Theos-Talk Archives (December 2002 Message tt00398)

SOME REFERENCES WITH ANSWERS FOR KELA and Group

THE QUESTIONS ? 

1. IDENTIFYING THE Vaishnavas and the Shaiva Kashmiri Pandits, 
The "Original Inhabitants of Kashmir". 

GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "KASHMIRI PANDITS" YIELDED 9,O3O REFERENCES. 

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KASHMIRI OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION http://koausa.org/index.html 

The Kashmiri Pandits, the original inhabitants of the Valley of 
Kashmir, have made great contributions to world civilization in such 
diverse fields as religion, philosophy, Sanskrit literature, 
medicine, history, music and aesthetics, for over five thousand years 
of history. Kashmir is known amongst the Kashmiri Pandits and other 
Saraswats (who fled Kashmir during periods of Islamic persecution) as 
Sharadapeeth or the Abode of the Goddess of Learning and Fine Arts. 

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KASHMIRI PANDITS Culture ... Heritage ... Traditions ... Religion A 
Complete Repository of Information on Kashmiri Hindus . KASHMIR : 
Past and Present, Unravelling the Mystique by Prof. Mohan Lal Koul
http://ikashmir.org/PastPresent/chapter1.html

THEY (THE VAISHNAVAS AND SHAIVAS BOTH) HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH 
TIBETAN BUDDHISM.

"The Kashmirian Hindus particularly the Brahmans joined the ranks of 
the Buddhist Church investing it with new direction and enrichment. 
Not fewer than 700 Brahman- monks from Kashmir crossing the 
inaccessible mountain barriers carried the message of Buddha's 
religion to Tibet, China and Central Asia. They were not on horse-
backs with deadly swords in their hands only to reduce populations, 
kill, massacre, loot and plunder them for converting them to their 
faith. Armed with Buddha's gospel of love, peace, non-violence and 
compassion, the Brahman monks stirred and generated a new cultural 
and religious reformation in the regions they entered and encouraged 
the populace to think and ponder over the existential problems of man 
and his ultimate destiny. The Brahman-monks also enriched the 
philosophical content of Buddhism by giving a new treatment to the 
issues Buddha had hinted at in his sermons. 

Buddhism in its hey-day was never intolerant of other religions and 
credos. It did not stamp them out, but allowed them to exist, thrive 
and interact. Forcible conversion was unknown to the Kashmirian 
ethos. Shaivism with its deep roots in the ancient history of Kashmir 
battled against the Buddhist ideology largely propped on logic and 
rational approach to the issues of metaphysics. The battle was on the 
plane of ideas. The Shaivite scholars wove their web of ideas to 
refute the Buddhist formulations only to establish their world-view 
based on a structured thought-process. The 'Saivites borrowed many 
Budhist concepts only to invest them with a new ring of meaning 
within their conceptual ambience. The 'Saivite and Buddhist approach 
to the moot issues of philosophical thinking never generated 
religious frenzy leading to the annihilation of the harbourers of 
each faith. 

The Vaishnavite thought equally co-existed with the Buddhist and 
Saivite thought-ways. The appellation of Kashmir as 'Sharda-desh' 
(land of Sharda) establishes the Vaishnavite faith having come to 
Kashmir to leave its impress not only on the thinking elite, but on 
the general mass of people at grass-root level. Nilamat Puran as a 
Vaishnavite work declares Kashmir as the seat of Cakrin (Vishnu). 
Kashmir had its own share of Panchratra followers, who propagated and 
shaped the specifics of the creed only to mould the thought-structure 
of other religions. The interpenetration of Buddhism, Saivism and 
Vaishnavism has been the product of the most tolerant cultural ethos 
obtaining in Kashmir. There existed mutual commerce of ideas and 
beliefs among the three religions, each borrowing the concepts from 
the other and investing them with new nuances as necessitated by its 
conceptual frame. The triad of Brahma as creator, Vishnu as preserver 
and Shiva as destroyer were not conceptually jealous of one another. 
They were transcendental, but also immanent involved in the weal and 
welfare of mankind at large. The syncretic images of the Triad 
explored from various sites in Kashmir sufficiently pinpoint and 
highlight the tolerant ethos of the Kashrnirian Hindus, who at no 
point of time in their history engaged themselves in sectarian 
battles generating and unleashing the forces of hatred, ill-will and 
religious bigotry. 

References beyond number can be culled and gleaned from Rajtarangini, 
magnum opus of Kashmir history, which firmly establish that the Hindu 
kings, queens and other high degree men in corridors of power 
harbouring a particular faith built temples and Caityas of other 
faiths. There was absolute religious harmony at socio-political 
compass. No brute force was employed to convert men of other faiths. 
In reality, conversion as a tern was alien to the Kashmirian milieu 
and culture. Abhinavgupta, a scion of Kashmir Shaivism, never had 
even a flicker of thought for converting Ksemendra, a myriad minded 
genius, who was a Buddhist by faith and credo. Reverence for faiths 
and beliefs of others was the sine qua non of the Kashmirian Hindu 
ethos. Persecution and torture on religious grounds were absolutely 
unheard of in Kashmir and elsewhere in the Indian sub-continent. "

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2. Were they a minority? 

Kashmiri Pandits: The Invisible Refugees 
http://ikashmir.org/PastPresent/chapter1.html
In the 1989-1991 time period, nearly 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits were 
expelled from their native Kashmir valley after a combination of 
violence and explicit threats by Islamic terrorists aided and 
inspired by Pakistan. In the last decade, India-Pakistan tensions 
have continued and spiralled, especially over the state of Jammu and 
Kashmir. The tensions recently culminated in the Kargil invasion by 
thousands of Pakistani troops and supporting Islamic mercenaries. 
However, through a decade of continuing violence initiated by 
Pakistani elements, most of the hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri 
Pandits who have been expelled from their homeland continue to be 
ignored at the state, national and international level.... 
A Presentation by:  
Kashmir News Network (KNN) 

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http://www.ikashmir.org/ © 2000-2002 Kashmir News Network (KNN). 
All Rights Reserved 

Mayhem in Kashmir - Arson, Lootings and Killings 

Kashmir, the land of rishis and saints, was however, ill-prepared for 
the Islamic onslaught that it has had to suffer over the last 500 
years. During the Islamic period of rule, the Kashmiri Pandit 
population dwindled steadily and there were numerous times when the 
persecution was so severe that a large number of them had to flee to 
the hot plains of India. This process has been recently repeated 
(from 1990 onwards), but on a much vaster scale. The Kashmiri Pandits 
have been driven from their homeland after a campaign of intimidation 
and harassment was launched against them by the military-wing of the 
Islamic secessionists. Kashmiri Pandits were forced from their 
hearths and homes at the point of gun. The objective of this ethnic 
cleansing was to create a minority free Kashmir valley where the goal 
of Islamization could be easily forced on the ordinary people. 

It is, indeed, a very sad fact that the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri 
Pandits has literally gone unnoticed by the World community. It is 
the aim of this website to point out the rich and wonderful 
contributions made by the Kashmiri Pandit population, not only to 
enriching the Indian civilization, but to enriching the World at 
large. The loss of this tradition, if allowed, will be a tremendous 
loss for the World. 

ESTIMATES OF THE KASHMIRI EXODUS FROM MUSLIM OPPRESSION AND GENOCIDE 
IN RECENT YEARS REACH 99%.  

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3.A What was the impetus here? 

I BELIEVE THAT THE NOBLEST IMPETUS OF H.P. BLAVATSKY AND FRIENDS WAS 
TO AVAIL HUMANITY OF THE UNIQUE SYNTHESIS OF EASTERN AND WESTERN 
TRADITIONS FOUND EXISTING HARMONIOUSLY IN THE KASHMIRI MIX OF 
VAISHNAVISM, SHAVISM, SHAKTISM, BUDDHISM AND OTHER RELATED GROUPS 
THERE.  

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LOOKING AT KASHMIRI DIVERSITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF LANGUAGE 

Kashmiri Overseas Association http://koausa.org/index.html 

Understanding the complex dynamics of language development in a multi-
lingual State like Jammu and Kashmir, is not only a challenging task 
but also important for creating informed opinion about the status of 
languages and their role in identity formation. Often described as a 
three-storeyed edifice founded upon bonds of history and geography 
and linked by a common destiny, the J&K State presents a fascinating 
mosaic of cross-cultural interaction.  


CONTENTS
Kashmiri and the Linguistic Predicament of the State - P. N. Pushp  
Kashmiri Language: Roots, Evolution and Affinity - S. S. Toshkhani  
The Sharada Script: Origin and Development - B. K. Kaul Deambi 
Devnagari Script for Kashmiri: A Study in its Necessity, Feasibility 
and Practicality - Dr. R. L. Shant  
Kashmir in Ancient Sanskrit Literature - Dr. B. N. Kalla 
About Languages and Scripts (with special reference to Sharda 
script) - Prof. K. L. Kalla 
Languages, Scripts and Sharda - Dr. R. L. Bhat 
Read Sharda - A Sharda Primer - Prem Nath Shastri Link to Vijayashwar 
Publication 
Language and Politics in Jammu and Kashmir - K. Warikoo 
A Script for the Kashmiri Language - Bharat Wakhlu and Omkar N. 
Wakhlu 
Kashmir - The Home of Sanskrit Language and Literature - P. N. K. 
Bamzai 
Contribution to Sanskrit Literature - Dr. Sunil Chandra Ray with 
Foreword by K. M. Panikkar 
On Kashmiri Language - Prof. Omkar N. Kaul 
Kashmiris in the Service of Urdu - D. K. Kachru 
Kashmiris in the Service of Urdu - Z. L. Kaul 
Contribution of Kashmir to Indian Literature - Raghunath Safaya 
Kashmiri Proverbs 
Koshur Samachar's key to Koshur using Devnagri Script 
Kashmiri Script - A Historical Decision - Dr. R. L. Shant (Khir 
Bhawani Times, Feb. 1996): 
- Page 1 of 3 
- Page 2 of 3 
- Page 3 of 3 
An Introduction to Spoken Kashmiri - Prof. Braj B. Kachru 
 
[MAP GOES HERE]
Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh

Ethno-Linguistic Areas
Legend (Top to bottom as it is not readable from the map):  
Kishtwari/Poguli 
Kashmiri 
Dogri 
Gojri 
Ladakhi 
Balti 
Dardi/Shina 
Burshaski 
Punjabi/Lahenda/Pothawari 
Rambani/Bhaderwahi/Siraji 
Kashmiri/Gujari/Pahari 
 

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SIKHISM ATTEMPTS TO UNITE EAST AND WEST 

Guru, Gurudev and Satguru

http://www.santmat-
diewahrheit.de/englisch/satsangs/satsangsf/guru.html

Guru Nanak, when questioned as to Who He was replied: "If I say that 
I am a Hindu as apparently I happen to be with all the outer 
hallmarks of Hindus, you will surely kill me; but at the same time I 
am not a Muslim either in the sense in which you take it to mean by 
outer signs. My real character is that my physical being is made of 
five elements of nature, while within me the God's Divine Power is at 
work."

As we are usually apt to forget this great lesson, the Masters come 
to revive it as and when necessary. The first problem the Masters 
tackle is to knit the children of God in the silken bonds of love, 
sacrifice, and service of one and all. They have to bring all 
children of God together to one common platform. My Master came to 
the earth plane when there were many diverse sects in Christianity, 
Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, and many other creeds. He delivered His 
Divine message to the people-to learn to sit together with love and 
to try to understand the basic concepts of the one Divinity that is 
working in the entire creation.

"The wisdom of the seers is all alike." -Gurbani

Those who have realized their own self regard all mankind as one. The 
various sects, creeds, and religions are like so many schools of 
thought and outward forms like so many hallmarks adopted by us. But, 
all the same, in spite of these seemingly differences, we are 
basically human beings; and the soul in man has the same attributes 
on a miniature scale as those of God. From this lofty viewpoint, all 
are alike. It was Hazur's great desire that there should be some 
common platform for teaching the science of soul to all, despite 
differences in their outlook on world, color, or creed. Ruhani 
Satsang was the name suggested by Hazur for such a forum. He was a 
Jivan-Mukt, a liberated Master-soul, and had come for the liberation 
of humanity.

Guru Nanak, when questioned as to Who He was replied: "If I say that 
I am a Hindu as apparently I happen to be with all the outer 
hallmarks of Hindus, you will surely kill me; but at the same time I 
am not a Muslim either in the sense in which you take it to mean by 
outer signs. My real character is that my physical being is made of 
five elements of nature, while within me the God's Divine Power is at 
work."

As we are usually apt to forget this great lesson, the Masters come 
to revive it as and when necessary. The first problem the Masters 
tackle is to knit the children of God in the silken bonds of love, 
sacrifice, and service of one and all. They have to bring all 
children of God together to one common platform. My Master came to 
the earth plane when there were many diverse sects in Christianity, 
Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, and many other creeds. He delivered His 
Divine message to the people-to learn to sit together with love and 
to try to understand the basic concepts of the one Divinity that is 
working in the entire creation.

"The wisdom of the seers is all alike." -Gurbani

Those who have realized their own self regard all mankind as one. The 
various sects, creeds, and religions are like so many schools of 
thought and outward forms like so many hallmarks adopted by us. But, 
all the same, in spite of these seemingly differences, we are 
basically human beings; and the soul in man has the same attributes 
on a miniature scale as those of God. From this lofty viewpoint, all 
are alike. It was Hazur's great desire that there should be some 
common platform for teaching the science of soul to all, despite 
differences in their outlook on world, color, or creed. Ruhani 
Satsang was the name suggested by Hazur for such a forum. He was a 
Jivan-Mukt, a liberated Master-soul, and had come for the liberation 
of humanity.

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3.B SOME RELEVANT FUNDAMENTALS OF VEDIC-RELATED TRADITIONS 
('HINDUISM') AS FOUND IN INDIA AND KASHMIR 

http://www.indianest.com/hinduism/021.htm 

Modern Hinduism– Neria Harish Hebbar, M.D
March 24, 2002 

Shaiva Sect 

There are mainly six sub-sects of Shaivism as seen in the modern 
times. They are: 

Shaiva Siddhanta, 

Pahsupatism, 

Kashmir Shaivism or Trika, 

Vira Shaivism or Lingayats, 

Siddha Shaivism and 

Shiva Advaitism. 

A profound system of temple mysticism and an enlightened view of 
man's place in the universe as well as Siddha yoga form the basis of 
Shaivism. The final goal of Shaivism is realizing one's identity with 
Shiva in perfect union and non-differentiation (monism). Om Namah 
Shivaya.



Smartha Sect

Smarth-ism is an ancient Brahminical tradition reformed by Shankara 
in the ninth century. Smarthas follow the Smriti literature, 
particularly Dharma Shastra, Puranas and the Ithihasas. They worship 
six forms of God and also revere the Vedas and the Agamas. Shankara 
reformed the sect and today the sect is synonymous with Adi 
Shankara's monistic, meditative and philosophical theories. The six-
sect system of Smartras is that in which the deities can be chosen as 
one's own personal and preferred deity (Ishta Devata). The six 
deities are Ganapati, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti and Kumara (added 
by Shankara's reform). Smartha sect is the liberal branch of current 
day Hinduism that believes in attainment of salvation through mainly 
Jnana yoga. However other Yogas like Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja 
Yoga are also believed to bring enlightenment. Jnana Yoga involves 
the study of scriptures (shravana), reflection (manana) and sustained 
meditation (dhyana). Om Namah Shivaya.


 

Shakti Sect 

The worship of Mother Goddess in her fierce or gentle form is the 
basis of Shaktism. Shaktas use mantra, tantra, yantra, yoga and puja 
to invoke cosmic forces and awaken the Kundalini Power. Worship of 
Mother Goddess is perhaps as old as the worship of Shiva. However it 
was more organized in the fifth century. Today it has four different 
expressions i.e. 

Devotional, 

Shamanic, 

Yogic and lastly 

Universalist. 

The devotional Shaktas' puja rites invoke Sri Chakra Yantra to 
establish intimacy with the Goddess. The Shamanic Shaktas - usually 
with the help of a medium - use magic, tantra and trance as well as 
fire walking and animal sacrifice for healing, fertility and power. 
The Shakta yogis seek to awaken the sleeping Goddess Kundalini and 
unite her with Lord Shiva in the Sahasrara Chakra. The Universalists 
follow the reformed Vedantic teachings and traditions. The Shakti 
sect worships Kali, Durga, Pravathi, Devi, Ambika, Chandi and the 
sexual aspect called Yoni (female genitalia). Shakti worshippers 
consider the Goddess as the manifested form of the deity, the worship 
of who leads to the masculine un-manifested form or Shiva, thus 
attaining salvation. Om Chandikayai Namah.


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WORDS BRACKETED [ ] BELOW ARE BY BHAKTI ANANDA GOSWAMI

http://www.seekersway.org/seekers_guide/vaishnavism_1_h.html 


Vaishnavism: An Introduction

The beginning and end of Vaishnavism is bhakti, itself. Bhakti is the 
reciprocal love which exists between humans and the Divine, and it is 
the highest and purest form of love possible. Deep within the human 
heart burns the desire to love and be loved. Bhakti provides the 
vehicle to cultivate and know this love and to develop a personal 
relationship with the personality of God, or Godhead. An overview of 
Vaishnavism shows that Bhakti is prevalent throughout all schools of 
Hindu theology.

A vast literary heritage was developed, including such classics as 
the Ramayana, the Bhagavata Purana, and the Mahabharata. Within the 
Mahabharata, which is the world's longest poem, lies the veritable 
bible of the Bhakti faith, the Bhagavad Gita. Within the Gita lies 
the essence of all Bhakti theology and practice, total devotion and 
service to the Lord as Krishna. 

The Bhagavad Gita consists of a conversation between Krishna, the 
supreme incarnation of God (Vishnu), and Arjuna, a great army general 
who is Krishna's devotee and friend. In the moments preceding a 
battle, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna his threefold theistic 
identity: Krishna is the very foundation of all spiritual and 
material existence, Brahma [BRAHMAN]; Krishna is the supreme soul 
that enters into the hearts of all living creatures, Purushottama 
[PARAMATMA / HOLY SPIRIT]; and Krishna is the original, eternal 
Supreme Personality, or Godhead [BHAGAVAN]. Krishna explains that the 
best way to reconnect the soul with himself is through Bhakti Yoga. 

 

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MORE ON SHAIVISM

http://www.seekersway.org/seekers_guide/shaivism_1_d.html 
 
Shaivism: An Introduction

Shaivism involves both the worship (as the religion of Shaivism) of 
the God Shiva, or Siva, and the practice of evolving the soul to 
liberation and union with Shiva (transcendent consciousness). Shiva 
is one of the principal gods recognized in Shaivism and Hinduism (and 
Shaivism), with millions of followers. He is known by at least 1,008 
names, and is often called "Shiva the Destroyer," referring to his 
ability to destroy illusion, delusion, and error, which are the 
obstacles to realization of Self and God. The worship of Shiva can be 
traced back to the figure of Rudra in the Rig Veda (1200 B.C.) and 
extends to every part of India, Hindu sections of Southeast Asia, and 
recently to isolated parts of Europe and North America. Shiva, is 
also represented by the lingam (a phallic symbol), as the creative 
life force and the energy that is utilized for attaining union with 
God (not typically representing the worship of the sex act or the 
penis, as it is often mistakenly thought to in the West).

An overview of Shaivism shows it is primarily theistic and monistic, 
and is often characterized by various forms of asceticism. For most 
Shaivites, Shaivism is not a philosophy, but is life itself. Temples 
are erected and holy sacraments are performed. Shiva is viewed as 
both immanent and transcendent. Forms of worship and practice include 
pilgrimages, daily prayer, singing hymns, and reciting scripture, by 
devotional followers and by daily meditations and yogic disciplines 
by yogis. 

http://www.seekersway.org/seekers_guide/shaivism_2_d.html 

Shaivism: An Introduction
page 2

There are six primary schools of Shaivism, though not all devotees of 
Shiva will consider themselves as belonging to any one of these 
schools. These schools are: Pasupata Shaivism, Vira Shaivism, Kashmir 
Shaivism, Shaiva Siddhanta, Gorakhnath Shaivism, and Shiva Advaita. 
The differences are philosophic, geographic and linguistic in 
character. The similarities include the desire to liberate the mind 
or soul from its binding attachments to the body and the physical 
world. Some of the common features that distinguish Shaivas in 
general, and yogis in particular, are: covering the body with ashes 
or making three horizontal ash marks across the forehead. Some sects 
of Shaivites wear their hair long and matted and many sects wear a 
necklace or rosary, of rudraksha berries, representing their "austere 
ties." Isolated sects of those practicing Shaivas may also practice 
self-mortifying vows such as: never lying down, inserting needles 
into their body, lying on a bed of nails, walking on a bed of hot 
coals, and long periods of fasting or sleep deprivation.

Recommended reading: Siva Sutras: The Yoga of Supreme Identity, ed. 
by Jaideva Singh


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GENEAOLOGY OF SIKHISM....THE SUI GENERIS PROBLEM 

CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE 

http://www.maboli.com/seva/sikh_review/1997/march_97/cross.htm

Sikhs in Hindustan : An Island in the Sea 

Gurudharm Singh Khalsa* Ph. D. 

A Paper presented at the 15th Annual Conference of the Institute of 
Global Cultural Studies at SUNY, Binghamton, New York on October 26, 
1996. 

This article corrects the popular misconception in the West that 
Sikhs are a sect of Hindus, or even a branch of Islam. There are 
numerous reference books that place Sikhism within the tradition of 
Hinduism, or that ascribe the source of Sikhism to a blend of Hindu 
ideas and Islamic concepts. The academic idea that the Sikh religion 
is a mixture of Hindu and Islamic elements falls under a category 
called syncretism. Syncretism is not to be confused with synchronism 
which means that events happen simultaneously. Syncretism implies a 
mixed formation of borrowed elements. In its pejorative sense, it 
implies that Sikhism is unoriginal and mixes separate elements of 
Hinduism and Islam producing an offspring of improper parentage. In 
its benign aspect, the theory asserts that Sikh syncretism is an 
attempt to harmonize or reconcile the conflicting tendencies of Islam 
and Hinduism. Either of these historical oversimplifications has led 
to the common mistake that Sikhs are Hindus. There is adequate 
historical evidence to show that syncretism is a mischaracterization 
of the Sikh tradition. 

****

The strongest argument that Sikhism is a distinct yet inclusive 
religious tradition is the standing of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib 
within the Sikh community. The Sikhs do not revere the Vedas or the 
Qur'an, but regard the Sri Guru Granth Sahib as their primary 
scripture. Guru Arjan first named the book the Adi Granth, indicating 
that this book comes first and has no accepted predecessor. Unlike 
Christians who regard the Hebrew Bible as part of their authorized 
Bible, the Sikhs do not venerate any Hindu or Islamic scripture. 
There are no passages from the Vedas or the Qur'an in the Adi Granth. 
If Guru Arjan was trying to reconcile the existing faiths of Islam 
and Hinduism, surely he would have included passages from both to 
appeal to both communities. 

***

It is convenient to label religions which are historically or 
geographically distant as syncretistic. It is easier to assert 
similarity with known traditions, such as Hinduism and Islam, than to 
understand a new language and explain yet another worldview. However, 
no living religion sees itself as an assortment of borrowed 
formations. In defense of their unique heritage Sikhs have asserted 
the originality of Guru Nanak's poetry as divine revelation. But even 
this defense should not be necessary. Emphasis, placement and 
priority are the earmarks of any creative, unique composition. A poem 
is like a musical composition; just because someone sang in sri rag  
before Guru Nanak does not make him a copycat. 

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... Sikhism was founded by Nanak, a Khatri by caste, who was born at 
Talwandi near Lahore
in .°..D. 1469, and after travelling and preaching throughout a 
great ... 
92.1911encyclopedia.org/S/SI/SIKHISM.htm - 24k - 


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... Sikhism is a unique religion with its roots in Punjab and Punjabi 
language. This
unique heritage of India needs to be provided a safe place in 
Punjab. ... 
www.petitiononline.com/savepunj/petition.html - 16k - 

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Necessity For Safe Guarding the Sikh Religious Interests and 
Punjabiat http://www.petitiononline.com/savepunj/petition.html 

View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition 


To: The Chief Minister Of Punjab 
Memorandum To The Chief Minister Of Punjab 
Necessity For Safe Guarding the Sikh Religious Interests and 
Punjabiat 

Introduction 

On 10 March 1949, Dr. Parkash Kaur Ex-Minister Punjab moved the 
historic resolution in the session of the East Punjab Legislative 
Assembly at Shimla asking for Punjabi to be declared as the language 
of Punjab State. The importance of Punjabi to the Punjabis in general 
and Sikhs in particular cannot be ignored. In Punjab lies the roots 
of Sikhism. Punjab offers the three most important ingredients 
required for the perpetuation of this religion i.e. the Punjabi 
language, the Gurmukhi script and a concentration of Punjabi speaking 
people out of which a majority are Sikhs. This is the only place in 
the whole world where learning Punjabi and Gurmukhi are compulsory. 
Governments at Delhi and at Punjab and Indians as a whole must 
appreciate that if Sikhism is to be safeguarded and is to be 
permitted to flourish, an area where Punjabi and Gurmukhi are safe is 
vital. Any cause due to which the roots of this religion can be 
threatened must be addressed. Punjabi and Punjabiat may be the 
cultural heritage of Punjabis but these are the lifelines for the 
survival of Sikhism. If Punjabi meets the same fate, which Sanskrit 
and Persian did in India a long time back, then the Holy Guru Granth 
Sahib will meet the same fate, as have the Koran and the Sanskrit 
scriptures, from being the scriptures read by the masses it would be 
restricted only to specialists. Punjab is the hub of this unique 
religion. It must be protected here for its survival anywhere in the 
world. If care is not taken, it is likely to meet the same fate, as 
did Buddhism, which is more prevalent outside India than its place of 
origin. In this memorandum we wish to draw your attention to two 
factors, which need immediate attention. These are: 

a) Migration. 

b) Use of Punjabi at proper places.. 



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SIKHISM AND VAISHNAVISM (BRACKETED WORDS [ ] AND ALL-CAPS BY BA G) 
NOTE GOSWAMI IN BHAKTI ANANDA'S SANNYASI TITLE IDENTIFIES HIM WITH 
THIS LINEAGE OF BRAHMA-MADHVA VAISHNAVISM. 

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BELOW A SIKH SOURCE MENTIONS SRI CAITANYA.

*******************

Guru Nanak - Humility http://allaboutsikhs.com/articles/guru_nanak-
duncan.htm Duncan Greenless M.A. (Oxon)

Early Life (1469-1507)  

The First Missionary Journey(1507-1515)

They traveled down the Brahmaputra, and then took ship for Purl, 
whither Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had not yet come. When all stood for the 
evening drati in the great temple, Nanak remained seated and sang his 
own hymn telling~ how God is fitly adored by the whole of Nature 
(GGS. 18). A certain Brahmin was boasting of his clairvoyant powers, 
so Nanak playfully hid the man's water pot, and all laughed while he 
vainly sought it everywhere. 
****************

BELOW SRI CAITANYA AND NANAK ARE DESCRIBED AS BHAKTI MASTERS AT THE 
SAME TIME.

******************

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1723/Religions/Sikhism/Sikh2.ht
ml 

View this page at AllFaith.com Sikhism The Path of the Masters (Sant 
Mat) © 1987
By Jagannatha Prakasha
Part 3: INDIA BEFORE NANAK

Part 4: THE PEACOCK THRONE

At the height of their power (1500s to 1600s), the Mogulsnote 16. 
ruled about 150 million people. Their empire stretched across present-
day Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. 

The harshness of Moghul rule created an environment in which Bhakti, 
religious devotion, flourished. According to G.T. Garratt, Moghul 
oppression encouraged the blossoming of all types of Bhakti. The 
Hindu sect Vaishnavism established a much deeper hold on Indian 
religious life. One of the greatest Vaishnava revivalists was in fact 
a CONTEMPORARY OF GURU NANAK, SHREE KRISHNA-CAITANYA (1486-1533). He 
inaugurated the tradition of the GOSWAMINS (EDY 71). His life and 
teachings are chronicled in the Shree Caitanya-Caritamrita of 
Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami. According to that Bengali text, Shree 
Caitanya was the fully independent, supreme Personality of Godhead 
("svatantra ishvara") Shree Krishna Himself (CC Antya-lila, 12:84). 
He is accepted by millions of Vaishnavas as the foremost exponent of 
bhakti-yoga, the Way of Devotion, for our age (CC Madhya-lila 9:41-
46; EDY 71). Also in Bengal the ecstatic Baul sect was growing in 
numbers at about the same, singing their transcendental songs about 
the 'man in the heart' (EDY 46). 

The great Kabir (1440-1518) was born a Muslim but converted to 
Hinduism through the wisdom of Ramananda (1440-1470). His path was 
eclectic and included Sufism and various Hindu sects, but he was 
clearly a Bhakti at heart (EDY 164). Some of Kabir's hymns are even 
contained in the Guru Granth Sahib. Some have suggested that Kabir 
may have even been Guru Nanak's Guru. According to W. Owen Cole, that 
idea is not so far fetched (GiS 8). The Miharban Janam Sakhi records 
a conversation between the two masters which is interesting. From 
this conversation it may appear that while Kabir was greatly 
respected, he was not Nanak's Guru. This may be too hasty however. 
Based on the following discourse, Kabir could still have been his 
Guru. Nanak may have simply A) used this wording to show respect 
and/or B) been distinguishing between the man and the 'True Guru' 
within him, 'the Perfect Guru is illumined by God.' For our purposes 
here, I simply wish to demonstrate the connection between them. 

***************************

SCHOLARS HAVE LONG COMPARED GURU NANAK AND SRI CAITANYA, AND BOTH 
VAISHNAVAS AND SIKHS HAVE LEGENDS OF THEIR INTERACTION. SEE BOOK 
BELOW.

**************************

Sri Caitanya and Guru Nanak
A Comparative Study of Vaisnavism & Sikhism
Das, Sunil Kumar 



***************

THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF, CONTENTIOUS EXCHANGE BETWEEN A VAISHNAVA 
AND A SIKH WHO IS OF THE ANTI-IDOLATRY SIKH CAMP. IN THIS EXCHANGE, 
THE TRADITION OF SRI CAITANYA'S AND NANAK'S ASSOCIATION IS 
MENTIONED. NOTE THE ARGUMENT ABOUT IDOLATRY. THE MORE SHAIVITE-
INFLUENCED MAYAVADI SIKHS DON'T VENERATE ICONS AND CALL THEM 'IDOLS', 
BUT THE MORE VAISHNAVA-INFLUENCED ONES DO. I HAVE ATTENDED GAUDIYA 
(CHAITANYITE) VAISHNAVA TEMPLES ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AND HAVE SEEN 
SIKHS WORSHIPING THE MURTIS / ICONS OF THE LORD WITH ENTHUSIASTIC 
SINGING AND DANCING THERE. THESE VAISHNAVA-FRIENDLY SIKHS WILL 
ABSTAIN FROM FOOD NOT PROPERLY OFFERED TO GOD, BUT WILL READILY HONOR 
THE PRASADAM (SACRAMENTAL FOOD) OF THE SO-CALLED 'IDOLS' IN THE 
VISHNU TEMPLES. IN FACT, THE STRICT VEGETARIAN SIKHS ARE THE ONLY 
ONES THAT VAISHNAVAS WILL ACCEPT COOKED FOOD FROM IN A RESTAURANT. 
THIS OPEN COMMUNION BETWEEN GAUDIYA VAISHNAVAS AND SIKHS IS A 
PROFOUND CONFIRMATION OF THEIR CLOSE HISTORICAL TIES. 

**********************************

http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/1996_1/msg00473.html

Re: Religious unity and the word Hindu

To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net 
Subject: Re: Religious unity and the word Hindu 
From: rajwi@otto.bu.edu (Rajwinder Singh) 
Date: 27 Jan 96 19:27:50 GMT 
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu 
Organization: Boston University 
References: <4d4hog$6ht@babbage.ece.uc.edu> 
<4dndmd$pqu@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <4e8urr$o5p@babbage.ece.uc.edu> 
Gary Stevason (caitanya@torfree.net) wrote:
: Rajwinder Singh (rajwi@bu.edu) wrote:
: [...]
: : revisionism and denial. It does not behoove the learned readers
: : of s.r.hinduism to superficially interpret Sikhism. 
: [...]

