Who is a Hindu?
- See also: History of Hinduism
The actual term “Hindu” first occurs as an Old Persian geographical term (derived from the river
Sindhu), to identify the people who lived beyond the River Indus. However, the modern origin is derived from the
Arabic texts -
Al-Hind (the Hind) referring to 'the land of the people of modern day India' - which then got vernacularised as Hindu.
[3] In the world history “Hindu” was also used by all Mughal Empires and towards the end of the eighteenth century by the
British to refer to the people of “
Hindustan”, the area of northern and adjoining northwestern India. Eventually “Hindu” became equivalent to anybody of “Indian” origin who was not otherwise
Sikh,
Jain, or belonged to a religion of
Abrahamic denomination, thereby encompassing a wide range of religious beliefs and practices.
[4]
One of the accepted views is that “ism” was added to “Hindu” around 1830 to denote the culture and religion of the high-caste Brahmans in contrast to other religions. The term was soon appropriated by Indians themselves as they tried to establish a national identity opposed to colonialism.
[4]
Due to the wide diversity in the beliefs, practices and traditions encompassed by Hinduism, there is no universally accepted definition on who a Hindu is, or even agreement on whether Hinduism represents a religious, cultural or socio-political entity. In 1995, Chief Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar was quoted in an
Indian Supreme Court ruling:
[5]
"When we think of the Hindu religion, unlike other religions in the world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one god; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion of creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more."
Thus some scholars argue that the Hinduism is not a religion
per se but rather a reification of a diverse set of traditions and practices by scholars who constituted a unified system and arbitrarily labeled it Hinduism.
[6] The usage may also have been necessitated by the desire to distinguish between "Hindus" and followers of other religions during the periodic
census undertaken by the colonial British government in India. Other scholars, while seeing Hinduism as a 19th century construct, view Hinduism as a response to British colonialism by Indian nationalists who forged a unified tradition centered on oral and written Sanskrit texts adopted as scriptures.
[7]
A commonly held view, though, is that while Hinduism contains both "uniting and dispersing tendencies", it has a common central thread of philosophical concepts (including
dharma,
moksha and
samsara), practices (
puja,
bhakti etc) and cultural traditions.
[8] These common elements originating (or being codified within) the
Vedic,
Upanishad and
Puranic scriptures and
epics. Thus a Hindu could :
-
-
- practice any one of the various forms of yoga systems; including bhakti (devotion) in order to achieve moksha.
In 1995, while considering the question "who are Hindus and what are the broad features of Hindu religion", the Supreme Court of India highlighted
Bal Gangadhar Tilak's formulation of Hinduism's defining features:
[5]
Acceptance of the Vedas with reverence; recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are diverse; and the realization of the truth that the number of gods to be worshipped is large, that indeed is the distinguishing feature of Hindu religion.
Some thinkers have attempted to distinguish between the concept of Hinduism as a religion, and a Hindu as a member of a nationalist or socio-political class.
Veer Savarkar in his influential pamphlet
Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? considered geographical unity, common culture and common race to be the defining qualities of Hindus; thus a Hindu was a person who saw India "as his Fatherland as well as his Holy land, that is, the cradle land of his religion".
[12] This conceptualization of Hinduism, has led to establishment of
Hindutva as the dominant force in
Hindu nationalism over the last century.
[13]
Customs and traditions
[edit] Ethnic and cultural fabric
The
Ganga is considered one of the most sacred rivers by Hindus
- See also: Indo-Aryans, Demographics of India, History of India, and Hindutva
Hinduism, its religious doctrines, traditions and observances are very typical and inextricably linked to the culture and demographics of India. Hinduism has one of the most ethnically diverse bodies of adherents in the world.
[citation needed] For some,
[who?] it is hard to classify Hinduism as a religion because the framework, symbols, leaders and books of reference that make up a typical religion are not uniquely identified in the case of Hinduism. Most commonly it can be seen as a "way of life" which gives rise to many civilized forms of religions.
