Comments on: My interview with Wendy Doniger http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger Understanding Sacred Stories, Myths, Rituals and their Relevance in Modern Times Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:42:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Vijay Kumar http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-2027 Vijay Kumar Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:26:53 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-2027 What is Dharma...? "Your right to do what is just and right and not what was destined"! The concept of Hindu dharma as detailed in sacred Bhagavad Gita is integral to all teachings of Hinduism! In absence of Dharma... the whole world simply could not exist! It is this inherent <a href="http://www.godrealized.com/dharma_definition.html" rel="nofollow">dharma</a> (righteousness) that makes the world go round! Dharma exists from times immemorial. Even before any religion existed in world... dharma existed! Dharma exists from times life came into existence on mother earth. Following our inner dictates... human beings controlled their life! Dharma is elixir vitae... sap of cosmic system! It is presence of dharma that makes journey of life worthwhile! What is Dharma…? “Your right to do what is just and right and not what was destined”! The concept of Hindu dharma as detailed in sacred Bhagavad Gita is integral to all teachings of Hinduism! In absence of Dharma… the whole world simply could not exist! It is this inherent dharma (righteousness) that makes the world go round!

Dharma exists from times immemorial. Even before any religion existed in world… dharma existed! Dharma exists from times life came into existence on mother earth. Following our inner dictates… human beings controlled their life! Dharma is elixir vitae… sap of cosmic system! It is presence of dharma that makes journey of life worthwhile!

]]> By: Tathagata Mukherjee http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1638 Tathagata Mukherjee Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:51:25 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1638 * The first modern reserach institute in India , the Basu Vigyan Mandir of Sir Jagadish Bose, was designed by Sister Nivedita with lots of Buddhist and Hindu symbols and symbolism in mind. * The first modern reserach institute in India , the Basu Vigyan Mandir of Sir Jagadish Bose, was designed by Sister Nivedita with lots of Buddhist and Hindu symbols and symbolism in mind.

]]> By: Tathagata Mukherjee http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1637 Tathagata Mukherjee Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:49:48 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1637 Namaste Devdutt, I am a general reader, enthused of Indian religion, culture, myths. Yesterday, media mughal Pritish Nandy introduced your name to me in twitter. I am extremely excited and already finished many articles posted hear. Its great to hear your speech. I am new to your world, but so far I have not seen Buddhist , Jain myths in your writings (may be they are already present and I am yet to find them). There are rich history of buddhist myths. I remember reading a book a while back by Sister Nivedita and Ananda K Coomerswamy on Hindu and Buddhist myth- it was great. The first modern reserach institute in India , the Basu Vigyan Mandir of Sir Jagadish Bose, was designed by Sister Nivedita with lots of Buddhist and Hindu things in mind. The efforts of yours at the Big Bazar is great and very important both politically, economically and culturally. Many are closely following your writings, book, methods. Let the blessings of Sarawati and Ganesha be always on you. WENDY Doniger: India and Indians achived many things in the past few decades in the west, but one of our greatest failure is not to fund study of Hinduism in the West. People like Wendy represents continuation of colonial representation of Hinduism. She represents those of western scholarships, particularly from the USA, who have distorted, manipulated hinduism for their vested interest. A good analysis of how dangerous their view points are can be found in a well compiled book "Invading the sacred" published by Rupa and Co. A limited analysis of this book can be found at invadingthesacred.com Wendy wrote - “The Bhagavad Gita is not as nice a book as some Americans think. Throughout the Mahabharata…Krishna goads human beings into all sorts of murderous and self-destructive behaviors such as war…The Gita is a dishonest book; it justifies war.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 19, 2000) There are many such utterences. One of them even abused a saintly figure like Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa as some sexually perverted person who sexually swami vivekanand. Can anyone accept these sort of things in the name of scholarship? In short, Wendy is deeply prejudiced in her analysis of Hinduism. Thankfully, Hindus of the USA has woken up and started cleansing the system at last. Amongst many other things, California court has upheld views of Hindu groups to be represented in the text book for school kids. Tathagata Mukherjee Calcutta/New York Namaste Devdutt,

I am a general reader, enthused of Indian religion, culture, myths.

Yesterday, media mughal Pritish Nandy introduced your name to me in twitter. I am extremely excited and already finished many articles posted hear. Its great to hear your speech.

I am new to your world, but so far I have not seen Buddhist , Jain myths in your writings (may be they are already present and I am yet to find them). There are rich history of buddhist myths. I remember reading a book a while back by Sister Nivedita and Ananda K Coomerswamy on Hindu and Buddhist myth- it was great.

The first modern reserach institute in India , the Basu Vigyan Mandir of Sir Jagadish Bose, was designed by Sister Nivedita with lots of Buddhist and Hindu things in mind.

The efforts of yours at the Big Bazar is great and very important both politically, economically and culturally. Many are closely following your writings, book, methods. Let the blessings of Sarawati and Ganesha be always on you.

