Proselytizing
in our “Good old bhAratham”
Since the early centuries, for Proselytizing in the East;
the Europeans had a little different strategy than in the other parts of the
world. In the beginning it was warfare of ‘intellect and force combined’. Probably
they knew force alone may not succeed. Still, they managed to recruit some
people into their religion by the use of the deceptive ways and covert
operations with the aid of labels like "Education", "Charity",
and “Caring". The success was not much. They were still able to recruit
few more people into their religion. {It would not be correct to say “conversion”
as what is known as “Hindu(ism)” is not the name of a religion; but a "rAstRam”,
which some refer to as “Hindustan”. And as such there was/is no question of
“converting” to “another religion”}. Our generous ancestors and their
hospitality aided the Europeans with facilities, land and infrastructure. They used
those in very effective way for Proselytizing and that still help them in their
“Harvesting of Souls.”
Other avenues our ancestors provided for all the foreign
forces of occupations were the different practices of untouchability developed
in the early periods of Muslim invasions of bhAratham. They may have been a
byproduct of the attacks as the result of the imagined pollutions created by
the attack of Muslims. However the so-called "smRithi formulators" of
that time did make amends to the rules by adding “un-touchability”, based on
caste. Around this time there were changes made to the smRitis by the indigenous
opportunists who intended to use the caste as an oppressive instrument. Also
they made changes in the interpretations to show that caste was based on birth, (1)
instead of the “individual’s innate disposition and vocation”. (2)
This practice was also aided by the polluting restrictions such as out casting
male members of the society, who were abducted, made prisoners and forcefully
made to accept their religion; and the female members of the society who were
abducted by the invading foreign forces; who enslaved, raped or made to work as
sex slaves and made them also to accept the religion of the invading forces. This
was practiced during the Muslim and Christian invasions and even now it
continues. The victims who wanted to return to their former family and
community were mercilessly turned back. (3)
The act of generosity providing them with facilities,
land and infrastructure for churches and Jewish temples is a clear proof that
our ancestors never wanted to recruit anyone in to our ranks, mainly because it
is not a religion, but the neglect of the people who were forcefully made into
their religion was a very foolish act.
That act of not recruiting them into our ranks, (or
non-act of recruiting) and providing the visitors all kind of help are proof
that ours is not a religion, but braHMavidya, which has no equivalent
word in English literature. The closest we can use in English language is “The
Science of The Absolute”. According to braHMavidya all are the same AtHman
and, where all are to be treated equally. But alas, that is not being done and
we must put our full effort to do that, and sure Shree Narayana Gurudevan’s
“Wisdom & Vision” can definitely carry us to the Ultimate of that “Oneness
of All”.
Goa inquisition is regarded as the
most violent ever executed in the world, but only few in our “Good old
bhAratham”, know about the severity of it. It lasted from 1500s
to 1800s. As per Judge Magalhaes and Lusada, “The Charity, this tribunal of
fire, thrown on the surface of the globe for the scourge of humanity, this
horrible institution, which will eternally cover with shame its authors, fixed
its brutal domicile in the fertile plains of the Hindustan. On seeing the
monster everyone fled and disappeared, Moguls, Arabs, Persians, Armenians, and
Jews. The Indians even, more tolerant and pacific, were astounded to see the
‘God of Christianism’ crueler than that of Mohammed, and deserted the territory
of the Portuguese.”(4)
Dr. Alfredo DeMello, famous historian born in Goa; in his
book titled ‘MEMOIRS OF GOA’ has given detailed and graphic accounts of the horrors
of the Inquisition in Goa. They persecuted thousands because they thought the
people of our ‘Good old bhAratham’ are “Shame of the World”. They thought so, because
they did not understand the ways and means with which our ancestors deciphered
the science of Metaphysics and thus they did not understand braHMavidya.
(5)
Here are some of the descriptions of
the Goa inquisition for examples: “On April 1st 1650 for
instance, four people were burnt to death, then on December 14, 1653, 18 were
put to the flames, accused of the crime of heresy. And from the 8th April 1666
until the end of 1679 - during which period 1208 victims were sentenced the same
way. On November 22, 1711 another 41 persons and on December 20, 1736, the
Inquisition burnt an entire family
destroying their house, putting salt on their land, and placing a stone
padrao, which existed in the place at least until 1866”. These sentencing (burning)
were known as “Auto da Fe” (6)
Tortures meted out were cruel and
inhumane. Three kinds of torture were implemented. They were: (1) The rope and the
pulley (2) Water and (3) Fire. According to Dr. Alfredo DeMello, “the
torture by rope consisted of the arms being tied backwards and then raised by a
pulley, leaving the victim hanging for some time, and then let the victim drop
down to half a foot above the floor, then rose again. This continued
up-and-down movement dislocated the joints and made the prisoner emit horrible
cries of pain. This torture went on for an hour. The torture by water was as
follows: the victim was made to lie across an iron bar, and was forced to
imbibe water without stopping. The iron bar broke the vertebrae and caused
horrible pains, whereas the water treatment provoked vomits and asphyxia. The
torture by fire was definitely the worst: the victim was hung above a fire,
which warmed the soles of the feet, and the jailers rubbed bacon and other combustible
materials on the feet. The feet were burned until the victim confessed. These
last two tortures lasted for about an hour, and sometimes more. The house of
torments was a subterranean grotto, so that other might not hear the cries of
the wretched. Many a time, the victims died under torture; their bodies were
interred within the compound, and the bones were exhumed for the ‘Auto da Fe’,
and burnt in public.”(7)
Dr. Alfredo DeMello continues to state that burning
at stake was considered “Showing them mercy”. “By daylight, each convict was
ordered to march alongside a godfather, one of the officials assigned to each
victim. It was a great honor to be appointed godfather for these ceremonies.
The procession was led through the long streets of the city, so that the
multitudes could watch the ugly pageant. Finally, covered with shame and
confusion, tired of the long march, the condemned reached the church of St.
Francis, which was decked with great pomp and circumstance. The altar was
covered with black cloth on which stood six silver candleholders. On both sides
of the altar there were two kinds of thrones: the right side for the inquisitor
and his councilors, and the left side for the viceroy and his court. The
convicts and godfathers were seated on benches. Next, four man-sized statues
were brought, accompanied by four men who carried boxes full of bones of the
victims who had died by tortures: these statues, representing the dead victims
would be tried too. Once the sermon was concluded, two officials went up to the
pulpit to read publicly the proceedings of all the guilty, and to declare the
sentences upon them. The condemned to be burnt at the stake were delivered to
the secular arm, to which the Inquisition begged to use clemency and mercy with
these wretched, and to impose the death penalty without effusion of blood - by
burning them at stake!”(8)
Another author, Joao Felix Pereira wrote: "The inquisition of Goa,
distinguished itself on account of the greater rigours than those of the
tribunals of the metropolis; thousands of victims died at the stake in flames;
and when these bloody executions brought fears of a seditious movement, the
viceroys and governors, who did not enjoy the power of force openly, employed
the dagger of the assassins and poison."(9)
Bibliography
(1)
History of DharmasHAstra by Dr P.V. Kane Volume 2 part 1
(2)
Bhagavad Geetha 4-1
(3) Caste and Races of India by G.S. Ghurye Page 2-19
(4) Memoirs of Judges Magalhaes and Lousada: (Vol 2, Annaes
Maritimos e Coloniais, Page 59)
(5) “Memoirs of Goa”, By Alfredo De Mello Chapter 21
(6) “Memoirs of Goa”, By Alfredo De Mello Chapter 21
(7) “Memoirs of Goa”, By Alfredo De Mello Chapter 21
(8) “Memoirs of Goa”, By Alfredo De Mello Chapter 21
(9) "Historia de Portugal", By Joao Felix Pereira, 3rd
edition, Page 235.
(Will continue; Copyright
© Udayabhanu Panickar)
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