Metaphysics and Logic in Hinduism
Dr K.Loganathan, 29-1-2011
Dear Rajeev
Thank-you and certainly I don’t think all Hindues Buddhists Jains and so forth employ Brahmin priests and hence accept the authority of Vedas and Brahmins. If they do then Buddhists and Jains will not continue to be so specially when they have their own scriptures. Even among the Hindues now a days the Tamils detest employing the Brahmins as priests as they do not allow the use of Tamil in the temples. Throughout History both in the North and South, the bulk of Hindues do not accept the Vedas and hence the Brahmins as authoritative, Let me explain the essence of Hindu History as to why I say this.
1.
The Hindues are great metaphysicians and who developed various kinds of LOGIC by way of seeking metaphysical truths that will finally allow them to enjoy Moksa. Once you enter metaphysical enquiries based solely on Logic, there are NO authorities either in the form of scriptures or individuals except the authority of TRUTH. Metaphysical truths are there in the world and in the soul of all and once they investigate their own understanding they will attain metaphysical illuminations that will lead them to enjoy moksa. Here you do not require the services of the Vedas or Brahmins. A capacity of rigorous logical thinking is sufficient
2.
You can see unlike the scripture-centred Christianity and Islam , the genuine Hindu tradition developed various kinds LOGIC as part of their metaphysical inquiries, the only exception being the Brahmanism that like the Christians and Muslims upholds the absolute authority of the Vedas. Even Buddhists and Jaims developed their own logic to justify their metaphysical understanding. In Tamil we have great classics like Buddhist MaNimekali and Jain Niilakeesi where such attempts are clearly visible.
3.
It is NOT an accident that Hindues developed Logic as part of their religious life centering on Metaphysical inquiries. The Indian Logic is so vast that even the great book “ The Hostory of Indian Logic” by Satish Chnadra Vidhyabhusna (Motilal Banarsidass, 1971) does not exhaust it. Missing here is Hermeneutic Logic of the Tamils developed in the South from the days of Tolkaappiyam and the roots of which go back to the Sumerian times, The very fact that the best of Hindues(and Buddhists and Jains) were logical in their metaphysical inquiries shows that they did not accept the authority of the Vedas and also the Brahmins per se. Scriptures and brahmanahood in terms of VarNa is totally irrelevant for a logical investigation into the eternal metaphysical truths. What matters is a competence for logical enquiry guided solely by a search for Truth.
4,
Here I must mention the TWO different logical traditions in India – one the type as exemplified by Gotama’s Nyaya Sutras (c. 200 AD) and another the Hermeneutic Logic as is available in Tolkaappiyam ( 5th cent BC). The Nyaya system was developed by the Pasupata Saivites and who are NOT Vedists at all. The Hermeneutic Logic of Tolkaappiyam is probably the earliest Logical system in the world or at least contemporaneous with that of Aristotle, However the Hermeneutic Logic was developed as part of Literary Hermeneutics, the Utti science that is also noted by Vidhybhusaba in the book above but where he does not mention Tolkaappiyam. The Buddhist Logic by Dignaga Dharmakirtti and so forth are adaptations of Nyaya systems while that of Jains in the South as in Nilakesi and so forth is an adaptation of Hermeneutic Logic of Tol.
5.
The greatest Book in metaphysics not only in India but perhaps the whole world is the Civanjana Botham of Meykandar (13the Cent AD) and which is strictly Hermeneutic Logic. There is NO quoting the Vedas the Agamas or any Brahmins as authoritative for the various claims he makes. Anyone, no matter what the birth can enter into a study of this great classic in Metaphysics and develop as a religious person. Ultimately one can attain a one-ness with BEING but without losing individual identity.
6,
Now stimulated by such rigor in Logic, Meykandar’s student Arunadi embarked upon the gigantic task of describing ALL the Indian metaphysical systems at his time ( 13 th cent AD) and DECONSTRUCT all of them and establish the Fundamental ontology of Saiva Siddhanta and so forth as the definitive and unassailable metaphysical truths. Here included in the systems deconstructed are also the various Vedic schools like Purva Mimansa Uttara Mimansa the different schools of Vedanta and so forth.
7.
Again neither scripture-centred Christians Muslims Jews and nor the Brahmanists have developed pure metaphysical systems based upon LOGIC and nothing else as have done the great Hindu people, This remains quite unique to Hindues and has been recognized by many missionaries who tried to translate the metaphysical treatises from Tamil into English and other languages. Once religious life is identified as ultimately consisting of FREE metaphysical inquiries the Njaana Pathaa, then what matters is NOT birth scriptural knowledge etc but only a mental OPENNESS to seek out TRUTH and nothing else. Brahmanism seeks to DESTROY this essence of Hinduism and which must be opposed vehemently to sustain the continuity of genuine Hinduism
Hinduism must be rescued from these Brahmins who are interested in nothing else except to safeguard their special privileges gained cunningly and fraudulently.
Loga
Re: [ancientindia] Re: [akandabaratam] Hindu American Foundation (HAF) caste report: the mess created by it.
Mr. Loga may be right. However those who deny the authority of Brahmin which in turn deny their authority are known as Vratys.
In India it is seen that, all Hindus except Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs , Lingayaits employ Brahmins to perform religious ceremony and thus accept the authority of Brahmin and Veda,
However Mr. Loga may know better in this issue and clarify better ways.
Dr. Rajeev Agnihotri
--- On Thu, 27/1/11, K. Loganathan <ulagankmy@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: K. Loganathan <ulagankmy@yahoo.com>
Subject: [ancientindia] Re: [akandabaratam] Hindu American Foundation (HAF) caste report: the mess created by it.
To: akandabaratam@yahoogroups.com
Cc: ancientindia@yahoogroups.com, indiaarchaeology@yahoogroups.com, meykandar@egroups.com, tolkaappiyar@egroups.com
Date: Thursday, 27 January, 2011, 1:57 AM
Dear Friends
It appears to me that those who are unhappy with the remarkable report of HAF where they are critical of VarNa Dharma are Brahmanist Brahmins who want to sustain this evil and criminal VarNa Dharma by saying that sincere Hindus have no adhikara or authority. This is an attempt to DESTROY the inherent freedom of thought Hinduism enshrines by making these Brahmins the sole authority on religious matters.
Let us recall that neither in the Sumerian Hinduism i,e the temple-centered Agamism nor in the earliest layers of Rig Veda there is support of VarNa Dharma. It appears to be a LATE invention of some priests who probably MISUNDERSTOOD the Purusha suktam etc and because they lost their original facility with Archaic Tamil, the Base Language of the Vedas.
Opposing the efforts of HAF which calls itself also Hindu Humna Rights Foundation, is retrogressive a mischief by some diehard Brahmanist Brahmins who want to maintain their ill-gotten social status.
There are NO authorities in Hinduism where even the Vedas can be rejected. What matters is TRUTH and it is NOT a monopoly of the Brahmin Caste.
The Divine Wisdom, the Njaanam is already there in the bosom of all and what is required to make it shine bright is FREEDOM of THINKING and seeking after TRUTH and nothing else.
I hope the Hindus all over the world would support the laudable efforts of HAF to recover the original shape of Hinduism and purify it of the evil and criminal VarNa Dharma.
Loga
--- On Thu, 1/27/11, S. Kalyanaraman <kalyan97@gmail.com> wrote:
From: S. Kalyanaraman <kalyan97@gmail.com>
Subject: [akandabaratam] Hindu American Foundation (HAF) caste report: the mess created by it.
To:
Date: Thursday, January 27, 2011, 1:18 AM
This website contains information about the Hindu American Foundation's recent report on caste and the negative responses the report has received from the community. There are many statements that are derogatory towards Hinduism and its practices in the report.
HAF has done some good work on acting as an advocacy organization for Hindus in the US. HAF has taken an unfortunate step that is detrimental to Hindus and Hindu causes by producing this report.
The original report calls on Hindus and AcharAyas re-analyze and reject scriptures. There are many other problematic statements in the report.
Here is an executive summary of the original report.
Executive Summary of the Original HAF caste report
HAF is making cosmetic changes to the report. One of the authors of the report has come out and issued this statement about the report and the process followed to make the changes.
http://denouncehaf.blogspot.com/2011/01/ardent-hindu-denounces-haf-report-on.html
There are still serious issues with the report. The major issues are:
o If such a report on a sensitive topic is needed at all
o Does the HAF and the authors have adhikAra or fittedness to construct such a report
o Serious flaws in the report
o The process followed to produce such a report
o Effect of the report on the geo-political issues concerning Hinduism and negative effect on Hindu causes
o Response of HAF on honest and concerned criticism by members of the community
An excellent response containing critical analysis of the report is here.
http://medhajournal.com/caste/haf-caste-report/1081-the-haf-report-on-caste-a-critiquejanuary-25-2011.html
Several of the AchAryas and swamijis in India are very concerned about the report and have issued statements calling on HAF to withdraw the report and rewrite it with more broad based input including input from the swAmIjis and AchAryas in India.
Some of their statements (sandeshams) are here:
Swamiji Dayananda Saraswati's letter
http://medhajournal.com/indian-news/1073-swami-dayananda-saraswatis-open-letter-to-haf.html
Letter from Gayathri Pariwar
http://medhajournal.com/indian-news/1071-gayatri-parivars-open-letter-to-haf.html
Udupi pITadhipathi Sri Puthige swamiji's letter
http://medhajournal.com/indian-news/1072-puttige-maths-open-letter-to-haf.html
Swami Ramadev's letter
http://medhajournal.com/indian-news/1070-swami-ramdevs-open-letter-to-haf.html
Another Website containing criticisms about the report:
http://sookta-sumana.blogspot.com/
https://sites.google.com/site/hafcastereport/