Editor's Mail   Thousand Names of Bhawani-and many more

Dr. K L Chowdhury  

Dear Sir,

While we respect Shri S.N. Koul Gasi's sentiments, it was rather amusing to go through his protest (K.S. August, 1996) against what he perceives as disrespect by 'our younger generation towards our Gods and Goddesses' for example by changing the name of Maha Ragnya to Khir Bhawani.

A rose will remain a rose by any other name. Ours is a free religion, not bound by dogma and with no place for geriatric chauvinism. The thousand names of Maha Ragnya (Bhawani Sahasranam) describe her numerous incarnations, her attributes, and her benevolence and profound love for her devotees and even if we were imbued with infinite imagination and intellect to characterise her through ten thousand and more names we would just touch a fringe of her who transcends description and imagination,

I am not going into the semantics of the name 'Khir Bhawani and even if we agree that it is a 'nickname given by non-Hindus', yet it looks so appropriate considering that Hindus offer candy. milk and Khir as a time-honoured ritual to their Khir-loving deity. It is another description name for her which has come to be accepted down the ages. Let us not forget that Muslims of Kashmir revere this goddess and some of them offer her milk like their Hindu compatriots, in spite of the fact that idol-worship is the very antithesis of Muslim religion.

Let us not deny the joy to her numerous devotees, young and old, who love to call her endearingly by any name suitable which gives expression to their profound love and devotion.

Yours sincerely

Dr. K.L. Chowdhury  

 (Let us not confuse Khsheer (meaning milk) with Khir-Editor)

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.                                                                    

Courtesy:   Koshur Samachar, November, 1996