March 6th, 2001, 12:58 PM
Buddha Statue: Historian Questions Caste Hindu Criticism
http://www.ambedkar.org/News/BuddhaStatue.htm
(Special Story)
(By Mukundan C. Menon)
Noted history scholar and social activist of Kerala, Dr. M. S. Jayaprakash,
questioned the Caste Hindu criticism in India, especially by RSS-Sangh
Parivar outfits, against demolition of Buddha statue by Afghan's Taliban.
"Those who uprooted Buddhism from its very land of birth, and those who
worship Adi Shankara who led anti-Buddhism onslaughts in the name of Hindu
revivalism have no moral honesty or historical right to criticise the
Taliban deeds", Dr. Jayaprakash said.
A social activist working for the unity of Dalits-Backward
Community-Minorities, the historian pointed out that it was Caste Hindu
Indians who destroyed Buddha statue and Buddha "Vihars" throughout India.
"Buddhism was the first organised movement which liberated Indian society
from the clutches of "Chaturvarnya". Till the ruling period of Emperor
Ashoka, Buddhism gave humanitarian face to Indian culture. However, it
faced destruction from the period of Pushyamitra Sumgan. It was in the name
of Hindu revivalism that Buddha statue and "vihars" were destroyed as well
as Buddhists were massacred enmass", he recalled.
According to Dr. Jayaprakash, Kerala presents a fine example for the
anti-Buddhists onslaughts. "Hundreds of places in Kerala, which has got the
name "Palli" as in Karunagapalli, Puthupalli, Pallickal, Pallipuram, etc.
were Buddhist centres originally. The actual meaning of "Palli" is Buddha
"Vihar". Schools in Malayalam are known as "Pallikoodam" and
"Ezhuthupalli", which clearly indicate the Buddhist legacy of Kerala. Both
Muslim mosque and Christian church in Kerala are commonly still called as
"Palli". On the other hand, only Hindus do not use that name either for
their temples or schools, which has got much historical signifance".
Destroyed or neglected Buddha statues were recovered like the famous
"Karumadikuttan" of Ambalappuzha and in places like Karunagapalli,
Mavelikara, Bharanikkavu, Pallickal, etc. In fact, majority of the present
Hindu temples in Kerala had been built on the very places of Buddha
"vihars" and after destructing the Buddha statues. Even the famous
Sabarimala Temple of Lord Ayyappa in dense forests of Pathanamthitta
district, which is the main money-spinner for Travancore Dewaswom Board
now, was a Buddha "vihar". Historical and archaeological evidences are
still available in plenty to prove these points.
On both sides of Periyar river in Alwaye (Kerala) and Vaiga river in
Madurai (Tamil Nadu), thousands of Buddhists were massacred by keeping them
suspended from sharp tridents. Trident is known in Malayalam as "Alawaya"
from which the present Alwaye, which is now famous for annual Shivarathri,
had originated, Dr. Jayaprakash said.
According to Dr. Jayaprakash, the 1992 December demolition of Babri Masjid
Mosque in Ayodhya, and the ongoing anti-Christian onslaughts throughout
India by RSS-Sangh Parivar are nothing new but a mere repetition and
imitation of what the Caste Hindus had been doing for centuries in India
against Buddha statues, Buddha "vihars" and Buddhist religion-culture as a
whole
http://www.ambedkar.org/News/BuddhaStatue.htm
(Special Story)
(By Mukundan C. Menon)
Noted history scholar and social activist of Kerala, Dr. M. S. Jayaprakash,
questioned the Caste Hindu criticism in India, especially by RSS-Sangh
Parivar outfits, against demolition of Buddha statue by Afghan's Taliban.
"Those who uprooted Buddhism from its very land of birth, and those who
worship Adi Shankara who led anti-Buddhism onslaughts in the name of Hindu
revivalism have no moral honesty or historical right to criticise the
Taliban deeds", Dr. Jayaprakash said.
A social activist working for the unity of Dalits-Backward
Community-Minorities, the historian pointed out that it was Caste Hindu
Indians who destroyed Buddha statue and Buddha "Vihars" throughout India.
"Buddhism was the first organised movement which liberated Indian society
from the clutches of "Chaturvarnya". Till the ruling period of Emperor
Ashoka, Buddhism gave humanitarian face to Indian culture. However, it
faced destruction from the period of Pushyamitra Sumgan. It was in the name
of Hindu revivalism that Buddha statue and "vihars" were destroyed as well
as Buddhists were massacred enmass", he recalled.
According to Dr. Jayaprakash, Kerala presents a fine example for the
anti-Buddhists onslaughts. "Hundreds of places in Kerala, which has got the
name "Palli" as in Karunagapalli, Puthupalli, Pallickal, Pallipuram, etc.
were Buddhist centres originally. The actual meaning of "Palli" is Buddha
"Vihar". Schools in Malayalam are known as "Pallikoodam" and
"Ezhuthupalli", which clearly indicate the Buddhist legacy of Kerala. Both
Muslim mosque and Christian church in Kerala are commonly still called as
"Palli". On the other hand, only Hindus do not use that name either for
their temples or schools, which has got much historical signifance".
Destroyed or neglected Buddha statues were recovered like the famous
"Karumadikuttan" of Ambalappuzha and in places like Karunagapalli,
Mavelikara, Bharanikkavu, Pallickal, etc. In fact, majority of the present
Hindu temples in Kerala had been built on the very places of Buddha
"vihars" and after destructing the Buddha statues. Even the famous
Sabarimala Temple of Lord Ayyappa in dense forests of Pathanamthitta
district, which is the main money-spinner for Travancore Dewaswom Board
now, was a Buddha "vihar". Historical and archaeological evidences are
still available in plenty to prove these points.
On both sides of Periyar river in Alwaye (Kerala) and Vaiga river in
Madurai (Tamil Nadu), thousands of Buddhists were massacred by keeping them
suspended from sharp tridents. Trident is known in Malayalam as "Alawaya"
from which the present Alwaye, which is now famous for annual Shivarathri,
had originated, Dr. Jayaprakash said.
According to Dr. Jayaprakash, the 1992 December demolition of Babri Masjid
Mosque in Ayodhya, and the ongoing anti-Christian onslaughts throughout
India by RSS-Sangh Parivar are nothing new but a mere repetition and
imitation of what the Caste Hindus had been doing for centuries in India
against Buddha statues, Buddha "vihars" and Buddhist religion-culture as a
whole