Hinduism 101 According to historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years. The word Hindu is derived from the name of River Indus, which flows through northern India. In ancient times the river was called the Sindhu, but the Persians who migrated to India called the river Hindu, the land Hindustan and its inhabitants Hindus. Thus the religion followed by the Hindus came to be known as Hinduism. It was earlier believed that the basic tenets of Hinduism were brought to India by the Aryans who invaded the Indus Valley Civilization and settled along the banks of the Indus river about 2000 BC. However, this theory has now been proved to be a flawed one and is considered nothing more than a myth. According to scholars, the evolution of Hinduism may be divided into three periods: the ancient (6500 BCE-1000 AD), the medieval (1000-1800 AD), and the modern (1800 AD to present). Hinduism is commonly thought to be the oldest religion in the history of human civilization. Hinduism is generally associated with a multiplicity of Gods, and does not advocate the worship of one particular deity. The gods and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all representing the many aspects of only one supreme Absolute called “Brahman”. Therefore, to believe that the multiplicity of deities in Hinduism makes it polytheistic is erroneous. The Rig Veda says: Ekam sath, Vipraah bahudhaa vadanti (The Truth is one). However, to equate “Brahman” with “God” is imprecise. It is neither the “old man in the sky” concept, nor the idea of something capable of being vengeful or fearful. The Sacred Texts of the Hindus According to Swami Vivekananda, the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times constitutes the sacred Hindu texts. Collectively referred to as the Shastras, there are two types of sacred writings in the Hindu scriptures: Shruti (heard) and Smriti (memorized). Sruti literature refers to the habit of ancient Hindu saints who led a solitary life in the woods, where they developed a consciousness that enabled them to hear or cognize the truths of the universe. Sruti literatures are of two parts: the Vedas and the Upanishads. The doctrine of Spiritual Competence (‘Adhikaara’) and that of the Chosen Deity (‘Ishhta Devata’) in Hinduism recommend that the spiritual practices prescribed to a person should correspond to his or her spiritual competence and that a person should have the freedom to choose (or invent) a form of Brahman that satisfies his spiritual cravings and to make it the object of his worship. Thus, Hindus have a multitude of gods and goddesses. Deities are represented by a complexity of images and idols symbolizing divine powers. Many of these idols are housed within ornate temples of unparalleled beauty and grandeur. Hindus also worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets. The most fundamental of Hindu deities, is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. Other popular deities include Ganesha, Krishna, Hanuman and a number of Goddesses. Hinduism is perhaps the only religious tradition that is so diverse in its theoretical premises and practical expressions that it is like a compilation of religions with a history contemporaneous with the peoples with which it is associated. According to philosopher Jeaneane Fowler, Hinduism can never be neatly slotted into any particular belief system — monism, theism, monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, panentheism — for all these systems are reflected in its many facets. Hinduism is a unique faith! The most obvious misconception about Hinduism is that we tend to see it as just another religion. To be precise, Hinduism is a way of life, a dharma . Dharma does not mean religion. It is the law that governs all action. Thus, contrary to popular perception, Hinduism is not just a religion in the tradition sense of the term. Out of this misinterpretation, has come most of the misconceptions about Hinduism. Being an ideal Hindu simply implies living a righteous life by obeying the two basic tenets of Karma, ie, doing ones duty and Dharma, ie, believing in what is right in order to attain salvation from this world. Difficulty: Hard Time Required: Everyday, lifelong Heres How: Rise up from bed before sunrise. Complete morning ablutions and bath. Pay homage to the family deity. Spend 10-15 minutes praying, meditating and reciting from the scriptures. Prepare breakfast and eat it only after offering the same to the family deity. Then throughout the day execute the tasks pertaining to ones profession with complete devotion, sincerity and honesty for the maintenance of the family. In the evening perform group prayers in the family shrine along with all the members of the family. This is followed by supper and obeisance to the family deity before retiring to bed. Besides this daily routine, an ideal Hindu is advised to visit the nearest Hindu temple once in a while. You should observe several important Hindu festivals with due reverence, and go on pilgrimage to a few holy places. A Hindu is expected to give charity, help the needy, respect the elders in society and scrupulously pursue the path of moral rectitude in both personal and social life. Compassion, consideration for others, love, sympathy, non-violence should be the ruling words in the life of an ideal Hindu. Tips: Avoid the seven deadly sins of wrath, envy, pride, covetousness, gluttony, sloth, and lechery. A Family deity can be any god or any saint whom you consider your own true god. Have faith in God and believe in yourself.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 07:29:56 +0000
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