifts (if one worships) day and night, in a year-the gratification, which is done to me, is attained by listening but once to this holy story (katha) of mine. The chanting and hearing of the story of my manifestations remove sins, and grant perfect health and protects one from evil spirits; and when my martial exploit in the form of the slaughter of the wicked daityas is listened to, men will have no fear from enemies. And the hymns uttered by you, and those by the divine sages, and those by Brahmanas bestow a pious mind. He who is (lost) on a lonesome spot in a forest, or is surrounded by forest fire, or who is surrounded by robbers in a desolate spot, or who is captured by enemies, or who is pursued by a lion, or tiger, or by wild elephants in a forest, or who, under the orders of a wrathful king, is sentenced to death, or has been imprisoned, or who is tossed about in his boat by a tempest in the vast sea, or who is in the most terrible battle under shower of weapons, or who is amidst all kinds of dreadful troubles, or who is afflicted with pain - such a man on remembering this story of mine is saved from his predicament.Through my power, lions etc., robbers and enemies, flee from a distance from him who remembers this story of mine. The Rishi said: Having spoken thus the adorable Chandika, fierce in prowess, vanished on that very spot even as the Devas were gazing upon her. Thus O King, the adorable Devi, although eternal, incarnating again and again, protects the world. By her this universe is deluded, and it is she who creates this universe. And when entreated, she bestows supreme knowledge, and when propitiated, she bestows prosperity. By her, the Mahakali, who takes the form of the great destroyer at the end of time, all this cosmic sphere is pervaded. She indeed takes the form of the great destroyer at the (proper) time. She, the unborn, indeed becomes this creation. She herself, the eternal Being, sustains the beings. In times of prosperity, she indeed is Lakshmi, who bestows prosperity in the homes of men; and in times of misfortune, she herself becomes the goddess of misfortune, and brings about ruin. When praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, perfumes, etc., she bestows wealth and sons, and a mind bent on righteousness and prosperous life. Here ends the twelfth chapter called ‘Eulogy of the Merits’ of Devi-Mahatmya in the period of Markandeya-Purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu. Chapter 13 The Bestowing of Boons to Suratha and Vaisya The Rishi said: I have now narrated to you, O King, this sublime poem on the glory of the Devi. The Devi is endowed with such majestic power. By her this world is upheld. Knowledge is similarly conferred by her, the illusive power of Bhagavan Vishnu. By her, you, this merchant and other men of discrimination, are being deluded; and others were deluded (in the past), and will be deluded (in the future). O great King, take refuge in her, the supreme Isvari. She indeed when worshipped bestows on men enjoyment, heaven and final release (from transmigration). Markandeya said (to his disciple Bhaguri): O great sage, King Suratha who had become despondent consequent on his excessive attachment and the deprivation of his kingdom, and the merchant, having heard this story prostrated before the illustrious Rishi of sever penances and immediately repaired to perform austerities. Both the king and the merchant, in order to obtain a vision of Amba, stationed themselves on the sand-bank of a river and practised penances, chanting the supreme Devi-sukta (hymn to the Devi). Having made an earthen image of the Devi on the sands of the river, they both worshipped her with flowers, incense, sacred fire and libation of water. Now abstaining from food, and now restraining in their food, with their minds on her and with concentration, they both offered sacrifices sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies. When they, with controlled minds propitiated her thus for three years, Chandika, the upholder of the world, was well pleased and spoke to them in visible form. The Devi said: What you solicit, O King, and you, the delight of your family, receive all that from me. Well-pleased I bestow those boons to you both. . Markandeya said: Then the King chose a kingdom, imperishable even in another life, and in this life itself, restoration of his own kingdom wherein the power of his enemies is destroyed by force. Then the wise merchant also, whose mind was full of dispassion for the world, chose the knowledge, which removes the attachment (in the form of) ‘mine’ and ‘I’. The Devi said: O King, after slaying your foes in a few days, you shall obtain your own kingdom and