1027 Ms. Mayawati is searching for water in mirages (Some Musings of yb-a-donkey on Ms. Mayawati's desire to convert to Buddhism)

Ms. Mayawati, A Veteran Indian Politician, the BSP Party Supremo,has cautioned the India's Ruling Party BJP: "I throw an open challenge to the BJP to change its casteist and communal mindset towards Dalits, Adivasis, Backwards and also those who have changed their religion or else I will also have to take a decision towards changing my religion to Buddhism". Read more at: Click here to see the full news link at EconomicTimes.IndiaTimes.com..

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views which are not intended to be imposed on others

Changing one's own Religion is like replacing one mill-stone in the neck with another mill-stone.

1. Like most other major World Religions, Buddhism also though preaches noble precepts, when it comes to practice, it tends to be as brutal as all other religions. Examples of proof: See how the SriLankan Government suppressed the freedoms of Sri Lankan Tamils, at the instance of some Sri Lankan Buddhist fanatics? See how the Myanmar (Burmah) Government is oppressing all the Rohingyas, at the instance of some Burmese Buddhist fanatics, simply some Rohingyas might have violently revolted against them? Where did the Gautama Buddha's Preachings of Tolerance go?

2. Buddhist Scriptures Tripitakas, contains Codes of Behaviors for Buddhist Monks and Nuns. It can be found from a careful study of these scriptures, that in treating female Nuns, they appear to be worse than Islam. For examples of moral codes imposed on Buddhist Bhikkunis in ancient Buddhism, my readers can visit my blog Buddhism3.blogspot.com.: Click here to go to Buddhism3.blogspot.com.. I believe that Ms. Mayawati, as a politician, did not have time to study Buddhism in depth. Before ad-venturing into unknown waters, it will be better in her own interest, and also in the interest of this country, she needs to study Buddhism in depth, before embracing it.

3. If Ms. Mayawati feels that Hinduism (more precisely BJP's Pseudo Hindutva) is intolerant towards dalits, a better choice for her will be to go for 'irreligiousness / irreligiosity' or religion-less-ness. Then she will get rid of all the bonds and shackles of past, in one go.

4. BJP is not the sole Custodian of Hinduism in India. Even Ms. Mayawati, can also become a champion of Hinduism or Hindutva, as long as she does not become a fanatic.

5. Hinduism is not a religion founded by one prophet or person. Hinduism is an evolved culture, through thousands of years history, truth-investigative nature of its original inhabitants, additions-modifications-deletions made by invaders and migrants into the country. Out of the invading / migrating cultures, only Islam and Christianity remained aloof, owing to pressures from their Arab-Turkish and European Benefactors and Masters who pull the strings of the Indian Puppets. It is hightime for the Indian Branches of those two alien religions, to adapt themselves to the Culture of their Mother Land i.e. India. Other invaders/migrants have merged into the Indian Culture long back.

6. Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, are only Reformative Branches of Indian Culture, and hence they are Branches of HInduism only. Basavanna Movement of Karnataka is also a Reformative Movement of Hinduism.

7. Swamijis, Shankaracharyas, Mathadhipatis, etc. etc. are not bosses of Hinduism. Are they elected by Hindus? Ms. Mayawati is unnecessarily giving-attributing undeserving authority and powers to the Swamijis, Shankaracharyas, Mathadhipatis.

8. Like Shri Prof. Kancha Ilaiah, who has launched a vitriolic book on 'vysyas' a traditionally merchant/trading community of INdia (now all communities/castes are engaged in trade), Ms. Mayawati also seems to be searching for her lost monies under a street light, ignoring the place where she has lost her monies. It is high time she starts a Truly Socialist Democratic Movement in India, attracting all the suffering poor in India.

9. Social Backwardness and Financial Backwardness are not mutually exclusive. Where there is economic deprivation, there will be social deprivation, and vice versa. Because she has amassed about some Rs. 500 crore (as per news reports), she cannot overlook the pitiable conditions of the poor people in India, to whatever CASTE, RELIGION they may belong to. Actually, the occupation of a person/family will determine his-her socio-economic backwardness. Birth, too has its importance, but its importance pertains more to inheritance of wealth. It is true that some radical reforms are needed in this area, but such reforms are possible only through Total True Socialism.

10. Though Congress has ruled for about 60 years, which may be a short time in the history of a country, but a long period in the history of a party, now, it has lost its longevity. Political Parties in India, ordinarily, have only short tenures. Congress too has entered that groove of its mortality. BJP may not be an exception, even if Mr. Narendra Modi is going to have one more chance of ruling this country from 2019 to 2024. Hence, Ms. Mayawati need not worry about BJP.

Question: Why True Total Socialism? Why not Reservations?

Ans: There is a beautiful ever memorable dialogue of Late Rao Gopala Rao in Silver Jubilee Telugu film 'Mutyala Muggu, released a few decades back:

Approx. English equivalent: Once God appeared to a devotee, and asked him to choose a boon. The devotee asked God: "Make hair sprout on the ear lobes of my Maternal Uncle". The God okayed it, and disappeared. The devotee went back home happily. Hairs sprouted in Maternal Uncle's Ears, i.e. the Devotee's desire (boon) got fulfilled. But his objective of becoming rich through inheritance from his Uncle did not get fulfilled.

Reason: The devotee was under a superstitious belief that if hairs sprout in Maternal Uncle's Ear lobes, his nephews will inherit fortunes from him. Hence the devotee asked for that boon from God: "Sprout hair in the ear lobes of my Uncle".

When God appeared before the devotee, if the devotee is prudent, he would have directly asked for a boon of "Make me rich" or some thing else equal to it. By asking for hair on Uncle's earlobes, the devotee squandered his opportunity.

In the same way, those who claim to be, and those want to improve the abominable conditions of the socio-economically deprived classes in this country, instead of Clamoring for Reservations, have to work for True Total Socialism in India, through democratic means.
To continue adding / deleting / modifying, so that Readers' emotions and beliefs are not hurt.

980 Some Musings on Gautama Buddha's Birth Day,

Today (10th May 2017) is the birth anniversary (Buddha Jayanti) of Gautama Buddha, the Founder of Buddhism. Birth year: 623 BC. It is celebrated on Vaisakha Pournima which is the full moon day, of the Lunar month of Visakha. The Lunar month of Visakha got its name from the practice of calling as name of the Lunar month, by the name of the star on which Moon will be in conjunction with (=appears visually nearer to) the star Alpha Librae, in the Constellation Libra (Indian Equivalent: Tula, or a weighing scale/balance). Indian name of the star Alpha Librae is 'Visakha'. Pournami = pUrNa='full', i.e. the Full Moon Day. This Visakha Paurnami is not only regarded as the day on which Gautama Buddha was born, but also, as the day on which he received his enlightenment. The day is also regarded as the day on which he attained his parinirvANa (passed away). In addition, the day also is the birth anniversary of Buddha's Mother Yashodhara. Trigger for me to write this particular blog post:- India recently celebrated the 125th Birth Anniversary of Late Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Architect of Indian Constitution. Our Readers may be aware that he embraced Buddhism during the later part of his life. Babasaheb Ambedkar was a Great Leader of the Pre-Independence Era, whose contemporaries and compatriots were Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Netaji Subas Chandra Bose et al.

Of late, a tendency has developed among the politicians of India, for political gains, to ritualistically garland the statue of Ambedkar on his Birth and Death Anniversaries, bathe it with milk, deliver lofty speeches on the occasion etc. etc.

In the States of Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, an additional practice developed to invite Buddhist Monks to carry out Buddhist Prayers, preaches and speeches. Historically, Buddhism has been on a wane in India since the 8th Century CE. Today, Buddhism exists in India, its Birth-land, by and large, only for name sake, though the Tibetan Buddhist Refugee Leader Dalai Lama has been trying his best to revive the lost religion.

Amaravati (also known as dhAnya kaTakam, dharaNikoTa), the Capital of the State of Residual Andhra Pradesh, used to be a seat of Mahayana Buddhism, of the period 2nd Century BC to 2nd Century CE. During the said period, Andhra Pradesh was full of Buddhist Viharas (Hostels for Buddhist Monks), Chaityas and SthUpAs (Buddhist Memorials built on the Relics of Gautama Buddha). While Andhra SAtavAhana Kings of those days patronized Vedic Religion, their Queens patronized Buddhism and Jainism. Even today, we can see everywhere in Residual Andhra Pradesh, the ruins of Buddhist SthUpAs, chaityas, vihAras. Jaggaiahpeta, Bhattiprolu, Gummadidurru, are a few place names where such ruins can be seen. Andhra Pradesh is a big Treasure Trove of Buddhist, Jain, Kakatiya, Vijayanagara, Chalukya, ChOLa sculptures of such a magnitude and intensity that, wherever we dig either to build a house or dig a well, some sculpture or other will get unearthed beneathe the mounds of dilapidated villages.

21st Century

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, has shown some inclination to develop Amaravati and Nagarjuna Konda (also known as Sri Parvata) as International Buddhist Tourist Centres. He has used the 125th Birth Anniversary Function of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, to highlight the importance of Buddhism in the History of Andhra Pradesh, etc. etc.

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views not intended to be imposed on others

In this part of India, during the rule of Bahamany Sultans (invaders/migrants from Iran), during the rule of Nizam Shahis (Turks --from Mohd. Ghori to Ibrahmi Lodi , and Moghuls --Babar to the last Moghul Emperor Bahadur Shah Jaffer), hundreds of Telugu people were already converted to Islam through abductions, violence and inducements. During the British Rule, hundreds of thousands of Telugu people were converted to Christianity through inducements, malicious propaganda=). Now, the people of this area, is already a mix of people practising these three Religions. As if these three religions are not enough, do we still need, revival of the defunct religion Buddhism here?

Though Hindus suffer from an age old malice of casteism, which they are striving to eradicate by continuous efforts, we should not forget CONVERSIONS OF PEOPLE INTO ALIEN RELIGIONS is not a solution for the malices of the Native Culture. Conversions will only aggravate the complexities of the problem.

PERCEIVED MERITS OF BUDDHISM OVER OTHER RELIGIONS, ARE ONLY ILLUSORY AND IMAGINARY

Missionaries of all religions, to which Buddhist Missionaries possibly are not exceptions, exaggerate the merits of their own religion, and try to impress upon and exert their influence on the minds of the listeners, so as to make them convert into their religion. They forget to notice or realise that those other religions whose merits they have not sung, also contain similar, or sometimes even better tenets, following which would / might have made them better individuals , without converting their religions.

Example: Desire is the cause for all miseries

The second of the four Noble Truths of Buddhism says:

"... Suffering arises from attachment to desires. ..."

Also called 'samudaya' or 'tanha' according to Buddhism. Attachments arise from desires. Cravings make the desires and attachment to desires.

What does Bhagavad Gita , a part of Mahabharata Epic say? I have placed on internet, a moderated version of my perception of Bhagavadgita at my blog Click here to go to http://bhagavadgitayb.blogspot.in/2007/07/chapter-2-soul-and-body-sankhya-yoga.html

Sanskrit Poet Veda VyAsa. Period approx. estimate: 2000 years BC.
SY 62 (Chapter No. 2, SAnkhya yOgA (path of Numbers), Verse No. 62)
dhyaayatoo vishayaan pumsa:
samgas teeshu upajaayatee
samgaat samjaayatee kaama:
kaamaat kroodhoo abhijaayatee

SY 63 (2 / 063)
kroodhaad bhavati sammooha:
sammoohaat smrutivibhrama:
smrutibhrams`aad buddhinaas`oo
buddhinaas`aat pran`as`yati
Approx. Engl.: When a person thinks of worldly pleasures, attachment is born. From the attachment is born the desire and lust. From the desire and lust are born the anger. (SW 62).

From anger, is born temptation and obsession. From the obsession is born, the loss of memory and consciousness. (Translator's comment: Not loss of consciousness of body, it is the consciousness of soul. ).
When consciousness of soul is lost, a person loses his discriminating wisdom and intellect. A person without intellect becomes imbecile and condemned. (SW 63).

So, it is clear, Buddhism has tried to reiterate and reformulate what Bhagavad Gita taught at least 1500 years ahead of Buddha.

Is going to Forest and undertaking rigorous penance necessary to understand a simple basic truth? [=DESIRE IS CAUSE OF MISERY]

An illiterate person belonging to Working Class (Proletariat), who toils 24/7/365 amidst dust/sweat, and who slogs to earn 2 square meals a day for his belly and the bellies of his wife and children, may not have the time and the endurance to appreciate and understand this truth. But a person of Buddha's calibre, does he need six years of so called 'Great Penance' to appreciate and understand this truth?

DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TUNNEL VIEW OF 'SINGLE PROPHET RELIGIONS' and the 'COSMIC VIEW OF INDIAN CULTURE'

Indian Culture encompasses several concepts, sometimes, diametrically divergent concepts, because it is 'PLURALIST' i.e. permits multiple views and perspectives. Arguments and pleadings take place between/among these divergent views. Hence, Hinduism cannot be viewed as a Religion (=with wider meaning 'way of life', narrow meaning of 'going to 'X' Prayerhouse and praying to 'Y' God. Those restrictive views can be found in 'SINGLE PROPHET RELIGIONS' like Islam, Christianity etc. Indian Culture is like a 'Composite Admixture' like Anona Squimoza, or a bunch of grapes, or a cluster of bananas. Hence, coexistence of rival theories either in embrace or in conflict, has become a historical truth. There were conflicts between the Indian Culture which included Sacrifice of animals to placate Gods, and the Buddhism which castigated animal sacrifices.

POLYTHEISM

Polytheism is also a part of this integration of Multiple Cultures with Multiple Gods and Goddesses. The real questions are only 'Whether there is God(s)/Goddess(es) at all?' 'What are acceptable definitions of God(s)/Goddess(es)'?. 'Multiple Gods/goddesses' is not an issue at all. Ans: If there can be thousand rivers on this Earth, there can also be Thousand Gods and Goddesses. In other words, once we concede that God(ddess) exists, the question of 'single or multiple' loses its value.

ANIMAL SACRIFICES

A part of Indian Culture improved itself, by stopping 'animal sacrifices' substituting them with offerings of flowers and fruits, and went even to the extent of absorbing Buddhism into its fold, by including Gautama Buddha as the 9th incarnation, of the 10 incarnations of Lord VishNu, popularly known as daSa avatArs. Probably, idol worship might have had either Buddhist or Jain origin. That too was absorbed by Indian Culture. Wearing ochre robes also might have been borrowed from Buddhism.

One word of caution in reasoning

If we consider that ghastly slaying of animals in abattoirs or in homes is not wrong, then offering the meat of the animals to the God(ddesses) cannot be considered ignoble. Basically, both perform 'violence', and 'cruelty to animals'.

I, quite often, view the 'kalyANOtsavam' program of the deity Shri Venkateswara of TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India), on SVBC TV CHANNEL. The program starts at about 12 noon, and ends at about 12.55 pm. It is a great Audio-Visual delight, keeping aside whether there are superstitions or not. 'Audio-Visual Joys' are to be kept aside from truth-seeking explorations and searches. These joys are comparable to looking at serene scenery of a rainbow or a glacier or at Aurora (Northern Lights). We need not link to religion, and be cynical to everything enchanting.

Back to kalyANotsavam (wedding ceremony of Lord Venkateswara): One important element of the wedding ceremony is 'lAja hOmam' (sacrifice of popped corn/rice/jowar). 'Fire' is regarded as God named 'Agni'. He has two wives 'svAhA' and 'svahA'. The chants made by priests during the offerings use the word 'svAha', to give importance to both the sexes of the Element Fire. Offerings to Supreme God are sent through the Fire God. Wedding ceremonies of ordinary citizens in some cultures of India, invariably perform these hOmams (sending offerings to Supreme God(ddesses through Fire God) for about one hour.

Whenever, I see fire ceremonies in weddings, I recall the messy Horse sacrifices of the Vedic Period, Ramayana Period, Mahabharata period, where the Priests used to pour the fleshes of numerous animals and birds into the sacrificial. Now, the magnitude has been substantially reduced. Now, only a few apUpams (a sweet tasty delectable preparation made from flour, clarified butter and jaggery. This can be prepared in homes also. In Telugu language this is called 'appam' 'appacci'.) and popped grains (Sanskrit: lAja. Telugu: pElAlu). Now, the hOmams (fire ceremonies) have become more 'viewable' with 'no disgust', though there is still some wastage of precious food stuffs by dropping them into raging fires.

The common unavoidable ingredient both in the ancient vEdic sacrifices and the present wedding ceremonies of Temples as per vaikhAnasa Agama / pancharAtra Agama (Scriptures of Worship Methods) is profuse induction of 'clarified butter'. One question torments me: Can a poor country like India afford to waste clarified butter in this manner, particularly when India is compelled to import dairy products also.

This is a 1000 page subject. As this blog post has become lengthy, I shall come up with another blog post on Buddha's 6 years penance and his subsequent 35 years post-enlightenment life style.

To continue adding / deleting / modifying. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

597 Part 6 (Not final) of a Study on the History of Tirumala Tirupati Temple भाग ६- तिरुमल तिरुपति मंदिर के इतिहास विषय पर शोथना. భాగం 6 తిరుమల తిరుపతి దేవాలయ పూర్వ చరిత్ర పై ఒక శోథన

REFERENCES TO BUDDHIST AND JAIN MONKS IN VAISHNAVA SCRIPTURES వైష్ణవ గ్రంధాలలో బౌధ్ధ జైన ధర్మాల ప్రసక్తి

LINKS TO OUR PREVIOUS BLOGS 1. POST NO. 513 Part 4 of History of Tirumala Tirupati

2. POST No. 584 http://problemsoftelugus.blogspot.com/search/label/584

To recapitulate: Shri Ramana Dikshitulu, the Chief Priest of the Tirumala Bhagavan Shri Venkateswara Temple, conceded that the principal idol of the Lord Venkateswara does not have hair on his dorsal side. (See 584).

"This has negativated the possibility of the main idol being that of BAla Tripura Sundari or any other female Goddess (Shakti)."

Here we have to exercise caution. The temple's dome has some signs of Goddess Shakti (Female Goddess, Mother). This again opens up several branches of thinking such as Original Jain temple being taken over by ShAktEyas (Mother Goddess or Devi worshippers) and building the dome with Devi Symbols like Lions, while the idol remain the tonsured head of Jain Neminatha. These are not conclusions. These are only some clues, which have to be discussed by historians and scholars.

In parts 1 to 4 we have already seen that there was some probability of the TTD Shri Venkateswara Temple being a Jain Temple taken over by VaishNavas. Main evidence for this view was provided by Bukkaraya Sandhi (2nd Vijayanagara Emperor Bukka Raya giving protection to Sravana Belagola Jain Temple in Karnataka, in exchange for Jains surrendering their rights on Tirumala Temple.

We shall now see how Vaishnava Scriptures treated Buddhist and Jain Monks. The word "pAShAnDA" refers to a person who has deviated from the path of Yagnas (Worshipping God through the medium of Fire God (a demy God), without the aid of idols and temples). We shall take quotations from Chaturdha Skantha (Vol. 4 ) of Mahabhagavatam Telugu Translation of Bammera Potanamatya. Equivalent original Sanskrit verses of Vyasa's Mahabhagavata (Bhagavata purANa) we shall add later.

Context: Chief of the Demy Gods Indra, stole the sacrificial horse of Emperor Prithu, and was flying home in the sky, with the horse.

The Emperor was angry. He chased Indra and caught hold of him.

Verse No. 521 is important here:

prosody: KANDAM.

vini prithu bhUvara tanayuDu,
ghana balamuna cani kapAla khaTvAmgamu lO
lini dhariyinci rayambuna,
canun indruni kAmci vompa cAlaka yantan.

The Chief Demy-God Indra was escaping with the horse. Indra was wearing kapAlam (scull), lOlini (meaning not clear, to be investigated.)

Link to read about KhatVAng: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kha%E1%B9%ADv%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga

khaTvAngam is a religious symbol, and a hand-staff-weapon carried by Shaivites and VajrayAna Buddhists. KhaTvAnga is said to represent "vajra". Incidentally, it may be noted that Indra's vajrAyudha is also made of human bone of Sage dadhIci.

Telugu script. కంద పద్యం. చతుర్ధాశ్వాసం ౫౨౧ పద్యం.

విని పృథు భూవర తనయుడు,
ఘన బలమున చని కపాల ఖట్వాంగము లో
లిని ధరియించి రయంబున,
చను ఇంద్రుని కాంచి నొంప చాలక అంతన్.

ఖట్వాంగం బొమ్మ పైన ఉంది. ఖట్వాంగాన్ని ఆయుధం క్రింద గణించటం జరిగింది. దీనికే వజ్రం అనే పేరు కూడ ఉందిట. మొదట ఎముకలతో తయారు చేసినా కాల గమనంలో చెక్క, ఖట్వాంగాన్ని లోహంతో తయారు చేయటం మొదలయింది. ఇంద్రుడి ఆయుధం కూడ వజ్రమే. ఇది దధీచి అనే ఋషి పక్కటెముకలనుండి తయారు చేయబడింది. ఇంద్రుడు ధరించిన ఈ లోలిని అనే పదం యొక్క అర్ధం తెలీదు.

మొత్తానికి ఇంద్రుడు శైవులు, వజ్రయాన బౌధ్ధులు ధరించే ఆయుధాలను ధరించాడుట. Anyway, the Demy God Indra was wearing the clothes and the weapons, which Saivaites, Vajrayana BUDDHISTS used to wear in those days.

Ref: Potana's Andhra Mahabhagavatam, Chaturdha Skandham. Version: Telugu Academy. Verse No. 525.

Prosody (Chandas) : Sisa verse.

Verse:

Hari hayunD adhvara haya rakshaNArdhamai minchi gaikoni visarjinchi natti
bhUri amangaLabhUta mAyA rUpamulanu dharinciri mUDha janulu
pAshAnDa cihnamul paraguTa vAralu jagatipai nagna vEshamulu kalugu
Jainulu bhUri kAshAya vastrambulu dhariyincu bauddhulu taga jaTAsthi

(verse prosody tETa gIti supplement)
bhasma dhArulu naina kApAlikAdu
lanaga velasiri lOkambu landu cAla
talapa dharmOpamamb ana tagun adharma
mandun abhirati voDamina yagna janulu.

సీస పద్యం.

హరిహయుం డధ్వర హయ రక్షణార్ధమై కై కొని విసర్జించనట్టి
భూరి అమంగళ భూత మాయా రూపములను ధరించిరి మూఢజనులు
పాషాండ చిహ్నముల్ పరగుట వారలు జగతిపై నగ్న వేషములు కలుగు
జైనులు భూరి కాషాయ వస్త్రంబులు ధరియించు బౌధ్ధులు తగ జటాస్థి

భస్మదారులు నైన కాపాలికాదు
లనగ వెలసిరి లోకంబులందు చాల
తలప ధర్మోపమంబన తగు అధర్మ
మందున్ అభిరతి వొడమిన యజ్ఞ జనులు.

వచనం. తదీయ చిహ్నంబులు పారంపర్యంబుగా ధరియింపం తొడంగిరి. తద్వృత్తాంతంబు భగవంతుండైన పృథు చక్రవర్తి యెరింగి , కుపితుడై యుద్యత్ కార్ముకుండగుచున్ ఇంద్రుని మీద బాణంబు నేయన్ ఉద్యమించిన ఋత్విక్కులు శక్ర వధోద్యుక్తుండు న్ అసహ్య రంహుండునైన పృథు చక్రవర్తిం కనుంగొని యిట్లనిరి.

ఇక్కడ గమనించాల్సింది నగ్నంగా తిరిగే వాళ్ళు జైనులుట. భూరి (గొప్ప) కాషాయ వస్త్రాలు ధరించే వాళ్ళు బౌధ్ధులుట. జటలు, ఎముకలు, బూడిద ధరించే వాళ్ళు కాపాలికులు. ఆకాలం నాటి (అంటే పృథు చక్రవర్తి కాలం నాటి, లేక భాగవతానికి ఒక రూపం వచ్చిన గుప్తుల నాటి, లేక పోతన గారి ౧౪ శతాబ్దం నాటి) వైష్ణవుల దృష్టిలో కాషాయ వస్త్రాలను ధరించటం, నగ్నంగా తిరగటం, ఖట్వాంగాన్ని ధరించటం ఇవన్నీ అమంగళ రూపాలు. మరి నేటి ౨౧ శతాబ్దం సన్యాసులు స్వరూపానందేంద్ర, పరిపూర్ణానంద , చిన్న జియర్, పెద్ద జియర్, సుందర చైతన్యం, గణపతి సచ్చిదానందం మొ|| వారు ధరించే కాషాయాలను ఏమనాలి. అవి మంగళ స్వరూపాలా.

What does Vyasa Mahabhagavata say about this? इस विषयांश पर, व्यास महाभागवत पुराण क्या कहती ఈ విషయం గురించి వ్యాస మహాభాగవతం ఏమంటుంది

ఉపసృజ్య తమస్తీవ్రం జహారాశ్వం పునర్హరిః
చషాలయూపతశ్ఛన్నో హిరణ్యరశనం విభుః
అత్రిః సందర్శయామాస త్వరమాణం విహాయసా
కపాల scull ఖట్వాంగధరం వీరో నైనమబాధత Indra was wearing KhatvAnga. Here vyAsa is using the word "vIrO" meaning like a valiant warrior. The word used by pOtana is "lOlini" the meaning of which contextually we can take as "engaged joyfully in wearing the khaTvAnga)
అత్రిణా చోదితస్తస్మై సందధే విశిఖం రుషా
సోఽశ్వం రూపం చ తద్ధిత్వా తస్థావంతర్హితః స్వరాట్
వీరశ్చాశ్వముపాదాయ పితృయజ్ఞమథావ్రజత్
తదవద్యం హరే రూపం జగృహుర్జ్ఞానదుర్బలాః
యాని రూపాణి జగృహే ఇంద్రో హయజిహీర్షయా
తాని పాపస్య ఖండాని లింగం ఖండమిహోచ్యతే
ఏవమింద్రే హరత్యశ్వం వైన్యయజ్ఞజిఘాంసయా
తద్గృహీతవిసృష్టేషు పాఖండేషు మతిర్ నృణాం PashanDEshu (also pAkhanDEshu). NriNAm refers to sinners.
ధర్మ ఇత్ యుపధర్మేషు నగ్నరక్తపటాదిషు naked & Ochre robes. nagna= naked. rakta paTAdishu= ochre robed. UpadharmEshu refers to sub religions. Jainism and Buddhism were not specifically mentioned by name. It is a custom to regard Jainism and Buddhism as sub religions.
This may probably be, because, Sanskrit Mahabhagavata evolved around 3rd Century A.D., whereas Potana's Telugu Bhagavatam was scripted in 14th/15th Century A.D. At that time, Residual Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were under turmoil for two parallel reasons. There were internecine fights between Saivas, Jains, and Vaishnavas. It is said that during KAkati Ganapati Deva's rule, Tikkana came from Nellore to Warangal, defeated Jain scholars in some religious arguments (whatever it may mean!!!) and thereafter forcibly converted them into Saivism, converted the Jaina ARAmAs of Amaravati, Bhimavaram, Palakol, DakshArama, Samarlakota into Shaivaite Temples. Larger evidence is needed to establish the facts.

