Thursday 19 February 2015

Reply to a journalist regarding bhagavadgitha

Bhagavadgitha – discussion-Aravind Malagatti
Dear Mr. Shreyas,
 I said I would call you after a while, when you called me.  Later I saw missed calls from your side. I am sorry that I could not pick the call then. Here are my answers to your questions.
                                                                                                 Regards-       Aravind malagatti

1 With your studies on Geeta, do you believe BG strongly propagates         sectarianism?
    
        -yes, Bhagvadgeeta does a job of sowing the seeds of                       sectarianism(varna) in the readers mind and preaches inequality. Caste system is the product of varnashrama, which lord Krishna claims to have created.- Chaturvarnyam maya srushtyam guna karma vibhagasha- [4-13]

2 According to Hindu scholars Geeta preaches perfect way of life for the universe, what is your take on it?

-         Of course, it preaches the perfect way of life – jeevana dharma , for  one sect of Hindus. Way of thinking of other sects have not been taken in its fold.

3 What is your interpretation of chapter 4, verse 13, a line of which says, caste is determined by character and works not by birth (chaturvrana maya sisthtam gunadharma vibhagasah)?

The shloka is not clear in its connotation. There are three gunas , satva, raja, and thama. On the basis of these three,  there are four varnas! There are six karmas[shatkarmas] adhyayana, adhyapana, Yajna, yajana, dana, pratigraha.[these are meant for Brahmins] .what combinations of these must have resulted in four varnas?
Lord Krishna suggests hierarchy in gunas. [14-8].Same hierarchy is implied in varnas also. Jatidharma and kuladharmas are also mentioned in bhagavadgita.[1-42]





4 Can slow evolving of Indian society attributed to inculcating teachings of Geeta in way of life. Can this deeply rooted cast system in India eradicated?

 Geetha was not known to many hindus, as education was denied to shudras and women. Popularizing it now will hinder the progress of the society. There are folk ramayanas and folk mahabharathas , but not folk geetha, indicating that it was not popular among the common people.

Caste system can be eradicated through intercaste marriages. But, bhagavadgitha opposes varnasankara.


5 What are the impacts the modern Indian society is bearing due to Geeta’s teaching?

Geetha contains certain good preachings also, that  should be practiced , instead of reciting. But  contents regarding hierarchy of varnas and subordination of  women, vaishyas and shudras should never impact the society.


6 Has Geeta still remained as a book of upper cast, specifically Brahmins, in terms of interpretation of Sholkas of Geeta?

-Geetha doesn’t contain way of thinking of  non Brahmins.


7 Do you feel, in the rapid socio cultural changes due to information age,      Brahmins in future retain control over interpretations of Geeta?

 -As a book, it has to be interpreted by all interested people. There is no question of retaining control over the interpretation.

8 Is Geeta not at all worth reading in the present context of social life?
- It is worth, excepting the contradictory issues in it.

9 Is it true or you believe, in the argument of Kedar Joshi, who says Geeta is nothing but the example of Hindu terrorism?

-         I have not read Kedar Joshi.


10 The views that lower cast, who have sinful birth go to the highest goal in the shelter of Krishna is shear symbol of slavery?
-
Going to the highest goal is not a symbol of slavery. But identification of women, vaishyas and shudras as those of sinful birth is questionable. [refer 9-32]

11 Who is this Krishna, by the way? Brahmins’ creation to hold monopoly of knowledge and economy

-Monopoly of knowledge and economy can’t be held through religious texts.

12 Is it time of  the youths of India to renounce all religious scripts?
 -Definitely not. Nothing is useless. Retain all old, religious works in order to understand the lapses in them and to construct new and relevant way of life.