NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/alt/hindu/123

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From: [e-mail] (anand hudli)
Subject: Interpolations and Scriptures (Re: Forgeries of Hindu Scriptures)
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Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1993 22:18:41 GMT
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 Time and again, doubts have been cast on the authenticity of the full
 texts of Hindu scriptures. Critics have pointed out what according to
 them are interpolations, distortions and concoctions. First of all,
 it is incorrect to treat the scriptures as ordinary historical texts,
 and not as religious texts. The critics keep harping on the possible
 date of the vedas. The religious view is that the vedas are of divine
 origin and they are without human authorship. The Vedas were not
 committed to any written form for many, many generations; they were
 passed from generation to generation orally. They were compiled by
 Maharshi Vyas and it is only this date of compilation which historians
 try to estimate. Before the compilation of the vedas, the four vedas
 as we know them, did not exist as such. There were only branches or
 shakhas of vedas, with each shakha tracing its origin to a Rishi.
 Maharshi Vyasa undertook the task of collecting together all the
 scattered portions of the Vedas and compiling them into the four
 Vedas- Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. Even historians acknowledge
 that the vedas were only memorized and passed orally from generation
 to generation before their compilation.

 When such is the case, the contention of the critics that the Purusha
 Sukta or parts of it are interpolations, is irrelevant. There are
 several possibilities. The hymns of the Vedas are said to be revealed
 by God. In the Dwapara Yuga, before the descent of Sri Krishna to
 earth, the other gods including Brahma, Shiva and Indra are said to
 have approached Vishnu and praised Him through the verses of the
 Purusha Sukta. Given that Dwapara Yuga is the third of the four
 Yugas -- Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali, in chronological order, it
 is not difficult to explain the fact that the Purusha Sukta was
 added or 'interpolated' into the compiled version of Rig Veda.
 Ofcourse, this requires the critics to believe that the various
 Gods exist. The critics are usually atheistic 'intellectuals' and
 they entertain no such belief. Nor do they believe  that Rishis
 of ancient India were capable of seeing God after undergoing
 penance, worship, etc. God instructed the Rishis and Rajarshis
 about several branches of knowledge including the vedas,
 Sankhya and Yoga.
 For example, Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita :

  I revealed this indestructible Yoga to Vivasvan (the sun).
  Vivasvan instructed (this) to Manu (and) Manu instructed
  it to Ikshvaku. Gita 4.1

 Although research done by western scholars in Vedic literature is
 commendable, most of them had prejudices about Hinduism and India.
 Let me quote from the introductory remarks of the book titled
 Yajur Veda by Devi Chand, Munshiram Manoharlal Publsihers, 1980.

 "... Yet all the scholars from the west could not remain free
      from prejudices and could not always maintain objectivity
      in their writings. Some of them,.., aimed at perpetuating
      colonial rule in India while others expected to convert
      Indians to Christianity through their writings on Oriental
      subjects. "

   These remarks in the book were made by M.C. Joshi, of the
   Archaeological Survey of India ( at the time).
   Further, Joshi quotes the statement made by no less a scholar
   than Monier-Williams:
       "... I must draw attention to the fact that I am only the
        second occupant of the Boden Chair, and that its founder
        Colonel Boden, stated most explicitly in his will (dated
        August 15, 1811) that the special object of his  munifi-
        cent bequest was to promote translations of scriptures
        into Sanskrit, so as to enable his countrymen to proceed
        in the conversion of the natives of India to the
         Christian Religion. "

   Joshi also writes regarding the western scholar Roth :
       "... The ego of Roth was so much against the Indian
        pundits that he considered himself to be a better
        authority than Yaksa in the interpretation of the
        Vedas."

 Although western scholarship, ideas and the spirit of scientific
 investigation played a great role in higher learning, and the
 political, social and cultural ideas of Indians, it seems rather
 far-fetched that it will be of great use in exploring the spiritual
 aspects of Hinduism. I doubt whether the critics even admit such a
 thing as a spiritual experience or divine inspiration. Such western
 educated scholars driven by the spirit of scientific inquiry can at
 best be considered as mere (dictionary-based) literal translators of
 Hindu scriptures and at worst as proponents of heretical doctrines or
 'Pashandavadins'.

 Anand
 [e-mail]