Thinking, feeling are the two ways of human cognition. These are popularized by Bollywood paradigms of listening to heart, OR thinking by brains. Neurologically, it implies the positive and negative interference of lymbic system in decision making process. According to Patanjali Yogsutras, it is the medium of cognition, mind, intellect and ego (Ahamkar). In commons words it means application of logical OR emotional faculties of self while taking a decision.
Although neutral viewpoint is advised by the scriptures, it is not possible to keep it all the time, not even for an accomplished yogi. Everyone plays in these three planes. like electron which is orbiting the nucleus has specific energy levels. The electron undergoes transition in various energy levels. Electron cannot choose any arbitrary energy levels. there are permitted energy levels which it can be in which are different for different element and molecule.
Similarly, every person, although resides either in mind, intellect or ego, his permitted transitions and energy levels are unique and hardly similar to any other individual. Mind can provide same energy level with greater flexibility. Intellect is quite rigid as compared to mind it provision of similar consciousness levels for two individuals, but it does provide. Ego is something that is exclusively private or fingerprint consciousness level. unique and hence identity mark of an individual.
But the most pressing question is, what is ME? Does me imply my heart, my mind, my intellect, my ego, my instincts.. what is me?
I think it is just different plane of consciousness we are referring to.. It all depends upon the depth of the topic we are discussing. And degree of seriousness with which we treat to a particular topic at different times. The human being transits between different consciousness levels on the basis of his mood, his experience in immediate past, his nurture, his nature.
Some times, certain topic strikes the inner chords (wherever they are).. Some other times, same topic fails to make even a slightest impact..
The Transitions of consciousness
I would compare this phenomenon with transitions of electrons between different energy level in particular atom OR molecule. As long as electron is in particular orbital, it has completely become part of that orbital, so thoroughly amalgamated that the very orbital comes into existence due to the electron cloud. It is audacious to call electron a dabbler in truest sense. But it is true, however that electron does not remain in particular energy level for long, unless it is its ground state OR in simplistic terms, its resting state.
The transitions of consciousness is similar to that of such electron. It is really difficult to predict in which plane the mind of an artist is. For that matter even a scientist. And when in a particular consciousness level, the person becomes so much a part of it, so completely unified and in sync with that level that he marvels at himselves when he looks at his own creation from his normal ground state, as in, How could I do it. How could this come out of me.
Other people who do not have their creative faculties well developed, do not show the intense transitions. It is not that they do not experience such transitions. But they suppress the transiting consciousness to ground state because they value mental stability over possible creativity.
It is during these transitions, that any innovative and creative individual, Creates OR innovates OR invents OR discovers something. Coupled with the law of permitted transitions, it altogether becomes extremely complex and hence beautiful system.
This law of permitivity explains that why a particular individual can never take a particular decision OR never react to a particular situation as other person does so easily. Not only decisions, but also strengths and weaknesses of an individual is dependent upon these permitted Consciousness transition levels and sublevels. This law of permitivity also explains why few people are more versatile than others. The famous examples are that of Kishore Kumar, and Pu la Deshpande two of the most versatile artists known to India. Others, and sometimes even they marvel at their feat of being able to transit in so many consciousness levels in their life times.
Conscious mind is so much multi layered that it takes life time for a person to decipher its undercurrents. yet, it is impossible to know ourselves completely..
Vedanta asks this question in such a subtle manner..
Ko aham? Who am I..
Perhaps, answer to this question leads to answer to all the questions..
Because, perhaps, we in ourselves are everything in the entire universe/multiverse...
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Vedic Epoch and War of Ten Kings
The history of India can conveniently divided into following epochs.
Vedic epoch
Puranic epoch
historic epoch
Vedic epoch comprises of all the migrations, invasions, sociology of the period of time which is immortalized in the verses of 4 Vedas. Vedic epoch is a misleading term as Vedas themselves were written in stages. Looking at the astronomical evidences and hints in Vedas, we can safely conclude that they were composed after uniform intervals of about 1500 years. The sociology goes on getting more and more complex down the time line. Aryans and non-Aryan concepts slowly start segregating as we start reading Rigveda.
The key element in Vedic epoch is that it is not a HINDU History. It is more of a diary of records written in various intervals of time.
The Concept of India and all-encompassing philosophy of Hinduism slowly goes on blooming as we read through the pages of Rigveda.
Unique characteristics of Indians in Vedic epoch of Indian history are as follows.
1) Highly observant group of people. Have made many startling observations that put the discoveries of western astronomy to shame.
2) Irrespective of the genetic ethnicity, which is highly debated, the community was more aggressive initially. But with time it mellowed down.
3) Discovery the characteristic social hierarchy that has been the trademark of Indian society because of its institution. What is impressive is the social flexibility in this Varna-institution in Vedic and, to a bit lesser extent, in Puranic epoch.
Few verses in Rigveda indeed suggest the days being 6 months long. These verses are taken by AIT advocates to explain the invasion pattern. But nowhere in Rigveda are arctic flora and fauna mentioned. Rigveda remains very much Indian in composition. Yet existence of such verses in Rigveda do elicit doubts. Any addition to Vedic literature was subjected to stringent peer-review. Since the Vedas were passed on orally, the volume was kept optimum by the means of constant review. These verses may make sense simply because they were important at the time when they were incorporated in Vedas. Had they been nonsensical, then they would not have been present Vedas. OTOH, had they been truth, they would not have been found in isolation. This enigma needs to be studied thoroughly.
The War of Ten Kings - DashaRaadnya Yuddha
The first war mentioned in the Indian history belongs to Vedic epoch.
It is famously called Dasha-Raagnya Yuddha. Dasha- ten. Ragnya-Kings. War of Ten Kings.
It is extensively discussed in 7th mandala of Rigveda.
It elaborately describes the prevailing political scenario. The alliance of ten kings which invaded Bharatas and Sudas was in fact a confederation of Vedic and Non Vedic people. The tribes like Anus (Yavans??), Bhrigus (descendents of Varuna), Parthas, Purus, were all Vedic Aryans in origin. Whereas Pakhtas, Bhalanas, Dasyus, were all nonvedic in origin.
