Unless the spirituality of Hinduism is propagated and people discovering its refreshing non dogmatic approach to love and worship God, the world is doomed to Jihad and Crusades.
RE:Promote Hindu dharma
by Simply Human on Apr 15, 2008 04:52 AM Permalink
Check here how New Guinea ended up joining Indonesia and not due to Ramayan mumbo-jumbo
RE:RE:Promote Hindu dharma
by Simply Human on Apr 15, 2008 04:54 AM Permalink
type New Guinea and wikipedia in google Rediff is not letting me put the link:
RE:Promote Hindu dharma
by Tranquility on Apr 19, 2008 08:08 AM Permalink
Wikipedia? Too westernized. And they wouldn't even mention Ramayan even if there was any link. They always try to refrain from mentioning the indian connection.
I donot rebuff evolution, although it seems to answer in some questions if one takes up certain logic. I have always wondered wy plants have not evolved ?, why only one species out of millions has evolved ?, crocs have existed since the time of the dinosaurs and yet they look the same today. Why have the plants not evolved ???
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by irir123 on Apr 15, 2008 04:35 AM Permalink
Pavan - plants are continously evolving just like us! by the time the present day plants reach the next advanced stage of evolution, we wud be replaced by some other generation several 100s of thousands of years from now - evolution does not take place in a few years or even a few thousand years! it takes over 100 of 1000s/millions of years
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by human on Apr 15, 2008 04:35 AM Permalink
HI Pavan I am a doctor but I seriously doubt the theory of evolution-I think Darwins theory is false and the scientific community knows that but cannot accept it-it probably can explain a bit about adaptation of species but can never tell you the fundamental question-how did species originate ?The whole concept that we evolved from apes does not make any sense-if that is the case such diversity will not exist-until the scientific establishment comes with a convincing theory about how life originated we have to accept the concept of intelligent design by a creator. Pavan your doubts are geniune and cannot be answered by Darwins theory of evolution-there is a great deal of scientific evidence refuting it and if you want to watch it,instead of reading it try it on youtube-you have a number of links shredding Darwins theory to pieces.
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by Simply Human on Apr 15, 2008 05:14 AM Permalink
There are gaps in terms of missing proofs in the theory of evolution but the theory is largely valid. It actually accounts quite well for all bio diversity. In fact, there are islands where due to unique conditions evolution is taking place at a fairly rapid pace.
It is difficult to prove in every case conclusively what organism exactly came from where. However, there is a vast preponderence of evidence for a lot of plants and animals.
In humans the evolutionary line from apes is mostly clear. There are gaps though. But if you go over the entire evolutionary theory on apes, you will find it accounts quite well for the differences among various ape families in terms of evolutionary origin and the evolutionary end.
Just because there are gaps in the proofs, it does not discount the entire theory.
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by Pavan on Apr 15, 2008 04:41 AM Permalink
I do understand the theory of evolution, and i know we cannot observe evolution because we are part of it, however this being said, there were plants during the times of dinosaurs, and there are plants now, same old, they grow out of the ground, pretty much. After the so called mass extinction of the dinosaurs, new species came to light, and rapidly evolved, creating mammals, and out of apes the present day human being. What i do not understand is this, why have we so rapidly evolved ??, i.e are we continously changing ?, if so why ?, and why not the other species. P.S : I understand we cannot 'see' our own evolution, but please explain why other species since the dawn of the apes have not evolved into something where as we have evolved into 'Humans'
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by A B on Apr 15, 2008 05:02 AM Permalink
I do not rebuff the theory of evolution either, but keep in mind that these theories are constantly changing. Just recently there was this hue and cry about human beings evolving from fish and not apes. At this rate someday they will come up with a theory of us evolving from certain species of plants and you will have your answer as to why plants didn't evolve.
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by anita r on Apr 15, 2008 05:40 AM Permalink
Since Earth is 75% percent water life naturally originated in water so in a way humans like many life forms evolved from fish but humans directly evolved from apes. 95% of DNA sequence is indentical between Humans and Chimpanzees.So we are not LIKE Apes we infact ARE apes.Of course human ego finds it difficult to accept but facts are facts. As for the so-called doctor above who doubts Evolution, diversity exists precisely because of evolution. It takes billions of years for a unicellular orgamism to evolve into a multicellular one.It cant happen overnight. Some survive , many do not. We are here because of billions of years of evolution and not because some God somewhere snapped his/her fingers and created man out of nothing.
