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constituents of Bharatiya-dharma and Bharatiya-Saṁskṛti and every Bharatiya ought to be proud of this glorious heritage.
As researchers or investigators into truth we must take note of the attacks on the Vedas, the Brāhmaṇas, their ceremonialism or ritualism and their institutes of varna and jāti, the recognition of degrading untouchability, their superstitious beliefs, etc. and learn from their perceptive criticism, ignoring polemics but we must always and ever keep at the back of our mind the common thread of cultural unity and spiritualism that runs through these three great religions of Indian origin.
1. According to some modern scholars Jainism and Buddhism
represent a revolt against the older religion of Brahmapism; the orthodox Jains themselves however assert that their religion is the oldest of all religions, and the religion of the Brahmaņas
is merely a degenerate form of it. 2. Cf. Traigunyavişayā veda nistraigunyo bhavārjuna /
-Bhagavadgita-II-45. 3. Cf. Cāturvarnya ṁ mayā srstam guņakarmavibhāgasah /
-Bhagavadgitā-IV-13 And, also Bhagavadgita-XVIII-41. 4. Cf. The author of Sūyagadamga assails Brahmanical ritual
thus : “If it were true that perfection or liberation can be attained by ablutions with cold water, then fishes, tortoises and snakes would attain the highest perfection; and if water really washed away the evil deed, then it must needs wash away the good deed also. Brāhmaṇas assert that perfection or liberation is to be attained by the daily lighting of the fire; if this were true, smiths and artisans of a similar nature would attain the highest sanctity.
-Sūyagada VII-14-16, 18. 5. Cf. “Superior is wisdom-sacrifice (jñāno-Yajña) to the sacrifice
with objects (dravya yajña), o harasser of thy foes. All action (Karma) without exception, O son of pěthā, is comprehended (or culminates) in wisdom (jñāna). -Bhagavadgita-IV. 33. And, “Of offerings I am the offering of Japa". (Yajñānām japa-yajño'smi') - Bhagavadgitā-X, 25.
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