Bhalans were the tribes near Kabul and Bolan Pass. Pakhtas were Supposedly Pathans. The name Pakhtunistan suggests this possibility. Purus were residents of Sapta-Sindhu region.
The dasyus are of particular interest. Either they were Iranian counterparts of Aryans OR they were Scythians. Although Scythians never existed in such antiquity, the reason of this speculation is the term Dahae Scythiae is used by historians to describe Scythians in modern Turkmenistan. But in all probability, Dasyus OR Dahyus OR Dahae formed one of the most important part of invading force. Given the long standing animosity between Vedics and Dasyus, it is quite possible.
Anyways, to make long story short, Few Vedic kings/clans allied with non-Vedic tribes to defeat Sudas and Purus. The invading force was goaded by Vishwamitra, the famous King who later bacame a famous sage and the composer of Gayatri Mantra.
The proper battle took place on the western banks of Parusni OR Ravi River in Punjab. The accounts in Mandala 7 hymn 18 suggests that in initial engagements Sudas's army was defeated. However, they knew their country better than the invaders. They found place to safely cross the Ravi River and come on the eastern shores. The invaders, however, found it difficult to cross the river. Indra and Varuna helped Sudas to won over ten kings.
In my conclusion, there were some untimely heavy rains which disrupted the formations of invading army. Verses mention river destroying invaders by the orders of Indra. Whatever the case, army of ten kings was destroyed during their attempt to cross the river while pursuing the fleeing army of Sudas. The commander of invading army Bheda was slain by Sudas himself.
In 7.18.19, it says that Yamuna and Trutsus came to the aid of Indra. Since Indra is god of rains, it can help OR can be helped by the means of Water and Wind. Waters of Yamuna coming to Aid Indra in Punjab is highly unlikely today. But if we accept the presence of Saraswati in between Ganga and Sindhu, the guess becomes more believable.
This battle is given place in Rigveda because of its improbability of result. Franky, not even the composers of these verses expected Sudas to win. His victory is termed as victory of Deer over Lion in 7.18.17..
The aftermaths of the battle were as usual. Sudas got the booty from conquered. The distant tribes promised to pay regular tributes. Sapta-Sindhu and Aryavarta came under the dominion of Bharatas. Perhaps this was the beginning of Indian Empire. Which later came to be known as Bharat-varsha OR Bharat after the king OR clan which unified it.
Vedic epoch
Puranic epoch
historic epoch
Vedic epoch comprises of all the migrations, invasions, sociology of the period of time which is immortalized in the verses of 4 Vedas. Vedic epoch is a misleading term as Vedas themselves were written in stages. Looking at the astronomical evidences and hints in Vedas, we can safely conclude that they were composed after uniform intervals of about 1500 years. The sociology goes on getting more and more complex down the time line. Aryans and non-Aryan concepts slowly start segregating as we start reading Rigveda.
The key element in Vedic epoch is that it is not a HINDU History. It is more of a diary of records written in various intervals of time.
The Concept of India and all-encompassing philosophy of Hinduism slowly goes on blooming as we read through the pages of Rigveda.
Unique characteristics of Indians in Vedic epoch of Indian history are as follows.
1) Highly observant group of people. Have made many startling observations that put the discoveries of western astronomy to shame.
2) Irrespective of the genetic ethnicity, which is highly debated, the community was more aggressive initially. But with time it mellowed down.
3) Discovery the characteristic social hierarchy that has been the trademark of Indian society because of its institution. What is impressive is the social flexibility in this Varna-institution in Vedic and, to a bit lesser extent, in Puranic epoch.
Few verses in Rigveda indeed suggest the days being 6 months long. These verses are taken by AIT advocates to explain the invasion pattern. But nowhere in Rigveda are arctic flora and fauna mentioned. Rigveda remains very much Indian in composition. Yet existence of such verses in Rigveda do elicit doubts. Any addition to Vedic literature was subjected to stringent peer-review. Since the Vedas were passed on orally, the volume was kept optimum by the means of constant review. These verses may make sense simply because they were important at the time when they were incorporated in Vedas. Had they been nonsensical, then they would not have been present Vedas. OTOH, had they been truth, they would not have been found in isolation. This enigma needs to be studied thoroughly.
The War of Ten Kings - DashaRaadnya Yuddha
The first war mentioned in the Indian history belongs to Vedic epoch.
It is famously called Dasha-Raagnya Yuddha. Dasha- ten. Ragnya-Kings. War of Ten Kings.
It is extensively discussed in 7th mandala of Rigveda.
It elaborately describes the prevailing political scenario. The alliance of ten kings which invaded Bharatas and Sudas was in fact a confederation of Vedic and Non Vedic people. The tribes like Anus (Yavans??), Bhrigus (descendents of Varuna), Parthas, Purus, were all Vedic Aryans in origin. Whereas Pakhtas, Bhalanas, Dasyus, were all nonvedic in origin.
Bhalans were the tribes near Kabul and Bolan Pass. Pakhtas were Supposedly Pathans. The name Pakhtunistan suggests this possibility. Purus were residents of Sapta-Sindhu region.
The dasyus are of particular interest. Either they were Iranian counterparts of Aryans OR they were Scythians. Although Scythians never existed in such antiquity, the reason of this speculation is the term Dahae Scythiae is used by historians to describe Scythians in modern Turkmenistan. But in all probability, Dasyus OR Dahyus OR Dahae formed one of the most important part of invading force. Given the long standing animosity between Vedics and Dasyus, it is quite possible.
Anyways, to make long story short, Few Vedic kings/clans allied with non-Vedic tribes to defeat Sudas and Purus. The invading force was goaded by Vishwamitra, the famous King who later bacame a famous sage and the composer of Gayatri Mantra.
The proper battle took place on the western banks of Parusni OR Ravi River in Punjab. The accounts in Mandala 7 hymn 18 suggests that in initial engagements Sudas's army was defeated. However, they knew their country better than the invaders. They found place to safely cross the Ravi River and come on the eastern shores. The invaders, however, found it difficult to cross the river. Indra and Varuna helped Sudas to won over ten kings.
In my conclusion, there were some untimely heavy rains which disrupted the formations of invading army. Verses mention river destroying invaders by the orders of Indra. Whatever the case, army of ten kings was destroyed during their attempt to cross the river while pursuing the fleeing army of Sudas. The commander of invading army Bheda was slain by Sudas himself.
In 7.18.19, it says that Yamuna and Trutsus came to the aid of Indra. Since Indra is god of rains, it can help OR can be helped by the means of Water and Wind. Waters of Yamuna coming to Aid Indra in Punjab is highly unlikely today. But if we accept the presence of Saraswati in between Ganga and Sindhu, the guess becomes more believable.
This battle is given place in Rigveda because of its improbability of result. Franky, not even the composers of these verses expected Sudas to win. His victory is termed as victory of Deer over Lion in 7.18.17..
The aftermaths of the battle were as usual. Sudas got the booty from conquered. The distant tribes promised to pay regular tributes. Sapta-Sindhu and Aryavarta came under the dominion of Bharatas. Perhaps this was the beginning of Indian Empire. Which later came to be known as Bharat-varsha OR Bharat after the king OR clan which unified it.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Memorable Love Story of Khushro Khan and Deval Devi
Thousands of students learning history in India are completely ignorant about this personality.
He is so much forgotten that not only the students, but most of the history teachers and enthusiasts do not know about his existence.
Here is the tale of Legendary Khusro Khan.
Sultan Allah-Ud-Din Khilji started his invasions on Gujarat from 1298 AD. The Hindu supremacy over Gujarat was gone, and the province was assimilated in Khilji empire. Similar to Malik Kafur, a good looking Hindu boy was captured and presented to sultan Allah-ud-din to serve him. Homosexuality was rampant in those days in higher classes of society..
This kid was originally Hindu. He belonged to untouchable caste (Bhangi or Pariya). However couple of Muslim authors claim that he was Rajput and not Bhangi. Anyways.. He was captured, forcibly converted to Islam and was christened HASAN.
Since he was presented to Sultan to Serve him, he was molested sexually by many Sardars of Sultan. It is said that he was so popular among these big-shot Sardars of Sultan's court that many became his close friends.
After the death of Allah-Ud-Din Khilji in 1316 AD, Malik Kafur became the de-facto ruler of the empire. Even Kafur was Hasan's great fan, and gave him the title of [b]Khushro-Khan[/b]..
Since Allah-ud-din's days, he was given command of troops and successfully completed many mission which were entitled to him. However, his magnificent rise in career from a slave boy to commander in chief of Khiljis has more to do with his affair with Allah-ud-din's son Mubarik than his qualities as good commander. After death of kafur, Khushro-Khan helped Mubarik to capture throne. Consequentially, Khushro-Khan became the second in command of Khilji empire. Mubarik was having time of his life, enjoying his days as monarch to fullest. He left administration at the descretion of Khushro-Khan. He was Sultan's most trusted man.
Deval-Devi a prelude....
Deval devi was also from Gujarat. She also was Hindu before her capture and forcible conversion. In fact she was a princess of some kingdom in Gujarat before her capture. Her mother Kamal-Devi, was captured in Allah-ud-din's gujrat invasion in 1298 AD. Her father, king of gujrat, fleed with his teen-age girl, deval-devi. Her mother was taken as wife by Allah-ud-din himself. She however married Shankardev Rao of Devgiri, Maharashtra. However, she was again captured by Kafur and at her tender age, was converted and married away to Sultan's elder son, Khijar Khan.
Her Rise to Power...
With the help of Khushro Khan, Mubarik captured throne and became king. He then added Deval Devi to his own harem by marrying her. Deval Devi became the Sultana of Khilji empire..
Mubarik was a typical Spoilt brat. His sexual fantasies were outrageous. One of the habit that he enjoyed most and which is documented is that he liked to dress up as women and dance as courtesan himself.. Amusing character...
Khushro Khan was the one strong piller of the empire.. His memories of Hindu past were not vanished. Deval Devi and Khushro Khan came closer.. Emotionally.. Here begins one of the great love story..
Great Love story... Khushro-Khan and Deval devi
It is not hard to understand why these two characters came close. They both were Hindus. They both were forcibly converted to Islam. They both were sexually molested since tender age by Muslims. They both had witnessed slaughter. And most importantly, they both were burning from within.. Destiny brought two souls together and gave them power. It is obvious that they will fall in love with each other.. And they did fall in love..
The Conspiracy begins..
Two lovers, who are ambitious and politically powerful, accompanied by a foolish king.. It is an ideal recipe for a revolution..
Exactly what stimulated both these individuals to do what they did is unknown. Even History has to speculate.. However there was a conspiracy, nonetheless..
Following events lead us to that suspicion.
1) Khushro Khan appointed his own brother who was also a Hindu Convert as governor of Gujarat.
2) He trained his personal general's Bodyguard, an extremely elite legion, about 30,000 men strong and kept them in Delhi under his own direct command.. Almost all of them were Hindus..
3) His moves were not at all welcomed by Muslim Sardars. History does not know whether these two even knew what they wanted to do.. There is a reason to speculate that a hazy picture was starting to form in their minds about what they wanted to do..
4) The reason of this speculation is that during this time, Khushro Khan quelled the Hindu Rebellions in Maharashtra by Harpal Dev Rao Yadav of Devgiri.. And he quelled this rebellion violently by torturing Harpal Dev Rao and killing thousands of Hindus.
History becomes hazy..
