AT TRIYAMBKESHWARAM TEMPLE NEAR NASHIK--ONE OF 12 JYOTIRLINGAS OF LORD SHIVA! IT IS ON THE FOOT HILLS NEAR THE PLACE OF THE ORIGIN OF GAUTAMI OR GODAVRI RIVER.
EXPLODING MYTHS, ERODING BELIEFS AND PRODING NEW THEORIES!
I have just returned from my South India STUDY CUM HOLIDAYS tour of almost one month. It began on 18 february 2009 and ended on 14 March 2009. It was an extremely entertaining, enjoyable and of course very very educative tour.
Not that I had never been to South earlier, it was just that it used to be professional postings with a different purpose and of course with no concern for the social, political and cultural lives of the people. This time I had gone with a critical mind to look for some definite answers to my historical and sociological thesis. To say the least, I was not disappointed. And in the bargain, I have exploded myths, eroded the false impressions and reconfirmed my beliefs. On these issues, I will write in different blogs. Myths are about false ethnicities and fake perceptions.
I was glad to see in Chennai the changing colours of INDIA's SOCIAL and POLITICAL INTEGRATION. A few years back I could not see Chennai girls in SALWAR KAMEEZ. They all used to be decked in sarees but not now. One had to really make an effort to locate SAREE CLAD FEMALES in this METRO of the TAMIL NADU. This was so not only in Chennai but also in various other parts of TAMIL NADU, ANDHRA and KERALA. I would say same of the food habits. North Indian delicaies were available everywhere, which used to be a rare thing in the past. PRATHAS and POORIES were available anywhere.
People were generaly friendly and accessible but for the language. Inter personal communications were a big hurdle in the country side and with the rural folks. Not that the people were hostile, they were very very friendly. Most of them were very keen to talk and interchange notes on the subject I discussed with them. It was NOT politics but their HISTORY and how certain myths were created about their ethnicity by vested interests, including the BRITISHERS. I told them that "DRAVID" was a mischievous TERM coined by a SEVENTH CENTURY BUDDHIST SCHOLAR to represent people who LACKED IN KNOWLEDGE. It is only after this that some religious scriptures do talk of "DRAVIDA REGION" of GUJARAT, KARNATAKA, ANDHRA, TAMIL and MAHARASHTRA. These " PURANAS" are of 8th or 9th Century editions. The origional texts do not have this word at all. They were aghast and stunned. I informed them about this scholar called, KUMARILLA BHATTA, a SANSKRIT EXPERT, who coined this term in his book called , "TANTRIKAVARTIKA". He did not use this to to represent people of SOUTH INDIA.
It was only a BRITISH PRIEST , Robert Caldwell, who used this term in 1853 AD, to represent people of SOUTH INDIA but with an ulterior motive. I found visible signs of one ethnicity--that is of NAGAS of the ancient times. The dark complexion in the south is because of climate and weather and NOT because of racial inferiority which has been popularised by the BRITISHERS to create a North-South DIVIDE.
The people knew about AGASTYA RISHI --younger brother of VASHISHTA---CLAN PRIEST of Lord RAMA. RAVANA was a BRAHMIN- and not an ASURA or a DAANAV . he was the grandson of BRAHMA--the creator. And LORD RAMA--a KASHATRIYA, had to worship LORD SHIVA at RAMESHWARAM to expiate himself of the sin of BRAHM HATYA (PRIEST's MURDER). This logic made people pay attention but language was a barrier. People suddenly used to get interested in this theory. Lord RAVNA was a worshipper of Lord SHIVA--so was Lord RAMA. It is another matter that VICTORS get GLAMOURISED and VANQUISHED has no say in HISTORY. That's why I say that Lord RAMA and Lord Ravna belonged to same ETHNICITY---the NAGAS --the original inhabitants of SUNDA LAND--the region between coastal India and Indonesia -Australia---which was FERTILE LAND before the last ICE AGE---some 10000 years back. It is these people who went North and West when water level rose by 400 feet due to melting of glacial ice and SUNDA LAND was submerged. They had come to this region from AFRICA some 80,000 years back. Africa is the the origional place of the appearance of HOMO SAPIENS---some 1.5 -2 lakhs years back. It is the NASGAS who established SARASWATI-INDUS valley CIVILISATION --the remanants of which are found at HARAPPA, MOHAN JODARO, LOTHAL and many places along the erstwhile channel of river SARASWATI. They came NORTH in 8000 BC and went back to COASTAL REGION with AGASTYA RISHI around 4500 BC when a natural upheaval made SARASWATI RIVER to disappear. They had this VEDIC KNOWLEDGE which has been wrongly appropriated by so called ARYANS--which is a myth. 'Arya' was a form of address for the 'NOBLE PEOPLE' --nothing less--nothing more. It is akin to JANAB in URDU and 'SIR' in english. rest all is a myth. All kings and Noble persons were "ARYA-PUTRA"--so says the texts after texts of VEDIC literature and the two EPOCHS--RAMAYANA and MAHABHARTA. Aryan Myth and legend is created by WESTERN SCHOLARS--who wanted to claim SUPREMACY over ORIENTAL CIVILISATIONS. German and BRITISH scholars took the lead in popularising and creating this myth. Kindly note the similarities between SOUTH INDIAN SCRIPTS whether TAMIL, TELGU or KANNAD and HARAPPAN SCRIPTS. They are all pictorial and closer to PRAKRITI or BRAHMI scripts. Anyway , wait for me to come to this topic later, if at all I have some time. Otherwise you can read my blogs on "DRAVIDAS, ARYANS and NAGAS-----" to get an INTRODUCTORY FEEL of my theory. My basic aim of this tour was to study this aspect. I have come back satisfied on my line of thinking. The link is:-
http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/07/aryans-dravids-and-nagas-some-lies-myths.htm
http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/07/aryans-dravidians-and-nagas-some-lies-some.htm
Another myth I exploded was of non-existing support for LTTE in the country side . It only exists in the media and some VESTED INTERSTS in CHENNAI. The common folks of TAMIL NADU in Villages after Villages had no visible sympathy. when I broached this subject with the people, the straight answer use to be --"ALL POLITICS, SIR! WHY ARE THEY( POLITICIANS) NOT SO CONCERNED WITH OUR POOR PLIGHT IN OUR VILLAGES? LET THEM GIVE US BREATHING SPACE TO LIVE". You donot believe this. But go to TAMIL NADU Villages outside CHENNAI and MADURAI---interact with common people---you will find the difference. Take a good INTERPRETER with you. Those who raise hue and cry--you know why? you should also know WHY IS KARUNANIDHI totally SILENT on this issue. FACTS SPEAK; I DO NOT.
I must show my resentment at the colossal neglect of the country side by the political leaders of KARNATKA, TAMIL NADU and ANDHRA PRADESH. Their sole emphasis has been on developing three MEGA CITIES of BANGLURU, CHENNAI and HYDERABAD. The rural areas are devoid of any visible development. Thousands of HECTACRES of LAND along the highways and railway tracks was lying uncultivated. The primary reason given was scaracity of water. How ironic is the fact that the farmers are made to rely on the rain gods, while milions of cuesecs of water of GODAVRI, KRISHNA, CAUVERI and various other rivers is allowed to drain into the seas. Unfortunately, GOD too helps those who help themselves. There is an urgent need to harness this water through an INTER-CONNECTING canal. They must stop playing politics over this and do something for their rural masses. This is applicable to Maharashtra also. I am particularly incensed with the leaders of ANDHRA PRADESH. I used to have a lot of respect for TDP chief, CP NAIDU.But I think he has not devoted his time tovards rural people. he has been only concentrating on Hyderabad. Such a lack of vision is very bad. Media, too is blamed for this. They are creating hypes about leaders who are only city based.
I am also irked at the visible signs of corruption in the HOUSE OF GOD or Temples everywhere. I was surprised to see the PRIESTS openly asking for ALMS from the devotees. Some of them took devotees through hidden entries and charged handsome amount. Take for example TIRUPATI TEMPLE---a richest HINDU TEMPLE in the world but most mismanaged institute which abounds in BEGGING PANDITS and PRIESTS, who would robe you off your clothes, too, in the name of GOD. The state governments ought to interfere and take over them. If they have already taken over, then I am sorry about the state of affairs. Watch out for POLICEMEN 's DEVOTION TO DUTY in my SNAPS givren below.
Out of all the places, I loved KERALA. It is ONE LONG STREET ALONG NH-49. God has been very kind to the people of Kerala. The place abounds in serenic beauty. Kovlam beach was fantastic but Allepey was wonderful. Its BACK WATERS WERE MARVELLOUS. And wait, wow! What a place KOCHIN or Eranakulam is? I just can not describe their beauty.
I was surprised to see BJP and MUSLIM LEAGUE FLAGS along NH-49 on the KERALA SIDE of the highway. I was not impressed. I asked a local. the answer was: " YOU PAY TO THE ADVERTISING COMPANIES --YOU WILL HAVE YOUR FLAGS ERRECTED ALL OVER. IT IS NOT A SIGN OF THE SUPPRT OF THE PEOPLE." I thought so. This was on the KERALA SIDE of NH-49. But on the Tamil Nadu side, sure there was large supprt for the SAFFRON BRIGADE. This was a surprise. There were no COMPETING MUSLIM LEAGUE FLAGS here.
