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Part I Here

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Editor

As our author, Abul Kasem, has come under severe criticism (calling his integrity into question) as well as vicious, uncivilized attacks from our offended Hindu readers, I am publishing this addendum for Mr. Kasem to defend himself.

We understand that some Hindu readers, like some of our Muslim readers, won't be satisfied whatever it may. We are, therefore, closing the debates here not to be distracted further.

This is not the platform for discussing Hinduism (we might consider setting up a separate website for it, if resources become available). We urge our readers not turn our forum as preaching platform of their religion and help keep the battle focused on Islam.

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Dear IW Editor;

Many Hindu readers are angry reading the essay Women in Hinduism. Their anger and frustration are understandable. Some of them have accused me of falsifying and distorting the contents of Hindu scriptures. I have nothing to defend against their wrath on me. I merely stated what I had read; sadly I do not have those documents right with me. Given some time I might be able to re-collect/trace them, but no guarantee.

I have stated that I penned that essay more than eight years ago. I was studying comparative religions during that time. I borrowed many books from the library and glanced through them. There were several books on Hinduism. I was startled when I read several passages from a few of those books. Ever since penning this essay, I have returned those books. I also visited a few web sites, the links of them I do not have any more. That was eight years ago. I have as my personal copy two volumes of Rig Veda and the Bhagabat Gita, which I rarely read. Most of my time is spent reading Islamic texts.

Eight years ago, I was not aware of the website Sacred Texts, or perhaps the website did not exist. I checked the website and found that many citations are there. However, it was also a huge surprise that many obnoxious verses have been removed (see below for examples).

Below you will find a few samples of verses that I could be found in sacred text website, http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm

I have very little interest in Hinduism. This I have explained in my comments. The reason is that I found Islam to be more dangerous than Hinduism. By and large, Hindus are peace-loving and tolerant people. They do not act on what is written in their scriptures. Unfortunately, what is written millenniums ago are still there; they cannot be removed. Nevertheless, most Hindus are pragmatic, and they value their holy scriptures from a historical perspective only. It is a praiseworthy notion. If only Muslims could take their holy scriptures in the same spirit as the Hindus have adopted, there will be no Islamist terrorism today.

It was not my intention to hurt the Hindus. I am sorry if my essay has done that. I merely stated what I read from the books I got from the library. I am sorry, it has been long eight years, I have almost forgotten of what I read and noted. For those who are serious, I have provided the publisher’s name address and contact details in my comment, if that could be of help.

If you do not find any verses below, then either that has been removed from the Sacred Text’s archive or that the verse number/book might be wrongly cited.

Sati (Widow burning)

On the sanction of horrible custom of Sati—i.e., burning widows alive with dead husbands—a couple of sacred verses (there are more) are quoted here:

Rigveda 10:18:7:

Let these women, whose husbands are worthy and are living, enter the house with ghee (applied) as collyrium (to their eyes). Let these wives first step into the pyre, tearless without any affliction and well adorned.

The Sacred Text Site put the translation of Rigveda 10:18:7–8 (Sacred text here) as thus:

Let these "unwidowed" (should be "widowed") dames with noble husbands adorn themselves with fragrant balm and unguent. Decked with fair jewels, tearless, free from sorrow, first let the dames go up to where he lieth.

Rise, come unto the world of life, O woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest.

Dakshma Sanghita 8:18-19

A sati who dies on the funeral pyre of her husband enjoys an eternal bliss in heaven.

Another good essay on the above topic will be: Why I am Not a Hindu by Ramendra Nath, which can be read  online.

I think, I need nothing else to prove as to from where the horrible sacred Hindu custom of Sati comes from.

Let us add here that the British had to make vigorous effort to ban the practice of Sati in the face of stiff Hindu resistance. While the British discouraged the practice (which they banned in 1829) some 2366 Hindu women were burned alive in three years between 1815 and 1818 in Bengal alone. Between 1815 and 1828 CE, some 8135 women were burned in Bengal.

Dear editor, I shall be grateful if you publish this letter.

Thanks to all the readers who have commented (favourable or unfavourable) on my old essay.

Sincerely,  
Abul Kasem

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Sacred Text: , http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm

Atharva Veda , Tr. Maurice Bloomfield

Vi.11.3

Pragâpati, Anumati, and Sinîvâlî have fashioned him. May he (Pragâpati) elsewhere afford the birth of a female, but here he shall bestow a man! 
 

Rig Veda, Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith (1896)

8.33.17

Indra himself hath said, The mind of woman brooks not discipline, Her intellect hath little weight.

10.95.15

Nay, do not die, Purūravas, nor vanish: let not the evil-omened wolves devour thee.

With women there can be no lasting friendship: hearts of hyenas are the hearts of women. 
 

Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita), Tr. Arthur Berriedale Keith (1914)

vi.5.8.2:

…Soma could not bear being drawn for women; making the ghee a bolt they beat it, they drew it when it had lost its power; therefore women are powerless, have no inheritance, and speak more humbly than even a bad man [2].

Yajur Veda (The Texts of the White Yajurveda), Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith (1899)

XXIII:19

Thee we invoke, troop-lord of troops, Thee we invoke, the loved ones’ lord. Thee, lord of treasures, we invoke. My precious wealth! 
.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     . 
.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

Please note Sacred Text has blocked the rest of the text by inserting dots…This part includes the desire of the woman to make the horse her husband.

XXXIII.20, 21: Please note that Sacred Text has completely expunged XXXIII.20-31 from its archive.

Rig Veda 10.18.8 (Tr. T.H. Griffith, Translator, 1896)

Rise, come unto the world of life, O woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest.

Wifehood with this thy husband was thy portion, who took thy hand and wooed thee as a lover.

Rig Veda 6.27.8 (Tr. T.H. Griffith)

Two wagon-teams, with damsels, twenty oxen, O Agni, Abhydvartin Cayamdna, 
The liberal Sovran, giveth me. This guerdon of Prthu's seed is hard to win from others.

Rig Veda 8.38.1-10 (Tr. T.H. Griffith)

 … YE Twain are Priests of sacrifice, winners in war and holy works: Indra and Agni, mark this well…

5.47.6

For him they lengthen prayers and acts of worship: the Mothers weave garments for him their offspring. Rejoicing, for the Steer's impregning contact, his Spouses move on paths or heaven to meet him.

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 Here is a rebuttal to this article from R Maliger: http://www.lulu.com/content/6123723.