In UP village, unbroken faith in broken idols

[Ryuzaki]

The idols of Hindu deities in UP's Asai were defaced by invaders centuries ago.

ASAI (Etawah): Some thousand years ago invaders smashed and desecrated shrines in this village. They uprooted deities, desecrating the places of worship, defacing the idols.Those invaders are long gone. The broken idols remain — still a source of comfort, hope and blessing for thousands who visit them Mondays and Tuesdays and on other important occasions.

In Hinduism, praying to damaged-idols is considered inauspicious. Such an act apparently brings bad luck. But folks of Asai, a speck on the UP map amid the ravines of Chambal, have undying faith in the powers of their broken idols.

The defaced Shiva, Durga and Kali idols carved on stone draw thousands. Here there's no caste bar, everyone is welcome. The village has a damaged Mahavira statue too.

Legend has it that Mohammed of Ghori destroyed the shrines. "He ordered his men to smash the idols and loot the temple treasures," Shailendra Sharma, history teacher at a reputed Etawah college informed.

"Our gods have broken arms, they are defaced. Yet we revere and worship them.

Our forefathers offered prayers to them. Now we do. Our gods protect us from misfortunes, ward off evil influences and keep us safe," Ravindra Dikshit, village head of Asai, said. The month of Shrawan, Shivratri and Durga Puja are important occasions here.

"Chambal was once the proverbial badlands and powerful dacoits spread fear among villagers. Ban dits lived dangerous lives and routinely came to the shrines here seeking blessings. Some even underwent a change of heart and vowed to shun violence," Dikshit says.

Passing by the temples, villagers chant: "Baar Baar Kashi, Ek Baar Asai ...," a mantra that infuses them with a sense of wellbeing and protection. Kailash Nihor says: "We get peace in our temples," as he rushes off to tend to his fields.

"Once there were nearly 200 idols here, now only 10 or 12 survive," Dikshit says."Smugglers took away the others." Villagers say today they guard their guardian deities with their lives.

In UP village, unbroken faith in broken idols - The Times of India

 

[scorpionx]

They look like statues of Jain Tirthankaras.

 

[indianBong]

The idols of Hindu deities in UP's Asai were defaced by invaders centuries ago.

ASAI (Etawah): Some thousand years ago invaders smashed and desecrated shrines in this village. They uprooted deities, desecrating the places of worship, defacing the idols.Those invaders are long gone. The broken idols remain — still a source of comfort, hope and blessing for thousands who visit them Mondays and Tuesdays and on other important occasions.

In Hinduism, praying to damaged-idols is considered inauspicious. Such an act apparently brings bad luck. But folks of Asai, a speck on the UP map amid the ravines of Chambal, have undying faith in the powers of their broken idols.

The defaced Shiva, Durga and Kali idols carved on stone draw thousands. Here there's no caste bar, everyone is welcome. The village has a damaged Mahavira statue too.

Legend has it that Mohammed of Ghori destroyed the shrines. "He ordered his men to smash the idols and loot the temple treasures," Shailendra Sharma, history teacher at a reputed Etawah college informed.

"Our gods have broken arms, they are defaced. Yet we revere and worship them.

Our forefathers offered prayers to them. Now we do. Our gods protect us from misfortunes, ward off evil influences and keep us safe," Ravindra Dikshit, village head of Asai, said. The month of Shrawan, Shivratri and Durga Puja are important occasions here.

"Chambal was once the proverbial badlands and powerful dacoits spread fear among villagers. Ban dits lived dangerous lives and routinely came to the shrines here seeking blessings. Some even underwent a change of heart and vowed to shun violence," Dikshit says.

Passing by the temples, villagers chant: "Baar Baar Kashi, Ek Baar Asai ...," a mantra that infuses them with a sense of wellbeing and protection. Kailash Nihor says: "We get peace in our temples," as he rushes off to tend to his fields.

"Once there were nearly 200 idols here, now only 10 or 12 survive," Dikshit says."Smugglers took away the others." Villagers say today they guard their guardian deities with their lives.

In UP village, unbroken faith in broken idols - The Times of India

those raiders were ISIS of that century......

 

[Ryuzaki]

They look like statues of Jain Tirthankaras.