During the same period, in the South, BukkarAya made a compromise between Jains and VaishNavas whereby Jains surrendered the Tirumala Temple, in exchange for protection to Sravana Belagola. Potana being a resident of Warangal might have been aware of some of these things.

During the same period Juna Khan (Mohd. Bin Tuglack's Commander) took KakatIya ruler PratApa Rudra II as prisoner to Delhi. Hence Potana's specifically naming Jainas, Bauddhas specifically, and VyAsa just saying sub-religions seems to be justified.

Potana himself belonged to a smArta sect of Brahmins [literal meaning as per smritis or memorised scriptures. Practical meaning, a compromising mixed cult evolved after the advent of Adi Shankara , by combining the six Sub Religions i.e. Shiva, VishNu, Ganapati, Kumaraswami (shaNmukha), dEvi (Mother Goddess) and Brahma]. His ancestors were not pure VaishNavas of either the vaikhAnasa or pAncarAtra paths wearing vertical facial marks). Yet, he took great joy in translating a VishNu scripture.

But the Residual Religion of the country seems to have some intolerance towards Jains and Buddhists as can be seen from Potana's verses (the word Hinduism was not in vogue in those days. The phrase "sanAtana dharma" (Ancient Religion) was also apparently not in vogue.). Had smArta culture openly included Buddhism and Jainism apart from the six faiths already said to have been harmonised by Adi Shankara, i.e. a composite culture of eight sub religions, probably Indian history might have taken a different trajectory. This is only a preliminary if-and-but view. Yet Potana stands as a symbol of Pluralism and tolerance when compared to the climate of intolerance prevailing in the 21st Century. This is in spite of the fact that the period 1000 AD to 1947 being DARK AGE in Indian History.

ప్రాయేణ సజ్జతే భ్రాంత్యా పేశలేషు చ వాగ్మిషు

తదభిజ్ఞాయ భగవాన్పృథుః పృథుపరాక్రమః Prithu gets ready to slay INDRA.
ఇంద్రాయ కుపితో బాణమాదత్తోద్యతకార్ముకః
తమృత్విజః శక్రవధాభిసంధితం విచక్ష్య దుష్ప్రేక్ష్యమసహ్యరంహసం
నివారయామాసురహో మహామతే న యుజ్యతేఽత్రాన్యవధః ప్రచోదితాత్ Animals can be killed in sacrifices.
వయం మరుత్వంతమిహార్థనాశనం హ్వయామహే త్వచ్ఛ్రవసా హతత్విషం
అయాతయామోపహవైరనంతరం ప్రసహ్య రాజన్జుహవామ తేఽహితం

THIS PARTICULAR BLOG POST is incomplete. We shall try to complete as early as possible. यह ब्लाग पोस्ट असंपूर्ण और सशेष् है. ఈ బ్లాగు పోస్టు అసంపూర్ణంగా ఉంది. త్వరలో తిరగ వ్రాస్తాను, పూర్తి చేస్తాను.

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Part 1:Click to go to Post 508
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Part 6:Click to go to post 597
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