it shall last with you there. ‘And, when you are dead, you shall gain another birth from the Deva Vivasvat (Sun), and shall be a Manu on earth by name Savarni. And, O the best of merchants, I grant you the boon, which you have desired of me. (Supreme) knowledge shall be yours, for your self-realization. Markandeya said: Having thus granted them both the boon that they desired, the Devi disappeared forthwith, as they were extolling her with devotion. Having thus gained the boon from the Devi, Suratha, the foremost of Kshatriyas, shall obtain a new birth through Surya and shall be the eighth Manu named Savarni. Here ends the thirteenth chapter called ‘The bestowing of boons to Suratha and Vaisya’ of Devi-Mahatmya in Markandeya-Purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu. Here ends the Devi-Mahatmya of 700 Mantras. Om Tat Sat

Chapter 4 The Devi Stuti The Rishi said: When that most valiant but evil-natured Mahishasura and the army of that foe of the devas were destroyed by the Devi, Indra and the hosts of devas uttered their words of praise, their necks and shoulders reverently bent, and bodies rendered beautiful with horripilation and exultation. ‘To that Ambika who is worthy of worship by all devas and sages and pervades this world by her power and who is the embodiment of the entire powers of all the hosts of devas, we bow in devotion. May she grant us auspicious things! 'May Chandika, whose incomparable greatness and power Bhagavan Vishnu, Brahma and Hara are unable to describe, bestow her mind on protecting the entire world and on destroying the fear of evil. 'O Devi, we bow before you, who are yourself good fortune in the dwellings of the virtuous, and ill-fortune in those of the vicious, intelligence in the hearts of the learned, faith in the hearts of the good, and modesty in the hearts of the high-born. May you protect the universe! 'You who are always bounteous, with whom you are well pleased, those (fortunate ones) are indeed the object of esteem in the country, theirs are riches, theirs are glories, and their acts of righteousness perish not; they are indeed blessed and possessed of devoted children, servants and wives. 'By your grace, O Devi, the blessed individual does daily all righteous deeds with utmost care and thereby attains to heaven. Are you not, therefore O Devi, the bestower of reward in all the three worlds? 'When called to mind in a difficult pass, you remove fear from every person. When called to mind by those in happiness, you bestow a mind still further pious. Which goddess but you, O dispeller of poverty, pain and fear, has an ever sympathetic heart for helping everyone?’ Thus the supporter of the worlds was praised by the devas, worshipped with celestial flowers that blossomed in Nandana and with perfumes and unguents; and with devotion all of them offered her - heavenly incense. Benignly serene in countenance she spoke to all obeisant devas. The Devi said: 'Choose all of you, O devas, whatever you desire of me. (Gratified immensely with these hymns, I grant it with great pleasure)' The devas said: 'Since our enemy, this Mahishasura, has been slain by Bhagavati (i.e you) everything has been accomplished, and nothing remains to be done. And if a boon is to be granted to us by you, O Maheshvari, whenever we think of you again, destroy our direct calamities. O Mother of spotless countenance, and whatever mortal (human) shall praise you with these hymns, may you, who have become gracious towards us, also be gracious for him and increase his wealth, and other fortunes together with riches, prosperity and life, and good wife, O Ambika!' The Rishi said: O King, being thus propitiated by the devas for the sake of the world and for their own sake, Bhadrakali said, 'Be it so' and vanished from their sight. Thus have I narrated, O King, how the Devi who desires the good of all the three worlds made her appearance of yore out of the bodies of the devas. And again how, as a benefactress of the devas, she appeared in the form of Gauri for the slaying of wicked asuras as well as Shumbha and Nishumbha, and for the protection of worlds, listen as I relate it. I shall tell it to you as it happened. Here ends the fourth chapter called ‘The Devi Stuti ‘ of the Devi-Mahatmya in Markandeya-Purana during the period of Savarni, the Manu.

