How the Sword Leads to Non Violence

Muslims one way or the other, got their religion into Bengal long ago. It is a subject of study actually, "How DID Bengal Become So Muslim"… that’s  a big study, because nobody can make sense of it, figure it out, historically, but it happened. Somehow. 

And there were Hindus already there, Vegetarians, not meat eaters like Muslims, and very learned Hindus too, as it just so happened, there were the least ever conquered Hindu Kingdoms there, in that area, Bengal, Orissa.

Somehow the two met up there, and Islam spread like wildfire somehow through time until now there is Bangladesh, and most of Eastern Bengal is like 50% Muslim say.  I’ve been there, on four separate journeys, to Navadwip, and all it’s surrounding cities, as well as the rest of India and Sri Lanka, parts of Bangladesh. 

In the early 1500’s, a Hindu born famous and genetically tall and light colored genius spread a new form of Hinduism that merged parts of Islam’s ideas with Hinduism’s ideas and created "The Caitanya Religion", that was his name, Caitanya, or, "Gaudiya Vaisnavism" which translates to "Bengali Style of Mono Theism".

This led to a movement of this religion in the 1800’s and 1900’s there called the Gaudiya Math, which just means "The Temple of Bengal", and refers to being ultra orthodox in the Caitanya or Bengali Version of Hindu Monotheism. 

A passionate Hindu Nationalist named Abhay Caran Deh found the Guru of this movement somehow and sat in on a lecture and converted to this religion, which was native to his childhood as he came from Calcutta, which by then, the religion had reached there, and had many members, his family, one of them. He was a Bengali Vaisnava follower of Gandhi’s Nationlist Movement passionately. 

But he converted his passionate self to this new temple movement instead, now making Krishna, serving Krishna, God, his purpose in life, fulfilling his Teacher’s (Guru’s) orders, the pivotal aim of his whole self.  There was however, in the mix of that Bengali Temple’s ideas, a tinge of Vengeance, for Britain having conquered them, and for Muslim’s having conquered them previously, now gone, long gone, both, but.. Indians, feel a need to prove themselves to what looks like a world that out paced them materially.  The Muslims and the Brits both came in looking "Better Materially Off" … "Wealthier",  "Smarter Materially"… 

So in 1966, Abhay came to America, and started what is known as "THE HARE KRISHNAS", which is to say, White Students of Bengali Temple Monotheism.  A Hindu looking thing, that is partly more like Islam, Christianity, Judaeism, in that, it DESPISES the caste system, declares equality, and declares monotheism in the name of Hindu Scriptures.  Versions of things then arose, more versions, and splits and such. 

But Abhay’s students, in America, and Europe, in the 1960’s up until today, are the leaders, and founders, of all vegetarianism in the West today.  Before them, vegetarian was a word we never heard in America, and they also brought Yogurt, Incense, Sandals back, and a host of other things that all merge into the "Healthier Spiritual Lifestyle" many Americans now have. 

Yoga. Need I say More?

The REACTION, to the MUSLIM SWORD in BENGAL 500 years ago, is around you today, in the form of all these things. 

The Muslim Blade, led to the Yoga Studio’s in your cities, the vegetarian and vegan restaurants, hippies, sitar’s, ravi shankar, george harrison, psychedelia, you name it, if it wasn’t for the infusion of Indian Culture that the REACTIONARY RELIGIOUS FORCES OF BENGAL CAUSED to be shot into Western Culture… we would still be perhaps "Rocking to Elvis", all of us would be Hamburger People still, and genuflecting to a Catholic Priest, or saying Bless Me Pastor to some guy with an ego bigger than your own. 

We’d be stupid. 

If it wasn’t for the Turks and Persians and Brit who so pissed off Indians that they came and gave us gifts. 

Strange huh?

We are angry, so here, take the best things on Earth !

Including Jyotish, Yoga, Brahma Vidya, Shiva, Krishna, Kirtan, Bhajan, Tablas, Sitars, Yogurt, Healthier Lifestyle Choices, Hipper Awareness of the World, the right to veer Eastern in lifestyle… so many things, that it can’t be really comprehended. 

One Indian’s desire to "show the west up", WORKED, and made us WAY BETTER.   Now if only it would fully spread in America, even into the Heartland. 

Yes, the Muslim and British Swords, led to more Ahimsa, non violence, in their countries. NEVER BEFORE, has there been a MASSIVE DEVOTED VEGETARIAN POPULATION in white countries, never, before, Abhay Caran Deh. 

And his

HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT IN AMERICA AND EUROPE

1966 to the present, although diminished greatly, they are still there, though I do not recommend joining, but some going and learning yes. 

Peace,

Das Goravani 

das@goravani.com