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A Warning to the Hindus
A rare treatise written in the thirties by Savitri Devi of Greek origin, the book tells a remarkable narrative on Hindu nationalism told in a most absorbing and logical manner and appeals to the most critical minds. It compels you to think, what Hinduism is.
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1936
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About the author
Savitri Devi
26 books129 followersSavitri Devi Mukherji (September 30, 1905 – October 22, 1982) was the pseudonym of the French writer Maximiani Portas.
She was a pioneering animal-rights activist and proponent of Hinduism and Nazism, synthesizing the two, proclaiming Adolf Hitler to have been sent by Providence, much like an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Her writings have influenced neo-Nazism and Nazi mysticism. Although mystical in her conception of Nazism, Savitri Devi saw Nazism as a practical faith that did not need metaphysics. Among Savitri Devi's ideas was the classifications of "men above time", "men in time" and "men against time". She is credited with pioneering neo-Nazi interest in occultism, Deep Ecology, and the New Age movement. She influenced the Chilean diplomat Miguel Serrano. In 1982, Franco Freda published a German translation of her work Gold in the Furnace, and the fourth volume of his annual review, Risguardo (1980–), was devoted to Savitri Devi as the "missionary of Aryan Paganism".
Her works, in conjunction with those of Julius Evola, have been major influences on activist Bill White. Far-rightist Italian and self-described "Nazi Maoist" Claudio Mutti was influenced by reading her work Pilgrimage as an idealistic teenager. As a young bodyguard for Colin Jordan, David Myatt enthusiastically embraced the values expressed in her work The Lightning and the Sun. In the U.S., National Socialist James Mason (whose Universal Order bears a strong resemblance to the sentiments of Savitri Devi) paid tribute to her in his work, Siege. Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme of the Charles Manson group has endorsed The Lightning and the Sun. Revilo P. Oliver wrote that he saw the potentiality of a future religion venerating Adolf Hitler "in the works of a highly intelligent and learned lady of Greek ancestry, Dr. Savitri Devi."
She was also one of the founding members of the World Union of National Socialists.
She was a pioneering animal-rights activist and proponent of Hinduism and Nazism, synthesizing the two, proclaiming Adolf Hitler to have been sent by Providence, much like an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Her writings have influenced neo-Nazism and Nazi mysticism. Although mystical in her conception of Nazism, Savitri Devi saw Nazism as a practical faith that did not need metaphysics. Among Savitri Devi's ideas was the classifications of "men above time", "men in time" and "men against time". She is credited with pioneering neo-Nazi interest in occultism, Deep Ecology, and the New Age movement. She influenced the Chilean diplomat Miguel Serrano. In 1982, Franco Freda published a German translation of her work Gold in the Furnace, and the fourth volume of his annual review, Risguardo (1980–), was devoted to Savitri Devi as the "missionary of Aryan Paganism".
Her works, in conjunction with those of Julius Evola, have been major influences on activist Bill White. Far-rightist Italian and self-described "Nazi Maoist" Claudio Mutti was influenced by reading her work Pilgrimage as an idealistic teenager. As a young bodyguard for Colin Jordan, David Myatt enthusiastically embraced the values expressed in her work The Lightning and the Sun. In the U.S., National Socialist James Mason (whose Universal Order bears a strong resemblance to the sentiments of Savitri Devi) paid tribute to her in his work, Siege. Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme of the Charles Manson group has endorsed The Lightning and the Sun. Revilo P. Oliver wrote that he saw the potentiality of a future religion venerating Adolf Hitler "in the works of a highly intelligent and learned lady of Greek ancestry, Dr. Savitri Devi."
She was also one of the founding members of the World Union of National Socialists.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 13, 2016
A lot of people probably will dismiss this book on the pure basis that Savitri Devi AKA Maximiani Portas kept bad company. And by that I mean she was a Nazi. This is a woman who thought that Hitler was the final, apocalyptic Avatar of Vishnu (Kalki). Putting that aside for a moment....
But she was surprisingly perceptive:
1) She observed that the main thing which drives people to convert from Hinduism to other religions, is not the attractiveness of other religions but rather the social oppression they face under Hindu customs. And that therefore, the best way to preserve Hindu civilization (which is, frankly heading for the morgue) is to break caste barriers so that people of all social strata feel included in Hindu civilization, rather than feeling like slaves. The moral or humanitarian concerns about caste don't really register with Devi. For her, this is a purely political strategy. She uses the analogy with the ancient Greek and Roman world. Why did these places flip to Christianity so easily? Because it started with the slave class, which was excluded from the benefits of the Aryan Pagan system, and therefore did not identify with it. The Christian message of universal love and brotherhood was much more appealing. Indian low caste people are in the same position. Devi's arguments read as though she is a modern observer of Kancha Ilaiah, or other modern Dalit writers. Similar logic applies to Adavasis and tribal groups, reconverts to Hinduism, foreign converts to Hinduism, naastiks, and other people who are prey to the regressive and self-defeating exclusionist streak in Hinduism. Since her writing, many of these barriers have dropped, but not the most virulent one (caste) in the parts of the world where it matters most for the survival of Hindu civilization (namely, rural India.)
2) She observed that after Independence was achieved, Hindus in Muslim majority regions would be in extreme danger, and would probably be expelled or ethnically cleansed. Gandhi of course would have denied this. She predicted accurately that all the pre-independence violence would seem like small potatoes compared to what happened afterwards, and that Hindus due to their unpreparedness and lack of solidarity would come off disproportionally badly in these conflicts.
And also,
3) That the core difference between Hinduism and Abrahamism (and the core difference between Pagan, non-credal religions, and credal religions generally) is that in Hinduism, knowledge is premised primarily on experience, whereas in credal religions knowledge is based on authority. She falsely terms the Hindu approach "scientific," but lets let that slide. The point is that under Hinduism, all textual authority can be overturned if someone discovers differently by meditation, introspection, and argument (but primarily by mystical intuition or meditative practice.) This allows for a much wider range of tolerance, diversity of belief, and tendency towards reformism (which gives hope that caste can be expunged) than credal religions.
and perhaps less profoundly,
4) We have enough temple building and goshalas and other insular religious activities. These don't really do much to defend or enrich the community, as compared with gurukulams, other educational establishments, or for lack of a better term "militia camps." In other words, for a community under assault we have enough culture, and not enough propaganda or defense functions. This is a point Hindus have only begun to take seriously.
5) Religions gain adherents when its members are in positions of political prominence.
6) Large swathes of Hinduism since British colonialism have been "Christianized" in the sense that warrior virtue has been expunged from it, and "christian" virtues of temperance and acceptance have been emphasized.
So. While her mental models of Hinduism, and the threats facing Hindu culture seem pretty accurate, her conception of hindu nationalism is a bit theocratic, irredentist, and could easily become militaristic. I'm glad it was never embodied in policy.
I personally, do not look forward to the prospect of a Hindu Rashtra. Any powerful theocratic government is terrifying. I would much prefer to see a decentralized network of Hindu communities with a good mental grasp of it's own culture, and the capacity to defend itself effectively in incidences of communal violence. And more importantly, the capacity to send resources and manpower to Hindus on the periphery who are faced with daily violence, because this is a task no military is going to handle. This is, more or less the old Sikh model. This doesn't entail jingoism or reconversion, as Devi's model implies.