You being a Muslims have given your version of the Christian bible according to Islamic thoughts but if you ask a Christian he would say otherwise. Reason is Muslims do not believe Jesus ws crucified. Muslims believe the bib;e was distorted and the true bible is hidden away and Muslims believe the book of barnabas has been destroyed. I see many contradiction among the Muslims and Christians and so with the Jews. The Jews do not believe in Mohammed and Jesus while the Christians do not believe in Mohammed but Muslims believe in Tora and Bible because the Koran has assimiltated both and also the Talmud. So, there is two side to a coin. Futhermore the most Muslims prefer to believe more in the Hadis than the Holy Koran. But it is clearly stated in the Koran that the is no other Koran than the one I have given you. Yet the Muslims have more faith in the Hadis. Even the prophet has told not to have any records of his action but after his death the came up with hadis and they call it the interpretation of the Koran. Yet there are four division in Islam having their own set of rules and belief in Muslim saints. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The word Veda means knowledge, and the Vedas are considered the most sacred scripture of Hinduism referred to as sruti, meaning what was heard by or revealed to the rishis or seers. The most holy hymns and mantras put together into four collections called the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas are difficult to date, because they were passed on orally for about a thousand years before they were written down. More recent categories of Vedas include the Brahmanas or manuals for ritual and prayer, the Aranyakas or forest texts for religious hermits, and the Upanishads or mystical discourses. The Richas of the Rigveda comprise of prayers and praises of the gods. The Yajurveda speaks of the different types of Yagya (religious sacrifices). The Samveda consists of many a richas from the Rigveda, which are indeed lyrical and musical. The Atharvaveda contains a lot of knowledge of the physical world and spirituality. Now let us know more about Rigveda. What is Rigveda? And what does it comprise of? Rig Veda The hymns of the Rig Veda are considered the oldest and most important of the Vedas, having been composed between 1500 BC and the time of the great Bharata war about 900 BC. More than a thousand hymns are organized into ten mandalas or circles of which the second through the seventh are the oldest and the tenth is the most recent. The Hindu tradition is that even the Vedas were gradually reduced from much more extensive and ancient divine revelations but were perverted in the recent dark age of Kaliyuga. As the only writings from this ancient period of India they are considered the best source of knowledge we have, but the ethical doctrines seem to have improved from the ancient hymns to the mystical Upanishads. Essentially the Rig Veda is dominated by hymns praising the Aryan gods for giving them victories and wealth plundered from the local Dasas through warfare. The Aryans apparently used their advances in weaponry and skill in fighting to conquer the agricultural and tribal peoples of the fading Harappan culture. Numerous hymns refer to the use of horses and chariots with spokes which must have given their warriors a tremendous advantage. Spears, bows, arrows, and iron weapons are also mentioned. As a nomadic and pastoral culture glorifying war they established a new social structure of patriarchal families dominated by warriors and, eventually with the power of the Vedas themselves, by priests also. Generally the hymns of the Rig Veda praise the gods and ask them for worldly benefits such as wealth, health, long life, protection, and victory over the Dasa peoples. He, self-reliant, mighty and triumphant, brought low the dear head of the wicked Dasas. Indra the Vritra-slayer, Fort-destroyer, scattered the Dasa hosts who dwelt in darkness. For men hath he created earth and waters, and ever helped the prayer of him who worships. To him in might the Gods have ever yielded, to Indra in the tumult of battle. When in his arms they laid the bolt, he slaughtered the Dasyus and cast down their forts of iron. Rigveda is a Veda in form of Sukti's, which mean 'beautiful statements'. A collection of very beautifully composed incantations itself is a Sukta. The Sukta is also synonymous to Richas. 