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Re: World Views: Vedic and Western
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: World Views: Vedic and Western
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From: f0g1@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (Prasad Gokhale)
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Date: 6 Jan 1995 15:29:43 GMT
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From news@sol.sun.csd.unb.ca Fri Jan 6 10: 19:50 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
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References: <3ei7ih$k42@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
susarla@great-gray.owlnet.rice.edu (H. Krishna Susarla) writes:
>: There is this question: did our ancestors become gods or it were the
>: gods that became our ancestors. For instance, Shri Raam and Krishna,
>: although mortals in their time, are considered as celestial beings
>: today. It is the immeasureable antiquity that rendered them the divine
>: status. With the passage of time, same might happen to Shankaracharya,
>: Vivekananada, etc. with stories woven around them. However, this does
> I realize you wrote this article in support of my posting. However,
>Lord Rama and Lord Krsna were NOT ordinary human beings. Krsna Himself
>condemns this view in the Gita. They were divine when they appeared on
>Earth, and They will always be divine.
Agreed that Shri Raam and Krsihna were persons of extraordinary capacities
and unparalled genius - somewhat like superhumans. However, this they
had achieved through rigorous penance and austerities, and also through
divine grace (yes, as you may say, they were Lord Vishnu incarnate).
> I would hope that conditioned souls like Vivekananda are never put on
>the same pedestal as the Lord. Otherwise, human civilization really is
>in trouble.
However, I do not know you object to me including Swami Vivekananda into
the *possible* list of avatars? Even Balarama (brother of Shri Krishna),
Sages Vasistha and Vyasa (the last one), Sage Parashar are considered to
the avatars by some. This is because they fit the definition of what is
an avatar - a superhuman being. Even Sai Baba, today, is considered to
be an avatar. Vivekananda, in my oipnion, was an extremely intellegent
person - who took to Samadhi at at a very young age (39?). That his
writings are oriented towards social aspects, an important attribute
for the generation of a strong and vigorous society, like education of
the masses and not alone towards adhyatmic upliftment does not make
him a ordinary human being. It is possible that a section of the society
disagrees with his thoughts, but it should be remembered that they are
many more who follow his teachings devotedly. His teachings are
undoutedly horatory and inspiring - definitely not mere ramblings of
a pedestrian. He possessed remarkable capabilities, and therefore,
I felt like mentioning his name in the list of avatars.
Ofcourse, I have no right and there is no need for justifying what
Vivekananda was. Time alone will provide the solution.
Namaskar,
--Prasad.