All are part of Santana Dharma

 

[utraash]

Thank god these mullahs/invaders could not enter in my state which is home of many famous Hindu sites.....
I have visited across UP n Haryana where the barbaric imprints(khoongress worship these desecrated place as centre of India's secular monuments) are in abundance.....

those raiders were ISIS of that century......

We still have bunch of these guys ..... Mullah mulayam to soft Mamta..... N the entire khoongress is no better than those invaders ......

 

[scorpionx]

All are part of Santana Dharma

That I do not disagree with but they are not idols of Hindu deities as the article suggests.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Another ISIS, another era, same targets.

This is a good symbol of people coming to terms with their past. Are they going on a rampage to avenge this? No. Truth is necessary and in the long run - harmless.

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

The idols of Hindu deities in UP's Asai were defaced by invaders centuries ago.

ASAI (Etawah): Some thousand years ago invaders smashed and desecrated shrines in this village. They uprooted deities, desecrating the places of worship, defacing the idols.Those invaders are long gone. The broken idols remain — still a source of comfort, hope and blessing for thousands who visit them Mondays and Tuesdays and on other important occasions.

In Hinduism, praying to damaged-idols is considered inauspicious. Such an act apparently brings bad luck. But folks of Asai, a speck on the UP map amid the ravines of Chambal, have undying faith in the powers of their broken idols.

The defaced Shiva, Durga and Kali idols carved on stone draw thousands. Here there's no caste bar, everyone is welcome. The village has a damaged Mahavira statue too.

Legend has it that Mohammed of Ghori destroyed the shrines. "He ordered his men to smash the idols and loot the temple treasures," Shailendra Sharma, history teacher at a reputed Etawah college informed.

"Our gods have broken arms, they are defaced. Yet we revere and worship them.

Our forefathers offered prayers to them. Now we do. Our gods protect us from misfortunes, ward off evil influences and keep us safe," Ravindra Dikshit, village head of Asai, said. The month of Shrawan, Shivratri and Durga Puja are important occasions here.

"Chambal was once the proverbial badlands and powerful dacoits spread fear among villagers. Ban dits lived dangerous lives and routinely came to the shrines here seeking blessings. Some even underwent a change of heart and vowed to shun violence," Dikshit says.

Passing by the temples, villagers chant: "Baar Baar Kashi, Ek Baar Asai ...," a mantra that infuses them with a sense of wellbeing and protection. Kailash Nihor says: "We get peace in our temples," as he rushes off to tend to his fields.

"Once there were nearly 200 idols here, now only 10 or 12 survive," Dikshit says."Smugglers took away the others." Villagers say today they guard their guardian deities with their lives.

In UP village, unbroken faith in broken idols - The Times of India

God Damnit they needed to deface those penises!

 

[utraash]

God Damnit they needed to deface those penises!

Some try to do same makkah n medina .....

 

[samv]

All are part of Santana Dharma

Jainism (as well as Buddhism & Sikhism) are not a part of Hinduism.

 

[Ryuzaki]

Jainism (as well as Buddhism & Sikhism) are not a part of Hinduism.

do u have the remotest clue what Sanatana Dharm is?

 

[samv]

do u have the remotest clue what Sanatana Dharm is?

Sanātana Dharma (Devanagari: सनातन धर्म, meaning "eternal dharma" or "eternal religion") has been proposed as an alternative, "native" name for Hinduism (HindiHindu Dharmहिन्दू धर्म) "Hindu religion".[5] The term was mentioned and explained in depth in Vedic literature (Rig Veda) (4-138) and was used during the Hindu revivalism movement in order to avoid having to use the term "Hindu" which is of non-native (Persian) origin.[6][7]

Sanātanī - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Hindustani78]

those raiders were ISIS of that century......

This is the main point . Who are these smugglers and where are those 200 Idols ?

"Once there were nearly 200 idols here, now only 10 or 12 survive," Dikshit says."Smugglers took away the others." Villagers say today they guard their guardian deities with their lives.

 

[indianBong]

This is the main point . Who are these smugglers and where are those 200 Idols ?

"Once there were nearly 200 idols here, now only 10 or 12 survive," Dikshit says."Smugglers took away the others." Villagers say today they guard their guardian deities with their lives.

Yaa.... thats right..... centuries old idols are costly in black market..

 

[Hindustani78]

Yaa.... thats right..... centuries old idols are costly in black market..

Here all are talking about Ghori but not about the Chori