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Thuggs
>X-News: soc.religion.hindu:1949
>From: M.W.A. <moasghar@cua.pharm.lon.ac.uk>
>Subject:Thuggs
>Date: 2 Mar 1996 03:00:51 GMT
>Message-ID:<4h8dl3$kq6@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
>I read somewhere that the Thugs believed they had a divine rite to kill
>and rob whomsoever they wished granted to them by Kali. I'm sorry I can't
>remeber where I read it but the gist of it was that Kali was trying to
>kill some demons but every time she struck one down with her sword two
>sprang up in its place ,it was only when two men helped her by strangling
>the demons with turbans/handkerchiefs that they actually died. In gratitude
>for their help Kali granted the two men and all their descendants the
>right to kill (by strangulation) and rob anyone they chose.
> Is there any truth in any of this? If so does it have
>repercussions for other Hindus i.e. can a hindu decide he wants to become
>a Thug and revive their way of life? and more importantly are there any
>genuine Thugs left in the world?
> Thanks in advance for all replies.
This is true. In Bengal, this used to be the case and similarly in many
parts of India. The dacoits, before going to rob / loot anyone would offer
homage to goddess Kali so that they would be successful in their mission.
There are novels by Bankimchandra Chatterjee (Kapalakundala is one of them)
where such practices have been described.
Other chroniclers/ authors of the 19th century have also described these
incidents. Incidentally this most unacceptable practice used to be
dominant in Bengal - where Kali-puja is pompously celebrated. Kali has
been associated with evil spirits and the underworld. The general belief
as far as I know is that people used to pray to goddess Kali so that the
evil forces of the underworld can be kept under control and at bay from
causing trouble for humans.
The truth is that dacoits (whom you describe as Thugs) used to pray under
the belief that they would be successful in their mission. Since many authors
and Britishers have recorded such incidents, there must be some basis -
however controversial they might be.
As far as I know there is nothing called " genuine Thug ". There are
practicioners of evil rituals (known as tantriks) somewhere.
Admittedly this practice is inhuman and most barbaric. You cannot kill
some innocent for your meal-ticket. There are several ways of life. It is
simply upto you to choose which way you want to lead your life. However,
what we believing Hindus know is that such practice does exist. The methods
of such practices have been recorded in texts and is passed down within a
cabal/ group of followers. Thus, people from other cultures think that such
is also an integral part of the mainstream of the Hindu belief system. This
is simply a misleading notion.
However, avoiding of such practices is desirable and generally followed by
almost all Hindus.
- cheers,
deb chatterjee
(a good samaritan)
