I have no issues with this dude going around ancient temples to make some ancient alien theory about them.
However, he has gone to an extent of going against the core Hindu principles. He has insulted the Vedic tradition with blatant lies.
Most people cannot see the danger this guy possesses simply because they get awe-struck at every apparent 'glorification' of ancient Hinduism.
Praveen doesn't glorify the ancient Vedic culture. He just makes bizarre theories that can fetch views.
Any explanation in regards to the Vedic tradition must have the 4 pramanas as their basis :
1. Shastra Pramana: The authentic scriptures - shrutis. These are the authority of Hinduism. For example, quoting a verse from the Vedas to validate a fact.
2. Apta Pramana: Authentic, time-tested,foolproof compilation of experiences of sages, rishis and enlightened masters which is in term with shastra pramana. For example, the event of Ramayana is known because of its reference to the smritis - the Valmiki Ramayana. Any version of Ramayana that contradicts this version is against Hinduism. The portrayal of Ravana as a tamizh king today is simply due to the non-adherence to apta pramana.
3. Atma Pramana: With Apta Pramana, a guru is able to experience and live the truths claimed by the shastra-s
4. Sakshi Pramana: Manifestation and experience of the Guru's initiation in the disciples of a particular lineage, which is demonstrable to the world.
5. Pratyaksha Pramana: Having validated by scientific study
Praveen and his lies
1. Fabrication of Hindu scriptures
There was a famous video by Praveen on the mystery of Jagannath temple in which he tries to speculate on Lord Krishna's heart and relates it to a metallic device akin to ironman's arc reactor
He creates a fake story about Lord Krishna. He claims that lord Krishna 'died' and His 'body' was burnt by the hunter who shot him. Then, Praveen adds up more bullshit to his baseless story, finally leading to speculation on how the Lord's undecaying 'heart' present in the vigraha of Jagannath temple is indeed a metallic device, originally equipped by Lord Krishna.
If you don't believe me, take a look at the Bhagavad Gita ( Mausala Parva, chapter 4 ) and Shrimad Bhagavatam and make a comparison with Praveen's story.
Lord Krishna's body was not burnt by the hunter. The 'heart theory' by Praveen has no reference from any of the 5 pramanas!
Yes - the Jagannath temple mystery remains a question mark. But that does not mean this YouTuber can come up with his own bullcrap version of Mahabharata to increase his views!
His video has fetched more than a million views and what a pity - lakhs of Hindus believe his version of 'Krishna's death' as fact.
The real narration of how the Lord left the mortal frame is well described in our scriptures. In addition, the 'heart theory' has never been approved by any bonafide guru or sampradaya.
Praveen has no reverence for our deities or avatars. His choice of words to describe an avatar like Krishna, who is highly revered by all Hindus proves it. As such, this fellow is capable of altering the ithihasas in any way he likes just to get views.
2. Praveen directly insults Vedic Gods
Dude finds a giant skeleton and he knows how to get millions to watch his video - just make a random link to Hinduism.
And he does it - giving his speculation on how the skeleton could be Lord Hanuman's. This is a direct insult to the deity. Just because Hanuman exhibited Mahima siddhi, you call a random skeleton His remains?
In addition, Lord Hanuman is a Chiranjeevi as per shastra pramana. He did not 'die' and leave behind a skeleton for this YouTuber to make a video on.
3. Reducing the position of Vedic deities by desperately linking them to modern-day parallel
He makes a video on how Lord Vishvakarma is holding a theodolite ( a tool used to measure vertical angles for construction ).In the video,he adds that Vishvakarma's multiple heads represent a 'group' of people who are working on a construction site.
Vishvakarma is actually holding the sruk and sruva ( which are used in a yaaga ),as shown in image below
There is a whole portion from the Rig Veda which describes Vishvakarma.Here,He is described as the priest of a yaaga ( which explains why He holds a sruk and sruva ).This appears as the 81st sukta of the 10th Mandala in rig veda.
the opening verse of this suktam :
' ya imA vishvA bhuvanAni juhvadRsHir hotA nyasIdatpitA nah:'
The word 'hota' here refers to Vishvakarma as a priest who presides a Yaaga.
In the Purusha Suktam ( which appears in all 4 Vedas ) , creation of the cosmos and the origin of the 5 elements is described.Here,Vishvakarma is stated as the very cosmic architect who designs the geometry of the universe.The entire process of creation is seen as a Yaaga through which the Purusha expands Himself to infinite components which form the Universe.
' vishvakarmanas samavartatadhi'
This verse is found in the Purusha Suktam.
However,our youtuber chooses to belittle the grand position of Vishvakarma to a mere craftsman.
Yes - Vishvakarma represents labour force too,because any construction is part of the cosmic design.But that does not mean you can reduce his position to a mere craftsman who worked on an instrument like theodolite.
There is no need to relate every bit of the Vedic culture to modern science in order to glorify them.The vedic culture is glorious in its own ways.
What makes him think that the ancients even needed an instrument like theodolite to build the marvels ? Why must western gadgets be a gold standard for any explanation ?
Oh yea , as an ancient alien conspiracist, he must relate every advancement of ancient india to a western parallel.If westerners lack that, give the credits to aliens.
3. Degrading characters from Itihasas blatantly for views
Above : Dude comes across elephant skulls in Shri Lanka and says it is the remains of Ravana and his clan...
.... I am speechless...
Im' afraid of what else this guy could come up with in the name of Ravana...
But isn't this science ? Isn't he promoting scientific evidence ?
No.I agree that Praveen does bring the mysteries of ancient temples to public eye.However,most his explanations are blatant speculations.
He is NOT a researcher.
A scientific approach must include observation,a hypothesis and inference.The inference must be supported by an evidence.
Praveen's videos are not based on any of these.His hypotheses are all simply bizarre and intentionally structured to grab views.He is aware on how sentimental the hindus can get if you speak about some 'past ancient glory',regardless of what is being presented.
The fact that most Hindus do not study the scriptures or follow a proper sampradaya makes his work easy.
Analogy on how Praveen makes his videos
I wake up one day and decide to have some breakfast.I visit a nearby tea-stall and buy some vada.I video myself with the vada and explore my finger into the hollow fritter,allowing it to rest on my digit.
And then I claim on how it resembles the chakra of Lord Krishna.I add on saying that the chakra of the Lord was actually a vada.
I conclude the video saying that the ancients had advanced knowledge to prepare a snack which is globally relished today.
I also add on how Lord Krishna was actually an alien because He was able to make a vada of perfect circular structure which would be impossible in the past without western gadgets.
I then downgrade the position of Lord Krishna and say that he was a chef who lived in Sowcarpet,frying vada-s daily for the village.
Image : Crispy Vada-s.Praveen's expertise lies in frying vada-s with his speech.
Finally,someone who has written this.There was a youtuber who exposed Praveen long back but his channel was reported by Praveen.This shows how child-like praveen can be.
ReplyDeletethe truth is - all he cares about is views and money.
he has nothing hindu in him.He is part of the 'ancient alien theory' group.
Awesome rebuttal. It is amazing how many of the so-called upper strata of Hindu Society, even those with advanced degrees and living in the West are so internally ashamed with the 'current state of affairs in the sub-continent", that they have to seek glory in an imagined Super India of the past. As you correctly opined, Indian Civilization in the past was like the Greek, Chinese and other civilizations an advanced one for its time and age. But the ability of so-called upper class educated Indians to fall for this Pseudo Scientific belief systems (I call it BS) is astounding. Unfortunately, garbage peddled by the likes of Praveen Mohan will have millions of gullible people in India, who will swallow his garbage hook, line and sinker. Meanwhile Mr. Mohan is laughing all the way to the Bank. Maybe, I should get into this line of business too. A sucker is born every minute. By the way, the same kind of pseudo scientific nonsense has many more adherents in the so-called "advanced west" as well and sadly in the Muslim world. I despair sometimes at the human condition.
ReplyDeleteExcellent.... My 10 year old and I often talk and laugh how Praveen would show this in his video..
ReplyDeleteYou said it.. he has a formula for all his videos . See something.. give reverse search ..then bring in an analogy with modern funda and talk about aliens and ancient technology..
I am surprised how people blindly belive what he says...
Hello and Good Morning... I have read your write up on Praveen. I agree with your concept. Facts are Facts, supposedly. I have seen facts: Religious and Scientific, all are subject to new discovery and new perspectives. If you do start at the Vedas, many things are Mush. However, the war of approx 10K bc. is now being proved. So the old facts.. glyphs, carvings, metalwork, all support the Rig Veda, and all off shoots. Thanks to Praveen We can look at the new data, as it relates to new finds all over the world. And a fresh perspective is just what is needed.
ReplyDeleteWishing Peace and Wellness.. don
Thanks for opening our eyes sir/madam
DeleteThanks for this post. I may still read his book on the Coral Castle but it appears he is not as careful as is Graham Hancock is when it comes to providing evidence rather than just sleculative sensationalism.
ReplyDeleteNice job with this video. I always wonder however, why people want to get into a binary bucket system to look at others in the world. In your case you have pretty much declared what Praveen Mohan cares about, while much of his personal history/background is not known to the public. At least not from his channels. Just because he didn't agree with your views, you are branding him as a fake.
ReplyDeleteCan you pick any random post of his and make similar claims as you have made in this video ? If you can do that then there is some weight to your argument.
Point I'm making is, although your intentions for subject matter are in the right directions (as to clarify what is pramana and what is not, and hence how not to interpret a certain something from this video) I am disagreeing with your world view. If you KNOW that praveen is only after money, and if it turns out he is not, then, you're time and life will be a wasted effort.
I have watched Praveenmohan videos from the time youtube hits was not a big thing about these topics. Praveen's videos have created this user base.
Alien invasion theorist - if its a theory which can hold its ground with enough correlations, then it should have its place.
If you disagree to it, you post against it. Without unnecesarily bringing personal attacks. It makes your videos look less authentic. I can point out errors in your work or ask questions of inconsistency as well. If I look at you as a bigoted half-baked know-it-all; then I'll myself start making mistakes in assessing your work .
While I myself have thought about making videos like yours, and was super excited to see your level research and effort you put to make this rebuttal video, it is thoroughly dissapointing to see the tone of it.
I personally see Praveen as a guy who probably does not come from a sampradaya. He, may not even understand the value of it and/or the information he is missing because he does not have access to it.
Videos like yours should add constructive criticism, give deeper clarification from all the information he has unearthed (which otherwise would be inaccessible to folks like you as well) - I mean how many temples have you visited and reviewed. Do you know all those things existed until Praveen pointed them out ?
IMHO. You should be friends with him. Not cross.
I completely agree with Vinodji. Praveen Mohan is doing his work though. Few may not have any correlation with written proofs that are still surviving the savages of invaders , historians and colonisers who have twisted facts of our ancient culture.
ReplyDeleteI have seen Praveen Mohan has an eye for detailing which we as ordinary citizen visiting the temple have not any. He does not propose that his presentation should be printed on text book and printed and all made as "The fact" which is correct.
As a netizen and culture of great civilisation we should be open to all possible ideas and presentation. If go with branes theory in scientific context of science and the multiverses we quote all information available on this universe are true and these are imprinted on the space time matrix which is decoded as per our tapping ability.
all ideas are correct with varying possibilities.
Let him express his ideas. We should be grateful to him to at least see many detailing he gives and films. We can at least make an encyclopedia of all temples and make a temple encyclopedia for the future.
How much is Darwin theory is correct? my dear scientist. have we not rattafied them and scored marks in school and got jobs based on them? did any one raise a mark on them, because they were given by colonisers and hence right.
Time Bharatiyas come out and find the truth about ourselves. He is atleast on the path of our traditional course of seeking . Let us be open to theories.
Theories cannot be argued. 'cause not many have lived for centuries
and no one can certify what science we study in schools and colleges are true like false science and history taught in manipulated education system which our kind hearted colonisers have left us , in disarray spoiling our good ecology.
few Qs if one can answer (based on legitimate teachings from books)
1) Is water acually breaking in electrolysis of water? (Ans is NO)
2) Is xylem water pipe and phloeum food pipe as taught in biology. Ans is no...both conducts food and water but day or night defines the mode ...
3) Does plant need only those taught in science books ? . where has electricity charges gone in the study?
4) Did India get independence only because of 1 man Gandhi? and others were dumbfolded and did nothing? for our independence?
5) What and were have the efforts of Nicola Tesla and Viktor schauberger gone? how their theories were suppressed?
6) Did Einstein really discover E=MC2 for the first time or some one was there prior to that?
7) Do we really need power industries to produce power or can we generate power naturally from universe?
do we know the right facts? if yes how to tell the source is right ? even if a book is there.
Have we seen God? or some one in the name of whom all religions are fighting against each other?
** Since we have no proof of our own existence and all theories that catch our knowledge bank, let this ideas presented by Praveen Mohan be heard along with others. We are oblidged that these temples are getting videoed and a compendium is being made for next generation to atleast see them ,who knows the future may not have these for viewing given the past history that many temples were erased by colonisers, like great universities like nalanda and taxashila etc.
let us allow someone doing a good job. let us be open to his theories and ideas as our culture allows. who knows if not all , atleast one might turn out true.
No point in blemishing some ones effort. let him speak.Atleast see the temples in his videos. You dont like him speak , mute the screen ,atleast he is not faking the videos?
Shubham.