I will now give some snap shots of various places. they are only selected one s out of some 1000 snaps I took of POVERTY, RELIGIOSITY and BEAUTY. Here we go:-
Not that I had never been to South earlier, it was just that it used to be professional postings with a different purpose and of course with no concern for the social, political and cultural lives of the people. This time I had gone with a critical mind to look for some definite answers to my historical and sociological thesis. To say the least, I was not disappointed. And in the bargain, I have exploded myths, eroded the false impressions and reconfirmed my beliefs. On these issues, I will write in different blogs. Myths are about false ethnicities and fake perceptions.
I was glad to see in Chennai the changing colours of INDIA's SOCIAL and POLITICAL INTEGRATION. A few years back I could not see Chennai girls in SALWAR KAMEEZ. They all used to be decked in sarees but not now. One had to really make an effort to locate SAREE CLAD FEMALES in this METRO of the TAMIL NADU. This was so not only in Chennai but also in various other parts of TAMIL NADU, ANDHRA and KERALA. I would say same of the food habits. North Indian delicaies were available everywhere, which used to be a rare thing in the past. PRATHAS and POORIES were available anywhere.
People were generaly friendly and accessible but for the language. Inter personal communications were a big hurdle in the country side and with the rural folks. Not that the people were hostile, they were very very friendly. Most of them were very keen to talk and interchange notes on the subject I discussed with them. It was NOT politics but their HISTORY and how certain myths were created about their ethnicity by vested interests, including the BRITISHERS. I told them that "DRAVID" was a mischievous TERM coined by a SEVENTH CENTURY BUDDHIST SCHOLAR to represent people who LACKED IN KNOWLEDGE. It is only after this that some religious scriptures do talk of "DRAVIDA REGION" of GUJARAT, KARNATAKA, ANDHRA, TAMIL and MAHARASHTRA. These " PURANAS" are of 8th or 9th Century editions. The origional texts do not have this word at all. They were aghast and stunned. I informed them about this scholar called, KUMARILLA BHATTA, a SANSKRIT EXPERT, who coined this term in his book called , "TANTRIKAVARTIKA". He did not use this to to represent people of SOUTH INDIA.
It was only a BRITISH PRIEST , Robert Caldwell, who used this term in 1853 AD, to represent people of SOUTH INDIA but with an ulterior motive. I found visible signs of one ethnicity--that is of NAGAS of the ancient times. The dark complexion in the south is because of climate and weather and NOT because of racial inferiority which has been popularised by the BRITISHERS to create a North-South DIVIDE.
The people knew about AGASTYA RISHI --younger brother of VASHISHTA---CLAN PRIEST of Lord RAMA. RAVANA was a BRAHMIN- and not an ASURA or a DAANAV . he was the grandson of BRAHMA--the creator. And LORD RAMA--a KASHATRIYA, had to worship LORD SHIVA at RAMESHWARAM to expiate himself of the sin of BRAHM HATYA (PRIEST's MURDER). This logic made people pay attention but language was a barrier. People suddenly used to get interested in this theory. Lord RAVNA was a worshipper of Lord SHIVA--so was Lord RAMA. It is another matter that VICTORS get GLAMOURISED and VANQUISHED has no say in HISTORY. That's why I say that Lord RAMA and Lord Ravna belonged to same ETHNICITY---the NAGAS --the original inhabitants of SUNDA LAND--the region between coastal India and Indonesia -Australia---which was FERTILE LAND before the last ICE AGE---some 10000 years back. It is these people who went North and West when water level rose by 400 feet due to melting of glacial ice and SUNDA LAND was submerged. They had come to this region from AFRICA some 80,000 years back. Africa is the the origional place of the appearance of HOMO SAPIENS---some 1.5 -2 lakhs years back. It is the NASGAS who established SARASWATI-INDUS valley CIVILISATION --the remanants of which are found at HARAPPA, MOHAN JODARO, LOTHAL and many places along the erstwhile channel of river SARASWATI. They came NORTH in 8000 BC and went back to COASTAL REGION with AGASTYA RISHI around 4500 BC when a natural upheaval made SARASWATI RIVER to disappear. They had this VEDIC KNOWLEDGE which has been wrongly appropriated by so called ARYANS--which is a myth. 'Arya' was a form of address for the 'NOBLE PEOPLE' --nothing less--nothing more. It is akin to JANAB in URDU and 'SIR' in english. rest all is a myth. All kings and Noble persons were "ARYA-PUTRA"--so says the texts after texts of VEDIC literature and the two EPOCHS--RAMAYANA and MAHABHARTA. Aryan Myth and legend is created by WESTERN SCHOLARS--who wanted to claim SUPREMACY over ORIENTAL CIVILISATIONS. German and BRITISH scholars took the lead in popularising and creating this myth. Kindly note the similarities between SOUTH INDIAN SCRIPTS whether TAMIL, TELGU or KANNAD and HARAPPAN SCRIPTS. They are all pictorial and closer to PRAKRITI or BRAHMI scripts. Anyway , wait for me to come to this topic later, if at all I have some time. Otherwise you can read my blogs on "DRAVIDAS, ARYANS and NAGAS-----" to get an INTRODUCTORY FEEL of my theory. My basic aim of this tour was to study this aspect. I have come back satisfied on my line of thinking. The link is:-
http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/07/aryans-dravids-and-nagas-some-lies-myths.htm
http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/07/aryans-dravidians-and-nagas-some-lies-some.htm
Another myth I exploded was of non-existing support for LTTE in the country side . It only exists in the media and some VESTED INTERSTS in CHENNAI. The common folks of TAMIL NADU in Villages after Villages had no visible sympathy. when I broached this subject with the people, the straight answer use to be --"ALL POLITICS, SIR! WHY ARE THEY( POLITICIANS) NOT SO CONCERNED WITH OUR POOR PLIGHT IN OUR VILLAGES? LET THEM GIVE US BREATHING SPACE TO LIVE". You donot believe this. But go to TAMIL NADU Villages outside CHENNAI and MADURAI---interact with common people---you will find the difference. Take a good INTERPRETER with you. Those who raise hue and cry--you know why? you should also know WHY IS KARUNANIDHI totally SILENT on this issue. FACTS SPEAK; I DO NOT.
I must show my resentment at the colossal neglect of the country side by the political leaders of KARNATKA, TAMIL NADU and ANDHRA PRADESH. Their sole emphasis has been on developing three MEGA CITIES of BANGLURU, CHENNAI and HYDERABAD. The rural areas are devoid of any visible development. Thousands of HECTACRES of LAND along the highways and railway tracks was lying uncultivated. The primary reason given was scaracity of water. How ironic is the fact that the farmers are made to rely on the rain gods, while milions of cuesecs of water of GODAVRI, KRISHNA, CAUVERI and various other rivers is allowed to drain into the seas. Unfortunately, GOD too helps those who help themselves. There is an urgent need to harness this water through an INTER-CONNECTING canal. They must stop playing politics over this and do something for their rural masses. This is applicable to Maharashtra also. I am particularly incensed with the leaders of ANDHRA PRADESH. I used to have a lot of respect for TDP chief, CP NAIDU.But I think he has not devoted his time tovards rural people. he has been only concentrating on Hyderabad. Such a lack of vision is very bad. Media, too is blamed for this. They are creating hypes about leaders who are only city based.
I am also irked at the visible signs of corruption in the HOUSE OF GOD or Temples everywhere. I was surprised to see the PRIESTS openly asking for ALMS from the devotees. Some of them took devotees through hidden entries and charged handsome amount. Take for example TIRUPATI TEMPLE---a richest HINDU TEMPLE in the world but most mismanaged institute which abounds in BEGGING PANDITS and PRIESTS, who would robe you off your clothes, too, in the name of GOD. The state governments ought to interfere and take over them. If they have already taken over, then I am sorry about the state of affairs. Watch out for POLICEMEN 's DEVOTION TO DUTY in my SNAPS givren below.
Out of all the places, I loved KERALA. It is ONE LONG STREET ALONG NH-49. God has been very kind to the people of Kerala. The place abounds in serenic beauty. Kovlam beach was fantastic but Allepey was wonderful. Its BACK WATERS WERE MARVELLOUS. And wait, wow! What a place KOCHIN or Eranakulam is? I just can not describe their beauty.
I was surprised to see BJP and MUSLIM LEAGUE FLAGS along NH-49 on the KERALA SIDE of the highway. I was not impressed. I asked a local. the answer was: " YOU PAY TO THE ADVERTISING COMPANIES --YOU WILL HAVE YOUR FLAGS ERRECTED ALL OVER. IT IS NOT A SIGN OF THE SUPPRT OF THE PEOPLE." I thought so. This was on the KERALA SIDE of NH-49. But on the Tamil Nadu side, sure there was large supprt for the SAFFRON BRIGADE. This was a surprise. There were no COMPETING MUSLIM LEAGUE FLAGS here.
I will now give some snap shots of various places. they are only selected one s out of some 1000 snaps I took of POVERTY, RELIGIOSITY and BEAUTY. Here we go:-
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