: Yes, only Sikhs should know Sikhism ....... so please have the 
decency to 
: stop using the word "idol".

Dear Mr. Stevason,

The comment about revisionist efforts was made regarding the recent
postings claiming Sikh Gurus installed idols in Harimandir Sahib
and a netter's comment about "such remarkable sureriority.." elicited
the comment about superficial interpretation. 

I have been a reader of this ng for some time, and have never had any
problems with anyone's worship of idols of deities. I made the 
comments
only because outrageously false claims were baing made about Sikhism.
If you cannot tolerate me commenting about IDOLS IN THE GURDWARAS, 
there is
nothing I can do about it. For myself, I have always refrained from
ridiculing anyone here because they worship idols. It is not the place
to offend people, and I know that. I have already suggested those
discussions be moved to other newsgroups.

: You lose so much credibility with me, 
: everytime I hear that arrogance from you. If you can't see Krsna 
in the 
: temple Deities, fine ... but have some manners about it!

I have no problem with temples and deities or worshippers. When
someone talks about Sikhism, I would make a comment within the context
if I feel it is needed. that is what I did. You have extrapolated
those comments to your own backyard -- I have no interest in that.
If you feel I have been arrogant in those posts and put down anyone
unfairly, I can only tell you that you, IMO, are wrong. 

: Listening to this 'idol' talk, I have to keep reminding myself that 
: CAITANYA SANG HYMNS AND DANCED WITH GURU NANAK; otherwise I would 
yield 

Guru Nanak never danced for religious reasons. his own bani is
full of criticisms of such antics. But that is not the issue
here and I will not go into it.

: to my first instinct, which is to write you off completely and 
question 
: whether you do indeed worship the syama-coloured Sri Krsna.

I do not worship lord Krishna. And it would indeed be good if you can 
ignore my posts which do not intrude into your domain. 

: I don't expect you to worship the Deities, but I would expect a 
little 
: more class in the way that you do not worship Them.

I have no problems, as I said, with anyone worshipping deities. It is
good to see people contemplate the Almighty, in whatever way. But, 
when
someone claims left, right and center that Sikh Guru asked idols be
worshipped, i feel compelled to clarify. That is all I have done,
nothing more. I hope you accept that. I have not bothered to talk
here about anything out of the context of Sikhism, and neither do I 
have
the curiosity this month.

regards
rajwinder singh

*******************
THE SIKHS I HAVE MET FROM KASHMIR SEEM TO BE MORE VAISHNAVA AND 
PERSONALIST ORIENTED, WHILE THE PUNJABHI SIKHS I HAVE MET ARE MORE 
RELATED TO SHAIVISM AND THUS ADVAITA VEDANTA. 

**********

VAISHNAVA NEWS NETWORK

"Punjab State is a place where the Mayavadi [INFLUENCE FROM ADVAITI 
SHAIVISM] philosophy was very prominent amongst the people. In Punjab 
State, 65% of the people are Sikhs where although Guru Nanak preached 
the chanting of the name of God, the general Sikh philosophy of today 
is one of impersonal orientation." 

******************

SIKHISM SYNTHESIZES VAISHNAVA, SMARTA SHAIVITE (ADVAITA VEDANTA), 
PERSIAN, GNOSTIC AND SUFI ISHMAILI, SHAKTA AND EVEN SOME BUDDHIST 
ELEMENTS. THE WORSHIP OF KRISHNA, RAMA, SHIVA AND DEVI, SAGUNA AND 
NIRGUNA BRAHMAN CAN ALL BE FOUND IN VARIOUS FORMS OF SIKHISM. 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////



3. Was HPB more like Paul Twitchell vis a vis the Radhasoamis? YES I 
THINK SO. SHE DIDN'T GIVE REAL CREDIT TO THE LIVING SOURCES AND TEXTS 
FROM WHICH SHE AQUIRED HER KNOWLEDGE. IT IS UNTHINKABLE THAT INDIANS 
WOULD HIDE THEIR GURUS AND SCRIPTURES, UNLESS THEY WERE OCCULTIST 
SUFIS OR LEFT HAND TANTRISTS. THOSE OF THE MAINSTREAM TRADITIONS ARE 
PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE AND USUALLY DO NOT PASS-BY AN OPPORTUNITY TO 
GLORIFY THEIR HERITAGE. THE WHOLE WESTERN ESOTERIC IDEA OF SECRET 
SOCIETIES AND MASONIC-LIKE INITIATIONS IS FOREIGN TO THE EXOTERIC 
GURU-SHASTRA-AND-SADHU VEDIC MIND-SET. THE RITYAS / RITES OF THE 
VEDIC BHAKTI AND ADVAITAN TRADITIONS ARE CELEBRATED BY THE WHOLE 
COMMUNITY. NO WHERE ON EARTH IS THERE MORE OF AN UNINHIBITED PUBLIC 
DISPLAY OF RELIGIOUSITY THAN IN INDIA. THE ONLY REASON THE SATTVIC 
TRADITION 'HINDU' TEMPLES CLOSED THEIR DOORS TO NON-HINDUS, IS THAT 
JIHADI MUSLIMS WERE DESTROYING EVERY TEMPLE THAT THAY COULD GET 
INTO.  

THE LEFT HAND TANTRIC TEMPLE CULTS AND OCCULT SUFI ORDERS WERE ALWAYS 
VIEWED WITH FEAR AND SUSPICION BY THOSE OF THE EXOTERIC TRADITIONS.  
ONE REASON IS THAT THE LEFT HAND TANTRIC SECRET SOCIETIES RAN THE 
ORGANIZED CRIME OF INDIA, AND WERE ASSOCIATED WITH GROUPS LIKE THE 
THAGS (COMPARE HASHSASHINS / ASSASINS FARTHER WEST). SO WHILE I AM 
SURE THERE WERE REAL PEOPLE THAT HPB USED AS INSPIRATION FOR HER 
MAHATMAS, IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT THE WORLD WOULD NEVER MEET THEM, OR 
BE DIRECTED INTO THEIR SERVICE OR TO THEIR ASHRAMS OR TO SEE / READ 
THEIR TRADITIONS' BOOKS. I DO NOT THINK THAT HER MASTERS WERE LEFT 
HAND TANTRISTS HIDING THEIR NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES FROM THE PUBLIC. IT 
IS EASIER TO UNDESTAND THAT HPB DID NOT REALLY WANT TO FULLY 
SURRENDER TO ANY REAL MASTERS OF ANY TRADITIONS, AND SO TOOK WHAT SHE 
WANTED FROM ANY AND ALL, PUBLISHING UNDER THE LITERARY FICTION OF HER 
MASTERS, ONES SHE COULD CONTROL. IF THE MAHATMAS WERE SIKHS, WHY 
DID THEY NOT CHANNEL THEIR STUDENTS THROUGH HPB INTO THE STUDY OF THE 
VENERATION OF GURU NANAK, THE OTHER SIKH SANTS, OR THE SIKH 
SCRIPTURES? 

*************** 

GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "Paul Twitchell" Radhasoami YIELDED 179 REFERENCES. 

Paul Twitchell learned of shabd yoga from Kirpal Singh, who was 
himself initiated
by ... lineage of Jaimal Singh and Shiv Dayal Singh--the founder of 
Radhasoami. ... 
www.geocities.com/eckcult/lane_live/lane_shabd.html - 7k 

... operating in America which have some genealogical connection to 
Sant Mat/Radhasoami. ... Eckankar/Sant
Mat fusion; he was initiated by Paul Twitchell; Jerry Mulvin ... 
www.ex-premie.org/papers/lane.htm - 15k - 

... John Paul Twitchell elected himself the 971st Vairagi Master. ... 
stole liberally (word
for word) from the published texts of Shabda yoga, Radhasoami, Sant 
Mat ... 
www.stormpages.com/truthbeknown66/eckankar2.html - 7k - 

Kirpal Singh, Paul Twitchell and Eckankar. It covers the career of 
Twitchell and
his writings and gives examples of comparisons between Radhasoami and 
Eckankar ... 
www.caic.org.au/eastern/eck/eckanka.htm - 16k - 

of these is Eckankar, established by Paul Twitchell, one-time 
disciple of Kirpal
Singh. His movement consists mainly of plagiarized Radhasoami 
elements with a ... 
www.dci.dk/en/mtrl/chinghaieng.html - 13k - Dec. 11, 2002 - 

 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////

4. Is there any stronger evidence for the existence of 
these 'Vaishnavas'? 

A VAISHNAVA WORSHIPS VISHNU AS THE ORIGINAL, SUPREME PERSONALITY OF 
GODHEAD, WHO IS SIMULTANEOUSLY 1.TRANSCENDENT (BHAGAVAN),(WHO IS THE 
SOURCE OF THE BRAMHA-JYOTI OR BRAHMAN), 2, EMANATING AND INCARNATING 
AS ALL THE PURUSHA AVATARAS, 3. AND IMMANENT AS THE ALL-PERVAISVE 
LORD OF THE HEART, HARI OR PARAMATMA, THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE TRINITY 
IS BHAGAVAN-SHANKARSHAN-PARAMATMA, OR KRISHNA-BALARAMA-PARAMATMA, 
HARI-VASUDEVA-ATMAN. THIS IS THE SEMITIC JEWISH AND CATHOLIC ELI-
YAHU-ADON AND EGYPTIAN HERI-ASU-ATUM. IN PURE LAND BUDDHISM, THIS TRI 
KAYA IS HRIH(AMITABHA)-LOKESVARA-HRIH IN THE HEART, OR DHARMA KAYA, 
SAMBHOGYA KAYA, AND RUPA KAYA.    

***************

VISHNU IN MAHAYANA BUDDHISM

THE SANSKRIT LANGUAGE OF MAHAYANA BUDDHISM IS VEDIC-VAISHNAVA.

THE MAHAYANA PURE LAND CORE OF DOCTRINES IS KRISHNA-CENTRIC VAISHNAVA.

THE BUDDHIST SANSKRIT NAMES OF THE TRI KAYA ARE OFTEN NAMES OF 
KRISHNA-VISHNU. THIS WAS NOTED BY WESTERN SCHOLARS OVER A HUNDERED 
YEARS AGO. 

TRADITIONALLY THE PURE LAND FORMS OF AMITABHA-LOKESVARA INCLUDE THOSE 
OF KRISHNA-VISHNU.

THE RITES AND SACRAMENTS OF PURE LAND BUDDHISM ARE CLOSE-TO AND 
SOMETIMES EXACTLY THOSE OF VAISHNAVISM. 

PURE LAND BUDDHIST SOCIAL ORDER IS PURUSHA SUKTA VARNASHRAM DHARMA -
BASED

********************

WHAT WAS THE SITUATION WITH HPB AND VAISHNAISM ?  

WHAT ABOUT THE STRANGE MATTER OF THE ORDER OF THE SIKHA? SEE 
INFORMATION ON THIS ON THE ESOTERIC AND SCIENCE NEWS SITE.  
SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS VISHNU-RELATED, AND THE SIKHA (I WEAR A SIKHA) IS 
NOT A SIKH ! A SIKHA IS THE SIGN OF ONE'S CONSECRATION TO THE 
PERSONAL GOD KRISHNA-VISHNU OR RAMA-VISHNU. SIKHA MEANS FLAG, AND 
IS AN UNSHAVEN LOCK OF HAIR WORN TO SHOW THAT ONE'S BODY IS THE 
TEMPLE OF THE LORD OF THE HEART, GOD-WHO-IS-LOVE, THE HOLY SPIRIT.  
HOW COULD HPB BE A VAISHNAVA AND PROMOTE SIKHA WEARING IF SHE WAS 
TEACHING THERAVADIN BUDDHIM OR MAYAVADI ATHEISM ? THE MAHATMA LETTERS 
AND THE SECRET DOCTRINE USE MATERIAL FROM VAISHNAVA SHASTRAS. I 
THINK THAT SHE WENT EAST WITH A NAIVE SIMPLISTIC IDEA OF BUDDHISM AND 
HINDUISM AND FOUND HERSELF IN THE MIDST OF A STORM OF CONFLICTING 
IDEAS AND PERSONALITIES TOSSING HER EVERY WHICH WAY. AS SHE 
STRUGGLED TO RECONCILE THESE ADVERSARIAL SYSTEMS, SHE GRADUATED FROM 
ONE GROUP OF TEACHERS TO ANOTHER. NOT WHOLLY ACCEPTING THE 
TRADITONAL TEACHINGS, OR WILLING TO SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF ANY OF 
THEM, INCLUDING HER MAIN PROTOTYPES. SHE INVENTED HER OWN MASTERS TO 
EMBODY THE SYNTHESIS AND GIVE CREDIBILITY TO 'ANCIENT TRADITION' SHE 
WAS FORMING. 

IS THE PURANIC VAISHNAVA TRADITION LATE, AND WHY DID HPB FIND SO MANY 
APPARENT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN IT AND WESTERN ESOTERIC TRADITIONS ? 

THE OLDEST STRATUM OF THE KASHMIRI MIX IS VEDIC-VAISHNAVA. LET US 
JUST CONSIDER THE EVIDENCE OF THE ANTIQUITY AND WIDE DIFFUSION OF THE 
LION-HEADED FORM OF KRISHNA-VISHNU AS ETERNAL TIME. SEE KELA'S 
PREVIOUS POST ABOUT VISHNU IN THE BHAGAVAT PURANA, AS LION-HEADED 
NARA HARI (MAN-LION), WHO SAVES HIS 5 YEAR OLD DEVOTEE PRAHLADA. IN 
THE BHAGAVAT PURANA, NOTE THAT HARI IS THE LORD'S NAME AND THE LION 
IS A PICTORIAL PUN ON HIS NAME. THE LION IS A COMMON GLYPH FOR HARI 
IN THE ANCIENT WORLD. THUS ARI MEANS 'LION' IN HEBREW, AS 
DOES 'HARI' IN SANSKRIT, AND THE LION IS ONE OF THE GLYPHS FOR 
THE 'SOLAR' JEWISH SUPREME DEITY ELI AND THE RELATED EGYPTIAN HERI / 
HERU THE ELDER (HELIOS). 

SRI KRISHNA IS ETERNITY OR ETERNAL TIME AS HIS THEOPHANY OF KALAH IN 
THE BHAGAVAD-GITA. WHEN ARJUNA BEHOLDS SRI KRISHNA'S WRATHFUL SUPRA-
COSMIC FORM DEVOURING ALL CREATION, IN HORROR HE BEGS THE LORD TO 
REVEAL HIS NAME AND IDENTITY. THEN SRI KRISHNA SAYS KALO SMI "TIME I 
AM" ...DESTROYER OF ALL WORLDS. (OPPENHEIMER QUOTED THESE WORDS OF 
KRISHNA'S WHEN HE DETONATED THE FIRST ATOM BOMB). OF COURSE TO THE 
GREEKS AND ROMANS, THE SUPREME GOD OF THE EARLIER EARTH AGE WAS TIME, 
WHO DEVOURED HIS CREATION!  

SHAIVITES MAY CONSIDER KRISHNA KALAH AS A FORM OF SHIVA, BECAUSE 
KALAH IS AMONG THE NAMES OF KRISHNA AS THE LEONTOCEPHALIC NARA HARI, 
IN THE GITA, AND ALSO IN THE LITANIES OF SHIVA AS MAHADEVA, MAHAKALAH 
OR KALA BAIRAVA. I HAVE TRACED THIS 'WRATHFUL' FORM OF THE SUPREME 
LORD AS TIME TO THE FOLLOWING...NOTE THAT THESE FORMS ARE ALL KALA 
PURUSHA, ASSOCIATED WITH COMBINED SOLAR, LUNAR AND SIDERIAL TIME 
KEEPING, ZODIAC CHIMERA 'BEASTS' (OFTEN LION BODIED OR HEADED),THE 
MACRO-COSMIC TIME-MAN, ETERNAL TIME, AND TIME WHO DEVOURS THE WORLDS. 
THE SERAPH OR SARPANA/ SERPENT OF INFINITY / ANANTA IS CLOSELY 
ASSOCIATED WITH THE LION-HEADED OR BODIED SPHINX, CHERUB, GRIFFIN, 
CHIMERA OR 'ZODIAC' BEAST AS THE 'ALL-GOD' FORM OF THE LORD (SEE 
EGYPTIAN LION-HEADED AMUN, AND KUSHIITE APADEMAK).   

