Praveen Mohan is a famous youtube personality who has garnered a lot of viewers from the Hindu community. His clickbait titles are often jaw dropping.
Disclaimer: I will give Praveen the same respect in which he has given the deities I worship.
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 pramāṇas as their basis:
1. Śāstra Pramāṇa: The authentic scriptures – śruti-s. This strictly refers to the Vedas and These are the authority of Hinduism. For example, quoting a verse from the Veda-s to validate a fact.
2. Āpta Pramāṇa: Authentic, time-tested, foolproof compilation of experiences of sages, ṛṣi-s and enlightened masters which is in term with śāstra pramāṇa. For example, the event of Rāmāyaṇa is known because of its reference to the smṛti-s, namely the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Any version of Rāmāyaṇa that contradicts this version is against Hinduism. The portrayal of Rāvaṇa as a Tamiḻ king today is simply due to the non-adherence to āpta pramāṇa.
3. Ātma Pramāṇa: With āpta pramāṇa, a guru is able to experience and live the truths claimed by the śāstra-s.
4. Sākṣī Pramāṇa: Manifestation and experience of the guru’s initiation in the disciples of a particular lineage, which is demonstrable to the world.
5. Pratyakṣa Pramāṇa: 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 Jagannātha temple in which he tries to speculate on Lord Kṛṣṇa's heart and relates it to a metallic device akin to Iron Man's arc reactor.
He creates a fake story about Lord Kṛṣṇa. He claims that lord Kṛ ṣṇa'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 Jagannātha temple is indeed a metallic device, originally equipped by Lord Kṛṣṇa.
This story of his is inspired by Sārala Dāsa, a 15th-century poet of Oḍiśā.
However, Praveen in his video, states that his story has reference from “ancient scriptures” — which is false. This is only a folk legend.
There are many folk stories that have tried to explain the Brahma-padārtha. For example, one legend states that the Brahma-padārtha is actually the tooth of Buddha. While others infer it to be a śāligramam.
These are folk stories that are not part of “ancient scriptures.” There are folk stories in the Philippines that actually describe Lord Hanumān as a fisherman who loved seafood. Are you going to accept this?
Praveen could have been transparent with his quotation by saying that his story serves as nothing more than a “folk-lore” of Oḍiśā created in the 15th century. But nope, he literally says, quoting him verbatim: “ancient sources clearly record His death” — which is an utter lie.
The ancient scriptures did, however, record the event of Kṛṣṇa leaving the body, which has nothing to do with anything Praveen mentioned. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the Bhagavad Gītā (Mausala Parva, chapter 4) and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and make a comparison with Praveen’s story.
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body was not burnt by the hunter. The “heart theory” by Praveen has no reference from any of the 5 pramāṇas!
Yes — the Jagannātha temple mystery remains a question mark. But that does not mean this YouTuber can come up with his own bullcrap version of Mahābhārata to increase his views!
His video has fetched more than a million views, and what a pity — lakhs of Hindus believe his version of “Kṛṣṇa’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 bona fide guru or sampradāya.
Praveen has no reverence for our deities or avatāra-s. His choice of words to describe an avatāra like Kṛṣṇa, who is highly revered by all Hindus, proves it. As such, this fellow is capable of altering the itihāsa-s 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 Hanumān’s. This is a direct insult to the deity. Just because Hanumān exhibited Mahimā-siddhi, you call a random skeleton His remains?
In addition, Lord Hanumān is a Cirañjīvī as per Śāstra-pramāṇa. 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 Viśvakarmā is holding a theodolite (a tool used to measure vertical angles for construction). In the video, he adds that Viśvakarmā’s multiple heads represent a “group” of people who are working on a construction site.
Viśvakarmā is actually holding the sruk and sruva (which are used in a yāga), as shown in the image below.
The Veda-s describe Viśvakarmā as the cosmic intelligence who engineers the geometry of the universe.
There is a whole portion from the Ṛg Veda which describes Viśvakarmā. Here, He is described as the priest of a yāga (which explains why He holds a sruk and sruva). This appears as the 81st sūkta of the 10th maṇḍala in the Ṛg Veda.
The opening verse of this sūktam:
“ya imā viśvā bhuvanāni juhvān ṛṣir hotā nyasīdat pitā naḥ”
The word hotā here refers to Viśvakarmā as a priest who presides over a yāga.
In the Puruṣa Sūktam (which appears in all four Veda-s), the creation of the cosmos and the origin of the five elements is described. Here, Viśvakarmā is stated as the very cosmic architect who designs the geometry of the universe. The entire process of creation is seen as a yāga through which the Puruṣa expands Himself into infinite components that form the universe.
“viśvakarmaṇaḥ samavartatādhi”
This verse is found in the Puruṣa Sūktam.
However, our YouTuber chooses to belittle the grand position of Viśvakarmā to that of a mere craftsman.
Yes — Viśvakarmā represents the 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 a theodolite.
There is no need to relate every bit of the Vedic culture to modern science in order to glorify it. The Vedic culture is glorious in its own ways.
What makes him think that the ancients even needed an instrument like a theodolite to build those 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 Śrī Laṅkā and says it is the remains of Rāvaṇa and his clan...
Praveen is not a fool here. He clearly knows they belong to elephants. He is also aware of how foolish the Hindu community can be — so, just add some icon from Hinduism to his speculation, and he can laugh his way to the bank.
…I am speechless…
I’m afraid of what else this guy could come up with in the name of Rāvaṇa…
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 of 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 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 of 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 śāstra-s or follow a proper sampradāya makes his work easy
Analogy on how Praveen makes his videos
This is how I would make a video if I were to think like Praveen:
I wake up one day and decide to have some breakfast. I visit a nearby tea stall and buy some vaḍā. I video myself with the vaḍā and explore my finger into the hollow fritter, allowing it to rest on my digit.
And then I claim how it resembles the cakra of Lord Kṛṣṇa. I add on saying that the cakra of the Lord was actually a vaḍā.
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 Kṛṣṇa was actually an alien because He was able to make a vaḍā of perfect circular structure — which would be impossible in the past without Western gadgets.
I then downgrade the position of Lord Kṛṣṇa and say that He was a chef who lived in Sowcarpet, frying vaḍā-s daily for the village.
Image: Crispy vaḍā-s. Praveen’s expertise lies in frying vaḍā-s with his speech.
2025 update
This clown has now come up with a new theory. He calls our great ṛṣi-s psychedelics who hallucinate from magic mushrooms found in cow dung.
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.
DeleteI 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.
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.
Excellent
DeleteI have enjoyed watching praveen, I don`t care about what he believes, as it is his right. I do love the challenge of the mind from him, books, sciences, history, religion, and I use that for my learning. He has provided information just in pictures alone that No one else has done and I for one admire his ability to go to all the places he has been and to then provide it for the world to see. to come up with their own answers. to compare to other world cultures. I really dis respect any person trying to hide the information and history, like religions of the world, governments and self proclaimed saviors, or gurus. Praveen Mohan is Awesome and he never said trust me, believe me, he tells it as he see`s it, so the doughnut analogy is stupid.
ReplyDeleteHi sir, the context of this article is about how interesting his speculations are to be watched, it is about him misrepresenting Hinduism, which is a formal religion practiced by people like me. As such, he is hurting religious sentiments. We have qualified archeologists and scholars to give an enlightened view on our ancient history. He may be interesting to a Hindu newbie, not us.
DeleteI have seen a lot of his videos. Initially I was interested in his channel because he toured old temples and unexplored places.
ReplyDeleteAs an avid reader of history I was expecting some valid historical inputs, but I was disappointed when he started sprouting Pseudoscience.
Some times his videos range from amusing to very comedic.
I laughed out loud when he claimed that dwarfs dwelled in Dolmens in Hire Benakal.
For anyone with basic knowledge in Indian history, or anthropology, especially that of the South India, they would know that the Megalithic cultures of India, erected dolmens for burials.
Dolmens, Kudakkal, Sarcophagus are the features of Megalithic cultures in the south.
He also believes in existences of Nagas ( not the Naga tribes of Nagaland) , Dwarfs, Aliens and many other pseudoscientific stuff.
If he doesn’t know how the ancients built something- he will attribute it to Aliens.
He is now popular in Pseudoscientific circles and he appeared in History channel - a channel popular for pseudoscientific nonsense.
I do appreciate Praveen for piquing many people’s interest in Indian history, but he paints pseudoscientific narrative to everything he lays his hands on.
Ancientalienpedia describes him as :
ReplyDeletePraveen Mohan is an explorer of ancient megalithic sites and appeared on History Channel’s Ancient Aliens TV show in September 2016.
He is described as an explorer of “Ancient Megalithic sites “ - note that he isn’t actually an archeologist or a historian and most of the megalithic sites have been excavated and dated by real Archaeologists.
Not a fan.
ReplyDeleteI have seen very little of Praveen Mohan, but what I have does not inspire confidence. Travel videos and popularising lesser known temples and destinations are all nice. But he seems to resort to conspiracy theories, exaggerations and falsehoods to make his videos interesting. This is a problem, and it gets really annoying to see people “cite” his videos as “evidence” for insane claims about ancient India and temples. All in all, he sounds like an Indian version of the “aliens built the pyramids” guys.