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Why is Hungarian women so interested in Sanskrit and Hindu culture and music
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<blockquote data-quote="MelaninWarlord" data-source="post: 64917" data-attributes="member: 428"><p>The interest of Hungarians—both women and men—in Sanskrit, Hindu culture, and Indian music is deeply rooted in a unique national quest for identity. Unlike many other European nations, Hungarians (Magyars) have long looked to the East to</p><p> find their "cradle" or ancestral roots.</p><p></p><p>Here is why this connection is so strong and why it often resonates particularly with Hungarian scholars and artists.</p><p>1. The Quest for Ancestral Roots</p><p>Historically, Hungarians believe their ancestors migrated from Central Asia or the East. This created a fascination with the "Orient" as a potential homeland.</p><p></p><p>Sándor Kőrösi Csoma: A legendary Hungarian scholar who traveled to India in the 1820s on foot to find the origin of the Hungarians. Instead, he became the father of modern Tibetology and spent years in Buddhist monasteries. He is a national hero in Hungary, and his "spiritual bridge" to India remains a source of pride.</p><p></p><p>Linguistic Links: Many Hungarian linguists have explored potential (though often debated) links between the Finno-Ugric language group and Sanskrit or other Indic languages. This makes learning Sanskrit feel like an act of rediscovering a distant "family" language.</p><p></p><p>2. The Influence of Amrita Sher-Gil</p><p>One of the most famous modern symbols of this connection is Amrita Sher-Gil, often called "India's Frida Kahlo."</p><p>She was born in Budapest to a Hungarian mother and an Indian father.</p><p></p><p>Her life and art beautifully blended Hungarian folk aesthetics with Indian subjects. She remains a massive cultural icon in both countries, serving as a role model for many Hungarian women who see her as proof that the two cultures can merge seamlessly.</p><p></p><p>3. "The Last Nomads of Europe"</p><p>Hungarians often feel like cultural "outsiders" in Europe because their language and origins are so different from their Slavic, Germanic, or Romance neighbors. This often leads to a sense of Eastern Solidarity.</p><p></p><p>Folk Parallels: There are striking similarities between Hungarian folk music (especially the pentatonic scales) and North Indian classical music.</p><p>Spiritual Hunger: During the Socialist era in Hungary, interest in Eastern philosophy, Yoga, and Hinduism became a way for people to seek spiritual freedom outside of state-sanctioned ideologies.</p><p></p><p>4. Prominent Women in the Field</p><p>While the interest is nationwide, many influential women have carried this torch:</p><p>Elizabeth Brunner: A Hungarian painter who moved to India, lived in Shantiniketan (Rabindranath Tagore’s university), and spent her life painting Indian spirituality and landscapes.</p><p></p><p>Dance and Music: Budapest is home to several high-level Indian classical dance schools (Bharatanatyam and Odissi) and music conservatories. Many Hungarian women have dedicated decades to mastering these forms, viewing them as more "ancient" and "spiritually grounded" than Western contemporary styles.</p><p></p><p>Summary Table: The Indo-Hungarian Connection</p><p></p><p>Feature The Connection</p><p>Language Hungarian and Sanskrit share several "loan words" and structural quirks that fascinate linguists.</p><p></p><p>Music Both cultures use complex ornamentation and specific scales that feel "natural" to the Hungarian ear.</p><p></p><p>Philosophy The Bhagavad Gita was translated into Hungarian early on, making it a staple of the Hungarian intelligentsia.</p><p>Identity Hungarians often joke they are "the only people in Europe who can eat chili like Indians," referring to their love for spicy paprika.</p><p></p><p>It's less about a modern "trend" and more about a 200-year-old tradition of Hungarians seeing India as a long-lost spiritual cousin.</p><p></p><p>Would you like to know more about specific Hungarian artists who moved to India, or perhaps more about the linguistic similarities they find?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MelaninWarlord, post: 64917, member: 428"] The interest of Hungarians—both women and men—in Sanskrit, Hindu culture, and Indian music is deeply rooted in a unique national quest for identity. Unlike many other European nations, Hungarians (Magyars) have long looked to the East to find their "cradle" or ancestral roots. Here is why this connection is so strong and why it often resonates particularly with Hungarian scholars and artists. 1. The Quest for Ancestral Roots Historically, Hungarians believe their ancestors migrated from Central Asia or the East. This created a fascination with the "Orient" as a potential homeland. Sándor Kőrösi Csoma: A legendary Hungarian scholar who traveled to India in the 1820s on foot to find the origin of the Hungarians. Instead, he became the father of modern Tibetology and spent years in Buddhist monasteries. He is a national hero in Hungary, and his "spiritual bridge" to India remains a source of pride. Linguistic Links: Many Hungarian linguists have explored potential (though often debated) links between the Finno-Ugric language group and Sanskrit or other Indic languages. This makes learning Sanskrit feel like an act of rediscovering a distant "family" language. 2. The Influence of Amrita Sher-Gil One of the most famous modern symbols of this connection is Amrita Sher-Gil, often called "India's Frida Kahlo." She was born in Budapest to a Hungarian mother and an Indian father. Her life and art beautifully blended Hungarian folk aesthetics with Indian subjects. She remains a massive cultural icon in both countries, serving as a role model for many Hungarian women who see her as proof that the two cultures can merge seamlessly. 3. "The Last Nomads of Europe" Hungarians often feel like cultural "outsiders" in Europe because their language and origins are so different from their Slavic, Germanic, or Romance neighbors. This often leads to a sense of Eastern Solidarity. Folk Parallels: There are striking similarities between Hungarian folk music (especially the pentatonic scales) and North Indian classical music. Spiritual Hunger: During the Socialist era in Hungary, interest in Eastern philosophy, Yoga, and Hinduism became a way for people to seek spiritual freedom outside of state-sanctioned ideologies. 4. Prominent Women in the Field While the interest is nationwide, many influential women have carried this torch: Elizabeth Brunner: A Hungarian painter who moved to India, lived in Shantiniketan (Rabindranath Tagore’s university), and spent her life painting Indian spirituality and landscapes. Dance and Music: Budapest is home to several high-level Indian classical dance schools (Bharatanatyam and Odissi) and music conservatories. Many Hungarian women have dedicated decades to mastering these forms, viewing them as more "ancient" and "spiritually grounded" than Western contemporary styles. Summary Table: The Indo-Hungarian Connection Feature The Connection Language Hungarian and Sanskrit share several "loan words" and structural quirks that fascinate linguists. Music Both cultures use complex ornamentation and specific scales that feel "natural" to the Hungarian ear. Philosophy The Bhagavad Gita was translated into Hungarian early on, making it a staple of the Hungarian intelligentsia. Identity Hungarians often joke they are "the only people in Europe who can eat chili like Indians," referring to their love for spicy paprika. It's less about a modern "trend" and more about a 200-year-old tradition of Hungarians seeing India as a long-lost spiritual cousin. Would you like to know more about specific Hungarian artists who moved to India, or perhaps more about the linguistic similarities they find? [/QUOTE]
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