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Indian Sanskrit scholar and academic (born 1947) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ved Prakash Upadhyay or Ved Prakash Upaddhay (born 7 February 1947) is an Indian scholar of Sanskrit language and Hinduism, author, professor and social activist.[5] He is the author of many books on Sanskrit literature and Hinduism.[5] He is mostly known for his work Kalki Avatar and Muhammad,[6] which says that there are references to Muhammad as Kalki in some Hindu scriptures.
Ved Prakash Upadhyay | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Indian |
Citizenship | Indian |
Occupation(s) | Sanskrit Scholar, Author, Lecturer, Emeritus Professor (Panjab University),[4] Educator and scholar on Hinduism |
Known for | Kalki Avatar and Muhammad |
Parent(s) | Ramjivan/Ramsjivan Sumitradevi Upadhyay, Pratimadevi Tripathi |
Awards | President's Award of Certificate of Honour India 2018, Sanskrit Sahityalangkar Award from Haryana Sanskrit Academy |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Sanskrit Language, Hinduism, Veda |
Notable works | Kalki Avatar and Muhammad |
Upadhyay was born on 2 February 1947 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh in British India.[5] His father was Saryuparin Vedic scholar Pt.Shriramjeevan Upadhyay.[5][7] He is a former professor of Punjab University.[8][9]
In 2017, he received the Sanskrit Sahitya Alangkar Award from the Haryana Sanskrit Academy.[10] In 2017, he received the Sahitya Ratna Padak from the Punjabi Language Department[11] and in 2019 he received the President's Award of Certificate of Honour of India 2018 for his contribution to Sanskrit language.[12][5][13] Upadhyay was also honored with the UGC Senior Fellowship, Shastrachudamani. Furthermore, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, appointed him as the President of Adarsh Sanskrit Sanstha in Himachal Pradesh.[14]
Author | Ved Prakash Upadhyay |
---|---|
Language | Hindi |
Subject | Discussion of the presence of the Islamic prophet Muhammad as the Hindu avatar of Kalki in the Hindu scriptures (Kalki Purana, Vedas and Bhavashi Purana, etc.) |
Publisher | Saraswat Vedanta Prakash Sangha |
Publication date | between 1966-70 |
Upadhyay's most notable work was Kalki Avatar and Muhammad[15][16] which was published in 1969 by Saraswat Vedanta Prakash Sangghha of Allahabad.[17][18][19] The book is thought to be a partial adaption of the book Muhammad in World Scriptures (originally "Mithaq an-Nabiyeen", covenant of the prophets) by Ahmadiya scholar Abdul Haq Vidyarthi. Originally written in Hindi language, in this book, he discussed his claim of the mention of Islamic prophet Muhammad as the Hindu avatar of Kalki in the Hindu scriptures (Kalki Purana, Vedas and Bhavishya Purana, etc.).[20][21][22]
Ved prakash claimed in the book that the age of Kali Yuga refers to the Islamic Golden Age and the present time is Anu Yuga or the time of Atomic energy. Some of the claimed similarities between Kalki and Muhammad shown on the book along with other two books of the trilogy are:[23][24]
The author claimed, in dashavatar, the scripturally mentioned Buddha Avatar was finally found as Gautama Buddha from Buddhism and later included in Hinduism, similarly Hindu followers should include Muhammad as Kalki Avatar after reading this book, and should follow him instead of waiting for him to come.[31]
After publication, the book became very popular in India.[32] Bengali scholar Asitkumar Bandyopadhyay translated the book into Bengali language along with Upadhyay's other two books 'Narashangsa and the Antim Rishi" and "Religious Unity in the Light of the Vedas and the Puranas" and combined it in one edition in the same name.[33] The book was later also translated into English by several translators entitling Muhammad in the Hindu scriptures and Muhammad in the Vedas and the Puranas, which gave the book immense popularity outside India.