This period is extremely ill-documented in Indian History. Khushro Khan again undertook a Deccan conquest. however, the Unease in Hindus was beginning to boil. And few contemporary Muslim sources say that Khushro Khan was instrumental in initiating and propagating this unease against Sultan of Delhi. Muslim historians and Sources speak of Khushro Khan with utter disgust.. as a person to cut the nose of Muslims and one who will burn in hell for eternity..
Khushro Khan returns to Delhi from his Malabar conquest...
Rana Hamir of Mewar was spear head of Hindu unease.. Hindus of delhi and North were beginning to believe that Khushro Khan was up to some revolution with aide of Hindu rulers and rajputs. And Deval Devi, and Khushro Khan, were supporting this unease by ignoring it.
No one could point Khushro Khan as he was the one who defeated Hindu kingdoms in South India and extended the boundaries of Empire.. No one could Imagine that this person will not only capture throne on Delhi, but also convert this Islamic Sultanate into Hindu Empire. However this ambition was beginning to take root in minds of Khushro Khan and Deval Devi.
Sultan Mubarik was so pleased by Khushro's success that he gave all rights to Khushro Khan.. He made him the de facto ruler.. He eased the atrocities against Hindus. he gave them religious freedom to worship. He educed taxes on Hindu farmers which were in act since days of Allah-Ud-Din.. Slowly and steadily, Khushro Khan starting to rise as a messiah for Hindus. He became immensely popular among masses..
Truth is Stranger than Fiction...
The situation was so much in favor of Khushro Khan and Deval Devi that they decided to act and execute their plan.. This change was so dramatic and unforeseen that it took time for people to understand what is happening.
Khushro Khan requested Mubarik that he had captured about 30,000 hindu people from Gujrat and he wishes to bring them to delhi to convert them to Islam.. In April of 1319 AD, these people, who were in fact Khushro's personal guards, started to execute their plan, and Sultan Mubarik Was slain..
Khushro Khan declared himself as Sultan.. He married his love Deval Devi..
On 15 April 1319 AD, Khushro Khan declared.. Following are his own words translated in english..
" Till date, Even though I was forced to live as a Muslim, I am still a Hindu in spirit. Hence, I, Sultan of the throne, declare that I am no longer a Muslim. I hereby declare that I am a Hindu. I am the Hindu Samrat (Emperor) of India.. Deval Devi, who also was hindu before she was captured and forcibly converted, is my Wife and henceforth be called as empress of India."
Khuskro Khan Started calling himself [b]Naasir-ud-din.[/b] It is interesting that he chose a Muslim name..
Hindu emperor Naasir-ud-din Khushro Khan..
Hindu Emperor Nasir-Ud-Din dissolved Jaziya tax. He liberated Hindus from the status of secondary citizens in their own country. He rebuilt many temples. Many of his regiments were deployed for the protection of Hindus from Muslim attrocities. In short, he established a comparatively Just rule in India.
His allies, Rajputs, and other Hindu kings were not at all opposing him. In turn, Khushro Khan gave them opportunities to strengthen themselves.. This according to me, was the one of the biggest mistakes committed by Hindus. This was the chance to up root Islam from Indian soil.. however, Hindu kings remained confined to their own territories and nobody actively participated in this revolution by Khushro Khan and Deval Devi..
He facilitated reconversion of many converted Muslims to Hinduism.. He reinstated Rule of Peace in Indian subcontinent. His empire stretched from Afghanistan to Karnataka...
Downfall of Nasiruddin Khushro Khan..
Ghias-ud-din Muhammad Tughlaq was instrumental in Nasiruddin's Downfall.. He forged alliance with Muslims lords against an Infidel, a Kaafir, who had proclaimed himself as Hindu and had become the emperor of India. He called for a Jihad against Nasiruddin Khushro Khan.
The battle Proper..
The battle took place in Punjab when Nasiruddin committed few tactical and strategic blunders and was defeated by Ghiasuddin Tughlaq. He was Captured by Ghiasuddin tughlaq and was tortured to death. Deval Devi met the same fate..
Ending notes...
At the time of his death, Khushro Khan was barely 23 years old.. His Revolution not only stunned and stirred the political scenario of India, but demonstrated to the world that Hindus had guts not only to overthrow the tyrant Muslim rule, but to also reinstate their old right on their motherland which was raped by Muslim barbarians...
He is so much forgotten that not only the students, but most of the history teachers and enthusiasts do not know about his existence.
Here is the tale of Legendary Khusro Khan.
Sultan Allah-Ud-Din Khilji started his invasions on Gujarat from 1298 AD. The Hindu supremacy over Gujarat was gone, and the province was assimilated in Khilji empire. Similar to Malik Kafur, a good looking Hindu boy was captured and presented to sultan Allah-ud-din to serve him. Homosexuality was rampant in those days in higher classes of society..
This kid was originally Hindu. He belonged to untouchable caste (Bhangi or Pariya). However couple of Muslim authors claim that he was Rajput and not Bhangi. Anyways.. He was captured, forcibly converted to Islam and was christened HASAN.
Since he was presented to Sultan to Serve him, he was molested sexually by many Sardars of Sultan. It is said that he was so popular among these big-shot Sardars of Sultan's court that many became his close friends.
After the death of Allah-Ud-Din Khilji in 1316 AD, Malik Kafur became the de-facto ruler of the empire. Even Kafur was Hasan's great fan, and gave him the title of [b]Khushro-Khan[/b]..
Since Allah-ud-din's days, he was given command of troops and successfully completed many mission which were entitled to him. However, his magnificent rise in career from a slave boy to commander in chief of Khiljis has more to do with his affair with Allah-ud-din's son Mubarik than his qualities as good commander. After death of kafur, Khushro-Khan helped Mubarik to capture throne. Consequentially, Khushro-Khan became the second in command of Khilji empire. Mubarik was having time of his life, enjoying his days as monarch to fullest. He left administration at the descretion of Khushro-Khan. He was Sultan's most trusted man.
Deval-Devi a prelude....
Deval devi was also from Gujarat. She also was Hindu before her capture and forcible conversion. In fact she was a princess of some kingdom in Gujarat before her capture. Her mother Kamal-Devi, was captured in Allah-ud-din's gujrat invasion in 1298 AD. Her father, king of gujrat, fleed with his teen-age girl, deval-devi. Her mother was taken as wife by Allah-ud-din himself. She however married Shankardev Rao of Devgiri, Maharashtra. However, she was again captured by Kafur and at her tender age, was converted and married away to Sultan's elder son, Khijar Khan.
Her Rise to Power...
With the help of Khushro Khan, Mubarik captured throne and became king. He then added Deval Devi to his own harem by marrying her. Deval Devi became the Sultana of Khilji empire..
Mubarik was a typical Spoilt brat. His sexual fantasies were outrageous. One of the habit that he enjoyed most and which is documented is that he liked to dress up as women and dance as courtesan himself.. Amusing character...
Khushro Khan was the one strong piller of the empire.. His memories of Hindu past were not vanished. Deval Devi and Khushro Khan came closer.. Emotionally.. Here begins one of the great love story..
Great Love story... Khushro-Khan and Deval devi
It is not hard to understand why these two characters came close. They both were Hindus. They both were forcibly converted to Islam. They both were sexually molested since tender age by Muslims. They both had witnessed slaughter. And most importantly, they both were burning from within.. Destiny brought two souls together and gave them power. It is obvious that they will fall in love with each other.. And they did fall in love..
The Conspiracy begins..
Two lovers, who are ambitious and politically powerful, accompanied by a foolish king.. It is an ideal recipe for a revolution..
Exactly what stimulated both these individuals to do what they did is unknown. Even History has to speculate.. However there was a conspiracy, nonetheless..
Following events lead us to that suspicion.
1) Khushro Khan appointed his own brother who was also a Hindu Convert as governor of Gujarat.
2) He trained his personal general's Bodyguard, an extremely elite legion, about 30,000 men strong and kept them in Delhi under his own direct command.. Almost all of them were Hindus..
3) His moves were not at all welcomed by Muslim Sardars. History does not know whether these two even knew what they wanted to do.. There is a reason to speculate that a hazy picture was starting to form in their minds about what they wanted to do..
4) The reason of this speculation is that during this time, Khushro Khan quelled the Hindu Rebellions in Maharashtra by Harpal Dev Rao Yadav of Devgiri.. And he quelled this rebellion violently by torturing Harpal Dev Rao and killing thousands of Hindus.
History becomes hazy..
This period is extremely ill-documented in Indian History. Khushro Khan again undertook a Deccan conquest. however, the Unease in Hindus was beginning to boil. And few contemporary Muslim sources say that Khushro Khan was instrumental in initiating and propagating this unease against Sultan of Delhi. Muslim historians and Sources speak of Khushro Khan with utter disgust.. as a person to cut the nose of Muslims and one who will burn in hell for eternity..
Khushro Khan returns to Delhi from his Malabar conquest...
Rana Hamir of Mewar was spear head of Hindu unease.. Hindus of delhi and North were beginning to believe that Khushro Khan was up to some revolution with aide of Hindu rulers and rajputs. And Deval Devi, and Khushro Khan, were supporting this unease by ignoring it.
No one could point Khushro Khan as he was the one who defeated Hindu kingdoms in South India and extended the boundaries of Empire.. No one could Imagine that this person will not only capture throne on Delhi, but also convert this Islamic Sultanate into Hindu Empire. However this ambition was beginning to take root in minds of Khushro Khan and Deval Devi.
Sultan Mubarik was so pleased by Khushro's success that he gave all rights to Khushro Khan.. He made him the de facto ruler.. He eased the atrocities against Hindus. he gave them religious freedom to worship. He educed taxes on Hindu farmers which were in act since days of Allah-Ud-Din.. Slowly and steadily, Khushro Khan starting to rise as a messiah for Hindus. He became immensely popular among masses..
Truth is Stranger than Fiction...
The situation was so much in favor of Khushro Khan and Deval Devi that they decided to act and execute their plan.. This change was so dramatic and unforeseen that it took time for people to understand what is happening.
Khushro Khan requested Mubarik that he had captured about 30,000 hindu people from Gujrat and he wishes to bring them to delhi to convert them to Islam.. In April of 1319 AD, these people, who were in fact Khushro's personal guards, started to execute their plan, and Sultan Mubarik Was slain..
Khushro Khan declared himself as Sultan.. He married his love Deval Devi..
On 15 April 1319 AD, Khushro Khan declared.. Following are his own words translated in english..
" Till date, Even though I was forced to live as a Muslim, I am still a Hindu in spirit. Hence, I, Sultan of the throne, declare that I am no longer a Muslim. I hereby declare that I am a Hindu. I am the Hindu Samrat (Emperor) of India.. Deval Devi, who also was hindu before she was captured and forcibly converted, is my Wife and henceforth be called as empress of India."
Khuskro Khan Started calling himself [b]Naasir-ud-din.[/b] It is interesting that he chose a Muslim name..
Hindu emperor Naasir-ud-din Khushro Khan..
Hindu Emperor Nasir-Ud-Din dissolved Jaziya tax. He liberated Hindus from the status of secondary citizens in their own country. He rebuilt many temples. Many of his regiments were deployed for the protection of Hindus from Muslim attrocities. In short, he established a comparatively Just rule in India.
His allies, Rajputs, and other Hindu kings were not at all opposing him. In turn, Khushro Khan gave them opportunities to strengthen themselves.. This according to me, was the one of the biggest mistakes committed by Hindus. This was the chance to up root Islam from Indian soil.. however, Hindu kings remained confined to their own territories and nobody actively participated in this revolution by Khushro Khan and Deval Devi..
He facilitated reconversion of many converted Muslims to Hinduism.. He reinstated Rule of Peace in Indian subcontinent. His empire stretched from Afghanistan to Karnataka...
Downfall of Nasiruddin Khushro Khan..
Ghias-ud-din Muhammad Tughlaq was instrumental in Nasiruddin's Downfall.. He forged alliance with Muslims lords against an Infidel, a Kaafir, who had proclaimed himself as Hindu and had become the emperor of India. He called for a Jihad against Nasiruddin Khushro Khan.
The battle Proper..
The battle took place in Punjab when Nasiruddin committed few tactical and strategic blunders and was defeated by Ghiasuddin Tughlaq. He was Captured by Ghiasuddin tughlaq and was tortured to death. Deval Devi met the same fate..
Ending notes...
At the time of his death, Khushro Khan was barely 23 years old.. His Revolution not only stunned and stirred the political scenario of India, but demonstrated to the world that Hindus had guts not only to overthrow the tyrant Muslim rule, but to also reinstate their old right on their motherland which was raped by Muslim barbarians...
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Power and Bliss
Few days ago, I met him.. Again.. after long time.. I saw him, as usual.. Man with a smile on the face, and humor on the mind. Practicality in behaviour, idealism in eyes.. Yet, I sensed something more.. Something that was resolute.. That was missing in his eyes, when we met last. The serenity was appealing, mind was seemingly enjoying the solitude.. As if, few of his daunting questions were answered.. I also saw a tinge of pain and emptiness.. Emptiness that usually occupies the heart, when knowledge dawns.. Perhaps emptiness is a wrong adjective. But something exists in heart when a person is ignorant.. People say, it is bliss.. It goes away, with knowledge.. I guess, power and bliss cannot co-exist..
I asked him about his life.. Said he was fine.. There was a momentary silence.. And then, he started..
" Love is a strange thing..Perhaps, it is Maya's way of trying and making unknown connections.
If connection works, it stays.. If it doesn't, it either fades away with time OR breaks... But as long at it remains, the person is devoid of emptiness.. Devoid of vacuum within.
Usually, dawning of knowledge, is detrimental for existance of love.. For love arises from veil of ignorance.. That's why it is blissful.. "
" But, how can knowledge be detrimental to love? ", I asked..
He gave me playful smile and answered," Becoz, with knowledge, comes purpose.. The thirst for knowing the purpose of our own existance arises so spontaneously, that all the connections of heart are severed.. Of course, lovers try and keep this away like a poison.. With knowledge comes ability to think rationally. Ability to see horizons clearly.. Ability to see horrid future with greater resolution.. With it comes the complete knowedge of ourselves.. Hence, it also provides us the way to effectively face the future.. Tell me, my friend... How can two individuals love, when one of them is seeing such horrid visions which are relatively more neutral and hence rational.."
I was litsening in rather casual manner.. I was thinking about this theory of his.. rather I was thinking about the corollary for this theory..
" Then perhaps, Love must be detrimental to knowledge as well" I asked, sarcastically..
" Of course it is", he said," Love is like a hallucination.. So real that it severes our touch with reality and our ability to neutrally understand the happenings of the world.."
I understood.. I did not pursue the topic..
Next day, I went to see her.. She was also a good friend of mine.. She was bit shaken.. But quite and composed from her appearence.. I sensed the emptiness in her eyes too.. But that was due to loss or something, as opposed to gain of knowledge in his eyes.. Her eyes were a bit melancholy.. Seemed to me that his knowledge was indeed detrimental..
After formal talks and few silent moments, she started..
" Philosophy of life was simple for me.. Live in present.. Not to worry about future.. Don't even try and see too far in future.. And have courage to face whatever comes.. This faith and love are the real strengths of man.. As long as the love between two individuals exist, it helps us past all the obstacles.. I was aware of the differences.. And I was also aware of the similarities.. But his questions and his invoking of logic, caused the bliss on our hearts to go away.. Now you can see the emptiness.. I still choose to live as I believed was right.. I won't say that what he did was wrong... But what he did with me, was not right... We were happy and Blissful together.. Now, perhaps, he is lonely and powerful"
I left after some time... This incident gave a different insight to me..
The choice between bliss and power, is always a painful one.. Painful for person who prefers bliss.. Lonely for the partner who prefers power.. It all depends upon the Inner nature of the person.. The person's Swadharma.. No one can blame any of the person for making any of the choices based upon his OR her own Swadharma... But this is not seen in practise..
If we have look at HE and HER in day-to-day life, we can see that blame-game is not avoidable.. Perhaps, it is essential.. This makes me think again about the thin veil of ignorance called Maya on the human mind.. How essential ignorance is.. That no Deed is performed without it.. And how blissful we are, when a part of this system of Maya..
The problem begins, when we start rising up and see at world from a neutral point of view. This departure from Ignorance and Bliss, is an interesting thing to study..
But, inevitably, everyone makes this choice at some stage of life.. Some make this choice early.. Some later.. Some in next lives.. But at some stage, the individual begins to think about his departure.. He may be connected to his loved ones, but the drive to explore is so insurgent in the mind that he wilfully makes this choice.. Many times there are false dawns.. He makes and attempt but cannot break the connections.. But one day, he breaks the bondages..
What about the other person, then?? Who perhaps is not ready to make that choice and break the bondage.. For no fault of his own, that person has to loose the bliss in his life.. He becomes unhappy because of choice he did not make.. What of such person... Statistically speaking, Maya takes care of such person, and that individual finds the new bondage which he so lovingly seeks, giving him the sense of completeness and security..
Perhaps he was having false dawn of Knowledge.. Perhaps he was not.. But he made to choice to understand and know.. nonetheless..
She is a sweet girl.. She will be in sorrow for lost love.. Perhaps cursing herself.. Perhaps her lover, who chose knowledge's path.. But with times, the love in her heart will overcome this momentary grief.. She wil again be blissful.. And continue to be one, until time comes when she has to make the same choice...
And the cycle of Maya goes on and on........
I asked him about his life.. Said he was fine.. There was a momentary silence.. And then, he started..
" Love is a strange thing..Perhaps, it is Maya's way of trying and making unknown connections.
If connection works, it stays.. If it doesn't, it either fades away with time OR breaks... But as long at it remains, the person is devoid of emptiness.. Devoid of vacuum within.
Usually, dawning of knowledge, is detrimental for existance of love.. For love arises from veil of ignorance.. That's why it is blissful.. "
" But, how can knowledge be detrimental to love? ", I asked..
He gave me playful smile and answered," Becoz, with knowledge, comes purpose.. The thirst for knowing the purpose of our own existance arises so spontaneously, that all the connections of heart are severed.. Of course, lovers try and keep this away like a poison.. With knowledge comes ability to think rationally. Ability to see horizons clearly.. Ability to see horrid future with greater resolution.. With it comes the complete knowedge of ourselves.. Hence, it also provides us the way to effectively face the future.. Tell me, my friend... How can two individuals love, when one of them is seeing such horrid visions which are relatively more neutral and hence rational.."
I was litsening in rather casual manner.. I was thinking about this theory of his.. rather I was thinking about the corollary for this theory..
" Then perhaps, Love must be detrimental to knowledge as well" I asked, sarcastically..
" Of course it is", he said," Love is like a hallucination.. So real that it severes our touch with reality and our ability to neutrally understand the happenings of the world.."
I understood.. I did not pursue the topic..
Next day, I went to see her.. She was also a good friend of mine.. She was bit shaken.. But quite and composed from her appearence.. I sensed the emptiness in her eyes too.. But that was due to loss or something, as opposed to gain of knowledge in his eyes.. Her eyes were a bit melancholy.. Seemed to me that his knowledge was indeed detrimental..
After formal talks and few silent moments, she started..
" Philosophy of life was simple for me.. Live in present.. Not to worry about future.. Don't even try and see too far in future.. And have courage to face whatever comes.. This faith and love are the real strengths of man.. As long as the love between two individuals exist, it helps us past all the obstacles.. I was aware of the differences.. And I was also aware of the similarities.. But his questions and his invoking of logic, caused the bliss on our hearts to go away.. Now you can see the emptiness.. I still choose to live as I believed was right.. I won't say that what he did was wrong... But what he did with me, was not right... We were happy and Blissful together.. Now, perhaps, he is lonely and powerful"
I left after some time... This incident gave a different insight to me..
The choice between bliss and power, is always a painful one.. Painful for person who prefers bliss.. Lonely for the partner who prefers power.. It all depends upon the Inner nature of the person.. The person's Swadharma.. No one can blame any of the person for making any of the choices based upon his OR her own Swadharma... But this is not seen in practise..
If we have look at HE and HER in day-to-day life, we can see that blame-game is not avoidable.. Perhaps, it is essential.. This makes me think again about the thin veil of ignorance called Maya on the human mind.. How essential ignorance is.. That no Deed is performed without it.. And how blissful we are, when a part of this system of Maya..
The problem begins, when we start rising up and see at world from a neutral point of view. This departure from Ignorance and Bliss, is an interesting thing to study..
But, inevitably, everyone makes this choice at some stage of life.. Some make this choice early.. Some later.. Some in next lives.. But at some stage, the individual begins to think about his departure.. He may be connected to his loved ones, but the drive to explore is so insurgent in the mind that he wilfully makes this choice.. Many times there are false dawns.. He makes and attempt but cannot break the connections.. But one day, he breaks the bondages..
What about the other person, then?? Who perhaps is not ready to make that choice and break the bondage.. For no fault of his own, that person has to loose the bliss in his life.. He becomes unhappy because of choice he did not make.. What of such person... Statistically speaking, Maya takes care of such person, and that individual finds the new bondage which he so lovingly seeks, giving him the sense of completeness and security..
Perhaps he was having false dawn of Knowledge.. Perhaps he was not.. But he made to choice to understand and know.. nonetheless..
She is a sweet girl.. She will be in sorrow for lost love.. Perhaps cursing herself.. Perhaps her lover, who chose knowledge's path.. But with times, the love in her heart will overcome this momentary grief.. She wil again be blissful.. And continue to be one, until time comes when she has to make the same choice...
And the cycle of Maya goes on and on........
Monday, September 04, 2006
On Dualistic and Monistic perception of Existance
Unity and duality are the two basic approaches of a Vedic individual in his spiritual journey...
The Advaita school of vedic philosophy propounds that everything in the universe is fundamentally same.. The Dualistic school of thought says that there is subtle duality in Supreme truth and rest..
Although both of these views are apparently contradictory to each other, in deeper sense, they in fact are complementary to each other..
I visualize Duality in terms of potential difference. The duality in Vedic literature is shown in form of famous duals like Praan-Rayi, Shiva-Shakti, Aatman-Brahman... In the terms of physical sciences, it can be seen as matter-energy.. In other oriental philosophies, like taoism, it is seen as Yin-Yang... In other words, this apparent duality is acknowledged by almost all of the oriental philosophies....
The basic question that arises in the minds of seeker is whether this duality is reality OR Illusion.. In other words, is this reality true OR false...
It is indeed difficult to say whether what we see is truth OR untruth. Because, I feel that it is just vagary of perception. It all depends upon the frame of reference of the observer. Hence it automatically becomes relative.
Hence, in Vedic philosophy and hinduism, this duality is given same important place as it is given to Advaita OR monism..
The approach of Advaita is that everything is Brahman.. (Sarvam Khalvidam Brahmam).
The approach of Dvaita school is somewhat like I am Brahmam... (Aham Brahma asmi)..
There is a subtle difference in the two approaches. First one negates the individuality..Since it says that EVERYTHING is Brahman, there is no scope for individual perception and understanding... In other words, there is no scope for individual's EXISTENCE as individual...
The Dvaita school propunds that I am Brahman.. This I denotes the individual's state while experiencing this unity.. It is difficult for anyone of us to forget our own consciousness.. The feeling that I exist is almost impossible to overcome. It is a bit difficult step to go from I exist to I am Everything and futher, Everything exists....
Universe/Multiverse Just Is...
It is just a different point of view towards same thing.
Advaita school usually condemns the approach of Dvaita school.. Same is vice-versa..
However, what is needed is to achieve a golden mean...
It is the basic law of Universe/multiverse that for any thing to HAPPEN, what is required is potential difference.. All types of energies flow from higher potential to lower potenial.. Not only energy, even the matter shows similar tendency.
This Potential Difference is depicted in the concept of Dvaita OR Duality.. Becoz, it is this difference that keeps individual performing Karma.. Without Karma, nothing can exist.. And karma itself is a deed done by one sane human being with respect to other living being.. As it involves the concept of ME and OTHERS, it falls under the domain of Dualism OR Dvaita..
After an individual attains the state of Advaita in Supreme Samadhi mentioned in Patanjali Yog-sutras, there is nothing left for him to do.. Rather he cannot perform any karma as the duality is vanished and potential difference gone.. Two things at equal potential cannot perform work..
Hence all reasons of that person to exist are gone, and he unfies with the Parabrahman.. But until this stage, Duality enables a person to survive/to exist..
As it is stated above that experience of Unity bars a person from performing any karma.. But karma is extremely important as it is the reason of the existance of Universe..
Hence there is an ingenious phenomenon of Maaya OR Matrix.. This Maaya keeps a thin veil of ignorance on the minds of living beings, thus creating the illusion of Duality.. Although it is an illusion, it is so real and so essential that most of us prefer to live in Maaya and do not question its existence..
Everything in Universe/Multiverse tends to attain stability OR unity.. It is Maaya that maintains the Duality and hence maintains the Potential difference.. This enables the universe to exist.. The Sanskrit term for Universe Jagat arises from 2 word roots.. Ja meaning to come to birth OR existence.. Ga meaning to move..
One which comes into existence from movement OR difference, is Jagat OR world..
Thus, we can see, how important both Dualism and Monism are.. What is required is to strike a golden mean...
Hence, the correct approach. according to me, is as follows..
Unity>>(leads to)>>duality(maintained by Maya)>>(Purpose of person)>>to experience unity in apparent duality..
The Advaita school of vedic philosophy propounds that everything in the universe is fundamentally same.. The Dualistic school of thought says that there is subtle duality in Supreme truth and rest..
Although both of these views are apparently contradictory to each other, in deeper sense, they in fact are complementary to each other..
I visualize Duality in terms of potential difference. The duality in Vedic literature is shown in form of famous duals like Praan-Rayi, Shiva-Shakti, Aatman-Brahman... In the terms of physical sciences, it can be seen as matter-energy.. In other oriental philosophies, like taoism, it is seen as Yin-Yang... In other words, this apparent duality is acknowledged by almost all of the oriental philosophies....
The basic question that arises in the minds of seeker is whether this duality is reality OR Illusion.. In other words, is this reality true OR false...
It is indeed difficult to say whether what we see is truth OR untruth. Because, I feel that it is just vagary of perception. It all depends upon the frame of reference of the observer. Hence it automatically becomes relative.
Hence, in Vedic philosophy and hinduism, this duality is given same important place as it is given to Advaita OR monism..
The approach of Advaita is that everything is Brahman.. (Sarvam Khalvidam Brahmam).
The approach of Dvaita school is somewhat like I am Brahmam... (Aham Brahma asmi)..
There is a subtle difference in the two approaches. First one negates the individuality..Since it says that EVERYTHING is Brahman, there is no scope for individual perception and understanding... In other words, there is no scope for individual's EXISTENCE as individual...
The Dvaita school propunds that I am Brahman.. This I denotes the individual's state while experiencing this unity.. It is difficult for anyone of us to forget our own consciousness.. The feeling that I exist is almost impossible to overcome. It is a bit difficult step to go from I exist to I am Everything and futher, Everything exists....
Universe/Multiverse Just Is...
It is just a different point of view towards same thing.
Advaita school usually condemns the approach of Dvaita school.. Same is vice-versa..
However, what is needed is to achieve a golden mean...
It is the basic law of Universe/multiverse that for any thing to HAPPEN, what is required is potential difference.. All types of energies flow from higher potential to lower potenial.. Not only energy, even the matter shows similar tendency.
This Potential Difference is depicted in the concept of Dvaita OR Duality.. Becoz, it is this difference that keeps individual performing Karma.. Without Karma, nothing can exist.. And karma itself is a deed done by one sane human being with respect to other living being.. As it involves the concept of ME and OTHERS, it falls under the domain of Dualism OR Dvaita..
After an individual attains the state of Advaita in Supreme Samadhi mentioned in Patanjali Yog-sutras, there is nothing left for him to do.. Rather he cannot perform any karma as the duality is vanished and potential difference gone.. Two things at equal potential cannot perform work..
Hence all reasons of that person to exist are gone, and he unfies with the Parabrahman.. But until this stage, Duality enables a person to survive/to exist..
As it is stated above that experience of Unity bars a person from performing any karma.. But karma is extremely important as it is the reason of the existance of Universe..
Hence there is an ingenious phenomenon of Maaya OR Matrix.. This Maaya keeps a thin veil of ignorance on the minds of living beings, thus creating the illusion of Duality.. Although it is an illusion, it is so real and so essential that most of us prefer to live in Maaya and do not question its existence..
Everything in Universe/Multiverse tends to attain stability OR unity.. It is Maaya that maintains the Duality and hence maintains the Potential difference.. This enables the universe to exist.. The Sanskrit term for Universe Jagat arises from 2 word roots.. Ja meaning to come to birth OR existence.. Ga meaning to move..
One which comes into existence from movement OR difference, is Jagat OR world..
Thus, we can see, how important both Dualism and Monism are.. What is required is to strike a golden mean...
Hence, the correct approach. according to me, is as follows..
Unity>>(leads to)>>duality(maintained by Maya)>>(Purpose of person)>>to experience unity in apparent duality..
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