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by A B on Apr 15, 2008 07:04 AM Permalink
"God somewhere snapped his/her fingers and created man out of nothing"
RE:Excellent Article...is evolution really true ?
by nanu on Apr 15, 2008 09:04 AM Permalink
jesus was also a hindu, if you ought look at his family tree. Gita maga not the bible or quran
I think that the author has not made any Scientific Analysis. Although I am a practicing Hindu and I think this article is merit-less. Take for example the statement : "The scientific interpretation of the photographs of the remains of Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu) taken by NASA's [Images] Gemini-11 spacecraft in 2002, reveals that this ancient bridge linking India to Sri Lanka [Images] was manmade, and it was dated to be at least 1.75 million years old."
Did he site any references of this alleged Scientific Interpretation? No peer-review of this! I think that the author and in-turn rediff did a poor job on this article.
RE:Poor Article!
by Zain on Apr 15, 2008 04:23 AM Permalink
Ram was God or King? If he was a king, then why do hindus worship a ruler instead of worshiping god?
RE:Poor Article!
by Zain on Apr 15, 2008 05:57 AM Permalink
god is someone who is unique and divine.. definetly not human... if god wants to teach humans right path he would do in his own divine ways.. he does not need to become a human himself. A car manufacturer doesnt have to become a car himself to tell how the car operates.. he just publishes a manual. When humans can be that smart I expect God to be smarter and better..
RE:Poor Article!
by bharati sarkar on Apr 15, 2008 07:43 AM Permalink
Dear Zain,God never 'become' human.He may have the form of a human being but He is not made of matter,rather He is sat,chit ananda vighra,that is,His form is made of eternality,knowledge and bliss.In other words He is purely spiritual.He has provided us a manual for the 'car'(human being.It is called the Bhagvad Gita.
RE:Poor Article!
by A B on Apr 15, 2008 04:49 AM Permalink
WASHINGTON (PTI) -- The NASA Shuttle has imaged a mysterious ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka, as mentioned in the Ramayana.
The evidence, say experts matter-of-factly, is in the Digital Image Collection.
The recently discovered bridge, currently named as Adam's Bridge and made of a chain of shoals, 30 km long, in the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, reveals a mystery behind it.
The bridge's unique curvature and composition by age reveals that it is man-made. Legend as well as Archeological studies reveal that the first signs of human inhabitants in Sri Lanka date back to the primitive age, about 1,750,000 years ago and the bridge's age is also almost equivalent. The bridge's unique curvature and composition by age reveals that it is man made. The legends as well as Archeological studies reveal that the first signs of human inhabitants in Sri Lanka date back to the a primitive age, about 1,750,000 years ago and the bridge's age is also almost equivalent.
This information may not be of much importance to the archeologists who are interested in exploring the origins of man, but it is sure to open the spiritual gates of the people of the world to have come to know an ancient history linked to the Indian mythology.
Being a responsible media, if rediff starts publishing such an article with so many proven unscientific facts, it will soon be diluted a magzine of any worth. Without knowing actual angles between constellation, nobody can compute a date. Other than that, Carbon dating clearly proves age of Aryan civilization in India is between 2700-1800bc as starting point. If this article has to be believed, all science that I have learned, soon be vaporized. Please stop publishing articles by illiterates.
RE:This article is unscientific-author has no knowledge of history/science
by Pavan on Apr 15, 2008 04:22 AM Permalink
Do you know how carbon dating work ?, have tried testing anything with carbon dating ??, how can you be so sure that carbon dating is the most perfect method for measuring time
RE:This article is unscientific-author has no knowledge of history/science
by JB on Apr 15, 2008 04:05 AM Permalink
no where it has been stated it's a scientific evidence, it's based on old literatures & references to it.
Author has already mentioned that no physical evidence could be possible for the date that has been interpreted from the scripters. Carbon dating method can't be used for more than several thousand yrs old living things. You mentioned a civilization 2700-1800 bc, nobody denying that but what if civilization layers prior to that for which no carbon dating would work or no physical evidence exist ?
RE:This article is unscientific-author has no knowledge of history/science
by Zain on Apr 15, 2008 04:23 AM Permalink
Ram was God or King? If he was a king, then why do hindus worship a ruler instead of worshiping god?
RE:This article is unscientific-author has no knowledge of history/science
by A B on Apr 15, 2008 05:27 AM Permalink
One needs to note that the surveys which have come out with 3500 age for the bridge are based on the studies conducted on corals grown on the bridge itself and it has been argued that this represents only the age of what was measured, which is the corals. The bridge underneath the corals has been dated back to hundreds of thousands of years earlier.
So unless you invent a time-machine and give us solid proof of origin/evolution of your theory, your Carbon dating weapon would not work here. You need to think with an open mind. We have heard enough from our Western-influenced books. It's not a bad thing to look at the other side of the coin. Do not forget that these are also based on knowledge ages old.
I do not know what your science has taught you, but your Arts has surely taught you nothing other than insulting learned people by calling them names like "illiterates".
If this is "Excellent work", its about time rediff gets someone new to write a column. This article is an example of how not to write a column in a news paper. a) just because other countries show case the story of Ram does not prove that Ram existed - it shows that the story had spread through the countries around Asia where Buddhism has spread - could this be because of Asoka spreading buddhism and in doing so spread the story of Ram?? something to think about ex: most of the world knows about Harry Potter.
b)If we have to accept that Ram is after all a greak King who lived and ruled India - then is he a King or God; mind you, you cannot have it both ways. If he is a King, since India is a democracy there is no need to bow to Kingship any more.
So, please get your perspectives straight and do some real research and think about what you want to achieve before writing contentious articles such as this. The only outcome of this article is to instigate responsible people into emotional debates on religion and faith, and that is some place we do not have to go.
Note: I am an Indian who was born a hindu and I do believe in God, please do not tarnish the image of hindus and indians by publishing these kind of narrow minded articles.
RE:please get your perspective right
by Zain on Apr 15, 2008 04:24 AM Permalink
Ram was God or King? If he was a king, then why do hindus worship a ruler instead of worshiping god?
RE:please get your perspective right
by A B on Apr 15, 2008 04:42 AM Permalink
True, there is no need to bow to Kingship any more, but what does this prove here? We are even preserving the monuments of invaders - is there any opposition to that? No. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. And if Hindus think that this Setu was build by Rama, and you do not believe in that, FINE. I do not believe in every religion either. Does not mean I would go around trying to disprove their existence, no. I do not have the right to it, and neither do you. And what was the narrow mindedness about this article, kindly point out? Or better still, start writing down some 'broadminded' articles yourself- just copy paste from some western author cos thats the best people like you can do.
" Note: I am an Indian who was born a hindu " - This is not a fight between Hindus and non-Hindus, so kindly stop introducing yourself like this.
RE:please get your perspective right
by Zain on Apr 15, 2008 06:01 AM Permalink
atleast I am not trying to disporve Ram's existence. I think god has given me brain enough to realise that I cannot pass a judgement on something I dont know. So Ram was there or not.. only god knows that. I was just questioning the way he has been looked at by hindus... dont u think hindues should decide first if he is King or God? If he is king then why worship him? rather worship the god of Ram instead of Ram.
RE:please get your perspective right
by A B on Apr 15, 2008 07:13 AM Permalink
We are taught "Father is God" "Mother is God" even " Guru is God" so why cannot we worship Rama by considering him a human avatar of God? Some people think him to be God, some respect him as a human being. As long as it gives us peace of mind, you should not have any problems here.
Isn't a prophet of God put on the same pedestal as God?
Isn't the son of God worshipped as a God?
Aren't there temples and monasteries where blessed and enlightened human beings born once upon a time, are revered as Gods?
His first conclusion says how rish valmiki,and all other sri gurus and saints be false and others be true?Yes this is what you are supposed to prove?How can you presuppose an assumption to be true when your intended objective itself is to prove that assumption? Oh Officer!! Learn some fundamentals rules of reasoning before venture out to prove something
RE:what kind of article is this?
by JB on Apr 15, 2008 03:45 AM Permalink
You get it all wrong. Author has provided the credentials seem difficult to overlook & ignore and warned about some of the so called biased research in the past which has lead us to make up a very different mind set to stir the controversy now.
And looking at the vast historical literature (which forms a kind of only evidence as of now as nothing physical sort of evidence could be found for a matter of very ancient age , take any character even younger than that age Moses, Jesus etc). author suggests just don't blindly ignore it.
