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thousands of men and women as slaves with them and proselytized them. There were many instances when the Muslim invaders used cows as shields before Hindu armies. To Brahmins goes the credit of infesting this country with many such superstitions.
There are various historical reasons and situations for the subordination of a country and vulnerability of a people. Historians should base their writings on facts and evidences. Then only the books of history by them will be accepted as authentic.
VRATA: THE MEANS OF CONQUERING THE SELF
Vrata (restraints or vows) or resolve means - to discipline indulgence in enjoyable activities as a rule by taking a vow. In other words to resolve to avoid violence and other sinful activities and indulge in good deeds. Niyama or rule or code means willful regulation of desires for mundane pleasures. When the desires of an individual are regulated under the pressure of another individual or circumstances it is called punishment. When it is done willingly it is called a vrata. A prisoner has committed some sin and the jailer punishes him by depriving him of food. The prisoner wants to eat but he does not get anything to eat. Such fasting is punishment not vrata. A beggar has to go hungry because he does not get alms. He craves for food but does not get. This is compulsion not vrata. The doctor has curbed food for a sick person. The sick wants to eat but he is constrained by his ailing condition. All he wants to eat is available to a person; he is under no constraints or compulsions of not eating; but inspired by the ideal of purifying his soul and in order to win over his desires, he refrains from eating of his own free will. This will be called a vrata. There are many people who have abundant means of enjoyment and they still crave for more. There are others who are deprived of such means and they are plagued with cravings day and night. In terms of craving both are same. Non availability of means matching one's desire is not abstaining or taking a vow. It is renouncing the desire that is called taking a vow.
No effort is required for the downfall of our soul. No deliberation is required to be angry or selfish or greedy. All these do not require any labour or effort. All these attitudes appear to be our natural attributes. They are triggered by slightest of provocation. But it requires a lot of inner strength and effort to control one's anger when someone is
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