East is East, West is West.

Subhas Mitra:   01 Sep 2022

West may be proud to be ‘colonial masters’ but East cannot afford to lick her wound forever. East is neither revengeful nor an all-forgetting cocoon-loving introvert. She will claim her rightful place in the mind of people of the world at right time without resorting to force of domination but by the power of motivation with her strength of core competence & potential.

Here “West” is Abrahamic and “East” is Indians.

You tricked us and ruled us for centuries and forced your trickery expertise on us from all around by destroying and demeaning our ancient intellectual assets.

“A Vedic Sanatani lives for betterment and improvement of quality of living. While a theocratic Abrahamic live to convert or destroy non-believers”.

 2014 we got free from your proxy rule on us and before the end of a decade you made us realize our lost strength by accepting Yoga as a health potion.

Your scientists are researching to find VALUE in the ancient system of punishing younger students by teachers or Gurus in India, Ayurveda, and Herbal / Organic /Vegetarian food habits.  

However old habits die hard. Many of your intellectuals and pen pushers are still engaged in demeaning us from whichever angle suits them. There are Satvic wise men amongst you who have never tried to fool us but some Rajas people are finding it difficult to accept or learn the facts and give up the old habit of ‘spraying salt over our wound’ given by colonial masters.  

Take this one man from the UK.  I am confused to discover whether British anthropologist Robin Dunbar has acted smartly to denigrate Hinduism or he is ignorant about Hindu philosophy and its history of evolution in his book “How Religion Evolved and Why it Endures”. It would be unfair if I comment on the book which I am yet to complete reading but I am uncomfortable with his finding that:

*. Sikhism is not a branch of Hinduism but a product of a 15th-century constellation of religions in north India. This is nothing but a British (Church) political line of declaration that has brought Sikhs kneeling before Canada, Britain, the USA, and Pakistan for help to kill Hindus for separation from India without Pakistani Punjab. Not to mention the Turban Convert and Mac Sikhs.

*. He writes: The offering of Banyan or Peepul trees is a common belief due to FEAR of evil spirit (evil eye) and practice persist in occult word.  I do not know if other than Hinduism any other faith anywhere in the world is practiced but if he is meaning Hinduism then I am sure he is fooling us to demean us. We have TWO trees Bot & Peepul; both are called Banyan in English. They appear in Bhagwat Gita and Upanishad as philosophical examples and in Atharva Veda as remedial Ayurvedic plants/trees (details are given below separately).

*. He then writes: Over the last few thousand years, organized religions like Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism have come to dominate the world.  They are a relatively recent phenomenon and they have explicit theological frames, priesthood, or hierarchies. Note his order of preference- Hinduism is the junior most? Oh dear, where did he find Priest domination, theological frames, and hierarchies in Hinduism?   Does he confuse between a PUROHIT (Priest) and SHADU or SANYASHI or a Guru?

I do not know if he is trying to be one of those British in the 1890s who professed political ideology to impose and maintain cultural, social, political, historical, and/or institutional domination by white people and non-white supporters. Or Rudyard Kipling who manufactured the WHITEMAN’s  BURDEN theory to authorize their Govt. to force converts colonies. But if he is honest then I must say his thoughts are unable to get rid of the ABRAHAMIC frame of upbringing.

My suggestion he should explore some Botany and Ayurveda to understand that Hindu concepts of divinity in Trees, River, Mountain, etc. are not part of the belief system or fear of evil spirit but search for specified knowledge i.e. jñāna— (ज्ञान) knowledge; vijñāna—( विज्ञान ) realized knowledge, wisdom from within.  Explained well in Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 6, Verse 8

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रिय: |

युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चन: || 8||

You call vijñāna विज्ञान as  science and are anti-religion for you but for us, those are the way of life to always seek to know the unknown and preserve the knowledge so far achieved. One of the names of these processes is also called PUJA as well as YOGAKSHAM यागक्षेम.

Here are some collections from available sources:

I am not a Botanist or Ayurveda Expert but it is neither ‘forbidden’ nor ‘Haraam’ for me to try to know.

Before I search further on trees, plants, leaves, fruit, flowers and roots/bark/firewood {for Havan (sacrificial fire), Cremation and Cooking are not the same types} Hindus adore or pay special attention to Ritualistic means. We should understand that “worship – prayers” & “Puja – Archana” is not the same.  Puja is Devotion, Worship, Respect, Adoration, and Veneration. Puja is a rite as well as worshiping that may or may not include Prayer(s) as is binding in Abrahamic religions.

When you call Hindus as cow, dog, snake, hill, tree, or river ‘worshiper’ you are just reading/remembering your Book (s) and forgetting to use your thoughts & imaginations.

Since when did a scientist start warning us about the Ecological balance & Environmental degradation? Our Rishis told us before The Son or The Messenger came to this world or their followers learned to read or write thus the knowledge was passed on in the form of mythical stories. 

Permit me to tell you one of my childhood stories:

Once upon a time, a King of flying insects was finding a scarcity of food. He called a cabinet meeting and decided to send TWO emissaries to a faraway orchard and submit a report. Both went together, they inspected, returned, and reported back.

The FIRST one said:

There are lots of fruits and flowers; some new buds which will mature in weeks or fortnights. 

SECOND one said:

There are rotten fruits, flowers, animal shit, and dead animal remains all over the orchard.