[34] The book has also been translated in many regional Indian languages as well as in Urdu and Persian language etc. Besides popularity, the book was also criticized by many Hindu and Muslim bodies, describing the book as wrong explanation of Hindu scriptures by many Hindu scholars and as exclusion of Hinduism and Hindu scriptures from people of the Book and divine books by some Islamic scholars, whereas both of the sectors claimed the subjects of the book as later interpolations in Hindu scriptures.[35][36] Many international journal articles has been written and published on the book,[16][37][21][22] The book is a subject of discussion by many academics[38][39][40][41] like Yoginder Sikand, Muzaffar Alam, Utpal K. Banerjee, Francesca Orsini and got wide media coverage in regional and international print and electronic medias.[42][43][44][45][46][47][48]
The content of the book is mainly a discussion of the claim that Kalki Avatar is Muhammad and the presence of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Hindu scriptures. For this reason, Kalki Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Vedas etc. have been chosen as sources of Hindu scriptures. Hindu scholars criticize and oppose all these claims. An Indian organization 'Agniveer' criticized all these claims. In addition, the book "Ovranto Boidik Shastrer Alokey Kolki Obotar" (অভ্রান্ত বৈদিক শাস্ত্রের আলোকে কল্কি অবতার, Kalki Avatar in the Light of Inerrant Vedic Scriptures) (2019), and the January–March version of Amriter Sandhane magazine, both published by Bangladeshi wing of Back to Godhead, criticizes the claimed resemblance to Kalki Avatar.[49][50] But in the October–December 2016 edition of Amriter shandhane, the Bangladeshi wing of Back to Godhead claimed the mention of Muhammad in Bhavishya Purana and hymn 127, book 20 of Atharvaveda in support of authenticity of vedic scriptures, which similared to the claim of the book.[51] Hindu spiritual leader Ravi Shankar claimed in his book "Hinduism and Islam: The Common Thread" that Muhammad is explicitly mentioned as the name "Mahamada" (Sanskrit: महामद) in Parva 3, Khand 3, Adhyay 3, texts 5-6 (Episode 3, section 3, chapter 3, text 5–6) of Bhavishya Purana: "An illiterate teacher will appear, Mohammed is his name, and he will give religion to the people of the desert", which also resembles the book.[52][53]
Among all the similarities shown in the book with Kalki from the Kalki Purana, behavioral similarities are notable. For example: Muhammad is the last prophet of Islam with the last arrival of Kalki; Similarities of Muhammad's battles at various times with Kalki fighting on a white horse and sword, etc.[54] Critics cite Muhammad's contrasts with Kalki against such similarities.[55] Again in the book it is said that there are similarities in various matters even applying the literal meaning. Critics consider such literal application of the similarity of characters to be misleading and a misapplication of meaning.
It also contains critical comments on Mughal history (the texts refer to them as "Mukuls") and mentions a "Mahamad". Critics point out that the "Mahamed" described in the Bhavishya Purana is a "mlechcha" (foreigner, barbarian) and is the "Daitya" or "ghost" called Tripurasura' who is reborn.,[56] And the word "Muslim" has been said to mean a destroyer of religion.[57] AK Ramanujan mentions Christ, Moses and Queen Victoria in a "properly updated Bhavisya Purana".[58] Regarding "Pratisargaparva" Hazra says: Although it belongs to "Bhavishya Purana" (Ik.1.2-3), "Pratisargaparva" refers to Adam, Noah, Yakuta, Timurlong, Nadirshah, Akbar (Delishwar), Jayachandra and many others. The book also mentions British rule in India, even mentioning Calcutta and Parliament.[59]
The book also claims that the Vedas contain prophecies of Muhammad. For example, in the Atharvaveda Kuntapa Sukta, 'Narasamsha', which is used for any praised person, the word Muhammad means praise, and the Sukta is claimed to describe Muhammad's prophecy. The sukta appears to refer to a justly praised king (Indra), although no Muhammadan association with them is found.[60] Certain verses of the mantra are precisely identified and their semantic similarities are shown in order to create the context, mainly to prove Muhammad's prophecies. Critics see such spending as ulterior motives.
Hindu scholars dispute the book's claims. A criticism of the claimed resemblance to Kalki Avatar is found in the book Ovranto Boidik Shastrer Alokey Kolki Obotar published by Amriter Sandhane Prakashani. Indian organizations like Agniveer also criticized these claims.[61][57] Criticism states,
Indian Hindu organisation Agniveer also judjed the book by the academic works of western scholars on Hinduism. According to the organisation, the book presents the story of Abrahamic Adam and Eve, Noah, described in the Pratisarga episode of Bhavisya Purana. According to scholars, the 'Pratisargaparva' portion of the Bhavishya Purana is considered a projected addition of the eighteenth or nineteenth century.[70][71][72] Moriz Winternitz says that the texts which have come down to us under the title Bhavisya Purana, are undoubtedly not the ancient works of the original Bhavisya Purana quoted in the "Apastambiya Dharmasutra".[73][74] As Gustav Glaser has shown, the surviving manuscripts of the Bhavisya Purana are neither ancient nor medieval versions of the original Bhavisya Purana. The author of this episode is believed to know both the English Bible and Arabic Islamic texts, but many of the words used here are derived from Arabic words and names, not from English sources.
The presence of Arabic words suggests that the corresponding portion of Bhavisya Purana was written well after the fourteenth century and must have been composed after the rise of the Mughal Empire and the availability of Arabic sources in India.[75] This episode has therefore led many scholars to question the acceptability of the "Bhavishya Puranas" and that these Puranas are not accepted as authentic scriptures.[76][70] In this Purana there are more uses of such words including ``Sante (from Sunday), Farbari (from February), Sixty (from Sixty).[77]
In the book "Satyarth Prakash", Dayanad Saraswati also rejected the claim of the mention of Muhammad in Atharvaveda, and he criticised the mention of Muhammad in Allopanishad calling it as a later fabrication to please Akbar.[78]
The Bangladeshi wing of the organisation Agniveer extremely criticised the concepts of the book and the writer and they claimed that the writer doesn't exist in reality because his academic records are not found anywhere in Bengali.[79][80]
Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik deliderately mentioned extensive references from this book along with mentioning the writer Ved Prakash's name in his various writings.[81]
Pakistani former high commissioner Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi discussed the book in his writing.[15] Besides renowned international writers like Ali Unal,[27] Shams Naved Usmani,[82] Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood[83] and Danial Zainal Abidin,[28] Ali Goma,[84] Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri,[85] Sami Amri,[86] Nihat Hatipoğlu[87] etc. discussed and praised the book.
Ziaur Rahman Azmi in his book " Dirasat fil Yahudiyat wal Masihiyat Wal Adianil Hind" (دراست في اليوديه والمسيحيه واديان الحند, Studies on Judaism, Christianity and Indian Religions) stated that, although most of the mainstream Muslim scholars do not regard Hindu scriptures as divine scriptures revealed from God rather than man-made Aryan literature, there may be three reasons behind the "possible" inclusion of Islamic prophecies in Hinduism.[16] First one is,
Azmi himself supported the third view.[16] Azmi Also said that, some Hindus including the founder of Arya Samaj Dayananda Saraswati and his followers also consider these to be fabrications. Besides, regarding the author of the book, Ved Prakash Upadhyay, Azmi said that although he claimed the verification of these prophecies in this book, he himself did not convert to Islam, as Azmi describes 5 positions of Hindu scholars regarding these descriptions:[16]
Bangladeshi Islamic scholar Abubakar Muhammad Zakaria, who has conducted advanced research and studies on Hinduism at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, said about the book in his book Hinduism wa tasur bad al firaq al islamiat biha (Hinduism and some Islamic groups influenced by it) that,[90]
"There is a section for this Purana (Bhavishya Purana) called Kalki Purana, which touched upon Kalki Avatar, (Avatar that comes in the Kali time, or the last time) and what came in this Purana was the reality of Muhammad only, when one of their scholars (Ved Prakash Upaddhay) admitted that there is no Kalki Avatar except Muhammad and he mentioned evidence for that from this book, and claimed that it only applies to it, except that the Hindus differed in accepting this part of the book, and they said that it was plagiarized and it was developed by the later and it was included in the book at a very late time."[90]
Zakaria also criticized the book, saying that Narasangsha is described in verse 127 of the 20th volume of the Atharveda as Kalki which is not the main body of the Atharvaveda, he said that it is an anticipatory portion (Prakshipta Angsha or later interpolation) and subsequent connections, and said that prophecies of Muhammad in Hindu scriptures were used by Hindus to make their scriptures acceptable to Muslims, which is a clever attempt, beginning with Akbar's reign to flatter Emperor Akbar by writing the Allopanishad, he claims that the Bhavishya Purana is completely fabricated and man-made with Hindu references. He says that Hinduism has a habit of adding everything in its religion they got outside in the name of their own religion fabricatedly to attract people to come into their religion, this is also a result of that. In addition, all Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, are claimed to be adaptations of the beliefs of the migrated Japhethite Aryans (Zoroastrians and Rigvedians), indigenous Hemite Dravidians, and other Indo-European classical mythologies along with the influence of monotheism taken from Avestan concept of Ahura Mazda influenced by tha geographically adjacent Arabian Semitic people, as he claimed that, ancient Dravidian Indians were the descendant of Ham, one of the sons of Noah, and the Aryans were the descendants of Japheth, another of the three remained sons of Noah after the Biblical great flood,
This is what historians have mentioned regarding the origin of the people of India, although the truth of the matter is that all are from Adam, and Adam is from dust, and God has destroyed the children of Adam except for Noah's children. The Almighty said: In it, the sons of Noah who remained after the Flood were three: Ham - Shem - Japheth, and the sons of Noah spread all over the world (as-Saaffat 37:75-82, Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, Ibn Kathir, 1/111-114), and the lands at that time were close, and the seas were far apart, and it is said that Sindh and Al-Hind are the sons of Tawqeer (Bouqir) (Nawfer) bin Yaqtan bin Aber bin Shalekh bin Arfakhshad bin Sam bin Noah. It was said: One of the sons of Ham, Al-Masudi says: (Nuvir bin Lot bin Ham walked his son and those who followed him to the land of Hind and Sindh), and Ibn al-Athir says: (As for Ham, Kush, Misraim, Phut, and Canaan were born... It was said: He traveled to Al-Hind (India) and Sindh and lodged it and its people from his sons and Ibn Khaldun says: As for Ham, from his sons are the Sudan, Hind (India), Sindh, the Copts (Kibt), and Canaan by agreement... As for Kush bin Ham, five of his sons are mentioned in the Torah, and they are sufun, Saba, and Juila and Rama and Safakha and from the sons of Rama Shao, who are the Sindh, and Dadan, who are Hind or India, and in it that Nimrod is from the birth of Kush,..... and that Al-Hind (India), Sindh and Habasha (Abyssinia) are from the children of the Sudan from the birth of Kush. From the foregoing it appears to me: that India entered it at that time from all the races of descendants of Noah, and among the most prominent of them were the sons of Shem bin Noah, peace be upon him, but the sincere Dravids and those who are likely to be the sons of Ham entered it in abundance. As for the entry of the sons of Japheth, it was little, and they are the ones who were known as the Turanians, and by joining the ancient Dravid society and as a result of breeding with them, the born Dravids came as previously explained.[90]
and says that since the Hindu texts do not "truly" contain the original Abrahamic monotheism of God or Allah, it is in neither consistent with the original tenets of Islam, nor these are original divine books, rather the pagan Advaita Vedanta philosophy, which developed the concept of Wahdat al-Wujud or Sufism arose in the name of Islam. And as Hinduism established itself as a conformist and syncretistic doctrine from the Islamic point of view, he claimed that, all Hindu scriptures are not inspired but man-made Aryan literature and the theory that this book attributed Kalki to Muhammad was a false and deceitful attempt.[90][91][92]
Upaddhyay published 15 research and original books.[5][12] Those include:
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