• Welcome to Tamil Brahmins forums.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our Free Brahmin Community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.

Hindu gods forgotten in India revered in Japan

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have been to many Buddhist temples in Thailand & have seen that the Thais worship Hindu Gods! It seems to be a repeat in Japan too!Look Eastward for cultural integration seems to be the right policy for India!

Hindu gods forgotten in India revered in Japan

Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay | TNN | Jan 11, 2016, 02.56 AM IST

50525072.jpg


Havan or homa, or Goma in Japan, at the Takahata Fudo Temple in Tokyo.

Did you know that at least 20 Hindu deities are regularly worshipped in Japan? In fact, there are hundreds of shrines to Goddess Saraswati alone in that country, along with innumerable representations of Lakshmi, Indra, Brahma, Ganesha, Garuda and others.

Even deities forgotten in India are worshipped in Japan. A unique exhibition at Indian Museum here is set to throw light on the country's long lost history that survives in a foreign land.

The Japan Foundation and filmmaker and art-historian Benoy K Behl have collaborated to hold an exhibition of rare photographs that will be inaugurated on Monday and will continue until January 21.

"The exhibition will be a rare treat for the eyes and the mind," said Indian Museum education officer Sayan Bhattacharya.

The research that accompanies Behl's photographs reveals startling facts about the importance of Indian heritage in Japan.

For instance, the 6th century Siddham script is preserved in Japan, though it has disappeared from India. 'Beejaksharas' (or etymology of alphabets) of Sanskrit in this script are regarded as holy and given great importance. Each deity has a 'Beejakshara' and these are venerated by the people, even though most of them cannot read it. Some Japanese tombs are adorned with the Sanskrit alphabet.

At Koyasan, they still have a school where Sanskrit is taught in Siddham, Behl's research revealed.

A number of words in the Japanese language have their roots in Sanskrit. In Japanese supermarkets, a major brand of milk products is called 'Sujata'. The company's personnel are taught the story of Sujata who gave sweet rice-milk to the Buddha, with which he broke his period of austerity, before he achieved enlightenment. "All this and more are revealed through Behl's photography," Bhattacharya added.

Apart from the language, there are deeper civilizational connections that can be traced to early developments of philosophy in India, he said.



Behl wrote in his research, "In many ways, this philosophic understanding is most well preserved in Japan. Japan has not had the breakdown of cultural norms which India suffered when a colonial education system was created. Therefore, most Indians learnt about our own culture from the Western point of view. The dominant and admired language was English, which it remains till today."

The National Geographic had carried an 18-page story on ancient Indian art revealed through Behl's photography to the world. The exhibition will also explain how India's relationship with Japan.

"The deep-rooted spirit of the Buddha's teachings energizes the Japanese people. Buddhist temples are numerous and vast numbers of people visit these every day. Besides the Buddha, many ancient Indian deities and practices (prevail) in their temples. An Indian feels quite at home in Japan," Behl wrote.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...dia-revered-in-Japan/articleshow/50525067.cms
 
The reasons for deterioration of hindu values in our country could be attributed mainly due to invation of our country by so many foreign elements. The Moguls, Pathans, French, Portugese, English, Dutch every one of them has invaded our country in the past. The first and foremost these people tried was to attack on our culture and spread theirs in return. They also destroyed large number of our books/granthas on ethnic values, cultural heritage, Ayrved etc etc. The English went ahead further and spread the venom of cast/creed amongst our society before they left our country. No concrete efforts on this point was ever done from the corresponding Governments of our own came in to power thereafter. Even then one would still say that the situation is not that bad. It is a welcome sign that countries like Japan helps to preserve/promote our cultural values that are now slowly disappearing from our routine. I have seen many houlse holds in my neighbourhood, where people don't even light traditional lamp during morning and evening. Their prayer is limited to occasional visits to temples. This needs a change and we should work towards that goal.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest ads

Back
Top