An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads

by Guest Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:24 am

1. Mughal emperor Akbar attempted various religious experiments in his bid to unite hindus and muslims. hinduism was the religion of the majority of his subjects, while the most populous minority group amongst his subjects were the muslims.

2. One of these experiments was to come up with a new religion: Din-i-Ilahi. (Since Din-i-Ilahi involved fire worship and sun worship it was closer to Hinduism than to Islam.) But his new religion never caught on, and Akbar never made any attempt to impose it forcibly on others. It survived after Akbar: some people continued to proclaim themselves adherents of Din-i-Ilahi in an attempt to win favors from Akbar's son Jahangir. But it soon died a natural death. (I am surprised none of my critics on this forum have not yet asked me to convert to Din-i-Ilahi.)

3. One other attempt to forge religious synthesis was the composition of a new Upanisad during the reign of Akbar.* It was called Allopanisad (or Allah Upanisad). Essentially this text claimed that the God described in the Upanisads (Brahman) is no different from the god of the muslims (Allah): they are one and the same. Many intellectuals with a chaddi outlook or chaddi sympathies dismiss the Allopanisad as a forgery, but they are missing the larger point: the primary attempt in the text was to forge religious (H-M) synthesis by declaring that the God of Hinduism and God of Islam are one and the same God. God is the same for people of all religions. If this larger point is accepted by everyone there would be no communal riots and communal confrontations and killings which is probably why the Allopanisad was composed.

*Whether the Allopanisad was composed on the direct instruction of Akbar is something that needs to be investigated further. Jesuit missionaries at Akbar's court write that Akbar had undertaken a special study of the field of comparative religion, and was quite at ease in discussing religious ideas with them (which included asking them uncomfortable questions about Christianity in their discussions with him).

by Seva Lamberdar Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:34 am

Even long before Akbar, the religious tolerance and freedom (allowing worship of God to everyone in his / her own way) were there in Hinduism --

"O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..." Yajur Veda (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d)

by Guest Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:37 am

Seva Lamberdar wrote:Even long before Akbar, the religious tolerance and freedom (allowing worship of God to everyone in his / her own way) were there in Hinduism --

"O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..." Yajur Veda (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d)

this is too abstract for the common man. the common man (in contemporary India and also in Akbar's India) needs a simple explanation: God is one, and God of hindus and muslims is the same. this is what the Allopanisad attempts to do.

by Seva Lamberdar Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:48 am

Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:Even long before Akbar, the religious tolerance and freedom (allowing worship of God to everyone in his / her own way) were there in Hinduism --

"O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..." Yajur Veda (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d)

this is too abstract for the common man. the common man (in contemporary India and also in Akbar's India) needs a simple explanation: God is one, and God of hindus and muslims is the same. this is what the Allopanisad attempts to do.

The religious freedom and tolerance is clear in the above Yajur Veda hymn, and it's even dedicated to Agni (the fire deity).

by Guest Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:53 am

Seva Lamberdar wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:Even long before Akbar, the religious tolerance and freedom (allowing worship of God to everyone in his / her own way) were there in Hinduism --

"O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..." Yajur Veda (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d)

this is too abstract for the common man. the common man (in contemporary India and also in Akbar's India) needs a simple explanation: God is one, and God of hindus and muslims is the same. this is what the Allopanisad attempts to do.
The religious freedom and tolerance is clear in the above Yajur Veda hymn, and it's even dedicated to Agni (the fire deity).

i don't like the Yajur Vedic quote. It seems to be suggesting that after committing a sin (like committing some atrocity against a sudra or vaishya) one can be absolved of all guilt (and punishment) by praying to Agni. does this mean that if a brahmin rapes a dalit girl he can escape all guilt and all punishment by praying to Agni?

by Seva Lamberdar Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:00 am

Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:Even long before Akbar, the religious tolerance and freedom (allowing worship of God to everyone in his / her own way) were there in Hinduism --

"O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..." Yajur Veda (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d)

this is too abstract for the common man. the common man (in contemporary India and also in Akbar's India) needs a simple explanation: God is one, and God of hindus and muslims is the same. this is what the Allopanisad attempts to do.
The religious freedom and tolerance is clear in the above Yajur Veda hymn, and it's even dedicated to Agni (the fire deity).

i don't like the Yajur Vedic quote. It seems to be suggesting that after committing a sin (like committing some atrocity against a sudra or vaishya) one can be absolved of all guilt (and punishment) by praying to Agni. does this mean that if a brahmin rapes a dalit girl he can escape all guilt and all punishment by praying to Agni?

No, it is a clear reminder to people that such activities are sinful, requiring expiation even if carried out in mind / thought, and therefore should not be undertaken.

by Guest Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:13 am

Seva Lamberdar wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:Even long before Akbar, the religious tolerance and freedom (allowing worship of God to everyone in his / her own way) were there in Hinduism --

"O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..." Yajur Veda (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d)

this is too abstract for the common man. the common man (in contemporary India and also in Akbar's India) needs a simple explanation: God is one, and God of hindus and muslims is the same. this is what the Allopanisad attempts to do.
The religious freedom and tolerance is clear in the above Yajur Veda hymn, and it's even dedicated to Agni (the fire deity).

i don't like the Yajur Vedic quote. It seems to be suggesting that after committing a sin (like committing some atrocity against a sudra or vaishya) one can be absolved of all guilt (and punishment) by praying to Agni. does this mean that if a brahmin rapes a dalit girl he can escape all guilt and all punishment by praying to Agni?
No, it is a clear reminder to people that such activities are sinful, requiring expiation even if carried out in mind / thought, and therefore should not be undertaken.

in other words, rape and murder are sinful, and hence should not be undertaken, and even if carried out in mind/thought they require expiation by praying to Agni ('you are the expiation'). Have i understood your interpretation correctly?

by Seva Lamberdar Thu Mar 23, 2017 3:54 pm

Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:
Rashmun wrote:

this is too abstract for the common man. the common man (in contemporary India and also in Akbar's India) needs a simple explanation: God is one, and God of hindus and muslims is the same. this is what the Allopanisad attempts to do.
The religious freedom and tolerance is clear in the above Yajur Veda hymn, and it's even dedicated to Agni (the fire deity).

i don't like the Yajur Vedic quote. It seems to be suggesting that after committing a sin (like committing some atrocity against a sudra or vaishya) one can be absolved of all guilt (and punishment) by praying to Agni. does this mean that if a brahmin rapes a dalit girl he can escape all guilt and all punishment by praying to Agni?
No, it is a clear reminder to people that such activities are sinful, requiring expiation even if carried out in mind / thought, and therefore should not be undertaken.

in other words, rape and murder are sinful, and hence should not be undertaken, and even if carried out in mind/thought they require expiation by praying to Agni ('you are the expiation'). Have i understood your interpretation correctly?

It's fairly straight-forward -- sinful activities should not be engaged in and the religious freedom includes non-interference from others.

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An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads

An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads

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Re: An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads

Re: An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads

Re: An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads

Re: An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads

Re: An interesting religious experiment attempted by Akbar: H-M synthesis through Upanisads