INDIAN CULTURE

 an inter-disciplinary study cutting

across Psychology,Philosophy,
History,Sociology,Education
Literature,Arts,Economics,Political
Science
 an integral approach to life

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 Lord Macaulay’s address to the British
Parliament on 02Feb 1835

“I have travelled across the length and breadth of India

and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who
is a thief, such wealth I have seen in this country, such
moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think
that we would ever conquer this country, unless we
break the very backbone of this nation, which is her
spiritual and cultural heritage, and therefore,I propose
that we replace her old and ancient education system,
her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is
foreign and English is good and greater than their own,
they will lose their self-esteem, their native culture and
they will become what we want them, a truly
3 dominated nation.”
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 Civilisation and Culture

 Civilization & Culture -- organism –

 is born, grows, perishes -
 generally exists for 500 years maximum
 –Egypt, Greece, Rome have fallen -
- presently not the same culture
 India a rare exception

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 Contemporary study

 World scenario in 1500 B.C.

 Except for Greece, Egypt, India- Great
civilisations-The rest of the world 
barbarians
 Misreading of the present actuality into past
actuality

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  Tendency to simplify - to read history
backwards due to insufficient knowledge of
the ancient past –
 Mentally reactive, not mentally active
 English-speaking
 unfortunately we hardly know anything
beyond 5th century .A.D – very far away in
the past.

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 What is patriotism ?
 Nation Spirit is something new in history –
earlier, in the feudal age loyal only to the
King, the hero
 Nation-Spirit, a strange phenomenon
 Born in another country
 100 years war between the English and
the French - French prince settling down in
England - Born to the soil - astrology

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 Patriotism – cont’d

 Gulf passengers – leaving their country

 Stamp of India – Muslims & Christians -
faith has transformed them into better
Muslims and better Christians than
elsewhere. Fusion of language 
Urdu – symbol of harmony
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 Patriotism - cont’d.

 Close connection between the Nation-

spirit and the spiritual life of our country
 Bharat-Mata  Goddess Durga 

symbolises Knowledge, Power,

Greatness and Glory

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  Mother India is not a piece of earth; she is a
Power, a Godhead, for all nations have such
a Devi supporting their separate existence
and keeping it in being. Such beings are as
real and more permanently real than the men
they influence.
- Sri Aurobindo

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 Un-ending problems of India

 Why India has fallen on all fronts? – a whole

nation cannot be poor – Commonwealth
Games 2010
 Lord Ganesh with a picture of Hrithik Roshan
 Private vs public – large number of frauds
-private banks, govt. banks and chit funds –
stampede for sarees – comparing wealth,
happiness – massive corruption at all levels
 70% resources owned by 1% people
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  We are supposed to understand Truth
 But Truth escapes both idealism and
pragmatism. Ex.:
- trimmer
- carbolic acid
- Murali of Vizag
- somersault

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 Un-ending problems of India

 Too much inequality – one lakh crores

wealth concentrated with few – rare in
the whole world –
 Certain concepts are better understood

with life experience

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 Un-ending problems of India

 U.S. visa denied – parents and girl weep –

no exchange in shops
 Why everything seems to be negative –
corruption – can’t provide proper mid-day
meals to school-children – not even clean
water  in Hyd city - mosquito related
diseases

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 Un-ending problems of India

 Cyber crimes – scams of immense

proportion – Bofors case – enquiry 3
times more than the actual scam -
nowadays “great” means money wise –
Indian food abroad
 No spirit of enquiry like Ancient Greece
(child on the road) – Renaissance in
17 in Europe(rebirth of learning / culture)
 Un-ending problems of India

 Auspicious time for payment ? – Water

bill payment in the colony –
 Over-emphasis on caste, wealth
 Repeated offenders - terrorist – a
justice system which is often unjust due
to delays at different levels and wrong
interpretations
 “chor”  corruption / or “kamchor”
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 One single solution ?

 Any single reform which can put India back

on the rails? – good governance ?
 Define level of thinking or “consciousness” –

changing of mind-set - object forgotten

 Attitude – 2 dimension – platitude
 Prof and cups of coffee
 The happiest people don't have the best of
everything. They just make the best out of
19 what they have.
 Examples of level of thinking

 Compare brothers 60-40– Bhoodan

Pochampalli - Sweden waiving-off debts –
Swedish president - no “ism” will work if
thinking remains the same – integrity is the
master-key which opens 1000 doors
 Turn-around of India, not just a company
 Why at all a leader is required?
 Irritation(AF managers)
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 Self-made man – photo on the table
 Competition vs Cooperation

 Competition vs cooperation
 In society, both the employer and the
employee suffer in the race of competition
 Try not to become a man of success, but
rather try to become a man of value –
Albert EinsteinThe
world is a dangerous place to live; not
because of the people who are evil, but
because of the people who don't do anything
21 about it."  —Albert Einstein on
  Science without religion is lame, religion
without science is blind."  —Albert Einstein
on Science
 Tendency to take parents for granted,

compare with Western countries

– the nation for granted.

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  Supply and demand often dictated by desires
and not by necessities – law of the jungle -

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 Ethics and Happiness
 We suffer because our thinking is often
totally different from reality – idea of good
and bad -
 world of thoughts versus world of reality
 We define what is good and our happiness is
based on this definition of good
 Our happiness does not depend on any
object or any person, but on ourselves, on
our perception of looking at things.
 Our happiness depends on things and
people who are tempory. Death – is it good ?
24 In the larger context… elimination of egos
 Value of a human being
 “The problems that exist in the world today
cannot be solved by the level of thinking that
created them.” --- Albert EINSTEIN
 Inflation  value of a thing increases
thereby the respect for a human being
decreases
 – vice – versa also could be true.
 No end in outer space nor inside the atom –
microcosm and macrocosm level
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 Why is India united ?

 Why is India united in spite of basic

differences between different regions?
 Like the Pacific Ocean
 Population of U.S.A. and Europe put
together.
 Lord Ganesh and Goddess Durga drinking
milk – shadow of vessels --Muslims

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  Shocking fact  before 5th century, hardly
anything remains of the great culture except
for great sculptures
 Worship of the form,the spirit is lost.

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 Greatness of India
 Startling facts: lowest rate of divorces in the
world because marriage is considered
sacred - no religious wars in history-freedom
of religion -unemployed get shelter in the
family – no civil wars – no military invasion
by India – no exclusive State religion - no
clash between State and Religion - no
Divine sanction to the king – trekking for
water and farmers’ suicides

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  Karl Marx’s theory not applicable here
–- no religious persecution because
Hinduism believes that all religions are
true( atheist or agnostic)
 No vertical division of religion – only
social divisions  castes
 No slavery at all in ancient
India(whereas ancient –slaves sold in
the market (Egypt,Greece,Rome,etc.)
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 Impatience for results

 Farmers and artisans were left

untouched during battles -thus no
famines – common elsewhere -
 For every persistent problem an invocation is
made to God - prescription read by the priest
– like a petition

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 Is the Supreme Being at fault?

 Children fighting for property when the

father…
 The powerful force which holds the nucleus
of an atom together also holds the Universe
together.

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  We wear a mask and expect Him …
 1000 curtains  ego + desires
 Egypt, Greece and Rome --- only monuments
remain, no continuation of culture.
 Alexander in India(326B.C.) – first descriptions of
India by his accompanying historians: deep interest
in Indian philosophy shown by the Greeks

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 The Greeks(4th cen. B.C.)
overwhelmed with India

– Through encounters with holy men – in

Taxila – a great sanyasi – Dandamis-head
of a sect-wealth:trees(shelter),plants(daily
food) and water(for thirst) -who is neither
fond of gold nor fears death– story of the
boy and his kite as told to Alexander.
– Menander, a greek, later known as Milinda
– almost a saint

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  Arrian – Greek historian
– Megasthenes Greek traveller and
ambassador 3rd – 2nd century B.C.
– His book “Indica” describes in detail
the life in India.
 The Greeks saw elephants for the first time
and were highly discouraged to fight

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 Observations by Greek historians
Megasthenes and Arrian

 According to Greek historians

accompanying Alexander : no interest
on money taken – no contracts –no
securities when borrowing – because
an Indian could do no wrong or suffer
no wrong – only the Kshatriyas
engaged themselves in battles

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 Battle between warriors only

 – the farmers, the artisans were left alone

because these people were doing public
good and are protected from all injury –
even the fields were left untouched - the
“conqueror” was conquered with deep
thoughts –Ungenerous wealthy people were
despised in Vedic India

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 The traditions – refuse to go
because Truth is eternal

 At least since 3000 years the Mantras and

the “parampara” are continuing
 Some of the temples are very old – even
idols reinstalled
 Greatest period --- 2000B.C. – 500A.D.
 Life of civilization --- generally not more than
500 years

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  Indian painting, architecture, sculpture,
literature, polity  all point to the Spirit, like a
magnetic needle – everything is an offering
to the Divine - even dance, painting,
literature,etc.
 Greatest study in psychology --- life
considered as a journey of the Self
 Spirituality not just going to the temple, but
exceeding the body and the mind – long
jump.
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  From four-legged to two –legged it is not
enough – he has to look up
 Lord Buddha(forest) and Raghavendra
Swamy(1595-1671)(as chief priest) left
their family because of the inner call.

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 ANALYSIS OF PERSONALITY

Different Beings in Man

1. The Physical Being

 Not a bundle of bones and flesh – different

beings in Man
 The physical being  Chariot -- obedient,
good capacity to work provided no
interference – through immune system it can
take care of itself - a good discipline can
keep it in form – it has its own consciousness
– while falling – life span – RBC 120 days
 considered a vehicle
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  Benefits of physical education:
 Discipline in life;strength and stamina,trusted
more,good health;no liquor or smoking habits
 Increase in confidence levels
 Tenacity(both physical and mental)
 Less of wild and bad thoughts
 Good Posture and controlled emotions
(spiritual ecstasy, etc.)

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  some people prone to accidents – alertness
it has the habit of getting-up early in the
morning – follows routine through signals -
typing – cycling- driving – swimming – where
body consciousness is trained by the Mind –
physical pain is necessary to safeguard the
body
 Peaceful life and peaceful death

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  sixth sense – teams A – B – C 3 individual
players – basically lazy but can be trained
like a little child
 A little exercise to keep it fit – Good health
infuses optimism – exercise drives away
fatigue contrary to the ordinary thinking
 poor health  tension for the indi. and the
family
 One hour rest before midnight…..
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  Similarity between the body and the mind:
repetition
sets(with a gap)
regularity(daily)
switching off the mind
liking after some struggle
confidence level

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  Cells  every one month technically
a new person – but something permanent
 Replacement of the organs – the
continuity is there
 Change is the law of life – even mountains
- Heraclitus(535-475 B.C.)
 Indian philosophy – only 3 things are
permanent 1. Soul 2. Nature
3. Universal Soul(God)  all are unseen
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 2. The Vital Being
 The vital being -- Horses -- the seat of
energy(life-force), and emotions – unlimited
desires –unfulfilled desires - the driving force
behind every activity – without it no action
takes place - world of emotions and desires
– responds to encouragement(stadium) -
likes everything sensational – big tamasha,
big noise, Guiness records –

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  tendency to make everything vulgar, cheap,
unrefined,low, coarse, very moody
 relishes spicy or thrilling news
 Its aim  satisfaction of desires and
accumulation of unlimited possessions,
wealth and more wealth, devoid of beauty
and nobility or justice
 Ideal manit’s aim: not the noble,thoughtful,
moral or religious man, but “successful man”
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  The vital being sulks, grumbles when it does
not get what it wants, frustration,
depression -- enjoyment for enjoyment’s
sake, not bothered about consequences –
no patience anywhere – wants instant
results – like instant coffee - mainly
emotional – no logic or sense of justice.

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  3 main aims  to survive well
to enjoy - (the 3 Ws)
to possess(sth or someone)

to dominate(power - ego)

(cobra)
 All beings of Man are important, but giving
over-importance to one of them, disturbs the
49 balance
  Demand and supply  problems created by
the vital being – law of the jungle – recession
is expected any time – it does not work
properly because the vital being throws its
weight everywhere –
Profit margin  has declined very much from
20-25% earlier to 5%
 Recession  not natural, arficial  big
money manipulated by the combined effort of
big businessmen and politicians
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  procreation – from multiplication of the cells
to multiplication of the bodies - to continue
the species – selfishness which encourages
opportunism – never satisfied –unlimited
wants - the vital is awake when the Mind
sleeps – our desires often drive our dreams
 sleep - walking in extreme conditions

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  They lived happily ever after
 It requires a lot of self - counselling like a
small child – discipline and training– when
this discipline is firmly entrenched, then
difficult to remove it
 Over – ambitious
 It fantasises - vicarious pleasures
(indirect)

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  – restless – no patience at work or study –
- wants instant results – wants
results without effort -
- tension for evthg  ex: children/no
children, money/no money,
job/no job
- children are born beautiful so that life can
be taken care of – Life planned beautifully
by Nature -
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  It can be beautiful  mental progress
or physical progress – one requires a
lot of energy to surpass oneself –
voluntary work,etc. – its involvement
is indispensable for all activity – it
can make miracles.

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  Role of bhajans / kirtans -
 After death, the vital does not dissolve easily
- Running race shouting, the vital responds
to encouragement.

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 3. The Mental Being

 The mental being- Charioteer --

wavering because it does not see the
Truth clearly or at one stroke , it
understands in bits(scope for
misinterpretation)
 Thinking almost like alternating current

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  The aesthetic and the ethical beings
 The screen of the mind
- often cloudy, not clear
- several channels

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  by logical steps slow and heavy – tries to
explain an accident after it takes place –
a theft after it takes place - linear view –
tries to generalise – tags people and things
without knowing the truth - trial and error –
no large vision– at the most a good
organizer–a good minister –often serves the
vital being which is restless and wants quick
results and usurps the throne(decision-
58 making)
  we are predominantly vital and partly mental
– lawyer – twists the events to satisfy the
vital – the Mind can argue both ways – often
it understands by contrasts only(black and
white)- tendency to systematise, like a
machine – democracy and the “isms” –
education – exam more important than
education – idea of equality --- to freeze the
infinite into the finite – like an ocean into a
bottle – rules of the infinite are different – so
are rules of life - supersonic aircraft -
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  Horizontal knowledge – like an ant - hardly
any vertical knowledge – research projects –
mostly not referred – it lives in the world of
ideas mostly and tries to thrust them on
reality which is quite different – thrusts his
logic on reality – tends to oversimplify, to
systematise things and people -

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  Often fails to understand reality – global
recession – even U.S.A. did not expect
 Reason often “explains away” instead
of explaining – allopathy –
inflation – recession
 Comparison between the physical being and
the mental being.

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  Self-counselling  the mental being
taking the vital being into confidence
- harmony between the mental and the
vital is very difficult and temporary -
- Brakes and accelerator
- rituals  body in place but mind not in
place mostly

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  Sometimes the charioteer takes the upper
hand and sometimes the horses – conflict
which leads to frustration.
 “A strong and disciplined mind acts like a
friend, but a weak, uncontrolled and
frustrated mind acts like an enemy and leads
to destruction.” – Swami
Vivekananda

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  “To me the very essence of education is
concentration of the mind, not the collection
of facts”. - Swami Vivekananda
 Aspiration, surrender and elimination
( 3 pronged approach )

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  Body  needs good food to be strong
Mind  needs good ideas to be strong
cloth dipped in dye  Swami
Ramakrishna
Will-power  a very important tool to
change our mind-set and our
surroundings – even the king of the
jungle has to make an effort -everyone
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 4. The Spiritual Being

 The spiritual being - Warrior -- missing -

knows the Truth and has the power to
execute instantly –thought and execution are
one and the same – thought and energy are
one and the same -instant harmony or
coordination among the different beings, no
complaints – the journey is smooth, less
obstacles , enlightenment
 Three pronged prayer  Surrender /
elimination / aspiration
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 The evolution from Matter

Spirit
Mind
Life depends on
Matter

Body and Mind have to be still, motionless

so that the Spirit descends.

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  Man alone on Earth is capable of exceeding
himself – to shut himself up with Ego as his
friend is not his goal

 Distrust the man who has never failed and

suffered; follow not his fortunes, fight not
under his banner.
- Sri Aurobindo

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  Power of faith -- it is simple for simple
people, difficult for difficult people.
 If the sons fight among themselves one can’t
blame the father

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  Present-day education does not accept
these beings – Integral education –
Education should be Man-centered and not
information-centered

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 Education

 Education should be based on:

 human goals
 not information-based
 quality must be more important
than quantity
 The roots of education are bitter but the fruit
is sweet– Aristotle(384-323B.C)

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 Spirtual solution is
the only solution

 Faith is blind otherwise it is not faith. --- It

sees the Spirit everywhere, even in force
 Science is also puzzled – and has become
more humble – the idea of a single key to all
Knowledge is now an impossible dream
because subjects to study are multiplying –
unlike in the beginning of the 20th century 
the atom is the brick Spiritual solution is the
only solution.
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  For it memory, sentiment, intelligence have
limited value
 The Rishis laid solid foundation – with
common sense and infinite determination –
 Christians, Muslims or others, this country
gives the spiritual environment

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 Religions in India

 Christians, Muslims are different compared

with those in Europe or Gulf countries –
Indian stamp – Indians stick together abroad
irrespective of religion.
 Change of religion especially after marriage

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 God  Real or imaginary ?
 The spiritual element is it real or imaginary?
Refer to the List of Ceremonies --------------An
attempt to govern Life through the Spirit
-------------------
 Our names
 Namaste ! -- touching the feet (of temple-
priest) it makes both the people relieved -
touching the head to the ground in temples.
- Jai Shri Ram! Jai Shri Krishna!
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  Wishing – very important – KWIKK
otherwise ego problem  weight on the head

Expecting woman temple -

 Naming ceremony of a child in a temple

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  Mental cases - on 6/7/02 in DC – 6 weeks in
a temple in TN: morning prayer for 15 min.,
then temple work- conducted by NIMH,
Bangalore – remarkable results.

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 Traditions continuing since
thousands of years

Aksharabhyasa(pooja before formal education starts)

 Narration of the epics to the children /
Harikatha & Burrakatha - same story over
and over again / power of the story and the
talent of the narrator
 Auspicious time for journeys, submitting of
application forms, tenders or just going out.
 Upanayanam (initiation to the Vedas )
 Marriage ceremony(why not Registered Marriage)
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  Vaastu --- Gruhapravesham --- assuming
office --- location of the table ---even by
shrewd politicians --- alteration/demolition of
a house if it is not as per Vaastu
 Vahana –pooja
 Homage to road-side deity on the highway
 Any good news (to a temple)
 Any new beginning(pooja)
79  Any major hurdle(to a temple)
  No rains (pooja)
 No children / problem children (pooja)
 Delay in marriage / problem spouse (pooja)
 No job / problem with existing job
 Sardarji in temple:
 1) In 24 hours how much time?
 2) Returning to God what belongs to Him
 3) Moral courage to face the problems
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  Sometimes astrologer gives prescription
 Annual pilgrimage (especially businessmen,
with servants, etc; putting a fraction of the
income into the hundi for more returns.
 Ayyappa pilgrimage(strict penance for about
a month) / these pilgrimages since
thousands of years
 Division of property through prayer
 Court cases
81  Sowing of crops --- Gramadevata
  River-gods
 For Malleshwara Swamy – Devaragutta in
Kurnool Dist – the devotees hit each other on
the head with a stick in the procession –
each village tries to be closest to the deity –
battle between the villages - doctors are
present
 Karur Dist.(Tamilnadu)  coconuts on head
 Death – ceremony( 12 days) – first one year
every month – then every year
 Significance of new clothes on festivals –
82 new thinking and all bitterness forgotten
 The spiritual element
dominates this country

 - Jan2001 – Gen. PADMANABHAN – 67

vacancies
 - Shivaji – godess Bhavani
 - Maharaja of Travancore – to expiate the
sins committed thru wars and by previous
kings– 56 days in a year

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 Many kings were sensitive and
had a broad vision of life
 Thrice a day to the temple to hear Vedic
mantras - Raja Raja Chola –Discovery
channel – Raja Raja Chola I,
was clearly the greatest of the Chola
Monarchs. During his reign (985 - 1014 AD)
he brought stability to the Chola Kingdom –
he wanted to repent for the lives lost in
battles – construction techniques -

84
  World's First Granite Temple
The Brihadeswara temple at Thanjavur
in Tamil Nadu is the first temple in the world
to be built with granite. The shikhara is made
from a single ' 80-tonne ' piece of granite.
Also, this magnificient temple was built in
just five years,(between 1004 AD and 1009 AD
during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
85
  “Practical” in those days  speaking to the
“presence” behind the idol
 Supreme Court ruling – Aug2002 – regarding
religion in curriculum – this does not happen
in the West.

86
 The epics

 The serials most seen even when repeated –

Ramayana and Mahabharat
a serial once seen becomes trash like a
newspaper
 Who is the hero in the Mahabharata?
 Indian Civilization accepted human strengths
and weaknesses – no compulsion at all to
rush to the forest – according to the nature of
87 the individual – only 5% of the population
  In view of the above, we have to be
intellectually blind not to believe in the
working of the Spirit.
Before birth to after death the religious
element is there
 In the West flowering of the ego – to be fed
to the larger ego of the community- cut-throat
competition – success and ambition are key
words – own photo on the table -
 “Surrender” is almost a crime.
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 The mind itself is
a laboratory

 India – Ego is regarded as the chief obstacle

to the Spirit’s perfection
 Experiences of Yoga as true or more true
than the experiments in a laboratory we do
not have enough will-power to pursue
spiritual life – Ind. Culture saw beyond life
and death
 If the will-power is strong, the spiritual way
can be hewed
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 Newton’s third law

 Our action determines not only the present

but also the future
 Material world – ante-chamber
– Guru and shishya in the forest

the effect of the mantras on the

shishya – 5% of the people

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  Soul and migration of soul.
 Supreme position given to religion, thought
and learning – that is why a Brahmin
occupied the top status, but he never ruled
like in the West.

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  Sun and sunlight–description of the
Supreme  omnipresent,omnipotent,
omniscient(having total
knowledge), infinite beauty,
infinite, no difference
between knowledge and
action, both are same.

92
 Ancient India made one
small mistake

 India did not sit down to write down her

history unlike Greece which mastered this art
 thus the problem of misreading the past
like a duplication of the present
 Hardly anything remains after 500 A.D.
except the great sculptures and “parampara”
 Unity in diversity is possible only because of
the Spirit; take out the Spirit and India
becomes a zero.
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 The caste system
The original significance

 There were no rules except the caste rules

( social rules )
 Caste system - original conception – four
types of work:
 1) The intellectual – the Brahmin
 2) The fighter / ruler – the Kshatriya
 3) The supplier – the Vyshya
 4) The server – the Shudra
94
  Attitude was more important than kind of
work - punishment rules – became fossilized
due to vested interests - It gave durability
and stability to Indian society – this stability
has no parallel in the world – the caste ruled
and not the temple – total freedom of worship
/ no worship at all

95
 Religion and Spirituality

 Difference between Religion( just a ladder)

and Spirituality (synthesis of order and
freedom )
 religion  outward and a system
 Spirituality  direct link with the
Infinite

96
 Who is a first class person?

 Hinduism  a spiritual discipline, not a social

discipline - In course of time, Religion
becomes a dogma if the Spirit is forgotten -
3rd class - Self-service, 2nd class - Social-
service, 1st class - spiritual life

97
  Idealism versus pragmatism - Truth escapes
both because both belong to the mental level
– pursuit of Truth more important than
knowledge of Truth

98
  Significance of new clothes on festivals –
new thinking and all bitterness forgotten – in
India all life bore the stamp of spirituality (the
breath of the people): religion, literature, art,
etc.

99
  All Indian religious sects and philosophies
accept 3 truths: 1) the Spirit 2) Universal
Nature 3) Soul (jiva)
 Strangely all the above three are
non-matter.

10
  3 types of criticism –
 1) On the surface
 2) Light and shade - like a journalist
 3) Sympathetic - by true understanding.
 DISCOVERIES – discovery of “zero” which led to the
number theory –“Hindsah” (number) from Hind.
 Arithmetic and Algebra(which rely on multiplication)
not possible for Greeks

10
 The great Greeks  got stuck

 Could not count beyond 10000 and their

numbers were a little difficult to write
 Without the number “0” they could not carry
out multiplication nor division
 Thus no arithmetic nor algebra

10
  Laplace (1749-1827)(famous french
mathematician and astronomer) said “ It is
India that gave us the ingenious method of
expressing all numbers by means of ten
symbols, each symbol receiving a value of
position , as well as an absolute value; as
profound and important idea which appears
so simple to us now that we ignore its true
merit, but its very simplicity, the great ease
which it has lent to all computations,

10
 The discovery of “zero”

puts our arithmetic in the first rank of useful

inventions; and we shall appreciate the
grandeur of this achievement when we
remember that it escaped the genius of
Archimedes and Apollonius, two of the
greatest men produced by antiquity.”

10
  Aryabhatta ( 476-550A.D. ) -- “Chal prithvi
sthir bhati” many centuries
1000 years before Galileo (1564-1642)
his greatest contribution  zero
cir. of the earth he calculated as
24835 miles. Modern calculation 
24900 miles –

10
 3.1416 instead of the actual 3.14159  Pi
value – his works inspired the Greeks and
the Arabs
Surgery and her own system of
medicine(Ayurveda)
 Karma - every action has its fruit – thus the
whole of life is religion or sacred

10
 India’s great personalities
 Rome’s great personality’s - rulers, warriors
and statesmen.
 India’s great personalities - Rishis and munis.
 Rishi  most outstanding figure – his status
more than the king because of “vision” or
“marg darshan” – the hero of the hero(the
king) – St. Francis of Assisi(1182-1226) –
Lord Buddha’s observation one may
overcome a thousand men in battle, but he
who conquers himself is the greatest victor
10
  The saints came from all castes and were
revered by each and every person:
Tirouvallouvar, Tulsidas, Ramdas, Mirabai,
etc.
 Temple -focal point: for prayer,
appointments, marriages, cultural programs
– simple inside and crowded outside –on a
hill, far from the crowd.

10
 How to judge a culture?

 Judgment of a culture: 1) essential spirit 2)

accomplishment 3) power of survival and
adaptation to the needs of time.

10
 Literature

Sanskrit - Classical creations in Sanskrit

among the top in the world – in other Indian
languages also but in Sanskrit it tops -
language of the gods-Four supreme
productions of her genius: 1) The Vedas 2)
The Upanishads 3) The Ramayana 4) The
Mahabharata (they are India’s foundation) –
each one of them does not have any parallel
in any other literature.

11
 The Vedas (1500 – 500B.C.)
 The Vedas - very symbolic, full of symbols
( in dreams ), therefore intelligible- also
because of the ancient lang. – the seed lang.
of Ind. Spiritual culture – mystic significances
of life divine discovery and unveiling of the
potencies of the mantra –
 A supreme culmination in which the Spirit
discloses itself - thru the symbols and
suggestions to the individual. He is guided
from the finite to the Infinite – around him he
11 saw various disciplines and masters.
 spiritual symbols

– Cow light
-Peacock  spiritual
– Elephant  strength
– Deer  speed in the spiritual path

– Lion force and courage, victory

– Incense  self-consecration
– peacock  spiritual victory
11
 Unified Knowledge

 spiritual culture-powers of the mantra

 Religion, philosophy and poetry are one
 Vedic poets  seers and thinkers at the
same time – Truth seen, felt, lived – later on
the Vedas became a book of mythology and
sacrificial ceremonies.

11
 The Upanishads
 The Upanishads - or Vedanta - constantly
breaking through form and symbol and
image without entirely abandoning them so
that the intellectual mind has an idea about
the Spirit – source of several profound
philosophies and religions which constantly
returned to it for light - there is hardly any
main philosophical idea outside these
ancient writings.

11
 The golden light discloses
itself to the aspiring mind

– The heights of Truth are disclosed to

the seeing mind. Everything is too
compact for the slow logical
intelligence which understands in
pieces, which doubts and thereby
misses the truth. .

11
 – Even intervals are full of an
unexpressed thought; the mind is left
to work for itself. They help the mind
to see masses of Truth at a time. -
Symbolism is foreign to our modern
mentality.

11
 Inherent optimism
 The West thinks that living in the mind and
emotions is spirituality – it asks religion not to
step out of certain bounds
 The Vedic and Vedantic imagery is foreign to
our present mentality which does not believe
in the living truth of the symbol.
 More tragedy, terror, sorrow and gloom in few
pages of European works than the mass of
Ind. literature
11
  The Ramayana and the Mahabharata - best
and sweetest in the national character
-mythological or historical story used for a
higher purpose powerful and beautiful from
all angles – covers all aspects of Man – the
best and the sweetest in national character.
 Battle of Truth over darkness.
 Not only great poems but also
Dharmashastras (ethical, social reference
11 book)
 The golden thread pervades
the Epics

 Suggestion of the soul at every turning point

 Sweeping effect on the masses, even the
illiterate.
 Moulded the character, thought, aesthetic
and religious mind of the people.

11
  Mahabhararata - considered as the 5th
Veda(which is not accurate)
– like a vast temple of sculpture
– Whatever is there in India is in the
Mahabharata.
 Style and verse of the epics - clear, simple,
rich, not ornamental, flexible and sure step –
the vastness of the plan and minuteness of
detail are baffling and tiring to a western
mind
 Are epic characters real? - intensely real
12 (more real than historical figures)
  Are epic characters real? - intensely real
(more real than historical figures) –
Bhakta Ramadas(1620-1688) saw Lord Ram
staying in the jungle.

12
 Unified Knowledge

 Unlike in Europe, India maintained a

constant unity between philosophy, religion
and Yoga. This unity gave strength and
character not exampled in any other people.
 Tantras and Puranas -Bridge of transition
between the normal religious and the
spiritual mentality with the aid of easily
sizable ideas, forms, etc.

12
  For at least 3000 years India maintained
creation of this kind and greatness - a
remarkable feature
 All knowledge was woven into one and led
up by degrees to the one highest knowledge

12
  Fruits and flowers - plant in good health
 Even during decline India was active – it
needed a constant stream of saints and
religious thinkers to bring the Spirit into the
decaying form and ritual. Also the common
man did not lag behind to listen to the
message of Tukaram, Kabir, Tirouvallouvar
or Ramdas

12
 INDIAN ART

 Gandhara Art - fusion of Greek and

Buddhist art – Ancient Greece  high degree
of intellectual reason, aesthetic sense –
unfortunately due to civil wars it could not
preserve its independence – Yet, Europe
owes half its civi. to Greece
 Ajanta caves - work of 6 to 7 centuries with
beautiful decoration (flowers in stone)

12
  European artist - his intuition clings to some
form in Nature or life – also technique and
proportion – adds mental stuff The Spirit
depends on the form- His imagination
submits itself to physical Nature – he rejects
suggestions from beyond

12
  Indian art - its business is to disclose
something of the Self, the Infinite – the line,
color and the rest are not his first but his last
preoccupation – not the actual face of
Buddha, but to reveal the calm of Nirvana
through a figure of Buddha – Buddha’s figure
achieves the expression of the Infinite in a
finite image.

12
  The religious life was more intense than in
any other country – the ordinary man
understood quite easily the thoughts of the
philosophers and the saints – from the
outcasts themselves came saints revered by
the whole community
 Generally Art surpasses Nature; it is not just
a mirror of Nature - A western critic of Ind.
Art finds it of poor standard – All details focus
12 on one goal.
  How to appreciate Indian art?  Not with
the outer eye, like the western mind which
rejects suggestions. From beyond. - All Art
reposes on some unity otherwise it is not art –
Ajanta caves – work of 6-7 centuries with
decorations – entire families used to settle
down at the site for a number of years.

12
  There is a great beauty in simplicity.
 The Spirit is missed where it does not
strongly impose itself and is not fully caught
even where the power which is put into the
expression is too great and direct.

13
  Western mind  attracted by the form,
lingers on it and cannot get away from its
charm, confines the soul in the body – the
spirit depends on its existence, and for
everything it has to say, on the form – the
farthest it has gone – impressionism of the
Spirit and not direct vision – the sensual
appeal is there , but it is refined, not the chief
element
13
  True beauty  lavanya  psychic grace and
beauty
 Indian mind  form does not exist, except as
a creation of the Spirit – every detail – line,
arrangement of mass, color , shape,
posture ,etc - is very often a symbol

13
  Bold and firm insistence on the pure and
strong outline and a total suppression of
everything that would interfere with its
boldness, strength and purity or would lurk
over and dilute the intense significance of the
line – truth of the essence of the form – from
formless to the form

13
  the strong subtle lines and pure shapes
which make the humanity of the human form
are alone brought into relief – the filling-in of
the line is done another way; it is effected by
a disposition of pure masses, a design and
colored wave-flow of the body

13
 The Indian Temple
 Indian temple - an appeal and aspiration to
the Infinite
 Description of temple- simple inside and
crowded outside, on a hill at a distance to
create the atmosphere
 Nataraja(an aspect of Shiva) - rapture of the
cosmic dance - several arms – the 18 arms
of Durga – represent powers – a two-armed
figure would not have radiated this power .
 All Art justifies its means and here it does
it with a supreme perfection.
13
  The Taj or Fatehpur – Sikri - the spiritual is
not there but still the Indian mind has
absorbed the West Asian influence -
synthesis
 Only in ancient countries – Egypt, Greece,
Rome – the art of sculpture flourished
supremely, entire families used to settle
down at the site for a number of years

13
  Painting - bold outline - the Infinite entering
the Finite, the Formless entering the Form –
pure shapes are brought into relief, the inner
details are minimized because they disturb
the significance and power - simple and
powerful – the human form which represents
humanity is brought into relief.

13
  Indian Art on the whole less artistic than that
of Japan because it has put first the spiritual
need and the rest is secondary.
 Three millenniums at least of a creation of
this kind and greatness  evidence of a real
and remarkable culture – even during
decline, when everything seemed to close
down , it began several cycles of spiritual
and religious activity, literature and painting
13
 The Political Structure

 The assemblies , village assemblies or

higher level had a lot of power – the royal
resolutions on any State policy had to take
the assent of the assemblies(all levels) –
succession, taxation, war, etc - unfortunately
we know little of the constitution – their civil
and military organizations were both
excellent – village community  a republic,
self-sufficient – panchayat- own education,
13 police, tribunal.
  The king was the head – hereditary or
elected by the republic

14
  Power was concentrated at the grass-roots
level unlike the western democratic model
 Absolutist despotism – typically central
Asian, never an indigenous Indian growth
 The Brahmin order came up fast due to the
predominance of religious and spiritual
atmosphere – but no Theocracy as in other
countries.

14
  A peculiar figure  the rishi – born in any of
the classes, having an authority by his
spiritual personality over everybody including
the king who consulted him. The Rishi put
the spiritual stamp on the national mind and
interpreted the ideal law.
 The royal Council was composed of
commoners, Vaishyas and not Brahmins or
Kshatriyas – by a single demo. of their
displeasure they could impose their will on
14 their king without the need of a long struggle
  Every occasion social or political was seen
from the spiritual point of view - dharma
pervaded everywhere – dozen meanings -
dharma of caste/king/individual – true justice
(beggar)
 Unfortunately we know little of the
constitution – the earlier Republican states
enjoyed more freedom than Rome and
persisted against the mighty empires of
Chandragupta & Ashoka - free inner life
14
  And independence- except currency, foreign
affairs and military the king had not much
responsibility.
 Alexander(326B.C.) - no purpose to India
except trade route – megalomania
 After Alexander’s attack India felt the need of
political unification and the republics were
factors of division –

14
  Finally monarchical state replaced all other
forms of govt. - but the king’s power was not
personal – the assent of the people was
required – he was responsible for peace and
war.
 Dharma - impersonal authority - greater
sovereign than the king himself
 - Impersonal authority, but dharma was
brought about only partially.
14
  Different meanings of Dharma 
- duty(house-holder,soldier,employee,
- law employer,etc)
- religion
- justice (beggar)
 Irony  fighting for Dharma, Arjuna is told to
break the rules of Dharma, by Lord Krishna

14
  The Brahmins  recorders and exponents,
not creators, not authorized to make any
changes at all
 King’s duties - according to Dharma – even
his personal life according to Dharma –
Dharma governed – he was responsible for
peace and war – his power was not personal
–other public authorities hedged in his
powers
 And no exclusive state religion and the king
14 was not the religious head of the people.
  The king did not interfere in the personal life
of the people - change in society was
brought about not artificially from above but
automatically from within according to
Dharma the king’s right to govern was
subject to the satisfaction and good-will of
the people.
 Foreign policy, military, law and order,
currency  under his control

14
  If king ceased to follow dharma or according
to the satisfaction of the people, they ignored
the king – threat of secession or exodus was
enough – he could be punished

14
  Absolutism of divine right of the king - no
place in the political system
 Life of society - different stages like human
being but the collective being has the
capacity of renewing itself, of a recovery and
a new cycle – through the soul idea or life
idea at work – many renaissances.

15
  Society passes thru 3 stages of evolution: 1)
lives according to its intuitions 2) according
to the Reason – which loses hold of the
simple principles of a people’s vitality –
result: an exaggerated dependence on
system and institution – instead of a living
people , a mechanical State.3) All people feel
the imperative need of further evolution, man
begins to live more deeply

15
  Indian thinkers did not construct social
systems out of abstract intelligence – the
‘isms’.
 The economic, the political, the religious, the
ethical, the cultural - all depend on Dharma -
which in turn depends on the Supreme.

15
  The political structure breaks up at the top
under foreign pressure – but preserves the
base for a long time (community) .The
communal organic village resisted wear and
tear of all invasions except the British – the
village community remained throughout the
stable unit, the firm grain, or indestructible
atom of the social body.

15
  The royal resolutions on any policy had to
take the assent of the assemblies (all levels)
- succession, taxation, war, etc. It is not clear
when these institutions went out of existence
 before or after Mahomedan invasion.
Constant invasions from Central Asia slowly
destroyed the great institutions in the North,
but in the South it continued, for several
centuries.
15
  Caste - totally independent, simultaneously
religious, social and economic role of joint-
family –exercised jurisdiction over its
members
 Panchayats - own education, police, tribunals
– village  a republic, self-sufficient
 Dharma Sangha - Buddhist monastic order -
organized religious community
 Struggle between Church and State - absent
15
in political history of India
  Combination of : i) foreign invasion ii)
decadence of culture brought about the
collapse of the political structure
 The political system could not give protection
against the aggressor.
 The republican system was more suited for
defence than offence, in spite of its military
organization – Monarchical state easier
and efficient machinery
15
  First 1000 years - swept by barbaric
invasions
 Next 1000 years - servitude to foreign
masters

15
  Therefore - political incapacity
 Sole expansion of India - not of territory, but
of culture - Buddhist idea to the Eastern
World and China
 Invasion of peace and not war.
 Conquest by physical force - against her
Dharma
 European civilization - base was political
and economic life – always conquering, so
always fighting – European individual
temperament is similar
15
  Indian civilization - spiritual element, the
basis of life and it achieved great heights in
spirituality
 During Vedic times political unity was almost
impossible - about 100 kingdoms - no military
unity
 Political unity by itself cannot ensure lasting
peace - Cultural unity or rather spiritual unity
is more important – the average European
15 mind does not believe this truth –
  Countries younger than India have crumbled
though they were politically united
 Only monuments are left - Greece, Egypt,
Rome imposed only external cultural unity in
the Mediterranean - thus the East broke from
the West.
 India withstood the Greeks, the Parthians,
the Huns, the Mongols, the Mahomedans,
the British – the powerful British with modern
weapons could not crush Ind. Culture.
16
  India had infinite vitality and tenacity to resist
anything foreign to her culture, absorbed only
what suited her.
 Imperial monarchy weakened the vigor of
free assemblies which closed themselves.
Instead of uniting elements they became
isolated and dividing factors

16
  Spiritual unity is against centralization and
uniformity- so every time a political unity was
attempted, it failed after an apparent success
because the inner spirit does not want to
perish in exchange for temporary security –
an ideal system had to be found protection
from external aggression and also autonomy
like an organism for all units

16
  The castes multiplied themselves without any
true economic or spiritual need of the country
- islands in the country.