'Rit' means - an incantation that contains praises and Veda means knowledge. The knowledge of the Richas or Suktas itself is the literal meaning of Rigveda. The Rigveda Richas comprises mainly of the praises of God. Other than this it also has incantations containing thoughts which are evolved by the sages through their minute observation, contemplation and analysis. Every element of nature was an issue to contemplate upon for the sages. In this process they have randomly even spoken about the mysteries of the universe, which are not only worth reading but also for practical usage. Rigveda is the oldest Veda. It comprises of 10 Mandals, 102 Suktas and containing 10,552 mantras. These mantras are filed with good thoughts and they have the ability to inspire us greatly. The ultimate aim of all these mantras is to purify the human mind through knowledge. Darkness is symbol of lack of knowledge or illusionary living, which makes us devoid of justness and sagacity. The Rigveda is divided into 2 parts- (i) Mandal, Anuvak and Sukta (ii) Ashtak, Adhgaya and Sukta According to the first division, the Rigveda consist of 10 Mandalas. There are Suktas that comprise the Mandalas. In every Sukta there are mantras or Richas. The quantity of Suktas is 1017 and the other additional Suktas account to 11. In this way, the total number is unequal. There seem to be maximum Suktas in the 1st and 10th Mandala and there are very few Suktas in the 2nd Mandala. The following tables show the no. of Suktas and mantras in every Mandala Mandala Sukta Number of Mantras 1 191 2006 2 43 429 3 62 617s 4 58 589 5 87 727 6 75 765 7 104 841 8 103 1716 9 114 1108 10 191 1754 10 1028 10,552 Inclusively in 10 Mandalas there are 1028 Suktas which in turn comprise of 10,552 mantras. The Brahmanas stand second to the Vedas. The ultimate aim of these books is procedures of performing Yagya and rituals. The Brahmanas are divided into 3 parts. (i) Brahmana, (ii) Aranyaka, (iii) Upanishad There are 2 Rigveda Brahmin texts i.e. Kausheetki and Aitereya. These 2 texts share a very intimate relation. In both these texts critical appreciation is done of the same subject and the meaning of the mantras is surprisingly contradictory. These Brahmana speak about the Soma and Rajasuya Yagya. A big portion of the Upanishads seems to have been taken in the Aranyaka. The Aitereya and Kausheetki are the 2 Aranyakas of the Rigveda. There are 5 texts of the Aitereya and each of these is known as Aranyaka. The 2nd and 3rd are independent Upanishads. In the 2nd half of the last 4 paragraphs are counted as Vedanta texts that is why they are referred to Aitereya Upanishads. There are 3 parts of the Kausheetki Aranyaka. The 2 parts of this Aranyaka are filled with rituals. The 3rd part is referred to as Kausheetki Upanishad. Rig veda First Mandala (1) MAHO ARNAHA SARASWATI PRA CHETAYATI KETUNA | DHIYO VISHWA VI RAJATI || -------------(3/12, Rigveda) Only education can help us to understand the knowledge of the universe, which is alike, an ocean. It enlightens everyone's minds. It is because of education that one can absorb knowledge. The best method to imbibe maximum knowledge is reading and self study and as a result of knowledge, the mind becomes enlightened. We should regularly study books having a lot of knowledge because it is through study only that the mind is filled with good thoughts, that inspire us to seek good company which is equally beneficial in acquiring knowledge. This is the sure way for growth of the mind and also to acquire eternal happiness and peace. (2) ASMANTSU TATRA CHODYENDRA RAYE RABHSTHAVAHA TU VIDYUMNA YASHSTHAVAHA || ---------------(9/6Rigveda) O radiant! Inspire the diligent and the successful only to yearn for wealth. Those who are industrious and successful only, earn wealth. Those who try, definitely acquire wealth. One who is having, their aims fixed are the ones who are prosperous, wealthy and successful. They should realise that efforts never go in vain. (3) ELA SARASWATI MAHI TISRO DEVIRMAYO BHUVAHA BARHIHI SEEDANTVA STRIDHAHA || -------------(13/9, Rigveda) The 3 goddesses Earth, Saraswati and Vani are the givers of happiness who never become less. They are seated on their seats. One should regularly worship your motherland, the basic culture and the mother tongue because they are givers of happiness. That person who has a humanistic approach towards his land, civilization and Vani realises the greatness and he acquires all the happiness. He should indulge in those types of deeds that make the motherland, the culture and language proud. (4) GARHAPATYEN SANTYA RITUNA YAGYANIRASI || ---------(15/12, Rigveda) The householders who can do good work only if he remains like seasons. If a person (householder) moulds himself alike a season and indulges in the Karma of householder then only shall he acquire happiness. One should understand the meaning of seasons and should love his family. As a result he shall benefit monetarily and materially. A householder who practices restraint in taking care of his family only shall acquire family happiness and achieve higher social status. (5) DEVAN DEVYATE YAGYA ---------(15/12, Rigveda) A person who desires godliness should worship gods. A person who desires godliness should respect scholars. By doing so they can attain some knowledge and can be inspired to do good Karma. By attaining godliness one shall be blessed with happiness and growth. (6) YUVAKU HI SHACHINAM, YUVAKU SUMATINAM BHUYAM VAJADANNAMA || (14/4, Rigveda) May all our energies become one and may all the good thoughts come together and may we become the greatest amongst the mighty. Scholars who are intelligent, valiant who are brave, and businessman who donate food, if come together and have no difference of opinion then the nation shall grow. The intelligent on the basis of their knowledge shall become mighty and great as a result of the fusion of food and energy. (7) YASMADRUTE NA SIDDHYATI YAGYO VIPASHRIT SHRANA SA DHINAM YOGAMINVATI || (18/7, Rigveda) May that divine knowledgeable person inspire us without whose inspiration the knowledgeable does not attain complete knowledge. Without the blessings of the knowledgeable even the knowledgeable shall cease to attain complete knowledge. It is knowledge only that enlightens our mind. It is well known that, the president of the league of scholars himself is very knowledgeable and it is this authenticity which proves that the knowledgeable has attained total knowledge. Only scholars can decide whether the knowledgeable has imbibed complete knowledge or no. (8) DATA RADHANSI SHUMBHATI | ---------(22/8, Rigveda) The sun, the giver of all Siddhis (powers) is rising. The rising sun is the giver of Energy, heat and is the giver of all powers. In the same way you also alike the rising sun (Sun God) give all equal knowledge and inspiration by which we benefit. Alike the energy and heat of the sun which beneficial, you also can realise the importance and be blessed by happiness and prosperity. (9) SADYO DASHUSHE KSHARASI ------------(27/6, Rigveda) You bless the donor instantly with wealth. One who donates definitely gets something or the other in return. By imparting knowledge there is a rise in knowledge. So one definitely benefits by donation. Only after giving does the feeling of gaining something come to the mind, By performing Karma we do Shram Dan meaning donation of hard work. The benefits or returns of hard work are relative to the good or bad deeds performed, which one shall definitely gain sooner or later. (10) TVAMAGNA URUSHANSAAYA VAGHATE SPARHA YAD REKNAHA PARAMAM VANOSHITAT || ----(31/14, Rigveda) You give good and anticipated wealth to those who worship, praise you with devotion. When a person chooses a deed and performs it with devotion, he as a result of that benefits accordingly. He who yearns with mind and soul for his aim or goal, attains totality and attains his objective. In true worship a good objective is priorly determined and accordingly good Karma is performed to result in its fruits. 11) SA TVAM NOM ADYE SUMANA EHAVITA BHAVA VAJESHUSANTYA | -----(36/2, Rigveda) May you be pleased with us and protect us. The protector himself should be of good nature and disposition otherwise, he would end up as the destructor. One should always remain in the company of people that facilitate in making the mind pure and protect the goods thoughts in our mind, those who help us to be neutral in all states of happiness or pain. Those who do not help us in this way can never be our protectors. Let him be anyone but he should be a person of good intellects and thought. Then only shall one be blessed with happiness, peace and be successful. (12) MAHASTE SATO VI CHARANTYARCHAYO DIVI SPRISHANTI MAHAVAHA || --------(36/3, Rigveda) Your flames are spreading which are great and are like embodiments of truths. Your rays are reaching the sky. It is the inherent characteristic of fire to throw its flames and illuminate all the four directions as far as possible. Those great souls who tread on the path of truth become famous and successful. Those who owe allegiance towards truth are called great and exalted souls. Even though we may try to hide the truth, it cannot be concealed. It destroys the darkness of untruth and comes into light sooner or later. (13) ABHUDU PARAMETAVE PANTH RITASYA SADHUYA| --------(46/11, Rigveda) One can emancipate oneself only by treading on the path of truth. Satya Yagya basically means treading on the path of truth. It is by this only that one can be liberated from pain and misery and this path is undoubtedly the best path. One should never fear unhappiness because unhappiness is the stepping stone to happiness, One shall have to undergo suffering to reach truth. That is why it is said that truth is eternally victorious. (14) VI YA SRUJATI SAMANAM VYARTHINAHA PADAM NA VETVODATI || --------(48/6, Rigveda) The morning encourages and inspires scholars to work and those who desire wealth. But the morning is not stationary or static. The morning is the giver of energy. Relatively one gets more success that