Riddles in Hinduism

1. Hinduism's Identity Crisis: A Religion Without a Clear Definition

Now ask the same question to a Hindu and there is no doubt that he will be completely bewildered and would not know what to say.

No single creed or God. Unlike other religions with clear founders and doctrines, Hinduism lacks a unified belief system. It encompasses monotheism, polytheism, and pantheism, with diverse deities and practices. This makes it difficult for a Hindu to define their faith, unlike a Parsi, Christian, or Muslim who can easily identify their religious basis.

Diverse practices and customs. Hinduism is a complex mix of creeds, doctrines, and customs. It includes:

• Monotheists, polytheists, and pantheists
• Worshippers of major gods like Shiva and Vishnu, as well as goddesses and spirits
• Practices ranging from bloody sacrifices to strict non-violence
• A wide range of rituals, from prayers to orgies

Caste and identity. While the caste system is often seen as a defining feature of Hinduism, it is not enough to define a Hindu. Many Muslims and Christians observe caste practices, but they are not considered Hindus. The question of who is a Hindu remains a puzzling and embarrassing one for many.

2. The Vedas: A Contradictory and Questionable Foundation

Why don't the Brahmins say openly? Why this circumlocution?

Multiple, conflicting origins. The Vedas, considered the most sacred texts of Hinduism, have no clear origin story. Various texts attribute their creation to:

• A mystical sacrifice of Purusha
• Time itself
• A being called Skambha
• The gods Agni, Vayu, and Surya
• Prajapati and the waters
• The breath of Brahma
• The mind-ocean
• Prajapati's beard
• Vach (speech)

Human authorship. Despite claims of divine origin, the Anukramanis, systematic indices to Vedic literature, identify Rishis as the authors of the hymns. The Rig-Veda itself contains passages where Rishis describe themselves as composers, further undermining the claim of the Vedas being Apaurusheya (not made by man).

Lack of moral and spiritual value. The Vedas are filled with prayers for material gain, victory over enemies, and descriptions of rituals, rather than profound moral or spiritual teachings. They contain:

• Obscene passages
• Prayers for wealth and power
• Charms for curing diseases and black magic
• Little discussion of morality or elevating examples of moral life

3. Brahmins' Shifting Allegiances: From Vedas to Smritis, Puranas, and Tantras

Why did the Brahmins adopt such desperate means to place the Smritis on the same footing as the Sruti? What was their purpose? What was their motive?

Vedas as infallible authority. Initially, the Brahmins declared the Vedas as infallible and unquestionable, dividing their sacred writings into Shruti (Vedas and Brahmanas) and non-Shruti. However, this position was not always held, as evidenced by the Dharma Sutras, which recognized other sources of authority.

Smritis gain supremacy. Over time, the Brahmins elevated the Smritis (law books) to a status superior to the Vedas, often overruling Vedic injunctions with Smriti practices. This was justified by:

• The theory of lost Shruti, claiming Smritis were based on lost Vedic texts
• The argument that Smritis were the two eyes of the Brahmana
• The threat of being cursed for not respecting the Smritis

Puranas and Tantras supersede Vedas. The Puranas, initially considered profane, were later given priority over the Vedas, claiming eternity and identity with sound. The Tantras, with their emphasis on Bhakti and female deities, were eventually declared superior to the Vedas, Smritis, and Puranas.

4. Upanishads' Rebellion and Subordination: A Philosophical Tug-of-War

Why did Badarayana concede to Jaimini on the question of infallibility of the Vedas which were opposed to the Upanishads? Why did he not stand for truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth as expounded by the Upanishads?

Upanishads' challenge to Vedic authority. The Upanishads, also known as Vedanta, originally stood in opposition to the Vedas, rejecting the importance of rituals and sacrifices. They emphasized self-knowledge and the pursuit of Brahman as the path to liberation.

Antagonism between Vedas and Upanishads:

• The Mundaka Upanishad distinguishes between superior and inferior knowledge, placing the Vedas in the latter category.
• The Chhandogya Upanishad dismisses the Vedas as mere names.
• The Brahadaranyaka Upanishad states that in a state of profound slumber, the Vedas are no Vedas.

Badarayana's compromise. Despite the Upanishads' rejection of Vedic rituals, Badarayana, the author of the Brahma Sutras, attempted to reconcile the two by:

• Using the term Vedanta to emphasize the Upanishads as part of the Vedic literature
• Claiming that the Upanishads and Vedas are complementary, not antagonistic
• Conceding the infallibility of the Vedas, even though they contradicted the Upanishads

This compromise led to the subordination of the Upanishads to the Vedas, a betrayal of the Upanishads' original message.

5. Hindu Gods at War: A Pantheon of Conflicting Deities

Why did the Brahmins make the Hindu gods fight against one another?

Trimurti's internal conflict. The Hindu doctrine of Trimurti, which posits Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva as co-equal creators, preservers, and destroyers, is contradicted by the Puranas. These texts depict the gods as rivals, constantly competing for supremacy and engaging in battles.

Brahma's fall from grace. Brahma, initially considered the supreme creator, was later dethroned and vilified by the followers of Vishnu and Shiva. He was accused of:

• Falsely claiming to be the first-born
• Committing adultery with his own daughter
• Losing his position to Vishnu and Shiva

Shiva and Vishnu's rivalry. The Puranas are filled with propaganda and counter-propaganda between the followers of Shiva and Vishnu, with each side attempting to prove their deity's superiority. This rivalry is evident in stories about:

• The origin of the Ganges
• The churning of the oceans
• The stories of Akrurasura and Bhasmasura

Polytheism's natural evolution. While polytheism is a natural outcome of diverse communities merging, the constant infighting and degradation of gods in Hinduism is a unique and puzzling phenomenon.

6. The Rise and Fall of Hindu Gods: A Cycle of Worship and Abandonment

Why then did the Brahmins struggle so hard to clothe them with sanctity and infallibility?

Shifting pantheon. The Hindu pantheon has undergone significant changes over time. Vedic gods like Agni, Indra, Soma, and Varuna were once supreme but were later replaced by new deities like Krishna, Rama, Shiva, and Vishnu.

Rise and fall of gods:

• Agni, Indra, Soma, and Varuna were elevated and then abandoned.
• Agni, Indra, and Surya were the principal gods at one time.
• The cults of Vasudeo (Krishna) and Brahma emerged as rivals.
• The cults of Vishnu, Shiva, and Rama became prominent later.

Reasons for abandonment. The reasons for abandoning old gods are often unclear, with the Brahmins offering no explanation. The disappearance of Agni, Indra, Surya, and Brahma remains a mystery.

New gods' anti-Vedic origins. Some of the new gods, like Shiva and Krishna, were originally anti-Vedic, challenging the authority of the Vedas and Vedic rituals. This raises questions about why the Brahmins adopted these deities.

7. Goddesses Ascendant: The Dethronement of Gods and the Rise of Female Deities

Why then did the Brahmins struggle so hard to clothe them with sanctity and infallibility?

Vedic goddesses as wives. In the Vedic period, goddesses were primarily worshipped as the wives of gods, with no independent status or power. They were not known for any heroic deeds.

Puranic goddesses as warriors. The Puranic goddesses, such as Durga, Kali, and Parvati, are depicted as powerful warriors who engage in battles and perform heroic deeds. Their worship is based on their own merit, not just their association with male gods.

Shakti and female power. The Puranas introduced the concept of Shakti, the female energy or power of the gods, which resides in their wives. This doctrine elevated the status of goddesses and led to the rise of Shaktism, the worship of the divine feminine.

Degradation of male gods. The rise of goddesses led to the degradation of male gods, who were often depicted as weak and dependent on their wives for help. This shift in power dynamics raises questions about the Brahmins' motives for promoting goddess worship.

8. Ahimsa's Paradox: From Cow-Killers to Cow-Worshippers

If this is not enough to prove that there is no ethical or spiritual value in the Vedas further evidence could be added.

Ancient Aryans as meat-eaters. The ancient Aryans were not vegetarians. They were known for:

• Gambling
• Drinking
• Loose sexual relations
• Meat-eating, including beef

Madhuparka and flesh. The Madhuparka, a ritual of hospitality, originally included meat as an essential component. The Vedas themselves state that Madhuparka should not be without flesh.

Shift to vegetarianism and Ahimsa. Over time, the Hindus adopted vegetarianism and Ahimsa (non-violence) as core tenets of their faith. This shift represents a significant change from their ancestral practices.

The riddle of the transformation. The question is, when and why did the Brahmins, who were once cow-killers, become the worshippers of the cow? What caused this dramatic shift in dietary habits and moral values?

9. Tantrik Reversal: The Return to Himsa and Ritualistic Excess

Why did the Brahmins make such a desperate attempt for establishing a desperate conclusion? What did they want to gain thereby? Was it because the Vedas had been made the exponent of the Chaturvarna with the Brahmins as the Lord of all?

Tantrik worship and the five Makaras. The Tantras, a later class of religious texts, reintroduced practices that were previously condemned, including:

• Drinking wine and liquors (Madya)
• Eating meat (Mansa)
• Eating fish (Matsya)
• Eating parched grain (Mudra)
• Sexual union (Maithuna)

Brahmins' role in Tantrik worship. Despite the Tantras' rejection of the Vedas, the Brahmins embraced and promoted Tantrik worship, even though it involved practices that were considered immoral and sinful.

Kali Purana and animal sacrifice. The Kali Purana, a Tantrik text, advocates for animal and even human sacrifices to appease the goddess Kali. This represents a complete reversal of the Ahimsa principle.

The riddle of the reversal. Why did the Brahmins, after promoting Ahimsa, return to Himsa and ritualistic excess? What motivated them to embrace practices that were so contradictory to their previous teachings?

10. The Enigma of Mixed Castes: Manu's Unreliable and Contradictory Explanations

Is it not a question for every Hindu to consider why in the matter of his own religion his position is so embarrassing and so puzzling?

Manu's classification of castes. Manu categorized castes into:

• Aryan castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras)
• Non-Aryan castes (e.g., Dasyus)
• Vratya castes (those who rebelled against Chaturvarna)
• Fallen castes (Kshatriyas who became Shudras)
• Sankara castes (mixed castes)

Inconsistent and incomplete list. Manu's list of mixed castes is not exhaustive and is often contradictory. He fails to:

• Account for all possible combinations of Aryan and mixed castes
• Explain the origin of many mixed castes
• Provide a consistent explanation for the Varna of children born from mixed unions

Historical inaccuracies. Many of the communities Manu labels as "bastard" were actually independent tribes with their own history and culture. This includes:

• Abhiras
• Ambashtas
• Andhras
• Magadhas
• Nishadas
• Vaidehakas

Brahmins' desperate attempt. Why did Manu and other Smritikaras go to such lengths to create a complex and often contradictory system of mixed castes? What was their purpose in defaming and bastardizing entire communities?

11. Paternity to Maternity: A Shift in Lineage and Social Control

Is it not time that he should ask himself what are the causes that has brought about this Religious chaos?

Anomalies in Hindu family law. Hindu family law is full of anomalies, including:

• A law of inheritance that traces male ancestors for fourteen generations
• Forms of marriage that are euphemisms for seduction and rape
• Recognition of twelve kinds of sons, many with no blood relation to their father

Shift from Pitrasavarnya to Matrasavarnya. Manu changed the law of determining a child's Varna from Pitrasavarnya (father's Varna) to Matrasavarnya (mother's Varna). This was a revolutionary change that:

• Contradicted the Kshetra-Kshetraja rule, which gave ownership of the child to the husband
• Undermined the concept of Patna Potestas, which gave the father authority over his family
• Allowed lower Varnas to pass into higher Varnas through marriage

Manu's motives. Why did Manu make this shift from paternity to maternity? What did he hope to gain by undermining the traditional patriarchal system?

12. The Unending Kali Yuga: A Tool for Social Control and Brahminical Power

Is it not a question for every Hindu to consider why in the matter of his own religion his position is so embarrassing and so puzzling?

Kali Yuga as an unpropitious age. The concept of Kali Yuga, the current age, is widely understood by Hindus as a time of moral decline and unpropitiousness. This belief has a psychological effect, leading to a sense of hopelessness and resignation.

Conflicting dates for Kali Yuga's beginning. There are two different dates for the start of Kali Yuga:

• 3101 B.C. according to the Aitereya Brahmana
• 1177 B.C. according to the Puranas

Astronomical evidence for Kali Yuga's end. The astronomer Gargacharya stated that the Kali Yuga would end with the destruction of the Greeks in India, which occurred around 165 B.C.

Brahmins' manipulation of time. Despite the astronomical evidence, the Brahmins extended the Kali Yuga by:

• Adding Sandhya and Sandhyamsa periods to each Yuga
• Changing the unit of measurement from human years to divine years

The purpose of an unending Kali Yuga. Why did the Brahmins make the Kali Yuga unending? Was it a tool for social control, designed to keep the masses in a state of despair and subservience?

Last updated: April 10, 2025