Foreword
The
progress of human evolution and development is a two fold process resulting in
Civilisation and Culture. The former is an external activity and the latter is
an internal preoccupation. They are not contradictory, but complimentary. One
can influence the other and vice versa. This adventure of human race has
produced Rishi, Poet, Sculptor, Yogi, Prophet, Mahatma, Acharya, Saint and
Paramahamsa. The national consciousness is a by-product of collective
consciousness of millions of people. This spontaneous overflow of a torrent is
similar to the advent of Great Ganges from Himalayas finally reaching Ganga
Sagar. The word “Samskriti” (culture) has a meaning, which is
multi-dimensional and complex. We cannot define it in one word or in one
sentence! It can at best be described as flowering of “Chith” and the
man’s soul seeking an all-round growth to achieve its final objective of
self-realisation through cultural pursuits.
The
human mind is trying to unravel the mysteries of nature through a study of
Science and History. One such attempt has been made through the study of evolutionary
biology. We study the evolution of Man from a single celled Amoeba. It has
taken millions of years for Man (Homosapien) to arrive on the scene from the
stage of humble Apes. The Aryans settled in the Indian Sub-Continent and
composed Vedas and Upanishads to create a composite Indian Culture. Are the
Harappans Dravidians or Aryans.? Which culture appeared first – Harappan or
Aryan on the Indian Sub-Continent.? Only research scholars can answer this
question. Because of the available evidence being scanty, it is difficult to
come to any definite conclusion.
The
pulse of Indian Culture can be felt for the first time in the Vedas and
Upanishads. We sense the power of knowledge and receive a key to the mysteries
of nature in these revealed holy texts for the first time. The mystical visions
of great sages (rishis) are internalised in the hymns of Rigveda and
Upanishads. These seekers went in search of ultimate universal truths. That is
what makes Indian Culture unique. The other civilisations tried to realise
great truths with the help of Science and Philosophy. But Indian Philosophy and
Science became only vehicles to express the already realised ultimate truths.
There
is ample evidence to prove that Indian Civilisation showed remarkable degree of
urban culture thousands of years ago. By 3000 B. C., Harappa people were using
Copper, Bronze, Gold, Silver and Lead. In the Indus Valley town houses, separate
kitchens and Puja (prayer) rooms were in existence. Modern research has proved
that Music and Dance flourished in these cities.
In
the Rigvedic age the “Chaturvarna” (four castes) system did not prevail. Gradually
different professions practised by citizens crystallised into castes. This gave
birth to the concept of higher castes and lower castes. If we understand the
famous “Chaturvarnyam Maya Srushtam Guna Karma Vibhagasha” – there will be no
friction in society. It is Bhagavan Krishna, who says “Maya Srushtam”. It is
God’s own creation. Hence, there does not exist narrow man-made divisions. This
is a natural division of human labour depending on one’s own profession. This
kind of division of labour is universal and found in all ages. In every family
and in each house the daily labour is divided among the members. No work is
high or low.
The
continuity and survival of Indian Culture depends on an understanding of the
tenets of the caste system. It is a wrong assumption and claim made by some
people that caste system solved such burning problems as famine, pestilence and
unemployment. The acme of Indian Culture is a true understanding of the basic
philosophy hidden in Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and Bhagavad Gita. This is
considered as a true achievement of an individual’s personal endeavour.
The cardinal
principle of Indian Culture is a continuous revival of Spiritualism throughout
the ages. The great saints and savants have taken birth in this holy land from
time to time, only to interpret and convey the ultimate truths couched in
different idioms and phrases, so that the laity gets ennobled in due course. No
one school of Philosophy is superior or inferior to another School of
Philosophy. The message of Sri Ramakrishna is like a beacon light guiding ships
in a stormy sea. Swami Vivekananda did not preach only Advaita in Europe,
America and India. He preached a
universal religion of love and harmony. It is beyond the various schools of
Philosophy like Advaita, Vishista Advaita and Dvaita.
Modern man is
caught in a web of fast paced industrialisation. He is going after mundane
goals. He is after material comforts such as bread, a home and modern gadgets.
If the modern man turns his vision towards India, he will discover untold
spiritual treasures waiting to be picked up. The moral corruption and decadence
seen all over the world will vanish into thin air, when the magic wand of
Indian Spiritualism touches the heart of the problem. India has produced such
spiritual giants to cleanse the soul of humanity in 19th century and
20th century. The galaxy of great spiritual saints such as Sri
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Ramana
Maharishi and Sri Aurobindo not only became trail-blazers in India but also in
other continents. Muslims and Christians invaded India and began to spread
their religion. Their efforts of proselytisation did not yield good results.
The foreign religions and cultures could not wipe out Indian Culture. In fact
in the 19th and 20th century, Indian Culture and
Philosophy has reached the four corners of the globe and offered succour to
humanity. Indian Culture is a personification of all that is divine, beautiful
and truthful and this living entity has gained in strength and volume to spread
the message of “Shanti” (peace) in this age.
It is a
gargantuan task to enumerate and record in a book the achievement of a
civilisation which is thousands of years old. The author of this book, Dr S.
Srikanta Sastri is a scholar and polyglot, who has produced this profound
research work. This treasure trove called “Bharatiya Samskruthi” is a valuable
gift to Kannada literature. This rare book will eventually become a useful tool
to University of Mysore – which has embarked upon spreading universal
knowledge.
1 – 1 – 1954 K.
V. Puttappa
Mysore (Chief
Editor)
