Fact 1 - The word "Hindu" is not a Sanskrit word, nor do any of the classical texts of "Hinduism" use that word to self-identify Fact 2 - This does not mean that what people commonly understand to be "Hinduism" did not exist in the country we call India at any point of time - sects can be called sampradaaya, and the shad-darshan, the six classical philosophies that accept Vaidik authority, are philosophical schools of thought that accept the Vedas as indisputable texts of spiritual authority. Panth and Marg are also used by a lot of spiritual/religious sub-groups (Kabir-panth; Nath-panth; Anand Marg; Sahaja Marg) In the light of these two facts, consider this statement made by the dean of one of the most influential Catholic seminaries in Goa: Hindus did not exist in region during the pre-Portuguese era. The scores of temples demolished by the Portuguese colonists from 15th century onwards were not Hindu temples, but instead belonged to different “independent cults and religions which were often at war with each other”. ~ Fr. Victor Ferrao Note also that there is no apology being expressed for the temples that were demolished, no admitting the fact that this statement flies in the face of established truths and accepted history.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 09:32:13 +0000
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