India is that orchard where the FIRST one, the Bee, saw and second, the hose fly, also saw and both were RIGHT.

India is the only land where humans of all shades; colors and religions live together not because of this “ism” or that “ism” but for Hinduism. 

Recently New York Times advertised to recruit “Housefly” from India. But we in India look out for “Bees” from the west to enlighten us and we deport “Housefly” from the airport only.

Here are a few facts on scientific outlook:

*. Dutch eyeglass maker, Mr. Zacharias Janssen invented the FIRST microscope in 1590.

*. Dr. Rex N. Olinares, a professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines, is considered to be the “father of Environmental Science.

*. British declared Dr. Ramdeo Misra, a Ph.D. in ecology (1937) the first Botanist.

IS IT NOT FAIR TO STOP heeding COMMANDMENTS TO HATE AND DEMEAN HEATHEN/KAFIR for some time and use your BRAIN to think “how did India Sages/Rishis/ scientists discovered/acquire such sophisticated knowledge without any tools? 

Gases and air qualities:

*. How Air’s Composition was discovered in 1640, by the Flemish chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont.

*. In 1674, the English physician John Mayow established that air is not a single element; it is made up of different substances.

*.  Joseph Priestley an Englishman by birth was deeply involved in politics and religion, as well as science. He discovered Oxygen in 1774.

*. But The Atharvaveda was most likely compiled about 1200 BCE – 1000 BCE. Where  Air is called  Vayu. and is also one of the five basic elements (Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth). These five primary currents of “vital force” are Prana-Vayu (probably O2), Apana-Vayu, Samana-Vayu, Udana-Vayu, and Vyana-Vayu. { modern scientists develop the knowledge only after 1774.

The relation of air /Vayu with health and its control system is given to human beings by Rishi Patanjali in 400-500AD (wiki) and called PRANAYAMA.

If you are forbidden to learn or appreciate heathen/ Kafir, at least use your brain and stop denigrating/demeaning Hindu Rishis by taking a whimsical scholarly posture. 

Some straight records:

It is not feasible to talk about all PUJA SAMAGRI (items prescribed for different rituals or rites or Puja) here but let me briefly talk of some such trees/plants/creepers of ritualistic importance or medicinal values in Hindus. 

Banyan Tree:

The botanical name of “Peepal” (पिपल का पेड़) tree is Ficus religiosa and “Bot” or Vat (बॉट or बटगाछ or बट बृक्ष or bargad)   is Ficus benghalensis. They are not the same in medicinal value or utility in nature.

Most plants release oxygen only during the day. It is wise to sleep under the tree in the daytime but some trees leave CO2 thus we are asked not to sleep under such trees.

“Peepal”  : (O2 in night & Day) 

The tree is a trendy environment-friendly tree. It is the most oxygen-giving tree. It has many medicinal uses too.

“Bot” or Vat (O2 at night)

 This beneficial tree is a national tree of India. Under this tree, Adinath had attained knowledge. It is one of the best oxygen-producing trees and provides a large canopy of shade.

(Both these trees give shelter to and food for birds throughout the year)

Tulsi (Basil): (O2 at night)

Treats cold and cough, breathing problems, Helps beat stress, treats infection and wounds, Improves digestion, Aids in losing weight, Dissolves kidney stones, and many more. Hindus treat it as a domestic must-have plant.

Bael or Billa (wood apple or Aegle marmelos – बेल):

 (O2 in night)

This tree is a rich source of herbs. The leaves, roots, fruits, and flowers of this tree have medicinal value. The native of this plant in India is known as Bengal quince, golden apple, etc.

Why Durva grass is used in puja?

In Hindu rituals, the Durva grass plays an important role. Rings made of the grass are often worn before starting either the ritual of Homa — offerings to fire — or puja. The grass is believed to have a purifying effect on participants.

Its longevity and ability to survive in adverse climate is symbolically significant for Hindu rituals.

Kans or Kash :

Saccharum spontaneum or Kans grass is a perennial grass, growing up to three meters in height found around a lowland Eco region at the base of the Himalayas range in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Its root helps retreating monsoon floods, forming almost pure stands on the lowest portions of the floodplain (protests soil erosion). Kans grasslands are an important habitat for the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).  It takes over croplands and pasturelands, as has been documented in the Republic of Panama.

Hindus of the Eastern delta region (Bengal and Assam are advised to value it and as such used it for rituals).

Neem or Azadirachta indica – नीम : (O2 at Night & Day)

The neem tree is the most valuable medicinal plant, which decreases the greenhouse gas volume through photosynthesis. By absorbing a massive amount of CO2 from the air, it cleans the breathing air and makes the atmosphere pure. The neem tree is a miraculous creation of Mother Nature that does not cost anything to pay. The seeds and fruits are the major sources of neem oil. Its leaves bark and stems are also widely used in Indian traditional medicines. The flowers of the tree are used as a vegetable. The planting of Neem trees is the biggest step toward clean breath and healthy life.

Bamboo Tree:

(Never sleep under them at night because of CO2 excesses)

Known as a natural air purifier, a bamboo plant can produce more than 70 tons of oxygen and absorb 80 tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year.

Burning bamboo produces excessive CO2 thus it is prohibited in Hinduism but it is a must-use for cremation.