The conversion issue

[Stephen]

Did not thousands of people convert to  Budhism from hinduism during the
reign of Asoka? Didn't many of those revert back to hinduism? What are these
conversions attributed to?

Sujatha

P.S. Can't conversions be the result of man's constant search for God?



-----Original Message-----
From: S Krishna <mahadevasiva at HOTMAIL.COM>
To: INDOLOGY at LISTSERV.LIV.AC.UK <INDOLOGY at LISTSERV.LIV.AC.UK>
Date: 16 January, 1999 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: The conversion issue


>In connection with the postings of Anand Nayak and Partha Banerjee,
>may I add my $0.02?
>
>>It is important to know WHY so many Hindus converted to other religions
>over the centuries. Is it only because of coercion as some want us to
>believe or is it that conversion took place because a large section of
>the so-called low-caste people and "untouchables" willingly converted
>(and also were lured by other religions and religious leaders promising
>them false promises)?>>
>
>Since there are( as you pointed out) no statistics to talk about
>conversions between Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, it is difficult to verify
>the exact mechanism though I believe that the whole business
>of conversion for benefits i.e. conversion to Christianity from the
>lower castes was predominant in the tribal areas, Southern India
>and the Assam area in the last century. Conversion to Christianity by
>the Portuguese( in Goa) and conversion to Islam were( atleast to a very
>large part) conversions thru the sword. This can be verified
>by the fact that in both cases, even members of the higher castes( the
>haves as opposed to have-nots) converted in large numbers( read for
>example Benazir Bhutto's "Daughter of the East" where she boasts about
>their Rajput ancestry or the "Dawn", the leading Paki newspaper is full
>of matrimonials refering to Khatri/Rajput specific matrimonials by
>Muslims); this despite the fact that Islam does not recognize caste.
>Likewise the high proportion of Gauda Saraswat Brahmins who converted to
>Christianity in Goa is supported by the general nature of conversion in
>the Portuguese ruled countries and the fact that Hindu temples in Goa
>e.g. the Mangeshi temple  are still the recepient of grants from
>ostensibly Christian families. While Kosambi may be correct about
>ancient India, he hardly refers to mediaval(sic) India and his comments
>cannot be extrapolated to history of a later period.
>
>In addition, is Brahmoism a separate religion? I was always under the
>impression that while Raja Ram Mohum Ray was influenced by Christianity
>and the Brahmo Samaj did not accept many Hindu customs
>of the time, it is still a sect within Hinduism. I would appreciate
>any clarifications about this issue.
>
>Regards,
>Krishna
>
>
>>
>>I would like to quote D. D. Kosambi here:
>>
>>"...Brahmans gradually penetrated whatever tribes and guild castes
>remained
>>in ancient India, ... just as the White European settlers in America
>>systematically destroyed the aboriginal natives ... This is a slow but
>>systematic process that goes back to ancient times.  Ramayan,
>Mahabharat,
>>and especially the Puranas are full of such examples."
>>
>>[D. D. Kosambi. The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in
>Historical
>>Outline.  Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi.  1992 reprint.]
>>
>>As D. D. Kosambi observes, during this process, new gods were
>introduced
>>and gods unsuitable to the Brahminic needs were made inferior.  "New
>places
>>of pilgrimage were introduced with suitable myths to make them
>respectable
>>though they could only have been savage, pre-Brahman cult spots.
>Buddha,
>>and some totemic deities including the primeval Fish, Tortoise, and
>Boar
>>were made into incarnations of Vishnu-Narayan.  The monkey-faced
>Hanuman,
>>so popular with the cultivators as to be a peculiar god of the
>peasantry
>>with an independent cult of his own, becomes the faithful
>companion-servant
>>of Ram, another incarnation of Vishnu."
>>
>
>
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