[citation needed]
Large tribes and communities indigenous to India are closely linked to the synthesis and formation of Hindu civilization. Peoples of
East Asian roots living in the states of north eastern India and Nepal were also a part of the earliest Hindu civilization. Immigration and settlement of peoples from
Central Asia and peoples of
Indo-Greek heritage have brought their own influence on Hindu society.
[citation needed]
The
Indus Valley Civilization is often taken
[who?] to represent the historical continuum of Hinduism. The roots of Hinduism in southern India, and amongst tribal and indigenous communities is just as ancient and fundamentally contributive to the foundations of the religious and philosophical system.
[citation needed]
Ancient Hindu kingdoms arose and spread the religion and traditions across
South East Asia, particularly
Thailand,
Nepal,
Burma,
Malaysia,
Indonesia,
Cambodia and what is now central
Vietnam. A form of Hinduism particularly different from Indian roots and traditions is practiced in
Bali, Indonesia, where Hindus form 90% of the population
[citation needed]. Indian migrants have taken Hinduism and Hindu culture to
South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and other countries in and around the
Indian Ocean, and in the nations of the
West Indies and the
Caribbean.
[citation needed]
Linguistics of Hinduism
- See also: Sanskrit
Although the Vedas, the Mahabharata and the
Ramayana were composed and recorded in language
Sanskrit, several other important religious and philosophical works were written in languages like
Pali,
Prakrit,
Tamil,
Hindi,
Nepali,
Kannada,
Konkani,
Assamese,
Punjabi,
Malayalam,
Telugu,
Gujarati,
Marathi,
Oriya,
Bengali,
Bhojpuri, and
Maithili.
Many modern discourses, essays and analysis of Hindu religion and society, as well as retellings of its greatest epics, are published in the
English language.
[citation needed]
Hindu ceremonies, observances and pilgrimages
-
Hinduism is also very diverse in the religious ceremonies performed by its adherents for different periods and events in life, and for death. Principal Festivity of the Hindus also vary from region to region which include Diwali, Shivratri, Ram Navami, Janmashtmi, Durgapuja, Holi, Navatri, etc.
[citation needed]
[edit] Initiation
-
[edit] Sixteen Sanskars (Rituals)
These are various rituals necessary within a life of Hindu. These Sanskras are applied during different phases of life. Some of those are:
1] Jatkarma (worshipping those instruments which are used for living based on profession eg. when a child was 5 day old.)
2] Namkaran (Name ceremony)
3] Annaprashan(Start of Eating)
4] Kesharpan (First time hair cut at around age of 1)
5] Upnayan (thread ceremony –only applicable to three varnas among four but can also be applicable to last Varna in some exceptional cases)
6] Vidyarambh(start of education)
7] Nikhkraman
8] Vivah(Marriage)
9] Garbhadhan
10] Antim Sanskar( last rites before cremation of corpse)
Some Hindus, may perform initiation ceremonies like
Upanayana or
Janoy or 'Bratabandha'. These ceremonies have variants depending on the
caste, the culture and the region.
[citation needed]
In a ceremony administered by a
priest, a coir string, known as Janoy or Poonal, is hung from around a young boy's left shoulder to his right waist line for
Brahmins and from right shoulders to left waistline by
Kshatriyas. The ceremony varies from region to community, and includes reading from the Vedas and special
Mantras and
Slokas.
[citation needed]
Young females (prepubescent until married) do not have similar ritual passage as young males. However, some young Hindu females, especially those from southern India, may follow annual Monsoon Austerity Ritual of Purification by not eating cooked food for one or two weeks, depending on age of child. This is known as "Goryo" or "Goriyo".
[citation needed]
Generally speaking, Hindus are free to join an order or inner circle, and once they have joined it they may submit to its rites and way of living. But this type of joining is voluntary and has the possibility of leaving the order at any time without serious objection from fellow followers as long as one says and does things without associating them with the order which he or she has left. It is a social form of co-option of life style. It is said in Sanskrit that, "dharmo hi hato hanti, dharmo rakshati rakshitah", which translates to "Dharma, when destroyed, destroys; dharma protects when [it is]protected", meaning the path of righteousness will protect one as long as one upholds and follows it. The initiation (
diksha), a sort of purification or consecration involving a transformation of the aspirant's personality, is regarded as a complement to, or even a substitute for, the previous initiation ceremony rite of consecration that preceded the Vedic sacrifice in ancient India; in later and modern Hinduism, the initiation of a layman by his guru (spiritual guide) into a religious sect. In the
soma sacrifices of the Vedic period, the lay sacrificer, after bathing, kept a day-long (in some cases up to a yearlong) silent vigil inside a special hut in front of a fire.
[citation needed]
Some Hindus will give offerings to their gods by placing rice or flowers in a bowl above the stove every morning before they eat, and behind this bowl may be a picture of one of their gods. Along with giving offerings they might also pray to the god they gave an offering to.
[citation needed]
[edit] Hindu New Year
Hindu New Year is celebrated at different times of the year by people of different states. Many regions have different calendars with some starting in March while others begin at the time of
Diwali, the festival of lights in autumn.
Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and
Maharashtra states celebrate New Year on the different days called ugadi in andhra pradesh. Hosavarsha in Karnataka .
[14], but West Bengal, Punjab, Assam,Tamil Nadu and some parts of coastal Karnataka celebrate the New Year at different time (
April 14). The names of the new year vary also. For example Bengali people call their new year as Poila Boishak and Assamese people call it Bihu.
Marathi people call new year
Gudi Padwa while
Kannadigas &
Telugu people call new year
Ugadi.
[14] Tamil people call their new year as
Varusha Pirapu. People from coastal Karna14th of April). People from other northern states celebrate Holi as their New Year day which is first day of first month Chaitra according to Hindu calendar.
[citation needed] The Hindu new year is also celebrated in Nepal in the month of April, usually falling on the 14th of the month. Nepal is the only Hindu country (now a secular nation) where the Hindu calendar, known as Bikrama Sambat, is the official calendar. 14th April in 2007 will herald the beginning of the year 2064 BS.
[citation needed]
Fasting
Fasting is very common among most Hindus. They Fast on certain days of the week based on their belief and to appease certain deities. Most fasting Hindus abstain from eating meat and only live on fruits and milk. Some people refrain from using
edible salts in the preparation of the meal and have it only one time on the day. There is a month called
Shravan or
Savan and " Karthika" when Hindus fast for the whole month and abstain from eating any form of meat. Also they fast during the holy days like
Ganesh Chaturthi (Chauth),
Shivaratri,
Rama Navami and
Navaratri. Some people view fasting as a form of penance (tapasya) or alternatively as a means to develop a close bond with the Supreme Being. The purpose for fasting (tapasya) was instituted into the religion with a twofold purpose. The first purpose was to instill a sense of discipline in the followers, since disciplined lives are believed to be most productive. The second reason was to use these fasting days as a form of 'body cleansing'. For instance, on certain fasting days, people usually eat only fruit throughout the day, followed by one meal thus leading to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, in the early centuries when Hindus were beginning to gain identity in the religion, there was disparity among the rich and the poor (which continues to exist in cultures all over the world) and fasting was a way for 'resource sharing' and to ensure that no one was claiming more rights on scarce resources like grains and other crop, merely because of their economic advantage. The Hindu religion does not require or mandate its followers to fast, it only proposes these suggestions as a way of life.
[citation needed]
Marriage
-
Wedding ceremonies and rituals vary in Hinduism. Most Hindu parents look for a prospective match for their children from their own community or caste. The ritual of matching the prospective's
jathakam or
janampatri (Hindu
horoscope) with the help of a holy priest is also widely practiced by many Hindus. Modern day couples usually approve each other before getting the elders of the family approve their 'arranged' marriage. The important difference between a Hindu marriage and other types of marriage is that, Hindu marriage is a 3-party contract, as much as it is a 2-party contract in the western civilization. The third party that needs to approve the marriage is essentially the elders of the family representing the interest of the clan. Elders wishes still holds prominence, and is not becoming obsolete. Hindu marriage ceremonies are very colorful and elaborate. Families of the bride and the groom hold numerous festivities to celebrate the wedding. Marriage without a
Brahmin priest was traditionally not regarded as a "religiously accepted marriage" in Hindu society. In contemporary times, lower caste priets such as the "Pandaram" order have performed marriage ceremonies that are acceptable in society.
[15][16]Saptapadi is an important ritual performed during the wedding in which the bride and the groom circumambulate a sacred fire, known as
agni, seven times. As the inheritance of the family wealth was by the males only, girls who would move out to live with another family after marriage, were given a fair share of the family wealth as
dowry. In Hindu scripture The Vedas prescribe that a dowry be given by the bride’s family to the groom. The Rig Veda states that cows and gifts given by the father of the bride to the daughter accompanied the bride’s procession [Rg Ved X.85] [Apte 12]. Kakshivat says he became rich by the father-in-law giving him 10 chariots and maids and 1060 cows during the marriage ceremony [Rg Ved I.126] [Apte 13]. With the modernization of Hindu society, some eligible bachelors started to see this as a demandable contribution from the bride's father. The practice of demanding a dowry is still prevalent in many parts of India and sometimes the bride's family or the bride gets harassed by the groom's family for this.
Dowry formed an integral part of Hindu marriage until it was rendered unlawful by the Indian government in 1961. Dowry is legal if it represents "stri-dhana" i.e. a girl's share of the parents' wealth.
Pilgrimage
Many Hindus make pilgrimages to the holy shrines (known as
Tirthas). Hindu holy shrines include the abode of Shiva, Mount
Kailash in
Tibet, Shiva's lingam in
Amarnath,
Rameshwaram, and
Kedarnath; the holy cities of
Haridwar,
Dwarka,
Puri,
Prayaga,
Mathura,
Mayapur,
Tirumala,
Tirupati, Varanasi, and
Ayodhya. Goddess
Durga's holy shrine in
Vaishno Devi attracts thousands of devotees every year. Hundreds of millions of Hindus annually visit holy rivers such as the
Ganges ("Ganga" in Sanskrit) and
temples near them, wash and bathe themselves to purify their sins, make sacrifices and win pivous credits.
[citation needed]
The
Kumbha Mela (
the Great Fair) is a gathering of between 10 to 20 million Hindus upon the banks of the holy rivers at Allahabad (Prayag), as periodically ordained in different parts of India by Hinduism's priestly leadership. The most famous is at the confluence of the Ganga and
Yamuna in
Uttar Pradesh which is known as "Sangam". It is regarded as the
Arulmigu Mathusoothana perumal sevva sangam OM NAMO NARAYANA, The presiding deity, Lord Madhusudhana, in majestic splendour, with a serene countenance and four arms, is nearly five feet in height. Lord Vishnu appears in the form of Madhusudhana with four hands. While, two hands hold the disc and conch, the other right hand is held aloft in abaya hastha position and the left rests on the left thigh. He is seen with Goddesses Lakshmidevi and Bhoomadevi.
[citation needed]
Death
Main articles: Cremation and Shraaddha
Upon the death of a Hindu person, his or her body is ceremonially bathed and wrapped in clean, mostly white
khadi cloth. At the ceremony of cremation all mourners usually wear only white clothes. An attending priest conducts the ceremony, sanctifying the body and pyre by sprinkling holy water and singing or chanting religious
hymns or songs. Hindus in India are cremated on open grounds upon wooden pyres. Typically, the pyre is set alight by the eldest male child of the deceased, or the closest male relative. The ashes of the person's remains are gathered and placed in a pot, which may be ritually immersed or released in any of Hinduism's holy rivers, usually within 3 days.
