Sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalā has reported a post.
Reason:
This is downright insulting. I do not understand why Surya Deva is still allowed to post on yogaforums.
Post: Is Puranic Hinduism the most stupidest religion in the world?
Forum: Religion
Assigned Moderators: N/A
Posted by: Surya Deva
Original Content:
This is a sequel to my popular and controversial thread, “Is the OT the most primitive and barbaric scripture in the world” I remember how Christians were very offended by this thread and how Hindus were relishing it! Now, I am going to turn the tables on the Hindus
For people who have not been following my thread, “I am no longer Hindu” Puranic Hinduism refers to the very popular Hinduism practiced by most Hindus. It is in direct contrast to the philosophical and spiritual Hinduism that many of us in the West are acquainted with through giants like Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Ramanana Maharishi et al.
Puranic Hinduism emerged much later than Vedic Hinduism after the common era. Prior to that Vedic Hinduism consisted of two phases:
Early Vedic ritualism: Mimassa
This was the early ritualistic phase of the Vedic age and consisted of exoteric rituals like fire sacrifices to natural principles personified(Varuna, Agni, Indra) where people would congregate around a ritual fire and chant the mantras from the Vedas(Samhita portion) while making offerings of food into the fire. There were various types of fire sacrifices: Ashvamedha(horse sacrifice), Ajamedha(goat sacrifice), Gomedha(cow sacrifice). The main texts of this period were the Brahmanas.
It is a controversial subject whether animals were sacrificed at all and is based on which translation of the Vedas you consult.
Later Vedic philosophical period: Vedanta
This was the philosophical and spiritual period of the Vedic age and bought an end to the ritual phase(hence it is known as Vedanta, meaning at the end of the Vedas) The sages of India challenged and mocked the rituals of the ritual phase, and emphasized the knowledge of the Vedas, explaining it in the Upanishads. Here all the major doctrines of Hinduism were formulated: Brahman, Atman, Karma, Samsara, Yoga. They were then logically and rationally presented by the Darsanas: Samkhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Vaiseshika, Nyaya. This period lasted up until the common era.
The philosophical and spiritual period marked a peak in Indian intellectual and scientific culture. The Upanishads were written, the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana were composed, the grammar of Sanskrit was standardized, major treatises on drama and poetry were created. The first scientific and complete system of medicine was invented: Ayurveda. The first universities and hospitals were built. The first planned cities with sanitation were created. The six schools of philosophy emerged. Buddhism and Jainism emerged.
Then came the Puranic age and India’s intellectual culture severely suffered.
The idea of philosophical Hinduism that captured the imagination of Indian people was the idea of Brahman(Hindu concept of god) And they started to make various images of this god, by deifying literally people by giving them the status of an avatar(Like Krishna, Rama) and personality sects formed like Vaishnavism, Shivaism, Shaktism.
Scriptures were composed called the Puranas by each sect for their deities, containing myths and legends, moral codes for the common folk. In this way massive fragmentation took place with hundreds of different sects mushrooming. Later, temples were built everywhere dedicated to their respective sects. It is also during this period the caste system was forged and enforced.
It is interesting to note that as soon as the idea of god is given to the masses they immediately start making images. Incidentally, it is during this Puranic phase of Hinduism that India was ravaged by invasions. Invasions had happened before the common era as well, such as the Greeks and Persians, but India was organized and strong enough to repulse them. Now, India was highly fragmented, and soon fell prey to various invasions from the Huns, the Arabs, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, the English.
Like Christianity bought about a dark age for Europe. Puranic Hinduism bought a dark age for the Indian subcontinent. Now let us literally look at why Puranic Hinduism is the most stupidest religion in the world: