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From the rise of the Indus Valley civilzation in the
fourth millennium to the present day, India shows a remarkable
continuity. There have been many streams of migrations into what is
aptly termed the world’s oldest cruible. And each has
contributed to the Indian polyphony.
From early
anthorpomorphism Hinduism developed into an all embracing way of
life. India is also the birthplace of Buddhism and Jainism. The
tolerant Indian culture was quick enough to accommodate Christianity
and Islam. The follwers of Zarathustra found refuge here, and so did
the Jews. Guru Nanak of Punjab (1469-1533 AD) founded Sikhism
assimilating the best elements of both Hinduism and Islam.
April portents the start
of the cruel Indian summer. In the Gangetic Plains the farmer
prepares to harvest the rabi crop, the sun shining on his tanned,
perspiring body. In the cities under the buzz of fans and the whizz
of airconditioners people languidly go on with their routine.
Three important festivals
fall this month – Ramnavmi, Idu’l Zuha and Mahavir Jayanti.
Ramnavmi which is due on
5 April, commemorates the birth of Ram the hero of the
epic Ramayana. In popular Hindu mythology Ram is the seventh
incarnation of Vishnu, the Creator God. Overall there are ten avatars
or incarnations and the last, Kalkin, is due. This doctrine which was
adopted very early could be the influence of Buddhist and Jain
doctrines which also speak of incarnations.
The Ramayana story is so
simple and yet its influence on the Hindu mind is profound.
Defending the book against its critics Gandhi remarked, “…the
position of Ramayana as a book par excellence remains unassailable.
This, however does not mean that it is absolutely faultless.
Ramnavmi which is due on
5 April, commemorates the birth of Ram the hero of the
epic Ramayana. In popular Hindu mythology Ram is the seventh
incarnation of Vishnu, the Creator God. Overall there are ten avatars
or incarnations and the last, Kalkin, is due. This doctrine which was
adopted very early could be the influence of Buddhist and Jain
doctrines which also speak of incarnations.
But it is claimed on the
behalf of Ramayana that it has given peace to millions, has given
faith to those who had it not, and is even today serving as a healing
balm to thousands who are burnt by the fires of unbelief. Every page
of its is overflowing with devotion. It is a veritable mine of
spiritual experience.”
The epic is the story of
Ram. Dasratha the king of Koshala had four sons – Ram, Bharata,
Lakshman and Shatrughan. Ram won the hand of the daughter of the
king of Videha, Sita, at an archery contest.
As per primogeniture Ram
was to succeed his father. But Dashratha’s second queen
Kaikayi, asked Dasratha to exile Ram and Make her son Bharata the
king under a long unfulfilled boon.
Despite the protestations
of his father and Bharata, Ram abdicated throne in accordance with
his step-mother’s wish. Along with is spouse and brother Ram
left on a 14 year long exile.
One day Sita was abducted
by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana as an act of vengeance for Ram’s
killing of his subjects. Ram with the help of Lakshmana and his
trusted lieutenant the monekey god Hanuman besigned Lanka. In the
fierce war that ensued Ravana was killed and Ram returned victorious
to rule Videha once again.
Ramnavmi is celebrated
throughout India with traditional vigour. Devotees throng Ram
temples to offer prayers. At night temples are lit with electric
lights to mark the birth of one who vanquished the forces of
darkness.
The Ramayana legend is
believed to have been committed to verse perhaps just before the
start of the Christian era by the sage Valmiki. But it was left to
Tulsidas (1532-1632 AD) to render it into Hindi from Sanskrit. Today
it is Tulidas’ rather than Valmiki’s name which is
associated more often with Ramayana in north India.
If you go boating along
the ghats in Varanasi the boatman is sure to point out the spot on
the riverbank which Tulsi is supposed to have frequented as a young
man.
Earlier in the 9th
century AD Kamban in the south wrote Ram’s story in Tamil. His
work is considered a classic of Tamil.
The founder of Jainism
Vardhamana Mahavir was born c. 540 BC. Like his other illustrious
contemporary, the Buddha, he belonged to a ruling family. His father
Siddhartha was the chief of the clan of Jnatrikas and his mother
Trishala was the sister of the Licchavi chief Chetaka.
Though he had a genteel
upbringing and married and had a child, at the age of 30 he left home
in quest of salvation. In Jaina tradition he is regarded as the
twenty-third of the twenty-four teachers or Tirthankars (Ford
makers).
The Jaina canon was
complied much later. According to Jaina scriptures the universe is
eternal, and unlike Buddhists and Hindu it does not speak of
apocalypse. There are regular cycles of decline (Utsarpini) and
regeneration (avasarpini). Presently the world is going through a
40,000 year long period of decline.
Each phase contains 24
tirthankars, 12 universal emperors (chakravartins) and 63 great men
(shalaka purushas). Men in avasarpini are giants and live long.
While in Utsarpini they are of short stature and live only 20 years.
During this period civilization too declines.
The Jaina canon was
complied much later. According to Jaina scriptures the universe is
eternal, and unlike Buddhists and Hindu it does not speak of
apocalypse. There are regular cycles of decline (Utsarpini) and
regeneration (avasarpini). Presently the world is going through a
40,000 year long period of decline.
Each phase contains 24
tirthankars, 12 universal emperors (chakravartins) and 63 great men
(shalaka purushas). Men in avasarpini are giants and live long.
While in Utsarpini they are of short stature and live only 20 years.
During this period civilization too declines.
Two centuries after
Mahavir’s death in the 5th century BC there was a
division among his followers. Thus arose the two rival sects,
Diagmbars and Svetambars. The Diagmbars monks do not wear clothes
after the example set by Mahavir. Those of Svetambars only wear
white garments.
But otherwise there is no
fundamental difference between the two. A Jaina monk is expected to
follow five vows. To shun violence, stealing, lying, sexual activity
and the possession of property.
The most important
festival of the Jains is the Mahavir Jayanti which marks the birth of
their founder. On that day, early in the morning groups of Jains go
around singing devotional songs in praise of Mahavir. Devotees from
all over the country assemble at the important Jain shrines.
While Buddhism all but
disappeared from the country of its origin, Jainism still has around
5 million adherents. But as in Buddhism, the important deities of
Hindu pantheon found their way into Jain shrines. Most of the Jains
belong to the trading community and these include some of the
wealthiest industrial families in the country.
The fonder of Islam,
Mohammd (c 570-632 AD), was a wealthy merchant of Arabia. Being of a
religious disposition he spent considerable time in meditating over
God. A vision that he had in Mt. Hira near mecca commanded him to
spread the word of God. At the time of his death most of Arabia had
already been converted to the new faith.
In the 8th
century Mohammed Ibn Qasim attacked and occupied southern Sindh.
After some time the Arabs attacked Gujarat and southern Rajasthan,
but these incursions made little impact. Then in the 11th
and 12th centuries AD Afghans Mahmud of Ghazni and
Muhammed of Ghor led expeditions into the north India.
With this the contact
between Islam and India began. Arab traders became the conduit for
taking Indian ideas to the west.
Today Muslims, about 10
percent of the population, are the largest minority group in the
country. Muslim festivals are national holidays. The old quarter of
any Indian town has a fair share of Muslims. Idu’l-Zuha marks
Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son. SO that day the narrow
streets and alleys literally burst with activity.
After days of fasting and
mass prayers in mosques it is feasting time. Idu’l-Zuha will be
celebrated on 8 April this year.
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