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The Oneness of Creation Cosmopolitan India in Ancient Times |
A film by Benoy K Behl
Produced by Government of India,
Ministry of External Affairs.
Unbelievable but true !
Since earliest historic times, the kings
and the people of India presented a unique and fascinating culture. We find from the 3rd century BC onwards, a
fluid spiritual tradition in which members of the same family freely worshipped
and patronized different faiths. It is
remarkable to see that at least the
first six hundred years of art with Buddhist themes was ALL created under the
rule of kings who worshipped Hindu deities. The well-known and greatest
Buddhist art of the world – the Sanchi Stupa’s sculpted gateways, the hundreds
of Buddhist caves in Western India, scores of stupas in the Krishna Valley –
were all made in the rule of Hindu kings !
The Oneness of Creation
Cosmopolitan India in Medieval Times
No religious divisions !
In the late 16th century,
Emperor Akbar created a universal faith ‘Din-I-Ilahi’. Hindus, Jainas, Parsis
and Christians were invited to a special house of worship. Here, the beliefs of
all faiths were freely discussed. In Akbar’s
rule, the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata were translated into Persian.
Magnificent illustrated manuscripts of these translations were produced by his
court painters. Akbar’s contemporary
Sultan Adil Shah II of Bijapur was another great philosopher king. Though born
a Muslim, he wore a necklace of rudraksha beads, in the manner of a Hindu
ascetic. In his autobiography, the Sultan says that he is the SON OF GANESHA,
the Hindu deity.
