Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Drishtikone

How Evangelist Forces Completely Annihilated the Druids in Ireland

Last updated on: April 20, 2011 at 1:45 am   by Desh Kapoor

How Evangelist Forces Completely Annihilated the Druids in Ireland 2011-04-20T01:45:15-05:00 Desh Kapoor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Shiva-HinduDruid.jpgBryan McMohan has an interesting game for his Indian guests in the motel in County Kerry in Ireland. He starts humming an Irish folk tune and then stops. Almost on every occassion, the Indian guests burst out into a song, as if they had known the song for ages. The Irish music critic, Fanny Feehan wrote in a paper entitled “Suggested Links Between Eastern and Celtic Music” (1981) (Karen Ralls):

…In the area of vocal ornamentation East and West come close. I once played a Claddagh recording of Maire Aine (Ni Dhonnacha) singing `Barr an tSleibhe’ for an Indian Professor of Music who refused to believe, until I showed her the sleeve of the record, that it was an Irish song. She claimed, and demonstrated by singing to me, that the song bore a strange resemblence to an Indian (North) raga about a young girl being lured toward a mountain. The Professor was interested in the mode, the pitching of the voice, and certain notes which were characteristic of both the raga and `Barr na tSleibhe’…

Druids were members of the learned class among the ancient Celts in the modern Ireland. Druid is a combination of Dhru and Vid – Dhru in Sanskrit means “Firmed up/Enconsed” (same root as Dhruv – North Star) and Vid means knowledge – so Druid really means Firmed up in Knowledge. Very little is known of Druids because they had a tradition of Oral History as opposed to Written History. Therefore, when first, the Romans under Ceaser conquered the Celts and then Christianity wiped out Druidism – a Earthy religious/spiritual practice from Ireland – the details on Druids and Celtics were distorted by the evangelists.

The urge to make Druids look uncivilized because they followed rituals, practices, chants and even sacrifices (sometimes Human) to play with energy, health and powers – little understood (and feared) outside a certain circle – was strong for the Romans. A practice which the Christian invaders and evangelists carried on and used profitably in India as well.

Christians – in a complete reverse of what they had suffered at the hands of Romans – became the persecuting force in Europe until Druids and all the Pagans were finished.

It is no coincidence that flags of Ireland and India bear such resemblance. The Spiritual foundation and many practices, rituals as well as philosophies built on top of that foundation were very similar. And, had it not been for some tenacious resistance of the Hindus in India, even the fate may well have been the same. For, the foes and their tactics, even arguments (of barbarianism) were eerily similar.

Celtics are widely believed to be polytheistic, although under this diversity of deities runs a common and homogenous philosophical stream. Interestingly, most deities in the Gaulish and the Celtic culture appear as couples: such as Rosmerta and ‘Mercury’, Nantosuelta and Sucellos, Sirona and Apollo Grannus, Borvo and Damona, or Mars Loucetius and Nemetona.

Matres or Mother in Celtic culture (similar to the Sanskrit word) referred to the Mother Goddesses in that culture which was a recurrent feature in the pantheons of deities. Many of the Goddesses were actually river deities who were venerated for their life-giving qualities. Even in the Vedic culture, from Saraswati to Ganges to Gomti to Kaveri to Godavari – all the rivers have been revered as Goddesses. In other cultures, however, the rivers took male names in most cases.

Druids also believed in reincarnations, transmigration of souls and also cause and effect laws like Karma. The Universe has a balancing mechanism, Druids believed, and is the Rule, Judge and the Juror – reminiscent of the conception of Sanatan Dharma – the Eternal Law of the Universe. Karma, reincarnation and transmigration, all fit in together with the Vedic concept.

Why is Druid History important for India and the World?

Given how the march of Christianity (and its transformation into a persecuting force – quite in contrast with its persecuted character) and Islam as they conquered one Pagan religious culture after another and thoroughly annihilated these cultures from Europe (Ireland, Germany, Greece etc) and Asia (Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia) – means that Evangelism enforced with historical baggage of hatred for Pagans (and extending to Hindus) is not a thing of the past. This is reinforced by the rhetoric of the Evangelists and the newly converted who target Hinduism in India by using EXACTLY the same story line as was used by the Romans and the Christians against Druid in 5th and the 6th century.

Christian Evangelist forces along with the Islamic forces have been very potent against multi-theistic and diverse societies in tune with nature, with reverence for Feminine Divinity and appreciation for diversity in religious and spiritual thinking. The Evangelist forces, by their very nature, are exclusivist; while Pagan cultures are inclusivist by design. There is a remarkably natural dichotomy between the two. One is a force of acquisition and the other a culture of Liberation. One thinks of imposition of its design, while other strives to explore nature and everything in it and have complete reverence to it.

Given that God is a man-made conception and is constructed by every society in its own image, it is probably better to have an Open Ended articulation of God which is synonymous with the Nature and Universe, as opposed to a set idea in stone. For, whatever has been decided and made to impose on everyone else can only lead to atrocities, as has been the case.

In US, Walmart has been successful in annihilating the local and diverse businesses which enjoined local character to the location. These small businesses were more humane and in tune with the local society, whereas Walmart follows the tune of the World Stock Market.

March of Evangelist Global forces have had the same effect and same potency. It would have been fine if the purpose of the Religion and God was commerce, but it is about finding the very Truth of our Source. An exploration that can only be undertaken by everyone personally.

But what the Evangelist forces – with simplistic and aggressive intent – give out are cookie cutter “answers” and stories, which are in the end … also into Commerce for the Vanquishers. It is no wonder that all the Colonists and Invaders – from Mohammad Ghori (Khwaja Chisti) to the East India Company – used Missionaries as a means of conversion and way to propagate and colonize the people and their lands. Extraction of wealth was the ultimate purpose. Its not that the newly converted Christians did not face the damning effects of poverty that was imposed on India during the looting and plunder of the country’s economy during the British (Two Millenia of India’s Economic Journey), but then the Vanquisher didn’t care less. The job had been done. Thank you very much. Hallelujah!

Hinduism

Religion

Spirituality

Celtics

Celts

Druids

Ireland

Previous Post



April 19, 2011

Mindless Baba Ramdev Bashing Brigade: When Elitists become pawns in the Grand Game of Politics

Next Post



April 20, 2011 Can you have Perception without the Sensation of Seeing?


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Aarti Achievement and Leadership AfPak Africa Annual and Year-end Asia Audio Australia Behavioural Sciences Bhagwad Gita Bhagwad Gita Blogging Blogs Business Business Intelligence Business Strategy Cannes Careers Chanakya China Conservation Corruption Creative Daily Links Desh Poems Development & Welfare Devotional Audio Devotional Songs Drama Earth Economics Education Entertainment Environment Europe Everyday Quotes Featured Articles Featured Songs Finance Flickr Pictures Food Geo-Political Global Warming Globalization Health & Medicine Hinduism Historic History Humour India Indian Culture Indian music Indian Weddings Israel Issues Legal Link Love Minorities Misc Motivation and Personal Development Movie Lists Movie Reviews Movies Mumbai terror attacks Natural Disasters Nature News Outsourcing Pakistan Parenting Personal Philosophy Poetry Politics Poverty Quotes Recipe Regular Blog Post Relationships Religion Religious/Spiritual Audio Sciences Showcase Slideshow South Asia Special Stories Spiritual Quotes Spirituality Sports Stories Strategy Technology Technology Terrorism Travel Uncategorized US Video Women Women_s Rights Worship Yoga

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 August 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the small, portable cross worn as a sign of faith and blessing called?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mitre Crucifix Tabernacle Chalice

Related posts from Drishtikone

Hindu

How the Historically Intolerant forces are now Preaching...

Drishtikone

Hindu

This Diwali Light a Lamp for Humanity's Future

Drishtikone

Hindu

Karwa Chauth: Why this celebration of love is...

Drishtikone

Hindu

Why does Republicans' Outrage on the Pope Reminds...

Drishtikone

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Hindu

Indian Hindu pilot’s valor in line of duty...

  There is a hoary maritime tradition that the captain of the...

Movie on Neem Karoli Baba’s life is a...

Neem Karoli Baba’s life (1900-1973) is associated with miracles he made in...

20 Questions to Ask Before an Interfaith Marriage,...

Four questions every interfaith couple should discuss before marriage: Conversion. Will either...

Avadhānam: The Art of Concentration and Intellectual Mastery

What is Avadhānam? In the summer of 2015, during a three-day Sanskrit...

Jesus in the Dharma: Where Christ Fits in...

Where Does Jesus Fit in Hinduism? That’s a question I get often...

Hormuz: A Shared Hindu and Zoroastrian Heritage

Every evening, somewhere in the world, a newsreader utters the words: "The...

view all Hindu blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube