HINDUISM - PATHS TO THE COSMIC FIRE #1: MILLIONS OF FINITE GODS, SACRIFICES & UP/DOWN CASTE SYSTEM?

Will the Real Supreme God Please Stand Up?

In the Kena Upanishad, Indra, and the gods of fire and wind did not recognize Brahman. Brahman talked with them. So Brahman one who can talk and disagree with beings.

"That which cannot be expressed in words but by which the tongue speaks--know that to be Brahman. Brahman is not the being who is worshipped of men. That which is not comprehended by the mind but by which the mind comprehends--know that to be Brahman. Brahman is no the being who is worshipped of men. That which is not seen by the eye but by which the eye sees--know that to be Brahman. Brahman is not the being who is worshiped of men. That which is not heard by the ear (etc.) Brahman is not the being who is worshiped of men. That which is not drawn by breath (etc.). Brahman is not the being who is worshipped of men." Kena Upanishad p.30-31.

"I am the Supersoul, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings. Of the Adityas I am Vishnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon. Of the Vedas I am the Sama Veda; of the demigods I am Indra, the king of heaven; of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am the living force [consciousness]. Of all the Rudras I am Lord Siva, of the Yaksas and Raksasas I am the Lord of wealth [Kuvera], of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of the mountains I am Meru." B.G. 10.20-23 p.532-535. It continues in the same way. I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience." B.G. 10.34 p.544. Krishna has a rather positive self-image.

"But of all gods Indra is supreme, for he approached nearest of the three [Indra, fire, wind] to Brahman and was the first of the three to recognize him." Katha Upanishad p.32.

"Assuredly all is Brahman. Let a man, freed from the taint of passion, worship Brahman alone." Chandogya Upanishad p.64.

Sacrifices were very important in early Hinduism:

"The wedding procession of Surya went forward as Savitr sent it off. When the sun is in Agha they kill the cattle, and when it is in Arjuni she[the bride] is brought home." Rig Veda 10.85.13. There is a dual context of the marriage of Surya the daughter of the sun and human marriages modeled after that.

"Finite and transient are the fruits of sacrificial rites. The deluded, who regard them as the highest good, remain subject to birth and death." Mundaka Upanishad p.44.

"He, O Gargi, who in this world, without knowing this Akshara [changeless reality], offers oblations, performs sacrifices, practices austerities, even though for many thousands of years, gains little: his offerings and practices are perishable. He, O Gargi, who departs this life without knowing the Imperishable, is pitiable. Bu the, O Gargi, who departs this life knowing the Akshara, is wise." Brihadaranyaka Upanishad p.98.

From the Horse sacrifice in the Rig Veda:

"Whatever food remains in his stomach, sending forth gas, or whatever smell there is from his raw flesh - let the slaughterers make that well done; let them cook the sacrificial animal until he is perfectly cooked. Whatever runs off your body when it has been placed on the spit and roasted by the fire, let it not lie there in the earth or on the grass, but let it be given to the gods who long for it. Those who see that the racehorse is cooked, who say, 'It smells good! Take it away!', and who wait for the doling out of the flesh of the charger - let their approval encourage us." Rig Veda 1.162.10-12. p.90.

Even today, the Vamacharis sacrifice kids (goat, not human) and water buffalo. Thuggees and Khonds sacrificed people.

Castes : Apartheid of the Gods?

A key reason for Hinduism in 1500 B.C. was to keep the darker skinned people in the place and forbid intermarriage with the lighter skinned conquerors. The first surviving reference to the caste system is in the Rig Veda.

Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater & Steve Morrison, director of Research for Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater & webmaster (YouTube channel: CANSWERSTV, websites: BIBLEQUERY.ORG, HISTORYCART.ORG & MUSLIMHOPE.COM) are joined in studio by Christian lawyer & apologist Mark Cass, who is an instructor of apologetics, world religions & cults at International Bible College in San Antonio, Texas.

Those wishing to see more of our videos on this subject can type "LARRY WESSELS HINDUISM" in the YOUTUBE search box or go to our website BIBLEQUERY.ORG & click on the "Other Beliefs" box on the homepage & scroll down to "Hinduism." John 14:6

Part #1 of a 2 part series.

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[gravisan]

I am by no means an expert on Hinduism.

I believe re-incarnation as it is written in the Vedas and the concept of caste is a insidious set of ideas put in to justify a system of oppression.

I've been reading the Upanishads and they are quite engaging in terms of their philosophical value, some that come to mind are, "Katha", "Kena", "Chandogya", "Isha". They make you one questions.

[CAnswersTV]

@gravisan In the Chandogya Upanishad p.76-77 the renowned teacher Prajapati taught Indra the god and Virochana the demon for 32 years what was stated to be false information about the self. After they left, "But Prajapati, looking after them, lamented thus: ‘Both of them departed without analyzing or discriminating, and without truly comprehending the Self. Whosoever follows a false doctrine of the Self will perish." Chandogya Upanishad p.77. He then taught a different doctrine, also useless.

[gravisan]

@CAnswersTV I am not sure what version you are reading, but in the version I am using it says "But Prajapati said to himself : 'They have seen the Self, but they have not recognized the Self. They mistake the Self to be the body. Those who think the Self is the body will lose their way in life.' "

It makes sense given that, even if you don't consider the context in which it was written in, and by the way, without context the bible is a series of unrelated conflicting assertions.

[CAnswersTV]

@gravisan The Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge p.392 says that today the highest importance is given to three deities: Siva, Vishnu, and Sakti. Sakti is a general name for female deities. Parvati, the consort of Siva/Shiva, is especially worshipped. Hindus have many writings and scriptures, but most Hindus haven't read them. The 4 main scriptures are Vedas, written between 1800 and 900 B.C. The four Vedas are the Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda. The Bible denies this.



[gravisan]

@candiceevans1 India could have been a lot more - while Europe was in the dark ages, math, science, philosophy, art, astronomy were flourishing in India; to this day I cannot understand what went wrong, ... they became a slave to their own dogma.

[CAnswersTV]

@CAnswersTV The answers to the Hindu quiz are as follows: 1. True, a common belief among many Hindus. 2. True, common practice among "holy men" in India (Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, p. 391). 3. True, many Shaivites practice this distinctive feature of Shaivism. 4. Many ascetic Hindus, especially many Brahmans, believe this. Some stress "ahimsa" (non-violence). 5. True, Rig Veda, 1.162.10-12, p. 90 & Rig Veda 3.85.1. Today some Sakta sects, Vamacharis many others make animal sacrifices.

[CAnswersTV]

@Metaemipricus The only idiot talking is you. Please take this Hindu quiz: 1. Eating dung & drinking urine is impure, True or False? 2. Cow dung is purifying to eat & one should drink one cup of urine every day, True or False? 3. One ought to have three horizontal stripes of cow-dung on your forehead, True or False? 4.One should have respect for all life, not kill anything or anyone, & eat no meat, True or False? 5. One should make the horse sacrifice so revered in the Rig-Veda, True or False?

[Metaemipricus]

these are christian fundamentalists trying to understand a huge and vast philosophical and ritualistic tradition through their limited understanding with an ulterior motive to promote a stupid christian belief system. i am reminded of the hindu tale of the blind men and the elephant when i hear these idiots talk.

[MsCread]

same in Ireland they majority are Roman Catholic out of ignorance because they have no idea about what Rome really thinks.

[5to22a]

Very interesting.  Praise God.