Hi, I would like to add few more words to the list.. 1. "Cult" as in Vaishnava cult, cult of vadakalai/thenkalai - I've seen this word used a lot by our own people. This is a highly offensive word with hidden implicationsof a secret group involved in brainwashing of youths, causing psychological damage etc. etc. 2. "Myth" - I've also seen the words like "Hindu myth", "Indian mythology" etc. etc. - When we use this term, we confess that our puranic legends are mere fantasies and fairy tales. Regards, Kasturi --- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, purohit@xxxx wrote: > > Dear Bhagavatars - many of you might not be knowing that "IDOL" is an > extremely perjorative term coined by Christian missionaries in order to > denigrate and bring to the lowest level what they saw as the objects of > worship in India. > > Please see you Webster's dictionary ? IDOL = (1) the image of a heathen god, > (2) that on which the passions are set; (3) a source of error; (4) a > fallacy, (5) an unsubstantial apparition; (6) a phantom; (7) an imposter, a > counterfiet. > > The terms "idol" and "idolatry" in the west immediately brings to mind > negative connotations as seen in the dictionary entry, and is never used is > a positive context. > > It is high time that we stopped using this term to describe the "archa > avataras" and indeed should strongly object to it - in the eyes of the > native english speakers we are denigrating our own murtis! > > The proper term of use is ICON. This is what the catholics and the eastern > orthodox Christians call their images of God. In modern computer speak which > has adopted this term, it has an entirely neutral connotation > > Words are very important and we too should adjust our vocabulary to more > positive or at least neutral communication. > > Please make this your personal project - allways correct others in this > usage, for Vaishnavas to knowingly or unknowlingly insult the sacred > "tiru-meni" is a serious aparadham. > > adiyen > > Sri Ram
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
ramanuja-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |