Maharaj-libel-judgement
Judgement of Maharaj Libel Case
Author: Dhawal Patel
In the 1862 libel case, colonial British judges ruled against the Puṣṭimārga sect of the Hindū Sanātana religion, significantly misinterpreting and misrepresenting its core principles and practices. The judgement unfairly depicted the sect's followers as indulging in immoral and indecent practices, which they do not condone. Moreover, the colonial judges made derogatory comments about the character of Sri Lord Krishna, further demonstrating their bias and misunderstanding of the religious beliefs. The defendant, Karsandas Mulji, published allegations that undermined the legitimacy of various Hindū Sanātana sects and the sacred stories of Lord Krishna, portraying them as false and amorous without a thorough understanding of the texts beyond the Veds.
The judgement not only attacked the Puṣṭimārga sect but also extended its criticism to the broader Hindū Sanātana community, including the sects established in the Kaliyuga under the religion's umbrella. The judges accepted the views of Dr. Wilson, which were defamatory and misrepresented the scriptures, painting Lord Krishna's divine acts in a negative light. The verdict claimed that the songs and stories associated with Krishna were corrupt and licentious, condemning the sect's practices as morally corrupt. This ruling significantly impacted the perception of Hindū Sanātana practices and beliefs, casting them in an unjustly negative light.
Below are the excerpts from the article published by the defendant (Karsondas Mulji) and the original court judgement defaming Lord Krishna and all the Hindū Sanātana sects including Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Chaitanya, Shankara, Madhva, Vallabha, and all those sects who has been established in Kaliyuga under the umbrella of Hindū Sanātana religion –
- Karsandas Mooljee’s allegation that all the Hindū Sanātana sects arisen in KaliYug are false
“…the sect of the Maharajas has arisen in the KaliYug, therefore, according to the doctrines of the Shastras, it must be false ...” – “Satyaprakash” Gujarati Newspaper of 21st Oct, 1860 by Karsandas Mooljee
- Karsandas Mooljee’s allegation that the stories of Lord Krishna, Gopees, Raas lila are false and amorous.
“…The story of the "gopees" and the incarnations of Vishnoo are believed in by several sects, but are opposed to the ancient religion. The Shaivites believe in the
incarnations ofVishnoo equally with the Vaishnayas. As far as I have reacl, all the sacred books do not contain amorous passages. I am not aware whether Sir William Jones has said that "Krishna is to this day the darling god of Hindū women." I have
heard the story of Brahma coming out of an egg after remaining three millions and millions of years. I do not believe in the modern stories in books which are written after the Veds, which 1 have not read. The stories are considered by most
Vaishnavas as literally true…” - Karsandas Mooljee, cross-examination by Mr. Bayley as part of Maharaj libel case proceedings (Maharaj libel case proceedings, pg. 249)
- Karsandas Mooljee accepting that he has not read the Hindū Sanātana texts and does not believe in any texts apart from Veds. Hindū Sanātana believes in multiple texts as its foundational and core texts including Ved, Puranas, Smriti, Tantra agama, Itihaas, and Vedant.
“…I do not believe in the modern stories in books which are written after the Veds, which 1 have not read…” - (Maharaj libel case proceedings, pg. 249)
- Misrepresenting Lord Krishna’s Divine Raas Lila as a copulation and sexual intercourse
“…Carnal intercourse with females, dining, and playing with them, is^on^ of the principal offices of Krishna. The nectarine pleasure of Shree Gokul (Krishna) is better than a thousand other expedients. If copulation does not take place with Krishna, the existence of the paramour of man is worse than that of a worm…” (Maharaj libel case proceedings, pg. 257)
- Judgement accepting that all songs connected with Lord Krishna were amourous and that all the Gurus are morally corrupt
“…All songs connected with the God Krishna, which were brought before us were of an amorous, character and it appeared that songs of a corrupting and licentious tendency, both in idea and expression…” - (Maharaj libel case judgement, pg. 411)
“…In these songs, as well as in stories, both written and traditional, which latter are treated as of a religions character in the sect, the subject of sexual intercourse is most prominent. Adultery is made familiar to the minds of all; it is nowhere discouraged or denounced, but on the contrary, in some of the stories those persons who. have committed that great moral and social offence are commended, and in one of them, the actors are awarded the highest position in the heaven of the Vaishnavas, although nominally for some attention paid on-one occasion to the clearing of a temple of the God, The love and subserviancy inculcated by the Hindū religion to be due in a spiritual sense to the Supreme Being has been by those corrupt teachings materialised and to a large extent, transferred to those who claim to be his living incarnations….The Maharajas, however, appear upon the evidence to have indoubtedly availed themselves of the existence of those impressions to gratify licentious propensities and a love of gain. These doctrines and practices are opposed to what we know of the original principles of the ancient Hindū religion which are said to be found in the Veds.” (Maharaj libel case judgement, pg. 411)
6. Judgement accepting Dr. Wilson’s views on Lord Krishna which is a complete mis-representation of Hindū Sanātana scriptures and defamatory against the supreme God head of Hindū Sanātana (i.e Lord Krishna) –
“…Dr. Wilson, who has studied this subject with that comprehensive range of thought, the result of varied. Erudition, which has made his name a foremost one. among, the living Orientalists of, Europe. Dr. Wilson says.
" The sect Vallabhacharya is a new sect, in as much as it has selected the God Krishna' in one of his aspects, that of his adolescence and raised him to supremacy in that aspect."
"It is a new sect in as far as it has established the Puṣṭimārgaa, or way of enjoyment in a natural and carnal sense."
“…This succinct statement seems to contain; the essence of the whole matter. It is Krishna, the darling of the 16,000 Gopees (or shepherdesses); Krishna the love-hero the husband of the 16,000 princesses, who is the paramount object of Vallabhacharya’s worship. This tinges whole system with the stain of carnal Sensualism of strange transcendental lewdness. See for instance, how the sublime Brahminical doctrine of unition with “Brahma” is tainted and degraded by this sensuous mode of regarding the Diety. According to the old Brahminical tenet, “BRAMHA”, the All-containing and Indestructible, the Soul of which the Universe is the Body, abides from eternity to eternity as the fontal source of all Spiritual existence; reunion with Bramha, absorption into Bramha, is the beatitude for which, every separated spirit yearns, and which after, animating its appointed cycle of individuated living organisms, it is ultimately destined, to attain…
For many ages the incarnations of the Veds prayed Shri'Krishna, the most Excellent Being, for a sight of his form; the wish being granted, desire was produced in them and they prayed to Krishna to satisfy their hearts' desire, so that they might enjoy with him in the form of women; this desire also was granted, and the traditions, under the form of women enjoyed Krishna as Gopees with adulterine love in the mythical forest of “Vrij” (Maharaj libel case judgement, pg. 439)
“…Ras Lila or ''amorous dalliance'- is held forth as the highest bliss here. Ras-lila is the principal employment of Paradise hereafter…” (Maharaj libel case judgement, pg. 441)