Eternal India Encyclopedia

RELIGIONS

Eternal India encyclopedia

HINDUISM

Origin Founder Global

Place: India

Hinduism has no founder, no ecclesiastical organisation and no concept of heresy. Known as Sanaatana Dharma (the Eternal Dharma) it is beginningless (anantha) eternal, immutable (shaaswata) Allows freedom of worship; catholicity of approach. Per- mits wide spectrum of thoughts; tolerant of other beliefs and faiths.

following

751,360,000 (13.5%) All Continents (94 countries) India

Global

spread

Predominant

A sacred word made up of three letters, a, u, m. The monosylabble represents the Hindu trimurthi or union of three gods.

Nos. in (’000)

Africa

Asia Europe

Latin Americ a

North America

Oceania Eurasia

2

1,569

746,512 707

916

1,285

369

Four purusharthas (pre-occupations of life) were: Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Pleasure) and Moksha (Liberation). Wealth and enjoyment should be based on dharma and aim at moksha. PHILOSOPHY * Hinduism does not attempt proselytisation or conversions. * The most striking features of Hinduism are polytheism, mysti- cism, asceticism, belief in the transmigration of souls, the sanctity of certain animals and a rigid social order of classes and castes. The apparent polytheism is explained as basically monotheistic, the many lesser divinities being the aspects of a single deity. * The schools of philosophy are: Nyaya emphasises logic. Vaisheshika emphasises cosmology (argues that all material things are made of four atoms - earth, water, fire and air). Sankhya teaches that there are two basic categories, matter ( prakriti ) and soul (purusha ), in the universe. Sankhya teachers also developed the theory of 3 qualities ( gunas ): virtue (sattva), passion (rajas) and dullness (tamas). Yoga emphasises spiritual discipline. Mimamsa emphasises the importance of the Vedas and Vedic ritual. Vedanta emphasises the teachings of the Upanishads. * Hinduism believes that the soul goes from one body to another (Karma). The ultimate aim is escape from samsaara (transmi- gration or reincarnation), through bhakti (devotion) for moksha or mukthi (release from the wheel of rebirth). * Vedic concept of Vasudhaeva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) and Vishvaneedam (One roosting place or resting place) is stressed. RITUALS/CUSTOMS * A whole scheme of rituals (samskaaras) is detailed for all sixteen of them are prominent. * Puja, an act of worship, is often a simple ceremony. An oil lamp and incense sticks are lit. Offerings of coconut, flowers, fla- voured leaves, fruit, sweets, or rice are made to the deity. Water may be sprinkled on the image or deity. Prayers are offered. The food presented to the deity is later shared by those present. * Arti is an act of devotion. An oil lamp is held before the deity and a wide arc of light is made in front of the deity, accompanied by hymns. Arti may be performed at the beginning or end of other auspicious ceremonies. * Upanayana (initiation ceremony) brought boys into the Hindu fold. The sacred thread over the left shoulder and under the right arm, is worn only by the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas. The ceremony is considered a second birth and those who wear the sacred thread are called twice born.

CHRONOLOGY * 1500 B.C. - The Aryans in Punjab. Rise of priestly education, compilation of the hymns and the Vedas, Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda. * 1000 B.C. - The Aryans in the country of Kurus and Panchalas. Theory of the four vamas (classes), compilation of the Brah- manas. * 860 B.C. - Upanishads (Vedantas) compiled. Atharva Veda compiled. Priestly supremacy. Writing introduced; rise of the hermits; The sutras compiled. SCRIPTURES * The sacred books are divided into two groups, shruti (heard) and smriti (remembered). The former was believed to have been directly revealed to its authors and therefore have greater sanctity. * The four Vedas, the most ancient literature of Hinduism, date back to 1000 B.C. * The Rig Veda, the earliest Veda and the oldest book, comprises 1028 hymns to various deities and is divided into ten books. * The Sama Veda is a collection of Rig-Vedic songs and mantras. * The Yajur Veda is a book of prayers and mystical formulae * The Atharva Veda is a book of spells, incantations, magical and medical prescriptions. * The Brahmanas (guides to rituals) were supplementary works to the Vedas. * The Upanishads (Philosophical speculations) also called the Vedanta (the end part of the Vedas), 108 Upanishads have survived. * Th e Aranyakas (Forest samhitas). * Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta (the six systems of orthodox philosophy). * The Dharma Sastras (treatises on ethical and social philosophy). * The Mahabharata, the story of the great war between the Kaura- vas and the Pandavas, consists of 90,000 verses in 18 parvas (books). The Mahabharata incorporates the Bhagavad Gita (spiri- tual discourse by Lord Krishna), the epitome of Indian philoso- phy. * The Ramayana (approx. 24,000 verses in 7 books) is the story of Rama who was exiled by his father King Dasharatha. * Puranas (ancient stories) are stories of gods and goddesses. There are 18 of them. CODE OF CONDUCT * The four stages of life (ashramas) from childhood to old age. Brahmacharya ashrama (student), Grahastha ashrama (house- holder), Vanaprastha ashrama (forest hermit) and Sanyasin (holy man). Women were not encouraged to become sanyasins.