The Hindu Religious Tradition - Essay Example

Introduction Hinduism is a religion which has its roots in India, and which is categorized as the third largest religion. This religion boasts of having approximately or more than 1 billion followers through out the world (Streng 8). However, unlike other religions such as Christianity, which have a distinct origin such as Jesus, Hinduism does not have any one who can be credited for having started it. The word Hindu was coined by Persian foreigners in India, after they encountered people living along river Indus, which is in the Northern part of India, where the religion is perceived to have originated (Flood 12). This paper will discuss Hinduism as a religion and a way of life. Hinduism As earlier stated, Hinduism is considered by most people as a way of life rather than a religion (Flood 21). This is due to the fact that those who practice it have diverse beliefs, some of which appear to be unique to some communities for example in the rural areas and others for those living in urban areas. As it will be discussed later in the paper, these people have different gods whom they pray to. That not withstanding, they have various common beliefs that make them united under one umbrella of Hinduism. Apart from the belief that the term Hinduism was derived from Indus River, there are other theories which try to explain its meaning. For example, some people believe that the name was an invention of British people in the era of colonization while others believe that it was a term that was used by Persians to refer to India. However, Hinduism is believed to be one of the most ancient religions as several reports indicate that it was already in existence as early as 10000 B.C (Flood 29). One major aspect of Hinduism that has continued to attract criticism especially in the modern world of freedom and democracy is the caste system. This refers to the categorization of people into groups and sub groups on the basis of their family lineage as well as their occupation (Hawley 14). One of the major drawbacks of this system is that it marginalizes people of certain castes such that they cannot be allowed to socialize or intermarry with those of higher castes, who are accorded more privileges and respect in the society. The highest level in the Hindu caste system comprises of the Brahmins, who are considered to be the intermediaries between the gods and humans. In fact, the Hindu tradition defines Brahmins as the most excellent among all humans (Hawley 19). Due to this, they are entrusted with the responsibility of conducting religious rituals in their capacity as temple priests. However, they are supposed to display and conduct themselves with the highest levels of dignity and show intelligence in their day to day handling of issues in the society and to achieve this, they are required to spend much of their lifetime searching for more and more religious knowledge. Below the Brahmins are the Kshatriyas. These comprises of warriors and kings, who are mainly entrusted with the role of protecting all people in the society (Streng 23). It is also their responsibility of providing and protecting justice in the community thereby ensuring that people live in harmony. It is important to note that people belonging to other castes other than this cannot produce warriors or kings and it is thus possible to find an underage person such as an infant being crowned as the king if he is the designated heir to the throne. Even so, when he makes a decision no matter how absurd it might appear in the ears of his subjects, it can never be questioned as his word is final. Kshatriyas are followed by a lower caste which is referred to as Vaishyas. These are people comprising of traders and peasant farmers. These are considered to be the people controlling commerce in Indian societies and as such, they contribute significantly to the growth of the economy as they provide funds for establishing social amenities such as hospitals, schools among others (Streng 33). Despite this and their contribution of alms to the Brahmins, they have continued to be overlooked due to their low caste, which, according to reports, has in the past contributed greatly to their support for other religious groups such as Buddhism, which oppose and does not recognize the authority of the Brahmins. These people are also not allowed to marry women of the castes above them. The fourth caste is referred to as Sudras. These are people who are held with low dignity and who mostly conduct the role of servants to the Brahmins. They are also allowed to work as manual laborers (Streng 36). As opposed to religions such as Christianity and Islam, which hold the belief and teach that there is only one God, Hinduism teachings indicate that there is one main God; Brahma, but continues to allow followers to recognize the existence of other deities such as Vishnu and Shiva, who are common with most Hindu societies. This type of belief is commonly referred to as henotheistic belief (Huyler 18). However, there are other gods who are worshipped by different Hindu societies especially due to the fact that Hinduism unlike Christianity respects the diverse divine needs of its followers. As such, terminologies such as blasphemy do not exist in the religion. These gods are for example and not limited to Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, Hanuman, and Ganesha among others. It is important to note that each of these deities, as they are commonly referred to, has a unique significance in the lives of the Hindu communities (Huyler 22). Brahma for example is considered to be the superior spirit and the god of creation. In addition, he is perceived to be the one responsible of providing wisdom to his creations and also the custodian of the Vedas especially due to his having 4 heads (Huyler 27). Vedas are important Hindu texts that can be compared to the Holy Scriptures, and which word is final, meaning that what is written in them cannot be disputed. The followers in this religion believe that he has a red skin and that he always wears clothes that are pure white in color. Interestingly though, the concept of him being the creator is justified by the perception that he used his powers to generate a woman from himself, whose name is Saraswati, and whom texts indicate that she served both as his wife and daughter. Brahman then conceived with this woman and as a result, she gave birth to children who later became the foundation of the human race (Dimmit 35). It is therefore important to note at this point that Saraswati is considered to be the goddess of wisdom. However, it is notable that some of the Hindu societies have built considerably few temples on his account. This is an occurrence that is explained by a myth, which has great support especially from those people who discredit him as the creator, which indicates that Brahma was cursed by a goddess whom he had angered and quarreled with. This myth also becomes unpopular due to the fact that Hindus especially in the rural areas have diverse beliefs regarding their creator such that they are most likely to have their own gods whom they worship in this context (Dimmit 38). Shiva on the other hand is believed to be the destroyer. This implies that he is responsible for occurrences such as death, which is a way of removing bad elements from the universe. After doing the destruction, Brahma recreates the destroyed entities and as such there is a continuous cycle of creation and destruction (Dimmit 52). For example, in the world we live in, it is observable that each and every day people continue to die at a significant rate while on the other hand, more and more babies are born on daily basis so as to sustain the human race. Whereas Christians for example believe that this happens through the will of their God, Yahweh, the Hindus believe that it is an act of Shiva. It is possible to find that these gods have other numerous names. For example, Shiva is also known by names such as Shankar, Mahadev, and Natraj among others (Dimmit 53). The lord Vishnu, who is also referred to as Krishna, is deemed to be the preserver of the universe (Huyler 76). As some of the religions in the world acknowledge the existence of good and bad spirits, Hinduism also preaches the existence of gods and devils and as such, they have an important protector to whom they look out for their protection from all evils. Vishnu is the god who in history is said to have helped Indians by defending them from dragons during life threatening encounters. Even if these beliefs are basically founded on myths, Hindus have continued to respect Vishnu such that they believe that he will always descend to earth in case he feels that the demonic powers are about to overpower the good powers of the gods (Huyler 80). In fact, it is believed that he has done this for 9 times, with each time acquiring a new name through the process of reincarnation. Hinduism is based on various beliefs such as reincarnation. In Christianity for example, it is believed that when one dies, he remains in that condition awaiting the return of the Christ so that he can pass judgment on whether the person would go to hell or to heaven depending on his earthly deeds i.e. good or bad. On the contrary, Hindus believe that a person continues to undergo a cycle which involves being reborn instead of staying dead, so that you can pay for your deeds, which in Hinduism are referred to as Karma (Huyler 44). In this case, if a person exhibited bad karma, he continues to undergo reincarnation until that time when he will have suffered enough for all his sins. It is important to note that karma involves intentional or unintentional things that one does through thinking, speaking, through doing it yourself or aiding another person to do it. The major aspect of this belief is that it encourages believers to lead a positive life less of sinful actions such as adultery, theft, fornication among other atrocities that people who are non believers do. If you are a good person in the current life you are leading, then you are guaranteed a better and comfortable life in your next incarnation while if the opposite is true, you may incarnate in a form which is prone to suffering such as that of a donkey to be abused by humans through beating and ferrying heavy loads of goods. You can also reincarnate as a beggar or a mad person among other forms that one can think of, which are not favorable to an existing human. However, there reaches a point when the cycle of rebirth becomes complete and it is at this time when a person is said to have attained Moksha (Huyler 50). Moksha in Hinduism is the liberation of a dead soul from the cycle of life as discussed earlier (Flood 41). There are various ways in which Hindus believe that a person can attain Moksha, which is considered as the goal of every mankind. These are for example Karma Yoga. As stated earlier, karma can be used to refer to deeds or actions. Yoga on the other hand means union. Basically, for a person to attain Moksha using this method, he must have a liberated mind such that he or she will fulfill his duties without necessarily considering his personal interest to the objective. This can be explained in the context of a soldier who is dispatched to go to war. In this context, the soldier may have personal relationships with some of the people on the enemy side such that he would have to make the decision on whether to kill them or not. The virtue of the Karma Yoga in this case would be achieved by the soldier disregarding his personal interest and do what is required of him by the authorities which sent him. This purifies his karma and therefore puts him in a better chance of acquiring Moksha (Flood 49). The second way to attain Moksha is through Jnana Yoga. This is a Hindu philosophy which encourages people to disregard emotional and physical attachments to worldly things coupled with endurance and proper control of the mind. Having strong faith in religion is also considered to be an important virtue which enables one to get salvation. Other paths include Raja Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, which are as important to Hindus as is repentance with Christians. In general a living believer of Hinduism is always governed by the urge to remain righteous, to become wealthy and to sustain emotional needs in line with the required expectations while the reincarnated Hindus always work towards the attainment of Moksha (Flood 60). The Hindus have various places, which are considered to be holy and which followers of this religion visit with the intention of attaining Moksha. This is due to the fact that these places are associated with various gods of the Hindus. These are for example Kashi, which is highly believed to have been established by Lord Shiva. Due to this belief, the city receives approximately 1000000 Hindus every year, people who come here to bathe in River Ganges, which according to the believers, is a symbolic way of washing away one’s sins (Hawley 42). It is also believed that if one dies while doing so, his soul would be liberated from the cycle of life and this makes it one of the most important Hindu holy cities. Numerous Hindu temples can be found in this city despite the fact that it carries a lot of significance to other religions in India such as Buddhism. Other cities which have the same significance in the Hindu Religion include Haridwar, Ayodhya, Kanchipuram, Ujjain, Mathura and Dwarka. Indians usually visited these places especially those crisscrossed by river Ganges, to deposit ashes of their beloved ones after they are cremated, which was a basic requirement of the religion (Hawley 50). Even though there are no specific restrictions as to how to treat animals in Hinduism especially due to diversity in beliefs, it is worth noting that Hindus respect animals and thereby will in most times do no harm to them (Streng 67). For example, it is an abomination for Hindus to slaughter and eat beef as cows are considered by their religion to be holy. This is due to the belief that Hindus have that one of their most significant gods i.e. Krishna once appeared in form of a cow. Due to this, the cow is accorded the dignity almost similar to that of the gods and in some Indian societies, milk is actually used to conduct holy rituals. Apparently, if a person is found mistreating this holy animal, he is liable to punishment and if found guilty he can be prosecuted and sent to jail. It is therefore notable that most people of this origin are vegetarians and they will never accept to work in meat processing plants or butcheries irrespective of their country of residence, where Hinduism may be a religion of the minority. This has contributed negatively towards the control of traffic especially in Delhi, where it is estimated that the population of cows is approximately 40000 and most of them roam freely on the roads as they scavenge for remnants of foods and garbage disposed from house holds and local markets (Streng 73). Due to the respect that drivers are commanded to have on these animals, they end up driving slowly thereby creating a snarl in the movement of vehicles. To solve this, the authorities have hired cow catchers, who perform the function of herding and controlling the movement of these animals. Other animals that receive humane treatment due to their association with gods are peacocks, monkeys, Indian elephants, snakes etc. Every religion in the world has its holy days, which are celebrated throughout the year in commemoration of important occurrences in the history of the religion. Christians for example have holy days such as Easter, Christmas among others to mention a few. Hinduism is no exemption as it has numerous religious holidays but the most important and popular days marked in the Hindu calendar are for example Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Navaratri, and Janmastami. Diwali, which is also known as the festival of light, is a Hindu holiday which is celebrated in commemoration of Lord Rama’s return from exile. Apparently, Rama and his wife had been banished from their home by their father, who was the king, forcing them into exile for 14 years. While in exile, his wife was abducted by a Ravana, who according to Hindu texts indicate that he was a devil who had 10 heads (Hawley 115). However, Rama managed to rescue her from her abductor and later comes back home to be crowned king. In this aspect, the holiday, which is based on this myth, signifies how good triumphs evil. Celebrations during this period last for 5 consecutive days, with the fourth day being taken as the beginning of New Year for Hindus. Most notably, Hindus have a special way of conducting these celebrations, i.e. lighting lamps and placing them everywhere while at the same time bursting fireworks. Houses are decorated and giving of Indian sweets becomes a common practice not forgetting that those celebrating must wear new clothes during this season (Hawley 120). Dussehra and Diwali have a common theme as they relate to Lord Rama. The only slight difference is that in Dussehra, Hindus celebrate the aspect of the myth where Rama with a little assistance managed to concur and rescue his wife. Diwali celebrates his return from the forest, and comes approximately 20 days after Dussehra is celebrated. Holi on the other hand is celebrated for a period of 16 days, usually beginning on the day after the emergence of the full moon in March. The essence of this holiday is to celebrate nature during spring although modern celebrations are based on a Hindu myth which tells of a King who brutalized his son for worshipping Vishnu. One time he puts the boy on huge fire but the important part is that, the king’s sister, who was considered to be immune to burning went ahead and accompanied the boy to the fire. Surprisingly, the woman burns to death while the boy emerges from the fire without getting hurt (Dimmit 91). Due to this, Hindus light huge bonfires to symbolize the myth and it is during this holiday that people disregard their caste systems and take the chance to socialize freely. Conclusion Hinduism is one of the largest and most influential religions around the world, coming third after Christianity and Islam. However, it is mostly viewed as a way of life for those who practice it, as it dictates every aspect of their lives be it social, political, or cultural perspectives. Major beliefs and practices in Hinduism include; worshipping and believing in more than one god, reincarnation, karma, Moksha, respect for animals such as the holy cow and the caste system among others. Hindu holy days include and not limited to Diwali, Dussehra, and Holi among others, which have unique ways and dates of celebrating. Although this religion has its roots in India, it has established itself in other areas such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka among others which include the US. Works Cited 1. Dimmit, Cornelia. Classical Hindu Mythology, Temple University Press, 2000 2. Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press, 1999 3. Hawley, John. The Life of Hinduism, University of California Press, 2006 4. Huyler, Steven. Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion, Yale University Press, 2002 5. Streng, Fredrick. The Hindu Religious Tradition, Wadsworth Publishing, 2003 Read More