PERSIAN ELEMENTS... 

PRE-ZOROASTRIAN ZERVANISM ZERVAN ETERNAL TIME, THE ORIGIN AND 
CONSUMER (END, RESTING PLACE) OF ALL MATERIAL MANIFESTATIONS, THE 
ORIGIN OR 'FATHER' OF THE COSMIC MANIFESTATION, THE RIG VEDIC PURUSHA 
YUPA DHVAJA (VIRATA RUPA, VISHVA RUPA, JAGGANATHA). ZERVAN IS THE 
ENEMY OF THE GODLESS BUT THE FRIEND OF THE GODLY. HE COMES AS DEATH 
AND DAMNATION TO THE UNGODLY AND AS ETERNAL LIFE AND BEATIFICATION TO 
THE GODLY. IN EITHER CASE HE IS THE SUPREME LORD WHO MANIFESTS THE 
COSMOS WHERE HE DESCENDS AS PURUSHA YUPA DHVAJA TO DELIVER THE GODLY 
AND BATTLE THE UNGODLY IN THE RETINUE OF AHRIMAN. AHURA MAZDA IS HIS 
OWN DESCENT AS THE UNIVERSAL SAVIOR OR 'GOOD GOD' VERSUS THE EVIL 
AHRIMAN.    

ZOROASTRIANISM ZAEHNER (DAWN AND TWILIGHT OF ZOROASTRIANISM) SAYS 
THAT AHURA MAZDA IS A DIRECT BORROWING FROM PURUSHA SUKTA. THE VEDIC 
VISHNU-ASURA (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A-SURA DEMONS! ) IS PURUSHA AS 
AHURA. 

MITHRAISM ZERVAN COMES THROUGH WITH HIS LION-HEADED FORM ALL THE 
WAY INTO MITHRAISM IN THE LATE ROMAN PERIOD. SEE ... The Mysteries of 
Mithras. ... no in-depth study of Mithraism was attempted until the 
work of Franz Cumont, (1868-1947).   

BON...ZA, THE PRE-BUDDHIST PROTECTOR OF TIBET IS THE PRE-ZOROASTRIAN 
ZERVAN. WHEN GAUTAMA'S BUDDHISM CAME TO TIBET, THE RELATED 
TRADITIONS OF NARA HARI (LION-HEADED KRISHNA-VISHNU) AND LION-HEADED 
KALA BAIRAVA SHIVA MERGED WITH THE BON TRADITION OF ZA.  

NEPALESE AND TIBETAN BUDDHISM NARA SIMHA OR NRISINGHA LOKESVARA, 
MAHADEVA, KALA BAIRABA, MAHAKALA ARE ALL SEMI-LIONID WITH HUMAN 
BODIES BUT COMPOSIT HUMAN-LION FACES. SIGNIFICANTLY MAHADEVA (SHIVA) 
IS CONSIDERED AN EXPANSION OF LOKESVARA (VISHNU) WHICH ABSOLUTELY 
CONFIRMS THE VAISHNAVA ORIGIN OF THE THOUGHT SYSTEM. AT THE POTALA, 
THE LORD IS WORSHIPED BY HIS SEED OR BIJA MANTRAM JAH HUM BAM HOH.  
THE CONVENTION FOR CHANTING THESE INEFFIBLE MANTRAS IS TO ADD THE M.  
WHICH MEANS THE NAME IS JAH HU(M) BA(M) HOH. NRISINGHA LOKESVARA IS 
THE PATRON OF KSHATRYAS, DHARMA PROTECTORS. 

JAH HU BA HOH =YHVH. 

PURE LAND BUDDHISM IN CHINA, KOREA AND JAPAN THE 
WRATHFUL 'PROTECTING' FORMS OF LOKESVARA CONNECTED TO NRISINGHA, 
MAHAKALA, MAHADEVA OR KALA BAIRAB ARE FOUND THOROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF 
NORTHERN OR MAHAYANA BUDDHISM, WHERE THEY ARE USUALLY REFERED TO 
AS 'ANCIENT PROTECTORS'.  

JUDAISM ARE-YAH, ARI-EL AND YAHU TZABAOTH ARE ALL LION-FORMS OF THE 
SEMITIC DEITY ELI-YAHU. THE LION OF JUDAH IS THE PATRON OF THE JEWISH 
ARMIES. ELI-YAHU'S LION-HEADED, BES AND SPHINX / CHERUB FORMS HAVE 
BEEN FOUND ON JEWISH ROYAL SEALS AND SOLDIERS' AMULETS. (SEE KEEL AND 
UEHLINGER) 

GREECE CHRONUS / TIME DEVOURED CREATION 

ROME SATURNUS / TIME DEVOURED CREATION 

NORTH AND SOUTH EGYPT HERI-ASU THE ALL-GOD AS AMUN OR AMUN-RA HAS 
COMPLEX FORMS IDENTICAL TO THOSE OF KRISHNA-VISHNU AS NARA HARI.  

KUSH APADEMAK-AMUN IS THE SAME. 

THUS WE CAN TRACE THE WORSHIP OF THE LION-HEADED FORM OF GOD AS TIME 
FROM JAPAN TO KUSH, ETHIOPIA AND ROME. IT SPREAD WITH MITHRAISM TO 
GAUL AND ALL THE ROMAN COLONIES OF NORTHERN EUROPE.  

  

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////// 

5. Why not Saivas? THE SHAIVITE ELEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS AN 
INTERPRETIVE ELEMENT. HOWEVER,THE SCRIPTURES (PURANAS, GITA, ETC.) 
USED SEEMED TO BE VAISHNAVA, BUT GIVEN A SHAIVITE OR ADVAITAN 
INTERPRETATION. ONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 
SHAIVISM AND ADVAITA VEDANTA.  

WHERE IS THERE SIGNIFICANT REFERENCE TO EITHER THE SHAIVAGAMAS, THE 
SHAKTI TANTRAS OR THE SIKH SCRIPTURES IN THE MAHATMA LETTERS OR 
SECRET DOCTRINE? STILL SHAIVITE AND SIKH THINKING PERVADE THESE.   
INSTEAD THE VAISHNA SHASTRAS PREDOMINATE AS SANSKRIT 'HINDU'  
SOURCES. 

**************************** 

Kashmir Shaivism 
 
By Dr. Virendra Kazi 
http://www.angelfire.com/ma2/bharatanatyam/Shaivism.html
Introduction 
This unique philosophy is fascinating the world because it addresses 
these very issues, which are quite relevant to present times. It 
leads to highest level of self-realisation. It gives a practical art 
of living because all the aspects of life are integrated and taken in 
totality. Thus, rather than negation and denial, it celebrates life. 
A thrill of self confidence, the spirit of bliss, surpassing all 
barriers of creed, colour and gender, no look back, no regret, the 
inner journey, see everything as creation of God, etc.- these are 
features of Kashmir Shaivism. It can create upliftment at individual 
level and lead to love and harmonious World. 

Param Shiva – The Ultimate Source 
Param Shiva is the ultimate reality who is the nature of Bliss itself 
and all complete in Himself. He is beyond description, beyond all 
manifestation, beyond limitation of form, time and space. He is 
eternal, infinite, all pervading, all knowing and all powerful. 

Process of Universal Manifestation -from Godhood to Manhod 
>From Param Shiva let us come to universal manifestation; let us have 
a look at this creation of Lord. Kashmir Shaivism postulates 36 
categories or tattvas to explain the process of cosmic evolution. We 
should keenly focus our attention on this process of universal 
evolution or universal experience, i.e., from Godhood to veiling or 
obscuring force of nature called Maya Shakti leading to various 
psycho-physical elements and finally the Panch Mahabhutas - five 
great elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. 

Shiva Tattva is first manifestation of divine process and support of 
all things in the manifest world, like the canvas of a painting. 

Shakti Tattva is active or kinetic cosmic energy that effects the 
divine consciousness into action. 

Maya is the veiling or obscuring force of nature that creates a sense 
of differentiation. As such, it makes universal consciousness which 
is unity, appear as duality and multiplicity. 

Purusha and Prakriti is limited being and his nature due to 
limitations of Maya. This leads to various mental operations, 
ascertaining intelligence, sense perceptions, etc. The process is 
complete finally with the gross Panch Mahabutas as referred above. 

Bondage and Liberation through Divine Grace (Shaktipath). 
What is source of pain and frustration- duality and moving away from 
Godhood! Frankly, it is individual's self-forgetfulness or ignorance 
of his/her own perfection. Rather, the Divine Sport makes him/her 
accept limited desires and experience their consequences, thus 
leading from bondage to bondage. So, it is natural that we must 
strive from bondage to liberation or moksha and go back to Godhood. 
For this there has to be Shaktipath- the descent of Divine Grace. 
However it must always be remembered that descent of the Divine 
Grace - Shaktipath - is independent of human efforts. 

Ways to earn Divine Grace - Trika Yoga. 
In order to earn Grace, one has to undergo spiritual discipline, 
known as Upyas or Trika Yoga. Kashmir Shaivism emphasises that one 
has to discover the Inner Bliss. Let us not suppress the senses, do 
not torture the body or mind, etc. Forcible control will lead to 
adverse effect. Be as you are. When one discovers inner bliss he/she 
will give up fascination for outer worldly enjoyments.

The aim is to undergo a practice which unites the Individual with the 
Universal" by means of interesting and blissful practices as taught 
in Shaiva scriptures. Outwardly one may perform the age old 
traditions but inwardly he/she has to seek exact truth through the 
practices taught in Trika Yoga. There is no restriction based on 
colour, creed, gender, etc. in eligibility for initiation in this 
Yoga. 

 
 
 
*******************************************
Kashmir Shaivism a comparative overview  
http://www.kheper.net/topics/Trika/Trika.htm

 

The Shaivite Philosophy of Shakti and Shiva 
A Tantric Cosmology - The Trika System Of Kashmir Shaivism 
Panchakritya or the Five Acts of Shiva 
The Unfolding of Consciousness 
Stages Of Self-Limitation Of Consciousness 
Consciousness and Worlds 
Kashmir Shaivism And Neoplatonism - Contrasts 
Kashmir Shaivism and Psychedelic Cosmology 
Links

A Tantric Cosmology -

The Trika System Of Kashmir Shaivism
The particular form of Tantric mysticism and metaphysics known as 
Pratybijnana ("self-remembering", "gnosis"), Trika ("Triadism"), or 
simply "Kashmir Shaivism", was developed in Kashmir around the 8th 
and 9th centuries C.E. by the great Shaivite philosopher-sages such 
as Vasugupta and Abhinavagupta. It was later adopted by the Bengali 
Shakta branch of Tantra, which was more practical than theoretically 
orientated, and concentrated on the qualities of the Chakras and the 
Kundalini energy. In a watered-down form it has entered the West 
through the teachings of Swami Muktananda and the "Siddha Yoga" 
movement he founded. While lucidly affirming the Absolute 
Consciousness of earlier Indian monistic philosophies (such as 
Shankara's Advaita Vedanta), Kashmir Shaivism also explains how 
phenomenal existence came into being through a successive process of 
contraction and self-limitation of that Absolute

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THE SATTVIC (PIETISTIC, NOT LEFT-HAND TAMASIC) TANTRIC BASIS OF 
KUNDALINI YOGA PRACTICES FROM KASHMIRI SHAIVISM ARE PROMINENT IN SOME 
FORMS OF SIKHISM. SHAKTI-ISM IN BENGAL WAS ALSO ANCIENTLY CONNECTED 
TO THE CULTUS OF RADHA-SHAKTI THERE, WHICH SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU 
FULLY DEVELOPED DURING THE SAME TIME AS GURU NANAK WAS FOUNDING 
SIKHISM. IN ADDITION, THE RELATED SHAKTI ELEMENTS IN TIBETAN 
BUDDHISM ARE WELL KNOWN. THE TIBETAN BUDDHIST MASTER MEDITATES ON 
TARA WHEN PERFORMING HER RITES, AND THUS BECOMES IDENTIFIED WITH HER, 
RATHER THAN HER LORD, LOKESVARA. THIS IS AGAIN THE WAY THAT 'BRIDAL 
MYSTICISM' MANIFESTS IN THESE EASTERN TRADITIONS. AS IN HELIOPOLITAN 
PLATONISM, THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL WAS ALWAYS CONSIDERED PSYCHE / 
FEMININE IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD AS EROS. THUS THE JIVA-PRAKRITI OR 
JIVA-SHAKTI IS ALWAYS FEMININE OR RECEIVING IN RELATIONSHIP TO 
PURUSHA, OR SHAKTI-PATI, (KRISHNA OR SHIVA ) AS SHAKTI-MAN, THE  
GIVING MASCULINE GODHEAD, THE LOVER OF SHAKTI (HEBREW SHEKINAH).  
THUS SHAIVA SAINTS MAY ADORE SHIVA OR MARUGAN AS THEIR DIVINE 
LOVER. VAISHNAVA SAINTS IN MADHURYA RASA RELATE TO SRI KRISHNA AS 
THEIR LOVER OR THE LOVER OF THEIR MISTRESS SRIMATE RADHARANI. SUFI 
SAINTS SING PASSIONATE LOVE SONGS TO THEIR LOVER LORD.   

  

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IN GENERAL WE CAN REASON FROM BOTH POSITIVE EVIDENCE AND WHAT IS 
LACKING IN WHAT WE ARE EXAMINING. FOR INSTANCE IF DAMODARA WAS 
STAYING AT ONE OF THE MASTER'S ASHRAMS, WHY DO WE NEVER HEAR OF IT, 
AND HISTORY KNOWS NOTHING OF IT ? WHY WAS SIKHISM NEVER REALLY 
PROMOTED BY THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ? IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO 
INTRODUCE ANYONE TO A COMPOSITE MASTER, OR HAVE THEM STAY AT A 
COMPOSITE ASHRAM OR BELONG TO A COMPOSITE LINEAGE AND READ COMPOSITE 
BOOKS. THEREFORE WHAT HAS TO BE DONE IS TO CREATE THE GURU(S), THE 
ASHRAMS, THE LINEAGE AND THE BOOKS. HAVING THUS REALIZED/ INCARNATED 
THE SUPPOSEDLY ANCIENT TRADITION, PEOPLE CAN THEN BE INTRODUCED TO 
LIVING MASTERS, INVITED TO VISIT REAL ASHRAMS, TO JOIN A REAL (NEW) 
TRADITION, AND READ REAL BOOKS. THE MAHATMAS WERE BASED ON REAL 
PEOPLE, BUT THEY WERE NOT REAL PEOPLE, OTHERWISE, WHAT WERE THEIR 
LINEAGES, WHERE AND WHO WERE THEIR REAL GURUS, ASHRAMS AND SCRIPTURES 
ETC.  

Sikhs worship Sat Nam and THEIR SCRIPTURES. The Scriptures 
are 'installed' in Sikh 'temples' instead of Murtis / ICONS. So 
central is worship / veneration of the Scriptures to Sikhs, that it 
is inconceivable that real SIKH MASTERS would Not have such an 
attitude towards the STANZAS OF DZYAN IF THIS WAS ONE OF THEIR 
SCRIPTURES. Some sikhs are iconoclasts. These, like the sola 
biblia Protestants, iconoclastic Muslims and Jews give first place of 
worship to their scriptures, instead of another rupa / form of the 
Lord. Thus the 'word' of God is what / who / how they worship their 
Lord. This emphasis can be a kind of audio-latry or glypho-latria 
rather than ido-latry. Thus God can be worshiped in what is heard or 
written in Arabic writing etc. but not in a temple Murti, sacramental 
Prasadam / Theophagos Mysteries Eucharist, or real Avatara, Human 
Incarnation or Murti. This prejudice for the audio and written over 
the visual and physical presence and service of the Divine deserves a 
detailed analysis.  

 
I HOPE THESE FEW SOURCES AND MY STATEMENTS HEREIN HAVE HELPED TO 
CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO. 
 
PAX AND PREMA,
 
ASPIRING TO SERVE, 
 
BHAKTI ANANDA GOSWAMI