But she was surprisingly perceptive:
1) She observed that the main thing which drives people to convert from Hinduism to other religions, is not the attractiveness of other religions but rather the social oppression they face under Hindu customs. And that therefore, the best way to preserve Hindu civilization (which is, frankly heading for the morgue) is to break caste barriers so that people of all social strata feel included in Hindu civilization, rather than feeling like slaves. The moral or humanitarian concerns about caste don't really register with Devi. For her, this is a purely political strategy. She uses the analogy with the ancient Greek and Roman world. Why did these places flip to Christianity so easily? Because it started with the slave class, which was excluded from the benefits of the Aryan Pagan system, and therefore did not identify with it. The Christian message of universal love and brotherhood was much more appealing. Indian low caste people are in the same position. Devi's arguments read as though she is a modern observer of Kancha Ilaiah, or other modern Dalit writers. Similar logic applies to Adavasis and tribal groups, reconverts to Hinduism, foreign converts to Hinduism, naastiks, and other people who are prey to the regressive and self-defeating exclusionist streak in Hinduism. Since her writing, many of these barriers have dropped, but not the most virulent one (caste) in the parts of the world where it matters most for the survival of Hindu civilization (namely, rural India.)
2) She observed that after Independence was achieved, Hindus in Muslim majority regions would be in extreme danger, and would probably be expelled or ethnically cleansed. Gandhi of course would have denied this. She predicted accurately that all the pre-independence violence would seem like small potatoes compared to what happened afterwards, and that Hindus due to their unpreparedness and lack of solidarity would come off disproportionally badly in these conflicts.
And also,
3) That the core difference between Hinduism and Abrahamism (and the core difference between Pagan, non-credal religions, and credal religions generally) is that in Hinduism, knowledge is premised primarily on experience, whereas in credal religions knowledge is based on authority. She falsely terms the Hindu approach "scientific," but lets let that slide. The point is that under Hinduism, all textual authority can be overturned if someone discovers differently by meditation, introspection, and argument (but primarily by mystical intuition or meditative practice.) This allows for a much wider range of tolerance, diversity of belief, and tendency towards reformism (which gives hope that caste can be expunged) than credal religions.
and perhaps less profoundly,
4) We have enough temple building and goshalas and other insular religious activities. These don't really do much to defend or enrich the community, as compared with gurukulams, other educational establishments, or for lack of a better term "militia camps." In other words, for a community under assault we have enough culture, and not enough propaganda or defense functions. This is a point Hindus have only begun to take seriously.
5) Religions gain adherents when its members are in positions of political prominence.
6) Large swathes of Hinduism since British colonialism have been "Christianized" in the sense that warrior virtue has been expunged from it, and "christian" virtues of temperance and acceptance have been emphasized.
So. While her mental models of Hinduism, and the threats facing Hindu culture seem pretty accurate, her conception of hindu nationalism is a bit theocratic, irredentist, and could easily become militaristic. I'm glad it was never embodied in policy.
I personally, do not look forward to the prospect of a Hindu Rashtra. Any powerful theocratic government is terrifying. I would much prefer to see a decentralized network of Hindu communities with a good mental grasp of it's own culture, and the capacity to defend itself effectively in incidences of communal violence. And more importantly, the capacity to send resources and manpower to Hindus on the periphery who are faced with daily violence, because this is a task no military is going to handle. This is, more or less the old Sikh model. This doesn't entail jingoism or reconversion, as Devi's model implies.
July 13, 2016
First of all this book was written in 1939 by a "Right wing intellectual" but when you read this book it seem that the author has written the book in 21st century. After reading again and again the book (not very large just contain 130 pages ) and trying very hard to find arguments against the issues raised in this book, I have just one word for this book. Just Incredible!. I have not come across such a book that predict the future of India so accurately Every Indian must read this book and find our what is wrong with our society and what should be done to preserve it. A must read for every Hindus.
Read
November 15, 2017How can you rate or review a book that you know from the start is poles apart with your own ideology? So I will refrain from 'rating' the book.
I was intrigued by the book for two reasons. 1) a possibility to understand the majority's minority complex that seems to be the base of hindutva. 2) It was written by a greek origin lady whose only connection with hinduism is its supposedly 'aryan roots'.
The first half of the book is the best articulated part. Savitri Devi examines the inherent differences between Hinduism and other faith-based religions like Christianity and Islam. When she points out how anthropocentric the latter two religions are, and how hinduism with its focus on cosmos is a better spiritual canon than the others - one can completely agree. Hinduism for her is closer to the pagan religions of the greek and romans. It is also the last surviving pagan religion - which explains her love for it, and possibly also her passion to 'revive' it.
In the fall of Greek and Roman paganism to Christianity, she saw parallels to what was happening in India during the 1900s. She rightly points out that caste system is the problem that is weakening the Hindu society from within. But when she wants to reform it, it is only to stop the conversion of Hindus to other religions and to unify it, rather than for "reasons of humanity".
There in, lies the curious case of Hindutva - one which can be seen even today. The need to unify all the Hindus for a political reason but the lack of will to let go of the caste hierarchies. One analogy from the book stands out. Savitri compares the elite hindus - the brahmans - to Lotus. It is the most beautiful things about the pond (India) but it needs the mud and slush (non-brahmans) for it to flourish. And just like the Lotus, the elite want stands aloof from the rest.
I was intrigued by the book for two reasons. 1) a possibility to understand the majority's minority complex that seems to be the base of hindutva. 2) It was written by a greek origin lady whose only connection with hinduism is its supposedly 'aryan roots'.
The first half of the book is the best articulated part. Savitri Devi examines the inherent differences between Hinduism and other faith-based religions like Christianity and Islam. When she points out how anthropocentric the latter two religions are, and how hinduism with its focus on cosmos is a better spiritual canon than the others - one can completely agree. Hinduism for her is closer to the pagan religions of the greek and romans. It is also the last surviving pagan religion - which explains her love for it, and possibly also her passion to 'revive' it.
In the fall of Greek and Roman paganism to Christianity, she saw parallels to what was happening in India during the 1900s. She rightly points out that caste system is the problem that is weakening the Hindu society from within. But when she wants to reform it, it is only to stop the conversion of Hindus to other religions and to unify it, rather than for "reasons of humanity".
There in, lies the curious case of Hindutva - one which can be seen even today. The need to unify all the Hindus for a political reason but the lack of will to let go of the caste hierarchies. One analogy from the book stands out. Savitri compares the elite hindus - the brahmans - to Lotus. It is the most beautiful things about the pond (India) but it needs the mud and slush (non-brahmans) for it to flourish. And just like the Lotus, the elite want stands aloof from the rest.
April 20, 2025
Great book and a good recollection of essays.
Devi's thoughts on Hinduism are truly eye opening even though I believe she herself should calm down with this PhiloHindu thought.
National socialism is European and making it some sort of Esoteric pagan Hinduism Beats the point. We are different nations and continents now, Europe and India.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the rest of the essays in the book. Will give it 5/5 due to it being my second Devi book.
Devi's thoughts on Hinduism are truly eye opening even though I believe she herself should calm down with this PhiloHindu thought.
National socialism is European and making it some sort of Esoteric pagan Hinduism Beats the point. We are different nations and continents now, Europe and India.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the rest of the essays in the book. Will give it 5/5 due to it being my second Devi book.
February 10, 2018
I liked the idea of author talking about unity among the different people of India. Whereas when she started talking about the Hindu dominant culture, that was something I was not able to understand or perhaps I didn't show much interest in it.
Whereas, her idea about us practising an unique single identity of India to show the outside people was something I admired a lot. this will straighten our power.
Whereas, her idea about us practising an unique single identity of India to show the outside people was something I admired a lot. this will straighten our power.
August 25, 2021
As relevant now as when it was written. Savitri Devi was a genius who retains a following of admirers that continues to grow as her work becomes easier to obtain. The brutality and cancerous spread of Islam has been correctly identified in this book and as it is less forgiving than Christianity and Hindu it has remained unmolested by the parasitic liberals that are accelerating the decline of civilization.
January 27, 2024
A non Hindu wants to talk about what an authentic Hindu is
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews