Some Myths About India

[ashwin]

Indians the cow piss drinkers?
At times I have been reading around that Indians basically hindus are the drink cow piss. I have been around 7 different states (business reasons)but never found a single person who drinks cow piss. Though there are groups and institutions which promote it for its medicinal values. I am not sure but it is used for some medicines.

Cow as a manifestation of god
I have heard many people say Hindus consider cow as a god. But the fact is cow was never considered as a god it has always taken up as equivalent to mother. It is referred as "Gao maata" not some "Gao dev" or "Gao Devi". The reason being a majority of ancient population was fed on cow milk.

Poverty in India
Keeping aside statistics if anyone to visit India and get a chance to the rural sections specially beggars. Its not like they beg because they have nothing to do. It has become more of a profession in India. I am not advocating begging but it is the way things have changed over the coarse of time. At the end of the day I have hardly found anyone going to empty stomach to bed. (I have done extensive research on the same)

will be adding points from time to time... (Bit short of time for now.)

 

[ashwin]

Treatment Of Minorities
It is a general belief that India is a dominant Hindu state with the ill treatment of minorities. There had been cases. Godhra was a big mistake. At some of the rural areas untouchables still exists. But the perception is changing. India offers a great deal of reservations to the minorities in various fields ranging from education to jobs. There was a time when there was a divide when Hindus and Muslims did not drank from the same well. Today representing the common man I would say the divide is on a decline. Even for me my cook is a Muslim and guys let me tell you no one can make better food then her.

 

[Developereo]

Even for me my cook is a Muslim and guys let me tell you no one can make better food then her.

Is the cook coming to dinner?

 

[ashwin]

Is the cook coming to dinner?

At times she and her daughter dines at my place.

 

[Spring Onion]

I feel if you have some tolerance to face arguments from other sides over this then sure you should discuss it but i think its not likely would be the case as there is more truth in some of these myths.


And in that case your countrymen will once again get angry and as usual we will have a wrestling match again.

 

[arihant]

Is the cook coming to dinner?

What the hell question is ? He is making food and that should end the debate.

 

[ashwin]

I feel if you have some tolerance to face arguments from other sides over this then sure you should discuss it but i think its not likely would be the case as there is more truth in some of these myths.


And in that case your countrymen will once again get angry and as usual we will have a wrestling match again.

It was never about arguments or getting angry with one another. though I have seen at times people bashing each other. What I meant was to change the perceptions.. the way we see each other. you are welcome with your comments.

 

[ashwin]

Is Hinduism Polytheistic?

Hinduism is a decidedly theistic religion; the difficulty lies in determining whether it is a polytheistic, pantheistic, or perhaps even monotheistic religion. It should be noted at the outset, however, that this is chiefly a western difficulty: the Indian mind is much more inclined to regard divergent views as complementary rather than competing.

The Hindu gods Shiva, Parvati and Ganesh.

Supporting a view of Hinduism as a polytheistic religion is the great pantheon of Hindu gods. The oldest and most sacred texts, the Vedas, are chiefly concerned with mythologies and rituals related to a number of deities, most of which are identified with aspects of the natural world. The gods of modern Hinduism include the chief gods Shiva, Vishnu and the Mother Goddess Shakti as well as a myriad of local community gods.

Devotion to these various deities is based primarily on one's region and needs, and even when devotion is given to only one, the existence of others is acknowledged. Hindu worship virtually always involves sculptures and images, to which offerings are made and rituals are performed.

Despite these polytheistic elements, however, many Hindus explain that the gods are various forms of a single Supreme Being (see quotes below). Similarly, the philosophical Hindu texts advocate a pantheistic view of ultimate reality. These texts, most notably the Upanishads, explain that there exists a single Supreme Reality, called Brahman. Brahman is often personified and presented as the One that must be sought, and can begin to sound like monotheism. Yet the ultimate revelation of the Upanishads is that the self (atman) is identical with Brahman. Life is therefore best spent not in rituals and offerings to the gods, but in deep meditation on the self until this truth is experienced firsthand.

So is Hinduism polytheistic, pantheistic, or monotheistic? Contributing to the difficulty of answering this question is the fact that Hindus are not nearly as concerned as are western thinkers with such labels and categories. After all, it is a favorite Hindu saying that "The Truth is One, but different sages call it by different names." {1} But when Hindus do define their religion in these terms, usually for the benefit of curious westerners, they tend to do so in terms of monotheism and pantheism

"Hinduism worships multiple forms of the one God." (OM, an American Hindu organization)

"According to the tenets of Hinduism, God is one as well as many." (HinduWebsite.com)

"Hindus believe in monotheistic polytheism, rather than polytheism." (The Hindu Universe)

"Even though Hinduism is mistakenly regarded by many as a religion having many gods namely, polytheism, yet truly speaking Hinduism is a monotheistic religion." (Sri Swami Chidanda)

Taking all of the above into consideration, our Fast Facts on Hinduism page classifies Hinduism as "pantheism with polytheistic elements." Why not monotheism? Although "monotheism" literally means belief in the existence of one God, the term has come to denote belief in a God who created and is distinct from the universe. Pantheism is the view that God is essentially identical with the universe and totally immanent in the world: God is the universe and the universe is God. Thus pantheism seems to be the most accurate label for Hinduism. The "with polytheistic elements" qualifier is added because the Supreme Being of Hinduism is most often worshipped in the form of multiple deities.

However, it must be noted that this is a generalization that does not describe the beliefs of all Hindus. Some regard the universe as created by and essentially distinct from God, and are therefore "monotheistic" in the traditional sense.

