The Unnerving Struggle to Remain A Hindu - VI
26 Nov 2024 10:34:49
Every sanction imposed on Hindus as per the advice of the Church as an institution and implemented by the administration in the form of laws were the steps taken to convert people. Portuguese not only wanted to rule and loot the land, but they wanted to eradicate the way of life and culture of the land. They wanted all to embrace Christianity, and for it, they tried all the brutal methods. Fortunately, our generations fought the battle for centuries to safeguard the interests of future generations. They made all kinds of sacrifices and did not give up at any point in time. We are indebted to many unknown and unsung silent warriors as most records are unavailable.
Once converted, missionaries never expected the converts to return to their original faith by using any religious rituals. For Hindus, it was very difficult to bring the converts ( many had their blood relatives who were converted )back into the Hindu faith. It was equally tough to build the kuldevta temples in safe locations, house the idols and manage the the temples run smoothly. There were many restrictions put by the administration to defeat the thought of ' Gharwapasi '.
The first council conducted in 1567, were aware of the efforts by Hindus to bring the converts back to the Hindu fold. The council wanted to oppose and prevent any such effort by awarding punishment. It wanted the power to implement to be invested with the Bishop. King Sebastian happily accepted the suggestion and imposed 2 years of rigorous imprisonment. This was observed by the council members. The church was aware that converts crossed the river borders performed religious rituals, and visited temples outside the territory of Portugese as a corrective measure. ( These rituals were described as satanic, which they thought disturbed new converts very much. ) As there were laws against Proselytism, many moved the courts, of course with no justice. Missionaries did not want even the case to be filed. ( Is this not intolerance? ) The council wanted the right to be given to the Bishop or the decision to be made in his presence. ( This was described as an insult to the holy Church punishment was suggested ) Even religious discourse or reading the religious scriptures in public and social events like these were expected to be stopped.
The five councils that were organised between 1567 and 1606 made various suggestions for the citizens of Portuguese Goa. This expresses the anxiety to keep the new converts together by alienating them or cutting the ties they had with society. The dos ( hardly one ) and don'ts prescribed really make readers get a shock, it may sound imaginary to many. All these points are documented.
Converts were not supposed to have intimate friendships with their Hindu friends or relatives, no help was to be taken from any Hindu, no financial transactions, not even a loan, and no dining with Hindus. Hindus were not supposed to be invited inside the home, no interaction whatsoever with them, their contact can be welcomed if it is for converting them to Christianity. This was given legal status. The principle is described by Shri Ranga Hari Ji as ' Divide to Avoid '. Even talking to Hindus ( infidels ) was to be avoided. The converts were supposed to mix with Christians alone. If new converts were to invite their Hindu relatives for some occasion like marriage, permission was to be granted by the chief Vicar ( padte ). The children of converts were not allowed to marry outside the Christian faith. No help was to be offered to non-believers of Christianity ( even financial help ). No participation in their festivities, they could not visit converts. The new names ( after baptism) were to be used, the old identity was to be erased.
Coming together which is the most natural act, was treated to be a crime. Psychological walls were built. Similar restrictions were extended to Kerala people. Dr Scaria Zacharia stated that it was aimed at the Westernization of lay people in social and religious matters. Converts had to distance themselves. Even co-living was not appreciated. ( Probably separate localities were the aim.) Violation implied a fine and imprisonment as usual. Thus islands were created in the society for converts.
All the regulatory instructions if compiled would hardly have any points related to Jesus Christ's philosophical discourse. No aspects of Hindu life remained untouched, the book has various examples, but there are many more in reality. Every custom related to every celebration was strictly prohibited, and all the customs to be followed after childbirth were banned. Any form of celebration was not allowed. Customs like ear-piercing, shearing the boy's hair, serving cooked rice to the child for the first time, taking the child to kuladevata and laying the child at the feet (payghalap), were all forbidden. Simple practices like offering home-extracted oil to a temple, food restrictions on the Ekadashi, considering some plants like Tulasi were not permissible, and singing of divine songs were not allowed. Anything that organised people was not permitted. Secret agents were given the responsibility to catch such individuals.
Reading all such things may sound like the reader's flight of imagination, but they are not. Even the basic system of educating children was stopped. Hindus were compelled to hear the Gospels ( given the form of duty of all ). This caused a wave of exodus. It took 50 years to reverse the law, as even the Goa corporation too protested. Some returned, but the rest stayed with a sense of relief. A very horrifying system existed, Baptism en masse. Missionaries would visit villages with two Negroes, catch hold of people and beef against their lips, this they would be ' ex-communicated ', and would be treated to be converted.
This was very enthusiastically implemented, as all gained some portion of loot. ( Every historian noted the fact of the administration and Church being corrupt. ) ' Surround and attack ' was the system. Every institution of society was destroyed, resources dried up, culture disrespected, and Gharvapasi prevented. Temples were demolished, Churches were built on the same piece of land, all the assets were snatched away, and used for conversions. New converts were made to forget their original names and the rituals related to their Hindu faith. This was certainly an attempt to weaken the cultural identity held for ages. St. Francis Xavier and many others were at the forefront of the endeavour. Church issued the guidelines and advised the administration to make it a legal tool.
The most frightening weapon was the Inquisition. We need to have a clear idea of it and remember the nature of the horrific and torturous phenomenon was it, and the kind of sacrifice people had to make just to remain a Hindu.
Once converted, missionaries never expected the converts to return to their original faith by using any religious rituals. For Hindus, it was very difficult to bring the converts ( many had their blood relatives who were converted )back into the Hindu faith. It was equally tough to build the kuldevta temples in safe locations, house the idols and manage the the temples run smoothly. There were many restrictions put by the administration to defeat the thought of ' Gharwapasi '.
The first council conducted in 1567, were aware of the efforts by Hindus to bring the converts back to the Hindu fold. The council wanted to oppose and prevent any such effort by awarding punishment. It wanted the power to implement to be invested with the Bishop. King Sebastian happily accepted the suggestion and imposed 2 years of rigorous imprisonment. This was observed by the council members. The church was aware that converts crossed the river borders performed religious rituals, and visited temples outside the territory of Portugese as a corrective measure. ( These rituals were described as satanic, which they thought disturbed new converts very much. ) As there were laws against Proselytism, many moved the courts, of course with no justice. Missionaries did not want even the case to be filed. ( Is this not intolerance? ) The council wanted the right to be given to the Bishop or the decision to be made in his presence. ( This was described as an insult to the holy Church punishment was suggested ) Even religious discourse or reading the religious scriptures in public and social events like these were expected to be stopped.
The five councils that were organised between 1567 and 1606 made various suggestions for the citizens of Portuguese Goa. This expresses the anxiety to keep the new converts together by alienating them or cutting the ties they had with society. The dos ( hardly one ) and don'ts prescribed really make readers get a shock, it may sound imaginary to many. All these points are documented.
Converts were not supposed to have intimate friendships with their Hindu friends or relatives, no help was to be taken from any Hindu, no financial transactions, not even a loan, and no dining with Hindus. Hindus were not supposed to be invited inside the home, no interaction whatsoever with them, their contact can be welcomed if it is for converting them to Christianity. This was given legal status. The principle is described by Shri Ranga Hari Ji as ' Divide to Avoid '. Even talking to Hindus ( infidels ) was to be avoided. The converts were supposed to mix with Christians alone. If new converts were to invite their Hindu relatives for some occasion like marriage, permission was to be granted by the chief Vicar ( padte ). The children of converts were not allowed to marry outside the Christian faith. No help was to be offered to non-believers of Christianity ( even financial help ). No participation in their festivities, they could not visit converts. The new names ( after baptism) were to be used, the old identity was to be erased.
Coming together which is the most natural act, was treated to be a crime. Psychological walls were built. Similar restrictions were extended to Kerala people. Dr Scaria Zacharia stated that it was aimed at the Westernization of lay people in social and religious matters. Converts had to distance themselves. Even co-living was not appreciated. ( Probably separate localities were the aim.) Violation implied a fine and imprisonment as usual. Thus islands were created in the society for converts.
All the regulatory instructions if compiled would hardly have any points related to Jesus Christ's philosophical discourse. No aspects of Hindu life remained untouched, the book has various examples, but there are many more in reality. Every custom related to every celebration was strictly prohibited, and all the customs to be followed after childbirth were banned. Any form of celebration was not allowed. Customs like ear-piercing, shearing the boy's hair, serving cooked rice to the child for the first time, taking the child to kuladevata and laying the child at the feet (payghalap), were all forbidden. Simple practices like offering home-extracted oil to a temple, food restrictions on the Ekadashi, considering some plants like Tulasi were not permissible, and singing of divine songs were not allowed. Anything that organised people was not permitted. Secret agents were given the responsibility to catch such individuals.
Reading all such things may sound like the reader's flight of imagination, but they are not. Even the basic system of educating children was stopped. Hindus were compelled to hear the Gospels ( given the form of duty of all ). This caused a wave of exodus. It took 50 years to reverse the law, as even the Goa corporation too protested. Some returned, but the rest stayed with a sense of relief. A very horrifying system existed, Baptism en masse. Missionaries would visit villages with two Negroes, catch hold of people and beef against their lips, this they would be ' ex-communicated ', and would be treated to be converted.
This was very enthusiastically implemented, as all gained some portion of loot. ( Every historian noted the fact of the administration and Church being corrupt. ) ' Surround and attack ' was the system. Every institution of society was destroyed, resources dried up, culture disrespected, and Gharvapasi prevented. Temples were demolished, Churches were built on the same piece of land, all the assets were snatched away, and used for conversions. New converts were made to forget their original names and the rituals related to their Hindu faith. This was certainly an attempt to weaken the cultural identity held for ages. St. Francis Xavier and many others were at the forefront of the endeavour. Church issued the guidelines and advised the administration to make it a legal tool.
The most frightening weapon was the Inquisition. We need to have a clear idea of it and remember the nature of the horrific and torturous phenomenon was it, and the kind of sacrifice people had to make just to remain a Hindu.