Book Review: Muhammad in the Hindu Scriptures

   

Author: Dr. Ved Prakash Upaddhay

Publisher: A.S Noordeen (ASN), 2011

“From the point of view of the fundamental principles of religion, there is no difference between the two.” – (p. 75)

Md Sohel Mondal

 Pakur, Jharkhand

   Proven portrayal of Dr. Ved Prakash Upaddhay, research scholar, Sanskrit, Prayag University of India, with thorough make-understanding power and full riveting potential in his well-built weighbridge, “Muhammad in the Hindu Scriptures”, leads to a conclusion as the excerpted line above. The infinite knowledge acquired after research enlightened the heart of the author to get his brilliant percept inheritable to countrymen as well as transnational members and obliterate the atoned and falsified reversed-notion from their heart and mind.

   After suffering from long days of corruption and distort, ancient religious scriptures remains mortal in many discussions and unrelenting topics and resolves in solution of many complexities and difficulties. The vigorous effort and research led Dr. Ved Prakash even out the sense of realizing truth the way ahead whether it is strewn with backbreaking difficulties.

   Brief elucidation with unquestionable pulse and mesmerizing proof draws a large scope to the truth and brings readers more reverent and admired to one another but, the ‘Unity of God’ may be instigated and corrupted if deep observation is not kept, that is why Muhammad Alamgir, the English translator, in his epilogue, has reconciled that indispensable awareness.

   The Promised Prophet, the Awaited Prophet, the Prophesied Prophet, and others future explaining terms were attributed to the Praised Prophet Muhammad in manifold latches of his biographies. All these seek several researches and analysis on its authenticity and were subjected for it too in several universities all over the world. Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata and other Hindu religious texts hold on its authenticity even after getting shifting system which was in-depth researched by Dr. Ved Prakash Upaddhay with concise claim of Western intellectuals that ascertained him that he has “endeavored sincerely to this truth” (p. xiii).

   “Muhammad in the Hindu Scriptures” actually is a compilation of three authors. ‘Book One’, ‘Book Two’ and ‘Book Three’ were in Hindi in its first on-stage release by Ved Prakash. Prof. Ashit Kumar Bandopaddhay added “Muhammad in the Vedas and Mahabharata” as ‘Four Book’ with the aforementioned chapters’ translation into Bengali. With renamed face, Muhammad Alamgir translated it into English version.  

  The Book First, “Narashangsa and Antim Rishi”, consists six chapters with appropriate information and in-depth description of Narashangsa and Maitreya. In this book, etymological discussion of Narashangsa and its operation with exposing similarities with Prophet Muhammad in likely appearance or arrival and qualities were mentioned thoroughly. At first, the author takes a clear visit to the ‘widespread mention of Narashangsa’, scarcely mentioned meaning is ‘the Praised Man’ which the author had asserted seriously, in Vedic mantras and stanzas with his spiritual, social, physical and intellectual merits and credentials scrutiny. Letter he pushes what were attributed to Narashangsa, the praised man, to the life-stories of Prophet Muhammad, the Highly Praised. By comparison, no cleavage is obvious between Narashangsa and Muhammad. No one will be entangled with any iota of doubt or hesitation to get at ‘Narashangsa’ as synonymous to ‘Muhammad’. All merits, that were to be in Narashangsa, were fully found in Muhammad. Every quality of Narashangsa resembles to that of Prophet Muhammad. For example, no one has been reported in the human known and unknown history to have twelve wives except Prophet Muhammad. Here, the prophecy of Atharveda that Narashangsa would have twelve wives points to no one but, Prophet Muhammad. The mention of Narashingsa’s qualities is also visible in ‘non-Indian origin’ scriptures that fit perfectly Prophet Muhammad, the Ultimate Sage, the Speaker of God’s words, and the Guide to humankind after Jesus Christ. Eventually, the author has discovered the mentioned characteristics of ‘Antim Buddha – Maitreya’ in Buddhist religious texts suitable for Prophet Muhammad after getting no one in the past or future of mankind. Here, Ved Prakash implemented the same method to get comprehensive similarities with Maitreya, the Antim Buddha, and Prophet Muhammad, Khatamun Nabi. The First Book ends with a grand finale in “the root is the same. The difference is in the language”, delivering an advice of getting mutual understanding between Hindu and Muslims and expressing the fault of both parties. The author finds “innovation” and corruption in religious message bear hostility.

   Book Two, “Kalki Avatar and Muhammad”, was adorned instructively with many signs to give in that Hindu scriptures carry from a long past to present another feature who has intimated to intellectual scholars and religious researchers himself to resemble Prophet Muhammad. The succinct information, the author has portrayed, is the same as aforesaid words about Narashangsa. According to ‘ancient Indian culture’ Kalki Avatar, who would arrive in kali-yug and would be recognized as the ‘Last Avatar’ of twenty-four avatars. The author peddled door-to-door mention of Kalki Avatar and brought his head to foot information looks like Muhammad. The word ‘Avatar’ is directly synonymous to ‘prophet’ in English and ‘Nabi’ in Arabic. Ved Prakash took very close sight on the social status, cultural aggression, appearing condition and characteristics of the occasion of Final Avatar mentioned in Puranas and came in ‘Muhammad as the Final Avatar’ to no out of what is related to Muhammad. Even for getting stronghold of his claim, the author comes to ‘Kalki Avatar’s mother and father’ and ‘his date of birth’. In conclusion, the writer pointed out inter similarities between Muslim and Astik, Kafir and Nastik, etc.

   In Book Three, “Religious Unity in the Light of the Vedas”, Ved Prakash has refined the inner sense of religions and its universal authenticity. His words weighed the roles of gurus with criticism who holds the destiny of a religion and community. Many multifaceted and enigmatic notes from Bhavishya Purans lead sometimes to dizziness. As it was penned that Vedas were scripted before existence of human. Here, the author has listed some vital lines from Rigveda and others and averred the claim of Vedanta or monotheism with an attempt to clarify day-to-day distort and vapidity to understand that “the Essence of God is One. His qualities are many, and have been described in many ways” (p. 83). In this last book, the author drew a bundle of information from Puranas that leads to the underlying massage.

   The Book Four, “Muhammad in the Vedas and Mahabharata”, added by the Bengali translator, makes a foray to the tremendous and special mention of Prophet Muhammad in four Vedas viz. Atharveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Rigveda. In Atharveda, Kuntup Mantras were attributed to Narashangsa, which explore such characteristics and events, which only fit Muhammad. It was foretold that Narashangsa would be praised highly. Surly praise singer is God Himself. He would be an immigrant (Mantra one), a camel rider (Mantra two), a husband of twelve wives, the rider of seventh heaven, etc. are only found in the history-witnessed biography of prophet Muhammad. ‘Mamaha’ is Sanskrit form of ‘Muhammad’, the Arabic word. Another name of Muhammad i.e. ‘Ahmad’ was also mentioned in Samaveda in its Sanskrit word ‘Ahamidhi’ for which the author fastened lines of contradictions. Another background of Prophet Muhammad’s life like having ‘ten thousand disciples’ who would be so intimate to the sage, ten thousand followers of time of Fatah Mecca, were mentioned in different metaphors.

   In Yajurveda, some other omens of Prophet Muhammad were brought, as he would be a king who would establish the kingdom of God on the earth for he was sent for the entire world. In these lines, the author takes a simple discussion on another quality of the Prophet of being ‘Agni’. In Rigveda, another synonymous to ‘Muhammad’ rather than ‘Narashangsa’ ‘Eelit’, ‘the Praised’, was mentioned too. In Rigveda, ‘various military expedition’ of Prophet Muhammad was outlined. Many mantras excerpted from Mahabharata were devoted with extreme passion and respect.

    In Appendix , “Islam in the Eyes of the non-Non-Muslims,’’ some statements of non-Muslims were put in witness box to the stability of Islam and further support   for the highly praised sag, the messenger to the entire world, Prophet Muhammad. Its natural and universal truth that the truth should be revealed whether it becomes bitterest to someone. It was recorded that Prophet Muhammad was praised by even his harsh enemies. True intellectual mentalities will lead one to this. 

   Overall, the firm shakedown of Dr. Ved Prakash Upaddhay, “Muhammad in the Hindu Scriptures”, is hurt-hunting weapon to catch and grasp the truth. Universal truth will be elucidated in every nook and corner with instruction to obey it. The author used to prove his every word and renovate it with strength through intensive language by browsing intently words of great personalities. The book leads to a clear idea about the basic principles of all universal religions and the reason of deviating from the core source. “Muhammad in the Hindu Scriptures” crosses the limit of caste-systemized readers and is recommended for al seekers of truth in source.