16
  Peculiar phenomenon - more the
centralization of an empire, the more it
suffered from the communities in the form of
non-cooperation of hundreds of communities
especially under the Pathan and Mughal
empires
– centralized empire could not truly
succeed in India
 Ideal of chakravartin - unity, and autonomy,
conquest meant “unity in diversity” and not
16 destruction nor humiliation nor servitude.
  Historic weakness of India – Khyber Pass –
between Pak and Afghanistan - vulnerability
through the north-western passes – earlier
this problem did not exist due to Gandhara
and Vahlika – the trans- Indus countries.
 Organized Persian Empire took over these
territories and instead of protection they
became a base for attacks.
16
 Historic weakness  Khyber
Pass

16
  Alexander the Great - megalomaniac - thrown out
immediately by Chandragupta Maurya – the first
great attack gave a jolt to the sub-continent – with
remarkable swiftness a powerful empire was built by
the clever Chanakya which lasted 8 or 9 centuries in
spite of weak periods Chanakya’s empire – hardly
any parallel in the world from the point of view of
organization, administration, public works, the rich
life and brilliance- great culture and great empire

16
  The deterioration was held in abeyance by a
religious spirit for about 1000 years - the worst
period - the princes started fighting endlessly among
themselves without patriotism.
 Traditionally the people did not bother about the
change of rulers.
 The empire - saved the Indian soil from that
immense flood of barbarians which threatened all the
ancient stabilized cultures including the powerful
Roman Empire. These attacks continued for several
centuries.

16
  Megasthenes  Indica – to study the great
empire of India
 Combination of 1) foreign invasion and 2)
decadence of culture – brought about the
collapse of the political structure which must
be judged not only by stability, prosperity,
internal freedom, law and order, but also
protection against aggression

16
  The irruptions took place when the empire
grew weak. The later Parthian, Hun and
Scythian(central Asians) invasions were of a
more serious nature. They affected Punjab
and it seems they came down the western
coast - Spiritual unity is against
centralization, so every time a political unity
was attempted, it failed after an apparent
success.
17
  Indian civilization - more tenacity than Rome
which collapsed before the Teuton and the
Arab.
 India’s method has been two-fold: to drive
away the invader or absorb him in the
culture
 Most of the invaders who settled became
almost Indian in mind, way of life and
interest; something which is remarkable
17 (generally the second generation has roots to
  India faced invasion after invasion, it was not
swift enough to react, still it survived, and in
spite of its period of exhaustion after 2000
years - this is very rare.

17
  Since the invasions continued with long gaps, the
process of absorption was also active – the country
enjoyed long stretches of peaceful and orderly
government – The Mauryas, the Kushans, and the
Guptas  in the north. The Andhras, the Chalukyas,
the Rashtrakutas, etc.  each lasted two or three
hundred years – longer than the British empire in
India – though occasional battles, the country was
more or less peaceful

17
  cultural activities in one corner of the country
influenced other parts – every religious or
philosophic controversy traveled fast all over
north and south

17
  The Britishers were constantly transferred
back to their country. Those who stayed
backed were absorbed.
 Western rule crushed out totally the
communal or regional autonomies and
replaced with the dead unity of a machine

17
  The Persian language - like French in Europe
became the lang. of the cultured across wide
stretches of Asia - From Constantinople in the East
to the edge of the Gobi desert. During Afghan and
Mughal periods, Persian was the court language of
the country right up to the British period.This Persian
lang. influenced all the Indian langs. which are full of
Persian words.India produced some of the best
poets in Persian – both Hindu and Muslim.

17
  India’s political genius in the decadence was not
swift enough to withstand the Pathan, Mughal and
European, but it was strong enough to survive.
 In spite of his fanaticism, Aurangzeb’s rule was more
tolerant than any medieval European kingdom-- the
Mughal empire was a great and magnificent
construction and an immense amount of political
genius and talent was employed in its creation and
maintenance

17
  Some of the ancient civilizations like Greek, Indian,
Chinese, Persian were always seeking for a solution
which covered all aspects or activities of life – a
harmony among all aspects.
 Present Western civilization - Enjoyment for
enjoyment’s sake(final goal) – there is no connection
between the Hellenic civilization and modern
Western civilization – the Greeks were neither
pleasure -seekers nor ascetics

17
  India had many periods of distress – famine,
battles, diseases, etc.. Yet she had more
peaceful and orderly existence
 For long stretches of time then Europe until
the Mughal Empire was breaking up.
 Aswamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices.
Conquest did not mean invasion, destruction,
neither humiliation, nor servitude and
suffering, it meant “unity in diversity”.
17
  The traditional indifference of the people to
the change of rulers gave the vast peninsula
to a handful of merchants across the seas.
For every 3000 Indians - one Britisher.

18
  In spite of occasional battles the country was
more or less peaceful. Cultural activities in
one corner of the country
 Influenced other parts. Every religious or
philosophic controversy traveled fast all over
north and south.
 The Muslim kings conquered parts of the
country because they became totally
Indian( a fact too often forgotten)
18
  The Indian civilization proved itself much
more sound, more vital and more solid than
powerful Rome which went down before the
Teuton and the Arab. It succeeded in
preserving the security of the peninsula

18