(Originally written February 18, 2007 in Book 14)
Pocket Guide to World Religions
Win Corduan
Chapter 7 - Hinduism
Name
Hinduism is a Western created word to encompass the religious and social system of India.
Hindus refer to their religion as the dharma, which means "the way" or "the religion".
Numbers and Distribution
There are approximately 900 million Hindus worldwide.
The largest numbers of Hindus live in India, including the 300 million "untouchables" who are considered Hindus, but cannot fully participate in the religion.
Symbols
Symbols play an important role in Hinduism.
The most universal symbol is the Om. Om is a sound that has no literal meaning but that is supposed represent the totality of the spiritual universe.
The swastika is also a prevalent symbol in Hinduism, but is not displayed in the West. It represents prosperity and good fortune in Hinduism.
History
Hinduism began as the religion of a group of people migrations to the Indian subcontinent from central Asia. These people are called the Aryans (not to be confused with the racist ideology of Hitler's race). The Aryans migrated around 1500 BC. They worshiped a few gods with animal sacrifice.
The priests of the Aryans were called Brahmins. The Brahmins recorded prayers and sacrificial formulas in books called Vedas. The Brahmins introduced new rules and regulations, altering Hinduism dramatically.
The Caste system developed and the belief in reincarnation became a vital part of Hinduism.
This early form of Hinduism is sometimes referred to as "the way of works" because of its emphasis on the Brahmin ritualistic and legalistic emphasis.
Around the 6th century BC the people reacted against the Brahmin legalism. Buddhism and Jainism emerged out of this reaction, and a new understanding of Hinduism emerged.
"The way of knowledge", the process of finding God within one's self replaced "the way of works". But, "The way of works" and "the way of knowledge" coexist and influence one another.
By the 8th century AD, "the way of devotion" had emerged. This interpretation of Hinduism focuses on one particular god or goddess.
Modern Hinduism blends all three ways but "the way of devotion" is the major influence.
1. Way of Works - based on sacrifices and rituals
2. Way of knowledge - based on finding God within one's self
3. Way of Devotion - based on a person's relationship with a particular deity.
1. Way of works is called Brahmanism or Vedic Hinduism
2. Way of knowledge is called Vedantic Hinduism
3. Way of Devotion is called Bhakti Hinduism
Scriptures
Hinduism has many writings that are organized into two main categories:
1. Shruti - writings "heard" from the gods by holy men (richis)
2. Smriti - writings handed down by tradition
The Smriti contain mostly stories, so average Hindus pay the most attention to them.
The Shruti contain thoughts and beliefs and are usually confined to priests and scholars.
Many Hindu scholars believe that the Scriptures were only written down a few centuries ago and that they were passed down orally for generations.
Shruti:
1) Vedas
2) Brahmanas
3) Sutras
4) Law of Manu
5) Upanishads
Smriti:
1) Mahabharata
2) Bhagavad Gita
3) Ramayana
4) Puranas
Major Beliefs
Hinduism has no mandatory set of beliefs but most agree on certain concepts.
What most Hindus agree on:
1. Life is hard and full of suffering
2. Reincarnation
3. What you come back as is based on what you have done in previous lives. (Law of Karma)
Hinduism, in all its forms, attempts to find a way out of the never-ending cycle of lives, deaths and rebirths.
What many Hindus agree on: ritual obligations
A large number of Hindus consider it important to maintain fundamental rules of life.
Hindu culture is woven into the fabric of Hindu society and Hindus cling to ritual obligations regardless of their religious convictions.
What many Hindus agree on: Vedantic Hinduism
The most important problem of all human beings is that they have forgotten they are living in an unreal world.
The is a true reality: the Brahman.
The Brahman is the spiritual being that is ultimately beyond understanding or description.
If we treat our experiences (maya) of the world as real, we will remain trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. If we realize that deep within ourselves there is a self (atman) that is identical with Brahman we are on the way to escaping the never-ending cycle of reincarnation.
What many Hindus agree on: Bhakti Hinduism
Some Hindus believe that all gods are manifestations of the Brahman, others believe that their specific god or goddess is the supreme being.
There're are 300 million gods in Hinduism, but not all gods are equal in importance.
The are 3 main gods (traditionally)
1) Brahma - creator of the universe
2) Vishnu - the preserver
3) Shiva - the destroyer of the world.
Each of these gods has a female counterpart, a shaky, who brings out his power
1) Brahma - Sarasvati, the goddess of learning
2) Vishnu - Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune
3) Shiva - Parvati, his devoted wife
- Durga, the goddess of death
- Kali, the destroyer of evil
Vishnu is extremely important because he occasionally incarnates himself to restore order. His most prominent incarnations (avatars) include Krishna and Rama.
Gods:
Deity/Function/Depiction
-Brahma, the creator, four heads
-Saraswati, Brahma's wife, goddess of learning, stringed instrument
-Vishnu, preserver, blue, conch shell, discuss, staff
-Lakshmi, Vishnu's wife, goddess of fortune, Blue conch shell
-Shiva, destroyer, trident, three horizontal stripes
-Paravati, Shiva's wife, depicted with Shiva
-Durga, goddess of death, eight or ten arms, long spear, riding a lion
-Kali, destroyer of demons, black grimaced face, skull necklace rides a tiger
-Rama, avatar of Vishnu, ideal king, Green with a large bow
-Krishna, Avatar of Vishnu, cowherd, Dark blue or black with a flute
-Ganesha, son of Shiva, remover of obstacles, Elephant head
-Hanuman, Grand vizier of the monkeys, green monkey, often with Rama
Subgroups
Subgroups can be distinguished by their devotion o a main god. There could be countless subgroups, but there are three main ones:
1) Vishnavites - Vishnu is head god
2) Shaivites - Shiva is head god
3) Shaktites - Kali or Durga is head god.
Some groups of Hinduism practice yoga to liberate one's spirit from their body.
Another way of grouping Hindus is the caste system. While the caste system is a social construct, it has a profound impact on religious life.
Brahmins - Priests
Kshatriyas - Warriors or rulers
Vaishyas - Merchants, landowners
Shudras - workers
Dalits - outcasts
Worship Practices
Worship is performed before statues of gods in the home and temple.
Hindus believe that the god/goddess live in the statue as long as the statue is properly cared for.
The worship is called puja. Puja can be simple at home and last for only a few minutes. It can also be very ornate in temple settings.
Religious buildings
A Hindu temple is often highly decorated and dedicated to a specific deity.
Temples normally have a statue of the main god in the most prominent palace, and a statue of Ganesha to the right of it.
Home Practices
Traditionally, a Hindu house hold has a statue of a god that must be worshipped daily.
Women have a special duty to make pilgrimages for their family.
Women also decorate the front door with Kola diagrams. Kola diagrams are designed made of colored rice to be eaten by ants as an offering to gods and spirits.
Clothing
Little of traditional Indian dress is considered intrinsically religious.
Masks on the face or forehead can be very significant.
Devotees of particular deities will rub ash on their face after worship. Shaivites mark their forehead with three horizontal stripes. Vaishnavites make two vertical lines that converge on the bridge of the nose.
The red spot on the forehead of women is called the bindi. Bindi means "little drop". The Bindi lets the world know that the wearer is a Hindu and a married woman.
Some unmarried girls have a spot on their forehead to protect against the "evil eye".
Diet
Hindus do not eat beef because the cow is considered sacred.
Many Hindus are vegetarians, but not all.
Calendar
Hindus follow a lunar calendar.
Festivals are put on the full full moon, 10 fall in the middle of the moth.
Because of sectarian and regional differences the same festival is celebrated to different gods on a regular basis.
Some important celebrations:
1. Diwali (late October/Early November)
- most important and most widespread of all Hindu holidays
- honors a godess, usually Lakshmi
- sometimes considered New Year's Day
2. Pangal (January)
- primarily a South Indian celebration
- Some times considered a New Year's
- festival of fertility, not devoted to a specific god
- women make kola diagrams, men fly kites
- cows are adorned with garland
3. Taipusam (late January, early February)
- entirely a South Indian holiday
- dedicated to Muruka, the son of Shiva
- devotion expressed through acts of austerity and self-immolation
4. Holi (late February, early March)
- honors Krishna
- honors his pranks played as a youth
- 5 days of high spirits
- on the 5th day people throw buckets of colored water on one another
Every deity has his or her own birthday or day of descent.
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