Moral Depravity is the cause of Desecration of Statue

Almost two centuries ago, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj, spoke against idol worship and temples. Many advaitis in south knew but didn't join Arya Samaj that was credited for the accession of Hyderabad Nijam after the Rajakar's movement in 1948. Why?

Adi Sankara in 8th century AD defeated Buddhists, Jains, etc. who introduced idol worship into Bharat and sent them packing to the North. Prior to Buddhism and Jainism, it is believed that hindus predominantly conducted yagnas or fire worship much like Zoroastrians in particular and Persians in general. The vedic gods like Indra, Varuna, et al. were not worshiped using idols but were offered havis from yagnas. Many religious places of worship left behind by the Budhists and Jains became the temples of worship for hindus.

Invaders came in waves after 10th century AD and were involved in the defacement of hindu idols and places of worship. Whether they were assisted by the local kings or temple desecration happened even before because of in-fighting among the hindu kings as claimed by Prof Richard Eaton of University of Arizona , is debatable but the restoration of Ramajanmabhoomi of Ayodhya to hindus (2019) was done by the whim of judges probably awoken by the deity in their dreams just as Lord Rama was known to have repaid Bhakta Ramdas' unpaid dues during the reign of Tana Shah (17th century AD).

Over the centuries as the hindu diaspora spread across the globe, they built temples for idol worship and there were several instances of desecration that are in parlance called vandalism by miscreants but never by state actors until now. Thailand's military has been accused of destroying a tall Lord Vishnu's statue near the border with Cambodia.

It is interesting to note that both countries compete for tourism by heavily depending on tourists from Malaysia, China, Russia and South Korea along with Bharat. So far this year at least 25 million tourists came from these countries and nearly 43 billion US Dollars were earned by tourism. In 2024, 2.13 million Bharatiyas visited Thailand and in Thai currency spent nearly 84 billion or about 3 billion US Dollars.

As one can see Bharatiyas contribute about 15% to Thailand's tourism which is not a big deal as many are drawn to sex-tourism Bangkok is famous for regardless of events related to the latest border skirmish. The politics of Thailand are driven more by what happens in Bangkok than to an idol at the border.

However, from Cambodia's, which is called Kambhoji by Akhand Bharat vadis, perspective things are totally the opposite. About 75000 Bharatiyas visited Angkor heritage and Hindu Budhist temples in 2024. And more are expected this year and in the coming years.

Given these facts, it is the moral depravity of Bharatiyas who would go to Bangkok for anything but idol worship that has caused the Lord Vishnu's statue to drop from a high pedestal. One can give more facts about Bharat's transition from Buddhism to Hinduism and the tragic circumstances Bharatiyas experienced under foreign rule post Sankara era. But it won't measure up against the decrepit state of affairs vis-a-vis Thailand's Bangkok.

Regards