Read Indra Net Rajiv Malhotra 9789351771791 Books

Product details Paperback 400 pages Publisher HarperCollins; 1 edition (September 6, 2016) Language English ISBN-10 9351771792

Indra Net Rajiv Malhotra 9789351771791 Books Reviews

• Indra's NetDefending Hinduism's Philosophical Unity is a perfect sequel to Being DifferentAn Indian Challenge to Western Universalism. This is a very important book for the present day and at the end gives the much needed poison pills and porcupine quills for Dharma's self-defense.
  
  The metaphor of Indra's net is used to show the integral organic unity of Dharmic civilization(which includes Hinduism, Buddhism and other Indic traditions). The book is divided into two parts - Purva Paksha, explaining the opponents view that contemporary Hinduism is a sham and Utra Paksha which effectively rebuts that view by showing continuity from ancient to contemporary Hinduism.
  
  The Neo-Hinduism thesis which aims at illegitimizing Hinduism, unsurprisingly has it's origins from Christian missionaries which was then spearheaded by Paul Hacker. Then it travelled through Agehananda Bharati, Wilhelm Halbfass, Ursula King who is an Anglican Minister and through her to Anantanand Rambachan. This dangerous thesis is then picked up by Indian Marxists like Romila Thappar & Meera Nanda and makes its way into Indian mainstream thus duping many innocent Hindus.
  
  A major claim of the Neo-Hinduism thesis is that Hinduism is an `invention' of Swami Vivekananda who invented it for political gains. Adi Shankara's teachings are used to shoot down Vivekananda as being illegitimate and Vivekananda is blamed to have taken Western Christian ethics and imported it into India as Karma Yoga and Seva(service). In fact it was the other way around. Vivekananda's ideas were appropriated by the west.
  
  Hinduism studies is probably the only field where outsiders are the so called experts. Hence there is a tendency to map and reduce Hinduism onto Judeo-Christian categories. For example, Adi Shankara's teachings are elevated to canonical commandments which cannot be extended and are final. In reality, Advaita was not Adi Shankara's teaching alone. He played a significant part but it existed before him in some form and continued to grow after him. Another reduction is that Moksha is the only ultimate aim of all Hindus like how salvation is the ultimate aim of Christians. But not all Hindus are interested in Moksha and the 'Open Architecture' of Dharma also caters to their needs. This reduction is further used to shoot down Vivekananda who emphasized more on yoga.
  
  The book goes into a bit deeper into the Philosophies of Adi Shankara and also cites examples of continuity in tradition by examining Vijnanabhiksu whose works were the prototype of the unified hinduism resembling contemporary Hinduism.
  
  Going into the Philosophical depths is a great eye opener for lay Hindus and prepares the readers for the poison pills which are discussed at the end. Reading the book `Being Different' would help the reader understand better the reasons for choosing certain aspects of Dharma as poison pills. This, in my opinion is the most important contribution of this book. Being Different and Breaking India set up the stage by doing a Poorva Paksha on the west's theology and exposing the nature threats faced by Dharma and India. This books tries to give ways to prevent the annihilation of the Dharmic civilization and it's Open Architecture.
• This book is a continuation from Being Different and at times a bit tough going. Occasionally it is a repetition but still very engaging. For most i think if you have read Being different than it is probably a good idea to stop there but if you love everything Indian and Hindu and want know more than this is certainly for you.
  
  I certainly think that most people around the world for most religions do not have much insight into their belief systems including its history and philosophy. A lot of beliefs for most people are blind beliefs and childish. I think Rajiv has done a great job to emphasize how Hinduism is different from Christianity and in that way brings forth some interesting insights to Hinduism itself, things we take for granted but not really think about.
  
  His insights may or may not be completely accurate hence the need to have open mind and to review other materials and have discussions. Hinduism is a very big umbrella for some similar and some very different belief systems. It can be adapted to almost anything you want. Over time most things undergo a change and so has Hindu beliefs, from Vedic ritualism to Buddhist philosophy to revival of vedic beliefs and Vedanta.
  
  Even in modern times there are so many commentaries on major Hindu texts and religions. Each may be slightly different from one another and since not many have met GOD and like the seven blind men, they each have their own unique point of view.
  
  Remember that religion is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end and when you find the absolute you have no further need for religion. As in the Upanishads, God is one, the sages call it by many names. There are many paths to the top of the mountain.
• Did not yet finish the entire book end to end, but the book provides good insight into the various aspects and opinions from various expers in their fields. It is important to know these aspects and opinions when starting to study what Rajivji has put together eloquently.
• We need more book like this and more active reader. The book helps to shred the slave mentality, many of us have in large magnitude and gain more and more respect about our own identity- who we are and what we are capable of.
• A perfect and solid defense for any Hindu of any stripe.
• Westerners and a lot of Indians often argue that India was never one nation before the British invaded us. This narrative is so deeply entrenched that some people suggest that the natural state of India is a balkanized India. Rajiv Malhotra counters this argument by proving that the cultural unity of India is much much older than the British invasion. Another interesting point that comes across in this book is that Dharmic (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism) religions/civilizations spread without the help of conquest. On the contrary, western civilizations/religions spread only through state-supported conquests.
• Great book! I think a lot of people who have an interest in the correct philosophies and thoughts of Hinduism should read this book rather than a distorted view of someone who has no experience of the religion!