WENDY Doniger: India and Indians achived many things in the past few decades in the west, but one of our greatest failure is not to fund study of Hinduism in the West. People like Wendy represents continuation of colonial representation of Hinduism. She represents those of western scholarships, particularly from the USA, who have distorted, manipulated hinduism for their vested interest. A good analysis of how dangerous their view points are can be found in a well compiled book “Invading the sacred” published by Rupa and Co. A limited analysis of this book can be found at invadingthesacred.com

Wendy wrote – “The Bhagavad Gita is not as nice a book as some Americans think. Throughout the Mahabharata…Krishna goads human beings into all sorts of murderous and self-destructive behaviors such as war…The Gita is a dishonest book; it justifies war.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 19, 2000)

There are many such utterences. One of them even abused a saintly figure like Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa as some sexually perverted person who sexually swami vivekanand. Can anyone accept these sort of things in the name of scholarship?

In short, Wendy is deeply prejudiced in her analysis of Hinduism. Thankfully, Hindus of the USA has woken up and started cleansing the system at last. Amongst many other things, California court has upheld views of Hindu groups to be represented in the text book for school kids.

Tathagata Mukherjee
Calcutta/New York

]]> By: subas http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1577 subas Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:35:08 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1577 Excellent interview and the discussion that followed. I saw Dr Pattnaik's blog just today and am already a fan of him! I felt so proud and jealous of his effort. Being away from India(originally from Orissa) so long it was very nostalgic to see so many people so passionate about my culture and my religion! Hats off to this lady (Wendy D)spending almost all her life on studying Hinduism. The least we can do is to read her without any judgement. I have not read her works but I was sad to see such extreme reactions from some people in the posts(AB etc). They are surely learned people but quite impatient and frustrated. We may not agree with her views but must applaud her tenacity and enthusiasm. Subas Excellent interview and the discussion that followed. I saw Dr Pattnaik’s blog just today and am already a fan of him! I felt so proud and jealous of his effort. Being away from India(originally from Orissa) so long it was very nostalgic to see so many people so passionate about my culture and my religion! Hats off to this lady (Wendy D)spending almost all her life on studying Hinduism. The least we can do is to read her without any judgement. I have not read her works but I was sad to see such extreme reactions from some people in the posts(AB etc). They are surely learned people but quite impatient and frustrated. We may not agree with her views but must applaud her tenacity and enthusiasm. Subas

]]> By: Monica http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1506 Monica Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:52:37 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1506 Wendy Doniger is staggeringly learned. Thank you for this interview. Wendy Doniger is staggeringly learned. Thank you for this interview.

]]> By: rchandrasekaran http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1487 rchandrasekaran Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:52:09 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1487 it is an interesting interview.i find no harm in anything that she said.we hindus always feel that we only know more about our religeon than a non hindu.same is the case with people of other religeons also.this is because of the fact that we try to follow things said in our religeon blindly without questioning with the strong belief that it is said so for our good only.when others(non hindus) research and say something we find it unacceptable. it is an interesting interview.i find no harm in anything that she said.we hindus always feel that we only know more about our religeon than a non hindu.same is the case with people of other religeons also.this is because of the fact
that we try to follow things said in our religeon blindly without questioning with the strong belief that it is said so for our good only.when others(non hindus) research and say something we find it unacceptable.

]]> By: hardeep http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1436 hardeep Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:26:56 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1436 O Lord! 1. Give us the understanding to comprehend the TRUTH (Absolute; SAT; ) - that what is beyond 'words'. 2. Give us the wisdom to sieve the TRUTH (SAT) from Thy CREATION- of opposites: SAT and Asat. O Lord!

1. Give us the understanding to comprehend the TRUTH (Absolute; SAT; ) – that what is beyond ‘words’.

2. Give us the wisdom to sieve the TRUTH (SAT) from Thy CREATION- of opposites: SAT and Asat.

]]> By: Ishrath http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1423 Ishrath Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:31:22 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1423 Wendy seems to be quite a spirit. I enjoyed this interview. Great post. Wendy seems to be quite a spirit. I enjoyed this interview. Great post.

]]> By: Hitesh http://devdutt.com/my-interview-with-wendy-doniger/comment-page-1#comment-1408 Hitesh Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:47:07 +0000 http://devdutt.com/?p=1333#comment-1408 There are very few people those who understand Hinduism properly. I suggest to read Swami Vivekannda’s complete work to understand Hinduism. Every religion has three main parts i.e. History, Rituals and Spiritualism. Anybody interested to understand Hinduism must read Vedanta and Upanishad. History and Rituals (Vedas) are for primary level; proceed to next level of spiritualism ( Vedant) to understand Hinduism. There are very few people those who understand Hinduism properly. I suggest to read Swami Vivekannda’s complete work to understand Hinduism.
Every religion has three main parts i.e. History, Rituals and Spiritualism.
Anybody interested to understand Hinduism must read Vedanta and Upanishad. History and Rituals (Vedas) are for primary level; proceed to next level of spiritualism ( Vedant) to understand Hinduism.

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