Four foreign born Hindu revivalists

Four foreign born Hindu revivalists

Introduction

In late 18th century Bengal a reformist movement within Hinduism started with heavy focus on eliminating malpractices in Hinduism like sati…etc. This later gave rise to a much larger nationwide Hindu revivalist movement which played a critical role in the independence movement. 

Due to works of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo…etc, Hindu revivalism gained traction. These works publicly criticized Western biases and semitic & marxist propaganda.

The need for Hindu revivalism arose and is growing due to three main reasons: (1) western propaganda wherein indologists inferiotize Vedic literature & tradition; (2) well-funded propaganda of semitic propagators aimed at spreading Christianity & Islam; and (3) marxist propaganda aimed at destabilizing the Indian nation state.

Alongside indigenous scholars, there are many foreigners, who have genuinely studied Vedic literature & culture (i.e. without the biases of the aforesaid propaganda). They too have immensely contributed to the intellectual side of the ongoing “Hindu revivalism”.

Vedic Tribe is happy to bring you this introductory series on four such foreign born Hindu revivalists: Koenraad Elst, David Frawley, Stephen Knapp and Ananda Coomaraswamy. In our next write-up, we will introduce Koenraad Elst.

We do not intend to showcase the superiority of Vedic tradition by name-dropping foreigners who support it. Instead, our intention is to create enough curiosity in you to study Vedic literature and implement it in your day to day life.

All the best.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe 

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1. Koenraad Elst

Koenraad Elst is a contemporary Hindu revivalist and was born in Belgium.

His influential works are: Indigenous Indians: Agastya to Ambedkar; Return of the Swastika: Hate and Hysteria versus Hindu Sanity; Negationism in India: Concealing the Record of Islam …etc

He is a supporter of “Out of India Theory”. This is in contrast to “Aryan Invasion / Migration Theory” which hypothesizes that Aryans invaded the / migrated to the Indian subcontinent, introduced Vedas and pushed Dravidians southwards. 

Whereas “Out of India Theory” hypothesizes that Vedic peoples are indigenous to the Indian sub-continent and some migrated outside to establish different cultures, societies & civilizations. 

He is criticized for his hardline arguments and is accused of harboring islamophobia.

Despite criticism and accusations, his works are highly influential in the ongoing Hindu revivalist movement. 

We recommend reading his books; specifically: Update on the Aryan Invasion Debate and Asterisk in Bhāropīyasthān

In our next write-up, we will introduce David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastry)

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

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2. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastry)

David Frawley is a contemporary Hindu revivalist and was born in the USA.

His influential works are: What Is Hinduism?; Wisdom of the Ancient Seers: Mantras of the Rig Veda; Ayurveda and the Mind…etc.

He is an adherent of Advaita vedanta and has extensively criticized the “Aryan Migration Theory” calling it the - invasion theory in disguise. His Yogic interpretation of Rigveda challenges conventional & contemporary academia and has opened many areas for further studies.

His works have been criticized for lacking archeological & other evidence.

Despite criticism, his works are highly influential in the ongoing Hindu revivalist movement. 

We recommend reading his books; specifically: “In Search of the Cradle of Civilization” (which was co-authored with Subhash Kak and Georg Feuerstein)

In our next write-up, we will introduce Stephen Knapp (Nandanandana dasa)

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

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3. Stephen Knapp (Nandanandana dasa)

Stephen Knapp is a contemporary Hindu revivalist and was born in the USA.

His influential works are: Crimes against India and the need to protect its ancient Vedic tradition; The heart of Hinduism; Seeing spiritual India…etc

He was initiated by Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada himself into the Bhakti tradition of Tattvavada (popularly known as Hare-Krishna movement). His works are influential in bringing complex academic issues to the understanding of lay people.

His works have been criticized for lacking archeological & other evidence.

Despite criticism, his works are highly influential in the ongoing Hindu revivalist movement. 

We recommend reading his books; specifically: The Aryan Invasion Theory: The Final Nail in its Coffin.

In our next write-up, we will introduce Ananda Coomaraswamy

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

—- 

4. Ananda Coomaraswamy

Ananda Coomaraswamy was a scholar who is credited with introducing Indian art & philosophy to the western audience in its original form. He was born in British Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.

His influential works are: Introduction to Indian art; Origin of Buddha image; A new approach to Vedas…etc

He was not identified with Hindu revivalists of his time and was mostly recognized as academician, mystic & a metaphysician. However, his works became material for Hindu revivalists of his time and also for the generations to come. 

His works have been criticized for involving more mysticism than academic research.

Despite criticism, his works are highly influential in the ongoing Hindu revivalist movement. 

We recommend reading his books; specifically: The Dance of Shiva – Fourteen Indian essays.

Vedic Tribe is happy to have brought you this introductory series on four foreign born Hindu revivalists.

Our intention is to create enough curiosity in you to study Vedic literature and implement it in your day to day life.

All the best.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe