Shakta Religion-religion Of Mon-khmer, before the arrival of buddhism Options

[BishoujoHunter]

Hinduism Is Not One Religion

by Suresh Rao


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hinduism is not One Religion, but in fact consiste of several distinct faiths :

Brahmanic Religions (Brahmanism)
Vaishnavism - The dominant religion in Central and Northern India, it is the dominant Brahmanic religion.
Vedism
Shaiva Religion (Shaivism, Sudra Religion)
Dravidian Shaivism
Saiva Siddhanta (Tamil Shaivism)
Lingayatism or Veerashaivism (Kannadiga Shaivism)
Several Others
Dalit & Adivasi Shaivism
Gond Religion
Bhil Religion
Others
Kol Shaivism
Munda Religion
Santhal Religion
Others
Shakta Religion (Shaktism) - Of Mon-Khmer religion, and still the dominant faith among the Mon-Khmer peopls of India in regions around Assam, the Shakti or the female principle is considered supreme.
Tantric Religion (Tantra) -Of Tibetic origin, the phallic god `Mahadeva' (distinct from Shiva, just as Greek Priapus is distinct from Roman Hermes) is worshipped as equal to his consort Parvati (`Of the mountain).

from
http://www.dalitstan.org/journal/hindutwa/...0/hind_nor.html

This post has been edited by BishoujoHunter: May 16 2004, 05:22 AM

[FKR]

Shakta Religion (Shaktism) - Of Mon-Khmer religion, and still the dominant faith among the Mon-Khmer peopls of India in regions around Assam, the Shakti or the female principle is considered supreme.

Interesting information. This is new to me. I see a connection to the principles of Shaktism. Historically the Khmer country was ruled by the Khmer Queen. As the Khmer ruling class slowly came under the influences of India, the Khmer ruling ladies were replaced by Khmer Kings. In addition, the matriarchal Khmer society was also being exerted upon by the influences of the Chinese settlers and traders. The patriarchy-based Chinese traded with the Khmer women and also married the Khmer women. The French also exerted their male-dominancy view on the Khmer people.

As a result of the patriarchal influences of India, China, and France, the Khmer ruling queens were replaced by Khmer kings, the mixed Khmer children carry their father's last names, and the Khmer women adopted their husbands' last names after they got married.

However, unlike being the slave wives like those of some cultures, the Khmer women are "Mother-Wives" as they still retain their decision making power within the family. In fact, the Khmer wives are the financial officers of the family finances. Also, it is interesting to note that during the Khmer traditional wedding ceremony or ritual, when everything is all said and done, the groom himself is MADE to follow the lead of the Khmer bride. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) It is not the other way around. So I think this practice had its roots in Shaktism. The Khmer people have numerous proverbs that highlight the importance of the Khmer women.

With that said, I like to conclude this post by reciting this Khmer proverb regarding the women and men: "The men are all over the world, the women are in the Khmer kingdom." The dominating Indians, Chinese, and French were indeed men from other foreign countries.

[RockHeart]

If we talking about the Human discipline and power of the AsianCountry. There are always the men have more powers and strong decision than the wemen...Its an aggressive dominion of human. All thing the men are right and perfect...have no question to ask. Then all wemen are stress and respect to the men...Can not handle a specious position at all...

But in the western countries, both man and woman are equal privilige and mutual respect, can do whatever is depend on the knowledge and highly skills...As we can see in the India country is a Queen Leader. "Sonia Gandhi"

RockHeart,

:genius:

[angkorwat19]

i believe the mon-khmer race migrated down from northeast india in the Assam and Meghalaya region. just read below.

SNAKE AND ELEPHANT
Khasi Legends and Myths

By: Patricia Mukhim

"The writer is the Director, Indigenous Women's Resource Centre, North East India, Chairperson, Shillong We Care and a well known activist and columnist. She is the recipient of the Padma Shri in the year 2000 for social work."

History says that the Khasis and Jaintias are the only known tribes from North East India who are of Mon Khmer origin having migrated to the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, in Meghalaya, from Cambodia. The rest of the tribes living in the region are of Tibeto-Burman stock. Culturally there is no perceptible difference between the Khasis and Jaintias except for some slight linguistic variations, but, the differences are today accentuated because of political and economic pressures and pulls. Khasis and Jaintias occupy distinct geographical areas of the State. Together the Khasis and Jaintias make up about 10 lakhs of the 23 lakh population of Meghalaya. Both tribes have legends galore. In fact these legends have tremendous influence on their world views, their attitudes and behaviour.

