Disintegrating Divisions

I came to read Destiny Disrupted through a work colleague. This expands on the topic of Islam as a religion that enhanced political connection throughout the so-called “Muslim world”. Laws in Islam as a religious doctrine helped build the political structure to the blank slate of monarchy and apparent anarchy of political battles and killings. This is reminiscent of the Shaivite and Vaishnavite struggle that India had in the past and now for all practicality restricted to some hardcore religious customs which are not physically harmful. I believe this is the way to rule, as used by Tipu Sultan’s forced conversions.

This can be traced more backward to “more barbaric and backward” political motives to use religious sentiments as divisive and ruling force. It is no secret that heavy taxes were imposed on non-core religion adherents, to make their life difficult in Mughal empire. This brings the question that a nation needs money and power to impose itself on the natives to rule. The power could be plain brutal force or that of omnipresent religious customs.

It is a wonder that the the current state of affairs in the educated part of India is not affected by the religious sentiments and thinks more rationally as far as what their tax-payer money brings to them in the form of benefits and social schemes, rather than some arbitrary/customary part-of-the-herd act in election. This freedom to separate political thought from customs can be, thus, considered the height of modern democracy. The freedom of expression , where you have freedom to follow your religion, follow your political ideology is beyond the texts and testaments for individual well being. The evident difference between what is called Hinduism, its practice and other popular religions such as Christianity and Islam is the social component. Since, there is no compulsory religious education or crowd-forced adherence to practices in Hinduism the social context of that is more individualistic rather than socialistic. So, it is not a single book or religious institution applies to all formula, therefore control of socio-political movements based on group-think is minimal compared to more socialistic approach in Islam and Christianity. It is the wonder of Human nature that even those customs are further divided and extremism in any religion of the world is nullified by  continuous social interaction, within and beyond the assigned-at-birth religion. The freedom to choose religion, to choose political ideology dwells in the eternal spirit of humanity. Humans as a civilized society, would be individualistic in their freedom of thought and socialistic in their freedom of action. It is this ethereal breakdown that brings peace to any society.

I find nations impose nationality upon humans, humans find ways to tear down walls and artificial boundaries of these nations, by many ways including the system of immigration or Visa, the curiosity of an individual and the fluidity of a society cannot be contained under a single religious or a single political standpoint. In this era of continuous improvement using software updates why is that religion are static old and not up-to-date. How can one religion claim to be superior or of more correct than another if they are no updating. Is it by virtue of being popular or being older that these claims can be socially and politically ratified ? On the other hand politics is an every changing constantly updating scheme of practice where the elections and the newly changed needs of the electoral college demands a constant updates in views, practices and preachment of the candidates and parties that dream of power, rule and social service. This disconnects the link between religion and politics. And one can no more be used to influence the other. This disintegration leads to new elites of power and social following. This may be unreachable to the adherents of the traditional route, one religion, one language, one custom, one nation systems. Any divisions will lead to more unity, like action and reaction are two sides of same coin, this system of currency keeps up, with corresponding changes in the society. This is despite the change in changes itself, obfuscating boundaries and disintegrating divisions.

I believe, there will be peace upon the place which goes by the name of peace.

Book Review: Destiny Disrupted

I heard about this book from a Palo Alto entrepreneur. I read the book Destiny Disrupted by Tamim Ansary. The style of writing is unbiased for most portion and biased whenever it is expected. This book gives a good idea on the endless wars that the west Asia has seen the history and some facts. I would have loved to see more references per page.

Supposedly, there is a historical gap that the western education misses. The book tries to fill in as much as the author can. I could revive my memories of school history (Kerala Syllabus), where we learned about independence movement in many countries including Algeria, Libya, Kenya and so on. After reading this book I really appreciate the effort they have put in making the history textbooks in Kerala syllabus. Interestingly a Q&A session including Dr.Shashi Tharoor’s bashing of British and the intentional hiding of British school system about their previous history was eye opening.

At the same time Holocaust is covered in schools in Germany. Tamim ends the book telling us everyone had a hand on Holocaust, and the Great Game only extended its reach. In USA how many schools teach about native American culture and tradition ? How is it done in the west Asia ?

The book shines light on why Turkey, Iraq and Israel where not covered much ground in my school history textbooks because of its complexity. There are instances of history narrated by Tamim that is questionable and open to opinions. However, the fair amount of references throughout the book along with the ‘anticipatory bail’ in the preface about the book being more subjective that just boring factual statements. Hence it is ‘Hi-Story’. Very interesting perspectives on the crusades are available in Al-Jazeera’s specials. Together with Wikipedia these three resources provide for a nice pass time adding historical curiosity. I like the style of writing, there is glorification of Islam. Some facts are mentioned here are there. They may or may not be tied to Islam as such. The books reaches a logical conclusion in the last few pages. Where it truly states why Islam can be considered in the league of religion (strong), polity (good connection) or culture (weakly connected). Putting itself in an orbit beyond certain misinterpretations.  I would still go by what I understood in the Mahatma Gandhi’s chapter (गान्धिजि का मत) read in my 9th standard (equivalent to 9th grade in the USA) – ‘Everyone has opinion (मत), and opinion(मत) is another word for religion’. In Malayalam language caste (മതം) is derived from the same root word. Reading between the lines and adding to the well know multitude of symbolism that represent God in the Indian tradition (often called Hinduism) which in turn represented the number of people present at that time of formation of scriptures ( 33 million gods in Hinduism represented 33 million people at the time as per Dr. N Gopalakrishnan), it appears as if indeed it is true. There may be a single god (or none or many) based on the many ways and opinions a mind likes to think and ponder about. Religion was used as a tool to divide people and loot forever rather than as a tool to realize human potential (as suggested by Jaggi Vasudev).

I used to wonder how these countries in west Asia ( sometimes called as Middle East, while Tamim calls it Middle World) were formed. Especially Jordan and Syria because I could not place them in linguistic/cultural difference basket. It was also nice to know how Lebanon was formed. Another of my musings was this question ” Was there ever a case were instead of splitting countries, some countries came and joined together to form a bigger country” . Emirs formed UAE to stand together. India was formed by merger of many small countries. The answer in the book about United Arab Republic(UAR) and how the countries which also liked to join, but did not, but follow similar flags was nice to read. In many new independent countries formed when the colonization era was getting over, the sense of national identity and the sense of a nation itself seemed to be distant for a common man. The books tells about the first implementation of democracy and how it related to a common man in Afghanistan. Tamim openly says about the Great Game, Cold wars, many wars over cultural, linguistic, economic and nationalist ideologies in addition to religious. It puts forth very bluntly that whatever the Islamic rulers tried to achieve involved war and death. Nothing to be proud of. In this light Tamim actually missed out Nizam of Hyderabad and to include Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Their stories may be smaller compared to the Mughals but equally violent ?! Coming from Kerala we get to talk about how the Gods helped to protect the Tiru-Kochi (nation) from Tipu. And Tiru-Kochi lasted 7 years unlike UAR which lasted for 3 years. I am sure that Tamim must have missed some more Islamic rulers ( Indonesia ?) and others and focussed on the west Asian scene.

I have heard that certain tribes in Africa do not have restriction imposed by national boundaries. Something similar exists  in different nations created by an ‘Independence movement’ leading to national identity, constitution, flag, anthem and a constitutional head. People easily move between Bhutan, Nepal, India. I guess similar cases exist between Afghanistan and Pakistan via the land of Pashtuns. Random lines on the map created by people who do not know about the land, the culture or language have lead to border tensions in many places. Be it artificial boundaries or natural boundaries of terrain or water. How are national boundaries created ? Who made it a law that every habitable land on earth should be part of nations ? Why should there be nations and national identity ? How many wars were fought over petty disputes on boundaries, resource division and  allocation ? Identity crisis could be one major societal aspect that the boundaries may seem to solve. Can the boundary makers be absolved of the consequences of their fancy markings on the globe ? ever ?

 

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Wake up there is good news; Preachers and practitioners

Tired of watching a movie and no one to talk to I got company when the calling bell rang. I opened the door just to see two old men. Not too interesting, but they said they are publicizing a magazine which is published worldwide. They are from Jehovian something. I saw in the magazine “http://www.watchtower.org/”. So there is curiosity and timepass. I asked them what it was about. One of them said it was about happiness and health.” How to be happy in life. There is terrorism in this world, there is lokpal bill protest, there is environmental causes causing disasters for human beings. We are here to inform you a good news; that there will be an end to it. We are a study group which bvelieves in single god ‘Jehova‘ . We have studied Gita, Quran and Bible.” He fliped through a malayalam bible and quickly showed me the relevant portions supporting his statement.

I thought ” At their age though they are not fat guys, they can help control their health hazards and age related issues.  Also, they may be helping their families by not staying at home and creating problems.”

 

Some good things are bad, and some bad things are good, but mostly if things are unharmful then things are basically all right.

 

Christmas Special Prayer! Yesu(Christ) Gayatri!

root said ” if you know basic structure of Gayatri mantra you can make your own Gayatri, say for example here is Yesu  Gayatri”

To read about the metre of Gayatri see Wikipedia page

“Om  Paapavimochakaaya vidmahe

Mary puthraaya dheemahi

thanno christu prachodayat”

In Devanagari:-

 

“ॐ   पापविमोचकाय  विद्महे

मेरी  पुत्राय  धीमहि

तन्नो कृस्तु   प्रचोदयात् ”

 

In Malayalam:-

“ഓം   പാപവിമോചകായ വിദ്മഹെ

മേരി  പുത്രായ  ധീമഹി

തന്നോ  ക്രിസ്തു  പ്രചോദയാത്  ”

 

 

what say ??

Yes , its  special since only Jesus Christ had the attribute of  sin (Paapa)  removal (vimochanam) . Also its possible that this can be a Gayatri for the Christ. I thought I should share this . This can be a new prayer for the huge population of Christians in the land of Gayatri(India!). Take this as your Christmas gift Dedicated for all christ lovers!.

Navaratri Sloka in Indic

In samkritam (Sanskrit)

सर्वस्य  बुद्धि -रूपेण  जनस्य  हृदि  संस्थिते
स्वर्गापवर्गदे  देवी  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते I
कालकस्तादिरूपेण  परिणाम -प्रदायिनी
विस्वस्योपरतौ  सक्त्यै  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते I
सर्व -मङ्गल -मङ्गल्ये  शिवे  सर्वार्थ -साधिके
शरण्ये  त्र्यम्बके  गौरी  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
सर्ष्टि -स्थिति -विनासानां शक्ति  भूते  सनातनी
गुणाश्रये  गुणमयी  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |

शरणागत -दिनार्त -परित्राण – परायणे
सर्वस्वर्ति -हरे  देवी  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
हंस -युक्त -विमान -स्थे  ब्राह्मं  रूप -धारिणी
कौसम्भः क्षरिके  देवी  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
त्रिशूल-चान्द्राहि -धरे  महा -वृषभ -वाहिनी
महेश्वरी -स्वरूपेण  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते I
मयूर -कुक्कुटा-वृते  महा -शक्ति -धरे  नाघे
कौमारी  रूप -संस्थाने  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते   |
संख -चक्र  -गदसार्ङ्ग -गृहीत -परमायुधे
प्रसीद वैष्णवी-रूपे  नारायणी नमोस्तुते |
गृहितोग्र -महाचक्रे  दन्स्त्रोद्ध्रित -वसुन्धरे
वराह -रूपिणी  शिवे  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
नरसिंह  रुपेनोग्रेण  हन्तुं  दैत्यन कृतोद्यमे
त्रैलोक्य -त्राण-सहिते  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
किरीटिनि  महावज्रे  सहस्र -नयनोज्ज्वले
वृत्र -प्राण -हरे  चैन्द्री  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
शिव दूति-स्वरूपेण  हत -दैत्य -महाबले
घोर -रूपे  महारवे नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
दंष्ट्त्र -कराल-वदने  सिरोमाल -विभूषणे
चामुण्डे  मुण्ड -मथने  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
लक्ष्मी  लज्जे  महाविदये श्राद्धे पुष्टि -स्व्रधे  ध्रुवे
महारात्रि  महा  विदये नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |
मेधे  सरस्वती  वरे  भूति  बभ्रावि तमसि
नियते  त्वं   प्रसीदेसे  नारायणी  नमोस्तुते |

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The following script is for the Devanagari illiterates:

Read it in In samkritam (Sanskrit) not hindi ; Ok?!

 

sarvasya buddhi-rupena janasya hrdi samsthite
svargapavargade devi naraya, ni namostute
kalakasthadirupena parinama-pradayini
visvasyoparatau saktyai narayaoi namo stute
sarva-mangala-mangalye sive sarvartha-sadhike
saranye tryambake gauri narayani namo stute
srsti-sthiti-vinasanam sakti bhute sanatani
gunasraye gunamaye narayani namo stute
saranagata-dinarta-paritrana- parayane
sarvasvarti-hare devi narayani namo stute
hamsa-yukta-vimana-sthe brahmam rupa-dharini
kausambhah ksarike devi narayani namo stute
trisula-candrahi-dhare maha-vrsabha-vahini
mahesvari-svarupena narayani namo stute
mayura-kukkuta-vrte maha-sakti-dhare naghe
kaumari rupa-samsthane narayani namo stute
sankha-cakra-gadasarnga-grhita-paramayud he
prasida vaisnavi-rupe narayani namo stute
grhitogra-mahacakre danstroddhrta-vasundhare
varaha-rupini sive narayani namo stute
nrsimha rupenogrena hantum daityan krtodyame
trailokya-trana-sahite narayani namo stute
kiritini mahavajre sahasra-nayanojjvale
vrtra-prana-hare caindri narayani namo stute
siva duti-svarupena hata-daitya-mahabale
ghora-rupe maharave narayani namo stute
damstra-karala-vadane siromala-vibhusane
camunde munda-mathane narayani namo stute
laksmi lajje mahavidye sraddhe pusti-svradhe dhruve
maharatri maha vidye narayani namo stute
medhe sarasvati vare bhuti babhravi tamasi
niyate tvam prasidese narayani namo stute

 

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Happy Navaratri

Please help eliminate any errors in this