The practice of cremation is not universal among Hindus. Hindus of various regions and castes may bury their dead as well, as per their families tradition.
Bindi and Decoration
The area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the sixth
chakra,
ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom". According to followers of
Tantrism, this chakra is the exit point for
kundalini energy. The
Bindi is said to retain
energy and strengthen concentration.
[1]. It is also said to protect against demons or bad luck. In addition to the bindi a vermilion mark in the parting of the hair just above the forehead is worn by married women as a symbol of their married status. During Indian marriage ceremonies, the groom applies
sindoor on the parting in the bride's hair. Depending on the dharam of the religion colours vary. Ancient Buddhist women wore similar marks (for purely decorative purposes) since the second century, which became popular during the Tang Dynasty.
Religion for the common Hindu
- See also: Yoga, Vedic astrology, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana
To many Hindus, the Vedas, a large corpus of texts that originated in Ancient India, are the main source of religious social and religious practices in Hindu society. By tradition, the distinction between "believer" and "unbeliever" (
Nastika) was simply whether the person, in principle, accepted the authority of the
Vedas. Such acceptance was in many cases a matter of common terminology and wildly different belief systems coexist (including atheistic, polytheistic, monotheistic, among others) within the community of "believers." Consequently, for the common Hindu, the connection to the Vedas is mostly through certain chants that are performed at various ceremonies, and not through an emotional/spiritual connection to the content of the Vedas.
The
Puranas are a wide collection of religious treatises, biographies and stories on the historical, mythological and religious characters in Hindu folklore, classic literature and sacred scriptures. They are often the source of popular Hindu folk tales and religious lessons and thus play a much bigger role in the emotional/spiritual dimension of the common Hindu's life.
Yoga is an important connection for a Hindu to his religious and historical heritage. The art of spiritual and physical exercises are a distinguished native tradition pursued by millions of Hindus worldwide.
Indian
Vedic astrology is important to the conduct of any of life's important events such as marriage, applying for a post or admission, buying a house or starting a new business. To millions of Hindus the kundali is an invaluable possession that charts the course of life for a man or a woman from the time of his birth, all ascertained by Vedic mathematics and astrology.
Perhaps the most popular Hindu scripture is the
Mahabharata, depicting a civil war within a family that takes on dimensions of the struggle between
dharma and
adharma.
Krishna's discourse to the warrior prince
Arjuna, known as the
Bhagavad Gita and contained in the Mahabharata, is the guide book on life for the common Hindu. For many Hindus the Bhagavad Gita is considered a source of divine guidance and inspiration. Devotional readers apply Krishna's teachings to the personal and worldly contexts of their life. It is often considered as the main source of religious teaching for Hindu practitioners.
Similarly, the
Ramayana, depicting the life of the prince and king
Rama, also plays a big role through its many different versions. To hundreds of millions of Hindus, Rama is more than just an incarnation of the Supreme, or simply a just king of Ayodhya. He is the still living, thriving soul and identity of real Hinduism. Rama is the image of Hinduism, the Perfect Man, its conscience and undying hope of deliverance.
The doctrines of
moksha by the diligent discharge of personal, social and religious duty is the cornerstone of Hindu society. By following one's duty (Swa-Dharma) one gains merit and, when the process is completed, union with the Godhead and cessation of the cycle of birth and death. Dereliction of duty will result in all sorts of misfortunes, including birth into a lower level in the social hierarchy. This is a strong motivation to stick to the right path of human nature. Commonly this swa-dharma or varna is misunderstood as
caste, the class identity in Hindu society. Varna is determined by a soul's karma, while Jat or caste is determined by birth and not necessarily in a person's nature. So it is important for a person to follow their true nature and seek to do their duty in life.
