Hinduism was never a religion. It was always a loosely held confederation of the great Indian Religions like Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism. Basically all the religions that were born and nurtured in the historic land of rivers, far beyond the western frontiers of the Indus.
Now let us put the concept of Indianism in perspective. It is slightly confusing. The history of Indian thought goes far beyond the present boundaries of the sub continent. In fact the Indian nation extended well into the lands of Iran in the early part of proto history. This was after the origins of ruins at Suktajen Dor in western extremes of Iran and well into the realms of Vedic civilization.
The language of the early Persians were heavily influenced by the Indo Aryans and Zoroashtra himself was said to have studied the Indian scriptures deeply before espousing his specific form of religion. In fact it would not be too presumptuous to imagine that Hinduism in some form existed in Iran at that time considering that Gandhara (or Afganistan) at that time was a Hindu nation (one would believe of the Shaivism strain) and was a great meeting point of Parsi, Buddhist and Hindu Philosophy.
Alexander, as late as the 3rd Century BC had to go though the ‘pagan’ climes of the great Afgan nation and subjugated its great ruler in Taxila – the great university town. This ruler King Ambhi later aided his drive into Punjab and his face off with Porus.
Taxila, a strategically placed city – at the crossroads of the great Silk route – was the capital of the Great province of Gandhara. Situated in present day Pakistan (North West – around 60 km west of Islamabad), was adapted by the Bactrian Greeks for its importance and retained its primary role for many more centuries. Later, it was as important to the Greek communities (who established a township called Sirkap). Demitrios who ruled over this area during the later Bactrian invasion considered this city as his capital over Punjab, Sind and Afganistan. Oscillating between Iran (Persian empire) and the Indian powers, this land was forever the melting pot of Hindu and Persian philosophies.
And then lets not forget the importance of Gandhara in our epics. Remember the great Shakuni of Mahabharat – prince of Gandhara and his sister Gandhari. In Ramayana, also, these lands found mention in the origin of Bharat and Shatrughna and their mother Sumithra. Sumithra was the daughter of the Emperor of Gandhara.
The very fact that there existed such familiarity between the leaders of two nations that were situated geographically far apart, shows a kind of cultural similarity that may have found voice in similar religions and thought. Not difficult then for us to imagine that Gandhara may have spread far beyond present day Afganistan. Actually maybe much further than Afganistan …. I have this theory that Achilles and Krishna were blood brothers…both had their heels as their weakness.
So back to the topic…why the hell am I talking about the expanse of India in the isms… Merely to establish the variety of isms and the great cultural and social similarities in them. Now, understand this…India was never one country. It was a variety of people drawn together in parts and pieces or in the whole by temporal political power, by changing hues of social and religious beliefs, but mostly by a psychological entity that cut across geographies and physicalities. India of the isms existed in as much as Europe exists, only much more varied …much more colorful. The land of isms is a continent to end all continents. Smaller than the world but containing it nonetheless.
This ism’s eastern extremes are better known than the western ones. But its worth a mention that the ancient versions of this culture left a more lasting impression on Indo Chinese culture than we will ever realize. Budhism, the later brand of Islam and indeed a fraction of Christianity is deeply effected by the Indian isms. Its strange to realize this….but till participants in the great Indian mix decided to coexist and worship each other’s gods, things went along fine enough. So you had a Shaivite celebrating the birth of Krishna and a Vaishnavite celebrating Durga Puja accepting the importance of Shaktism as a force in the diaspora. Initial epic battles were passed on as stories and the political importance of Shiv - the Urban God (who was that through his sheer bohemianism) succumbed to the rustic charm and rising power of the agrarian community…not to be completely replaced but to be only just subservient to Vaishnavism (In the epics it was always a Krishnavatar…never a Shiva Avataar…and then the city slicks Bali (of the hidden but grand Kishkinda) and Ravan of the glamorous and large Lanka …both Shiv bhakts lost miserably to the nomad – Rama).
Eventually even Shiva would see a great revival in the re emergence of the more sophisticated elements of Indian civilization…the drugged and mystical image of Shiva was hard for the educated City Slicker to ignore (after all). Shaktism hovered in the middle somewhere…creating a fluid bridge between the two – Remember Durga was married Shiva and had a daughter – Lakshmi who was eventually married off to Vishnu – which again in the times of those legends made Vishnu the most important factor – The spoilt son in law….a political marriage if there ever was one. Its worth noting ..that in the south of the sub continent where civilization was more sophisticated and education more widespread … the cult of Shiva thrived and eventually re usurped its rightfull throne as a predominant Ism. Each religion borrowed so heavily from the other that down the centuries they merged into one…assimilating within their folds erstwhile influences from around the globe, creating the ONE truly eclectic religion that the world has ever known.
The fall came with the rize of isolated Brahminism and the refusal of Islam to be a part of Hinduism….though assimilating in the Indian Isms, Islam could never fully integrate in the existing culture and Mohammed could never become a Hindu God…but that is another story.
Cheers. The end of tolerance is spelling the end of Indianism …and we all rejoice….we all rejoice.