 

[Developereo]

What the hell question is ? He is making food and that should end the debate.

OK, maybe it was too subtle.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) is a movie about prejudice and bigotry where a white daughter brings home her black husband to meet her parents.

The reference was in response to the poster's statement that minorities are well treated in India because his cook is a Muslim.

Wow, gee whiz. Whoop dee doo...

 

[ashwin]

OK, maybe it was too subtle.



The reference was in response to the poster's statement that minorities are well treated in India because his cook is a Muslim.

What I actually meant was the change in the perception in the mind of people over here. there was time when people did not even had the food from the same plate. Now things and the mind set are changing. This was not the generalization on the grounds of my cook.

Just a simple example if you could understand the meaning what I was trying to convey. And I am not the only one. I have a hell lot of friends where there is no barrier of caste, creed or religion. It is a fact that they existed and to a certain extent they still exist. But its highly on a decline curve.

I think you can understand what I meant

 

[arihant]

The reference was in response to the poster's statement that minorities are well treated in India because his cook is a Muslim

There are always two sides of the coin. If someone says we treat minority well then you will find another case where they are treated ill.

For me, if Muslims can live in India, can follow their religion, uniform tax structure, reservation, then its well treated.

And, you don't need to talk about India when in Pakistan, you take taxes from sikhs, islam has supreme religion, minority dropped from 10 to 2-3%.

 

[vsdoc]

Wow, gee whiz. Whoop dee doo...

Its is a well known fact that old muslim mechanics are the best for Bullet motorcycles. Unke haathon mein jadoo hota hai. I guess like for the cook, you'll like to whoop up and down for this too. Some of the best community (large scale) khansamas in the civil as well as army circles are muslims. You may not be excited by it sitting in Australia (our condolences), but we Indians love our food.

Chak de fatte (desi whoop de dooo)!

Cheers, Doc

 

[Developereo]

What I actually meant was the change in the perception in the mind of people over here. there was time when people did not even had the food from the same plate. Now things and the mind set are changing. This was not the generalization on the grounds of my cook.

Just a simple example if you could understand the meaning what I was trying to convey. And I am not the only one. I have a hell lot of friends where there is no barrier of caste, creed or religion. It is a fact that they existed and to a certain extent they still exist. But its highly on a decline curve.

I think you can understand what I meant

My point was that African-Americans were serving as maids and cooks in the white American and South African homes throughout the twentieth century, but that didn't translate into racial equality. Just because your cook is a different religion or caste has absolutely nothing to do with equality.

It's the same as the old argument, "Some of my best friends are black..."

There are always two sides of the coin. If someone says we treat minority well then you will find another case where they are treated ill.

For me, if Muslims can live in India, can follow their religion, uniform tax structure, reservation, then its well treated.

Not at all. If they continue to face discrimination in employment and social situations, then they are not first class citizens. All indications, including recent Indian government reports, are that disrimination against Muslims has not improved in India.

And, you don't need to talk about India when in Pakistan, you take taxes from sikhs, islam has supreme religion, minority dropped from 10 to 2-3%.

Focus, my friend, focus!
This thread is about India.

 

[Developereo]

Its is a well known fact that old muslim mechanics are the best for Bullet motorcycles. Unke haathon mein jadoo hota hai. I guess like for the cook, you'll like to whoop up and down for this too. Some of the best community (large scale) khansamas in the civil as well as army circles are muslims. You may not be excited by it sitting in Australia (our condolences), but we Indians love our food.

Jambalaya, Cajun cooking, Jazz, Blues, Rock and Roll have always been superbly popular with white America.

Fat lot of good it did the African-Americans throughout most of the twentieth century...

 

[ashwin]

My point was that African-Americans were serving as maids and cooks in the white American and South African homes throughout the twentieth century, but that didn't translate into racial equality. Just because your cook is a different religion or caste has absolutely nothing to do with equality.

It's the same as the old argument, "Some of my best friends are black..."



Not at all. If they continue to face discrimination in employment and social situations, then they are not first class citizens. All indications, including recent Indian government reports, are that disrimination against Muslims has not improved in India.



Focus, my friend, focus!
This thread is about India.

Point no 1: It was just an example (If you do understand explaining with example. I said i was not generalizing).

Point no 2: At the period of time no Afro American was the president as APJ Abdul Kalam. At the same level noone was Azim Premji of wipro. If it was so dont you think organizations like Infosys and TCS would have got an added advantage as they belong to Hindus. Was it possible for a dalit to become the chief minister of Uttar pradesh with as per you there is a dominant high class present in the society. Was it possible to have campuses like as that of "Aligarh Muslim University" one of the biggest in India. Was it possible to have statues of Bhim Rao Ambedkar who was a dalit icon.

Point no 3: Regarding discrimination against the muslims and other communities. We have reservations in the government and in jobs. Though in the private sector jobs all are treated equal.

"Reservation in Indian law is a form of affirmative action whereby a percentage of seats are reserved in the public sector units, union and state civil services, union and state government departments and in all public and private educational institutions, except in the religious/ linguistic minority educational institutions, for the socially and educationally backward communities and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes who are inadequately represented in these services and institutions. The reservation policy is also extended for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for representation in the Parliament of India. The central government of India reserves 27% of higher education[1], and individual states may legislate further reservations. Reservation in most states is at 50%, the maximum amount declared constitutional by the supreme court[2], but certain Indian states like Rajasthan have proposed a 68 % reservation which includes a 14% reservation for forward castes"

Reservation in India - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia