Rasta is Shiva?

[leggo rocker]

Got thinking about this when answering the Sensi post.

I'm struck by how similar in many ways Rastafarians are to Shivites.

Both use herb in a similar way, believing it sanctioned by their God.

They both wear their hair uncombed, in dreadlocks (as does Shiva).

They both view 'normal' or 'Babylon' society as a system of evil. They prefer the company of their own people, or other believers.

And their Gods (Jah or Shiva) both come down at the end of creation to cleanse the Earth of impurity and Godlessness using FIRE!

I've always found that very interesting.

I'll accept of course, that these similarities may be circumstantial. And there are as many, if not more, differences between the two groups as similarities. However, I wonder if there is an historical link somewhere.

[6anbatte]

Hi Leggo Rocker

Check out "A History of God" by Karen Armstrong - http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-God-Kar ... 905&sr=1-3

I'll dig it out tonight if I get a chance.

[Litelet]

Well... agree with you Leggo that there are some similarities that are really interesting... especially with the sadhus that live a distinct life, apart of society, with locks (made of ashes), weed, kind of ital food... I was really impressed of that when spreading several weeks with a real good sadhu. I was hoping he would enjoy the roots reggae music I brought with me there, but he didnt.. I was really disappointed as everything seemed to be there to link him with rasta...

But God is a very different thing for them... Shivaites dont believe in one God, they accept and respect the others (of hinduism) but consider Shiva as the main. And the vision of "Babylon" is quite different too... Cause (of what I learnt there) they really think the earth living is an illusion, they dont focus so on society, but on reality. The illusion is that the godly One energy is fragmented in things and people, that think they have an own sense. But Sadhus reject dis individuality and have a ceremony of death, they accept to quit material life to live a pure spiritual life to go back to god and dont consider anything of their own identity or ego or materiality (in theory at least). The ego, charism and individuality has a quite different importance for rastas! They feel they exist and have a role down there, they must act in dis reality. Sadhus have no political investment, and no real interest in music... as everything down here is nonsense... This non-individuality is probably the main conception that differ from rasta culture.

I dont think hinduists are fearing or waiting a final judgement, as nobody really exist in their point of view, so you your acts are not yours too...

Indian believes really colonised most of the world, and its quite certain it had an impact to Africa... Ethiopia being probably the bridge to Africa, I would not be surprised there is a relation between both cultures... India-Africa-Jamaica...

Guidance

[leggo rocker]

Hmm. depends Litelet.

First off, 'Hinduism' - it's an English colonial term, so lets use the Vedanta instead, as that is original Indian.

The Vedanta talks extensively about personalism - and individuality. The people you have met must have been 'impersonalists. They are an offshoot who have mixed Buddhism into Vedanta.

In original Veda, the 'person' is the soul, not the body. The world is real, but not real. Not real because it is short term, transitory, whereas spiritual existance is permanent, therefore, really real. If you get my meaning.

In true Veda there is one God (known as the Supreme PERSONALITY), the rest are either incarnations of HIM (Avatars) or they are his deputies (or hers, as God appears as BOTH male and female in Veda).

The pantheistic gods (those of War, of Creation, of Water, of Fire etc) are in fact demi-gods. In other words Super-Humans, but humans nonetheless. They have taken material birth, and eventually - they die. And another soul is born into their place.

So true Veda is a mon-theistic philosophy, just like Rastafarianism, as both believe in one ultimately powerful and true God.

I have also studied Celtic beliefs in detail. and they also have striking parallels with Vedic tradition. No surprise really as they are widely believed to have migrated from North West India. I once asked a Romany Traveller where she was from, her answer was "India".

[sean]

hey 6anbatte!!remarkably, shortly after reading your post re karen armstrong, i was in a cafe..a woman had a book nearby me..the book? ..history of islam by karen armstrong..hey litelet..thats a great post there by the way..in himalayas in 2005 i visited a temple inhabited by a few Hindu mystics, their concept of non violence was so strong that they actually left food out for the army of black ants that lived in the temple..they lived on lentils, these ants!!!a 75 yr old dreadlocks guy showed me round...hmm. i live and learn leggo, thanks..i always thought Hinduism was pantheistic or had many gods, eg hanuman, ganesh, etc..dont they?

[leggo rocker]

Yes, they have many Gods. But only ONE Supreme and original God. ALL the others are either lesser incarnations, or demi-gods.

Ganesh is a demi-god. Hanuman is the monkey God - also a demi God. These are all material births.

Of course all of this is up for a lot of interpretation. Like many scriptures, men can, and do, read into them what they want to hear.

And as for Hindu non-violence. You should read th Bhagavad Gita. It's like the Hindu new testament. Set in the middle of a huge battle! In fact, it is a mere chapter from the real book, The Mahabarat. This book is scripture sewn into a story about a big power struggle between good and evil factions. Makes great reading if you can get a good copy. Lord of the Rings owes rather a lot to it.

[sean]

i tried reading the Bhagavad Gita years ago, it drove me nuts with boredom, being an absurd tale of countless wars...yawn yawn yawn

[leggo rocker]

Many a secret is carefully hidden. Like I said, best to get a good copy!

[sean]

well Mohandas Gandhi was deeply into it so theres probably lots of good in it..well hidden in all likelihood..Gandhi was a great man but Bhagavad Gita is ancient history, if indeed it ever happened..surely?

[leggo rocker]

Like the Bible.

Did God really hand some commandments down in stone tablet form?

Even if He didn't, killing is still wrong!

It may have all happened, it may not.

Doesn't change the wisdom in it.

A lot that is ancient is more relevant to us than what is modern.

The earth is ancient, should we discard it?