A predominantly tribal population, the original inhabitants of this state are Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. Khasis and Jaintias trace their ancestry to the Mongolian race, while the Garos belong to the Tibeto-Burman race. Their cultural traits and ethnic origins remain distinctive, mainly due to their geographical isolation. The Khasi language spoken here, is believed to be one of the few surviving dialects of the Mon-Khmer family of languages, in India.

A common cultural tradition of all the tribes of Meghalaya is the matriarchal law of inheritance by which, custody to property and succession of family position runs through the female line, passing from the mother to the youngest daughter, instead of the male line as is common elsewhere in the country.

Short, muscular, robust and of complexions that vary from fair to dark brown, the tribal people of Meghalaya are sociable, cheerful, hardworking and great lovers of music and beauty. A unique characteristic is their habit of chewing unripe betelnut with dried tobacco, betel leaves and lime. The traditional costume of this place is the 'Jainsem' and the 'Dhara', though the younger generation has now taken to western clothes. The common food of the people is rice with meat and fish preparations. Rice beer is a favourite drink among the menfolk.

This post has been edited by angkorwat19: May 15 2004, 09:10 PM

[angkorwat19]

my mom chews dried tobacco everyday and most female khmer elders chew dried tobacco. the source also mentioned leaves and lime. old khmer women also chew these and using that orange-yellowish paste to put on the leaves. very unique characteristic indeed for the people who share the mon-khmer origin.

[BishoujoHunter]

i believe the mon-khmer race migrated down from northeast india in the Assam and Meghalaya region. just read below.

SNAKE AND ELEPHANT
Khasi Legends and Myths

By: Patricia Mukhim

"The writer is the Director, Indigenous Women's Resource Centre, North East India, Chairperson, Shillong We Care and a well known activist and columnist. She is the recipient of the Padma Shri in the year 2000 for social work."

History says that the Khasis and Jaintias are the only known tribes from North East India who are of Mon Khmer origin having migrated to the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, in Meghalaya, from Cambodia. The rest of the tribes living in the region are of Tibeto-Burman stock. Culturally there is no perceptible difference between the Khasis and Jaintias except for some slight linguistic variations, but, the differences are today accentuated because of political and economic pressures and pulls. Khasis and Jaintias occupy distinct geographical areas of the State. Together the Khasis and Jaintias make up about 10 lakhs of the 23 lakh population of Meghalaya. Both tribes have legends galore. In fact these legends have tremendous influence on their world views, their attitudes and behaviour.

A predominantly tribal population, the original inhabitants of this state are Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. Khasis and Jaintias trace their ancestry to the Mongolian race, while the Garos belong to the Tibeto-Burman race. Their cultural traits and ethnic origins remain distinctive, mainly due to their geographical isolation. The Khasi language spoken here, is believed to be one of the few surviving dialects of the Mon-Khmer family of languages, in India.

A common cultural tradition of all the tribes of Meghalaya is the matriarchal law of inheritance by which, custody to property and succession of family position runs through the female line, passing from the mother to the youngest daughter, instead of the male line as is common elsewhere in the country.

Short, muscular, robust and of complexions that vary from fair to dark brown, the tribal people of Meghalaya are sociable, cheerful, hardworking and great lovers of music and beauty. A unique characteristic is their habit of chewing unripe betelnut with dried tobacco, betel leaves and lime. The traditional costume of this place is the 'Jainsem' and the 'Dhara', though the younger generation has now taken to western clothes. The common food of the people is rice with meat and fish preparations. Rice beer is a favourite drink among the menfolk.

Mon-Khmer may come from a place between northeast india and yunnan however Munda is related to mon-khmer

This post has been edited by BishoujoHunter: May 16 2004, 09:41 AM

[777]

i believe the mon-khmer race migrated down from northeast india in the Assam and Meghalaya region. just read below.

SNAKE AND ELEPHANT
Khasi Legends and Myths

By: Patricia Mukhim

"The writer is the Director, Indigenous Women's Resource Centre, North East India, Chairperson, Shillong We Care and a well known activist and columnist. She is the recipient of the Padma Shri in the year 2000 for social work."

History says that the Khasis and Jaintias are the only known tribes from North East India who are of Mon Khmer origin having migrated to the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, in Meghalaya, from Cambodia. The rest of the tribes living in the region are of Tibeto-Burman stock. Culturally there is no perceptible difference between the Khasis and Jaintias except for some slight linguistic variations, but, the differences are today accentuated because of political and economic pressures and pulls. Khasis and Jaintias occupy distinct geographical areas of the State. Together the Khasis and Jaintias make up about 10 lakhs of the 23 lakh population of Meghalaya. Both tribes have legends galore. In fact these legends have tremendous influence on their world views, their attitudes and behaviour.

A predominantly tribal population, the original inhabitants of this state are Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. Khasis and Jaintias trace their ancestry to the Mongolian race, while the Garos belong to the Tibeto-Burman race. Their cultural traits and ethnic origins remain distinctive, mainly due to their geographical isolation. The Khasi language spoken here, is believed to be one of the few surviving dialects of the Mon-Khmer family of languages, in India.

A common cultural tradition of all the tribes of Meghalaya is the matriarchal law of inheritance by which, custody to property and succession of family position runs through the female line, passing from the mother to the youngest daughter, instead of the male line as is common elsewhere in the country.

Short, muscular, robust and of complexions that vary from fair to dark brown, the tribal people of Meghalaya are sociable, cheerful, hardworking and great lovers of music and beauty. A unique characteristic is their habit of chewing unripe betelnut with dried tobacco, betel leaves and lime. The traditional costume of this place is the 'Jainsem' and the 'Dhara', though the younger generation has now taken to western clothes. The common food of the people is rice with meat and fish preparations. Rice beer is a favourite drink among the menfolk.

History says that the Khasis and Jaintias are the only known tribes from North East India who are of Mon Khmer origin having migrated to the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, in Meghalaya, from Cambodia.

It says FROM Cambodia, not TO Cambodia...

The rest of the tribes living in the region are of Tibeto-Burman stock.

There are more Tibeto-Burmans there, so I guess Tibetans and Burmans and Chinese (since it's Sino-Tibetan) all came from northwest India. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Personally, it doesn't jump my happy bone but everyone has their own kinks.

A unique characteristic is their habit of chewing unripe betelnut with dried tobacco, betel leaves and lime.

Yeah, well so do Taiwanese...I guess alot of people came from northwest India...must be a funky place :genius:

Don't hate me for being the messenger. I'm an equal opportunity discriminator when it comes to honesty. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/kiss.gif)

[Menikani]

Here is pictures of Jaintias and Khasi, they don't look like the majority Dravidian/Aryan type Indians.

(IMG:http://www.eholidaysindia.com/images/meghalaya.jpg) (IMG:http://www.indiantravelportal.com/meghalaya/gifs/jaintia-couples.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.indiantrends.com/Meghalaya/meghalayagirl.jpg) (IMG:http://www.stirn-vanham.com/Later_pages/Northeast/Meghalaya/Khasis.JPG)

[777]

Here is pictures of Jaintias and Khasi, they don't look like the majority Dravidian/Aryan type Indians.

They do a little bit. Also, the majority Assamese Aryan speakers also look a little Asian, according to an Indian friend.

"Arthropolcgists do believe that the Khasis are the remnants of the first Mongolian overflow from the traditional cradle of the Indo-Chinese race and that they established themselves in their present habitat at a very remote period. Their language is the only surviving dialect of the Mon Khmer group of languages. There is a distinct similarity between the Khasi language and the Mon Khmer-Palaung dialects prevailing in Burma and Indo-China. Racially, the Khasis are very akin to the Indo-Chinese tribes but are by no means pure Mongoloid. At some early period they must have intermarried with another race predominantly the Austric race. Intermarriage with people of Aryan descent is a recent phenomenon. The earliest written literary reference to the Khasis is to be found in Sankardeva's Assamese paraphrase of Bhagavata Purana composed around A.D. 1500. However, in various San- skrit sources notably the chronicle of Kashmir i.e. Rajatarangini, reference is made to a hill people called .he Khasis. Those people dwelt chiefly in the mountains of Southern Kashmir where the descendants are to be found to this day. Khasis also are found in Gilgit, Chitral, Kumaon, Garhwal and also Doti district to Nepal. There are striking resemblances and similarities in some of the jewellery of the Khasas and the Khasis. One school of thought believes that they could be one and the same race having slowly inched eastward to : these eastern hills. Until about a hundred and fifty years ago the Khasis held a strong oral tradition. Parents, aunts and uncles from time in memorial have been handing down from generation to generation to their children, nieces and nephews those principles and precepts delivered in their own words and dialects to inculcate upon them how to live, work and conduct themselves honestly, honourably and decently at home, and in society. The Khasis have strong faith in God, the Creator and Dispensor who rewards or punishes people according to their deeds in his own good time, hence, the desirability and necessity for people to .be always careful to walk along the path of Truth. Radhon Singh Berry did a masterly Job to collect as many of those gems of thought as he could and put them down in writing in the poetic dialect of Sohra published for the first time in book form; Part I in 1902 and Part n in 1903."

According to this, they were illiterate up until recently and their religion is monotheistic. Ironic, in a lot of ways they are less Indianized than Khmers.

This post has been edited by 777: May 16 2004, 07:46 AM

[Menikani]

Here is pictures of Jaintias and Khasi, they don't look like the majority Dravidian/Aryan type Indians.

They do a little bit. Also, the majority Assamese Aryan speakers also look a little Asian, according to an Indian friend.

You gotta admit though, some of them looks more Khmer then Dravidian/Aryan type Indians. Just dress them up in Khmer clothing and you would'nt even be able to tell the difference between them and Khmer. But compare them to Dravidian/Aryan, you could tell them apart right away.

This post has been edited by Menikani: May 16 2004, 07:53 AM

[angkorwat19]

777,
i do not believe mon-khmers migrated to Assam and Meghalaya from cambodia. it's the other way around. the first source i posted contradicts the second. the second source seems more reliable. i know mon-khmers aren't pure mongoloids. mon-khmer group is believed to be mongoloid with some australoid admixture.

you better not lie about taiwanese chewing dried tobacco or whatever because the source did say it's a unique characterstic among these people. just read below. this describes about khmer people also. what are you trying to prove 777?

Short, muscular, robust and of complexions that vary from fair to dark brown, the tribal people of Meghalaya are sociable, cheerful, hardworking and great lovers of music and beauty. A unique characteristic is their habit of chewing unripe betelnut with dried tobacco, betel leaves and lime. The traditional costume of this place is the 'Jainsem' and the 'Dhara', though the younger generation has now taken to western clothes. The common food of the people is rice with meat and fish preparations. Rice beer is a favourite drink among the menfolk.

[777]

777,
i do not believe mon-khmers migrated to Assam and Meghalaya from cambodia. it's the other way around. the first source i posted contradicts the second. the second source seems more reliable. i know mon-khmers aren't pure mongoloids. mon-khmer group is believed to be mongoloid with some australoid admixture.

you better not lie about taiwanese chewing dried tobacco or whatever because the source did say it's a unique characterstic among these people. just read below. this describes about khmer people also. what are you trying to prove 777?

Short, muscular, robust and of complexions that vary from fair to dark brown, the tribal people of Meghalaya are sociable, cheerful, hardworking and great lovers of music and beauty. A unique characteristic is their habit of chewing unripe betelnut with dried tobacco, betel leaves and lime. The traditional costume of this place is the 'Jainsem' and the 'Dhara', though the younger generation has now taken to western clothes. The common food of the people is rice with meat and fish preparations. Rice beer is a favourite drink among the menfolk.

betelnut beauty

Not lying...They even made a movie about it...

I'm not lying...It is a popular habit in southern China and many parts of SE Asia...That's why I was amused when you claimed it as a solely Mon-Khmer trait...

Perhaps they were talking about how it was unusual in India...that only Mon-Khmer people in India did...not about how only Mon-Khmer did it in the world

I am not trying to prove anything...I am showing you proves that disproves what you are trying to prove...Why? Honesty is my pet peeve...

Until you give me something that holds water and doesn't leak...

This post has been edited by 777: May 16 2004, 08:24 AM

[angkorwat19]

the source says it's a unique characteristic among them so what am i suppose to believe then? mon-khmers probably did migrated from southern china but they didn't migrate down to SEAsia right away. their first stop probably was northeast india. the Khasis and Jaintias people also look phsyically similar to khmers in cambodia. those mon-khmer speaking ethnic minority in yunnan do not look like khmer. they probably adopted the mon-khmer language.

[777]

the source says it's a unique characteristic among them so what am i suppose to believe then? mon-khmers probably did migrated from southern china but they didn't migrate down to SEAsia right away. their first stop probably was northeast india. the Khasis and Jaintias people also look phsyically similar to khmers in cambodia. those mon-khmer speaking ethnic minority in yunnan do not look like khmer. they probably adopted the mon-khmer language.

I have seen the Mon-Khmer people in Yunnan on Chinese satellite TV and believe me...They don't look Chinese...Perhaps they don't look like Khmers...but that doesn't they look Chinese...

I would say they look like those pictures of karens someone posted...
Maybe that's what Mon-Khmers looked liked before they mixed with Negritos and Austric people...There are still isolated Austric people in southern Indian who are pure Austric and they look similar to Australian aboriginals...I also see their look among Khmers, among other looks in you guys...

(IMG:http://chinaguides.shanghai-window.com/destination/yunnan/minority/image/yn_mino_wa2t.jpg) Wa girl

Deang
Bulang
Wa

This post has been edited by 777: May 16 2004, 08:54 AM

[Menikani]

(IMG:http://chinaguides.shanghai-window.com/destination/yunnan/minority/image/yn_mino_wa2t.jpg)

Who is that? What are they called?

It is no secret Cambodia is a really mixed country, but the original Mon-Khmer(Majority) of Cambodians has that one look that all Mon-Khmer has. But you should'nt be suprised, if you find Khmers that look Chinese, Dravidians, Indians, Malays, Austroloid, Viet, etc. etc. but they are not the majority.

[angkorwat19]

the source says it's a unique characteristic among them so what am i suppose to believe then? mon-khmers probably did migrated from southern china but they didn't migrate down to SEAsia right away. their first stop probably was northeast india. the Khasis and Jaintias people also look phsyically similar to khmers in cambodia. those mon-khmer speaking ethnic minority in yunnan do not look like khmer. they probably adopted the mon-khmer language.

I have seen the Mon-Khmer people in Yunnan on Chinese satellite TV and believe me...They don't look Chinese...Perhaps they don't look like Khmers...but that doesn't they look Chinese...

I would say they look like those pictures of karens someone posted...
Maybe that's what Mon-Khmers looked liked before they mixed with Negritos and Austric people...There are still isolated Austric people in southern Indian who are pure Austric and they look similar to Australian aboriginals...I also see their look among Khmers, among other looks in you guys...

(IMG:http://chinaguides.shanghai-window.com/destination/yunnan/minority/image/yn_mino_wa2t.jpg)

my dad looks sort of like an indian. he's dark but not dark like a dravidian or an australian aboriginal. he looks more khmer then indian. my mom sport the mongoloid look and most likely her ancestors didn't mixed with the indigenous negritos or indians who might've migrated to cambodia.

[BishoujoHunter]

http://www.google.com.ph/search?q=cache:CZ...o-asiatic&hl=tl
read this

This post has been edited by BishoujoHunter: May 16 2004, 09:23 PM

[AidanW]

Too much to read!

[BishoujoHunter]

Mon Khmer of India still have their culture

Indo-Mon-Khmer Race - The majority of East Indics (Assamics, Vangics, Odrics etc.), except the Aryan upper castes and the Kolarian lower castes, are of Indic Mon-Khmer (a branch of Mongoloids or East Asiatics) stock. Sir Risley has amply demonstrated this stratification in East India [ Ris ].

.2.4 Mon-Khmer Origin of Shaktism
Shaktism, involving the veneration of Shakti, is still a major religion of the Mon-Khmer races of India. That this religion is of non-Vedic Mon-Khmer origin is proven by the following facts :

Matriarchy - The Mon-Khmer peoples follow matriarchal customs, and hence veneration of the Shakti or female principle, is natural for them. Polyandry, matrilineal succession and other customs indicate the dominance of women and the respect they were given in Mon-Khmer society.

Brahminist Vaishnava Persecution of Women - The Aryan religions of Vedism, Vaishnavism, Buddhism and Jainism have the slightest regard for women. In fact, Vedism and Vaishnavism are the most dehumanising religions on record as far as treatment of women is concerned. The horrific practices of Vedic sati, dowry and Vedic female infanticide are just some of the examples of the inhuman treatment meted out to women living under the restrictions imposed by the Vedas. Given this dismal record, it is inconceiveable to imagine a Vedic origin for Shaktism.

Destruction of Shakta shrines - This religion and its followers were also subject to savage persecution by the Aryan Vaishnavas. Thus, Arjun waged war against the `Nagas' during the Mahabharatan Holocaust. Indeed, one only has to go to any Vaishnava temple in India. All were built on the site of Shaiva, Shakta or Tantra shrines after their desecrating, plundering and demolition. Far from being the originators of these noble religions, the Aryan Vaishnavas and Vaidiks have been the savage destroyers of these faiths.

http://www.raceandhistory.com/historicalvi...dumanyraces.htm

[bahiya]

In reply to Anghkorwat19's interest in the portrait of the Wa woman ... yes, they're an impressive-looking group of people (the Wa), and if you ask around Burma you'll find that they're also among the most feared. You can read a gripping, first-person account of a few encounters with them in the autobiography of Pascal Khoo-Thwe (titled _The Land of the Green Ghosts_), or read the article on them at 1911encyclopaedia.com --which mostly describes how well fortified their villages were, and how well decorated they are with human skulls. For the record, Pascal Khoo-Thwe is a native of one of Burma's tribal minorities, so his account isn't that of a western outsider --just of a nearby non-Wa tribesman meetin gthe Wa. Sorry if this is getting off-topic.