History of South Asian Indian Philosophy
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:32 pm
Maverick, Free and Believers in Hindu-Muslim Unity: How India’s Spiritual Masters Fought Orthodoxy
by M.R. Narayan Swamy
August 7, 2022
Introduction:
by M.R. Narayan Swamy
August 7, 2022
Introduction:
Read more here: https://janataweekly.org/maverick-free ... rthodoxy/(Janata Weekly) Book Review
‘India’s Greatest Minds: Spiritual Masters, Philosophers, Reformers,’ Mukunda Rao, Hachette India, 2022.
Hundreds of years after his death, the Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838-1918) remains one of the most widely revered saints. He is worshipped by millions of Hindus, Muslims and others. Born to Hindu parents and brought up by a fakir, he was a harsh critic of religious orthodoxy and detested the Hindu-Muslim divide. He believed that the central message of both Hinduism and Islam was love, service and freedom.
Another saint who attracted both Muslims and Hindus was Kabir (1398-1448/55). He was born to or adopted by a Muslim family of weavers and so he was well acquainted with Islam. But going by his evergreen poems, it appears he had an intimate knowledge and understanding of Hindu thought and mythology too. He was critical of religious orthodoxy and authoritarianism and chided Hindus and Muslims alike.
Contrary to what is widely believed, India’s spiritual story is not all about Brahmanical beliefs, debates and disputes about Sanskrit literature, Upanishads and the Gita or even the caste system.