'The Language of the Colonized Mind'

[Guest guest]

'The Language of the Colonized Mind'

 

Many Indians use the term hindu mythology disconnecting the english

word myth from the Sanskrt mitya or false. Idol instead of diety,

South Asian instead of Indian etc.

 

The problem is that many Indians believe that the vedic histories

are myths, that dieties are just stone idols only as relevant as the

particular tradition or worshiper holds it to be. In other words

they feel there is no power in it beyond that invested in it by the

believers. South Asian is a PC way to lump ancient India with the

recent and invented nations of Pak & Bangladesh. As if calling them

Indian is an offense, despite all of these people having been called

Indian less than 60 yrs ago.

 

So when even Hindu activists use the language of the colonizer they

disempower their own culture and empower the psuedo-intelectual

machinations of those dedicated to the destruction of Hindu

civilization.

 

Even the term Hindu is controversial but I think we need to be

practical and accept the term because it has been repeatedly

recognized as the term for one of the world's great religions.

Iskcon famously says they are not Hindu but is protected by the

Hindu identity every time they have been dragged into court as a

dangerous new cult etc. They know that by calling it the 'Festival

of India' rather than the 'Festival of the Vaishnavas' or 'Vedic

Festival' the public will get a clearer idea of what kind of

festival it is. Rather than calling it the 'Hare Krsna Festival' its

called 'The Festival of India' in order to highlight to the public

that it is an ancient and culturally authentic festival.To most

people India logically means Hindu since 85% of Indians are legally

classified as Hindu.

 

As long as the Hindu intelligencia presents its traditions as

allegorical mythology why should anyone respect Hinduism?

 

The term idol, in semitic culture, originally did not refer to diety

worship but rather to the idolization of the self and the demands of

the senses. I just read a great study from the Greek Orthodox Church

on the worship of icons, saints etc. They clearly point out that

idolotry never refered to worship or respect for sacred objects,

icons and images. The modern era has given us a clear understanding

of what idolotry means. The glamourization of hollywood/bollywoood

stars, pop idols etc. This is what is warned against in the bible.

 

In todays connotations the term idol is negative and represents a

lack of depth. In the Vedic sense all Murtis are just stone/metal

idols until the divine being represented is invited and invoked

by 'pran pratishtha' to enter into the idol. Once the Divinity has

been invoked, it is no longer an idol but has become an actual

representative of the Diety.

 

Just as a Nation's flag is empowered to represent the nation and one

can honor and dishonor a whole nation by flag desecration, dieties

represent the Gods. The difference is that the flag is only invested

with the emotions of the citizens but the invoked dieties are actual

channels to the divinty represented.

 

So when Hindus call dieties idols they are dishonoring & dismissing

the sacred vedic invocations that were used to change the idol into

a Murti or worshipabale diety that actually acts as a conduit of the

devotee's prayer and devotion.

 

Another interesting point to consider is that even the most fanatic

iconoclast would find it difficult to spit on a picture of their

family or loved ones. It should not matter to them right ? its just

a peice of paper with ink on it. Yet it is cherished. This crude

example gives us a hint into the psychology and power of sacred

objects and dieties.

Namaste. Jaya Sri Hanuman!!!

Vrndavan Parker