expected. Scholar and thinkers get up early in the morning and contemplate. Even those who desire wealth wake up early and get to work, It is the giver of life and light. (15) ANARVANAM SHLOKMA ROHASE DIVI || ----------(51/12 Rigveda) Indra! You reside in heaven because of your success. Indra is the lord of the sky and controls the clouds, rains. He through rains makes the earth green and beautiful. It is because of his Karmas that Indra dwells in heaven. That is why we should also work in such a way as to attain eternal name and fame. It is this only that shall lead to the well being of all. (16) ASAMAM KSHATRAMASAMA MANISHA PRA SOMPA APSA SANTU NEME | ----------(54/8, Rigveda) O Indra! Your valiance is incomparable and your intelligence is second to none. These souls who drink Soma Rasa become prosperous because of their deeds. There is no might as the intelligence. Those who have intelligence they bring that quality into use and strive incessantly to get the anticipated. They only possess might, importance and capabilities. (17) DHANASPRITMUKATYAM VISHWACHARSHANIM TOKAM PUSHYEM TANAYAM SHATAM HIMAHA || ----------(64/14, Rigveda) Those people who are wealthy and do good to all because of their Karmas, are praised. May they be blessed with sons and grandsons. May all nurture their children and grand children properly and be blessed with 100 years of healthy life. (18) RITASYA DEVA, ANUVRATA GURBHUVAT PARISHTIRDYON BHUM --------(65/2, Rigveda) The gods adhered to all types of penances such as truth and fulfillment of other vows. It is because of their constant efforts that earth became happy as the heaven. If we all perform of all our duties meticulously then we are surely on the path of prosperity. (19) RISHIRNA STHUBHVA, VIKSHU PRASHASTO VAJI NA PRITO VAYO DADHATI || --------(66/2, Rigveda) The leader sacrifices his life for the well being of all people. The true leader is he who vanquishes his enemies and always remains happy, is respected by one and all, and who sacrifices his life for the welfare of all his followers. (20) VASTUBHYAM DASHAD, YO VA TE SHIKSHAT CHIKITVAN RAYIM DAYASVA | --------(68/3, Rigveda) O Fire! He who offers the right oblation and attains knowledge from you, you reward him wealth accordingly. Fire is the one who inspires and protects truth. He who acquires humbleness and knowledge from him becomes wealthy according to merit. Without knowledge's humans are ignorant and devoid of wisdom. By acquiring knowledge he becomes desirous of something and consequently achieves the fruits and benefits of that. (21) UPAKSHETI HITMITRO NA RAJA | ----------(73/3, Rigveda) A person only having trust worthy friend's lives and dwells in happiness on this earth, one should make good people their friends. One, who keeps good friends, benefits and dwells in peace. (22) BHADRAM KARNEBHIHI SHRUNUYAM DEVA BHADRAM PASHYAMAKSHAR BHIYAJATRAHA STHIRAI RANGAISTUSHTUVASASTANU BHIRVYASHEM DEVHITAM YADAYUHU || --------(89/8, Rigveda) O Lord! May we listen to good by our ears, may we see good by our eyes, may be have healthy bodies and praise you, and be blessed with long life. By doing so only can one benefit. Those who detach themselves from bad and yearn for the good of gods and scholars for life only shall be blessed. (23) JEEVATAVE PRATARAM SADHYA DHIYOAGNE SAKHYE MARISHAMA VAYAM TAVA ------------(94/4, Rigveda) O Agni! May we offer oblation to you, please make our minds sharp and good so that we may be blessed with good long life, may we benefit by your worship and be devoid of sorrow and pain. All the work done is only possible because of our sharp intellect and relentless Karma. A healthy body results in happiness and is primary to everything else. (24) TAMIT PRICHCHANTI NA SMO VI PRICHCHATI SWENEVA DHEERO MANASAMA YADAGRABHEET| NA MRISHYATE PRATHAMAM NAPAR VACHOASYA RITYA SACHATE APRADRIPITAHA|| ------------(145/2, Rigveda) Only Scholars question Agni because others cannot do so. Patient people who are working incessantly and have perseverance perform the work before itself and do not defer things because they are most influenced by others remarks. A person devoid of ego and pride acquires the strength of Agni. Only the person having firm conviction and iron volition can attain strength and energy. At no stage of Karma does he ever hesitate. (25) AGNE TVAM PARYA NAVYO ASMAN TSVASTIBHIRATI DURGANI VISHWA || ----------189/2, Rigveda) O Agni! You are absolutely new, please eliminate all our evil sins committed on the path of welfare and good. It states that one can be liberated from all sins only by treading on the path of good. Those who do so keep the good of others as the first priority and consequently free themselves from sorrow and pain