Hinduism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAOjW_RhmFs


Most of Hindus are following rituals just because their ancestors have been a part of it. The problem comes when someone asks you about your beliefs and why you have those beliefs.... at that moment...though many of the time our answer sound less effective because the person who asks the question is at advantage of being a superior to us – we are dependent on him economically/ academically . . . of authoritarian attitude of the person asking the question, most of the times we don’t know our religion . . . . Most of us don’t have time to refer the original texts . . . even Mahatma Gandhi had this confusion and dilemma when he was offered conversion to Christianity in London. Here are some facts, which will shed light upon our confusions.

As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion (i.e. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism or Sikhism). All the Indian law applies to these groups . . . whereas Muslims are governed by Indian personal law board.

Hinduism is a conglomeration of distinct intellectual or philosophical points of view, rather than a rigid common set of beliefs.

Hinduism is formed of diverse traditions and has no single founder.

Vedas, conduct of the virtuous men, traditions and self-satisfaction – the fourfold basis of conduct of Hindus

Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion around which all the religions move either in its favour or against it – there have been vedic religions/ philosphies who believe in Vedas as infallible source of knowledge – astik six in number - and non vedic who do not believe in Vedas like charvak jain Buddhism, yogis . . . . Islamic invasion brought the ancient vedic religions closer to Buddhism and Jainism and also gave birth to a new religion Sikkhism.

The six vedic philosphies are –

1.     Samkhya.

2.     Yoga, a school emphasizing meditation closely based on Samkhya

3.     Nyaya or logics

4.     Vaisheshika, an empiricist school of atomism – scientific/ science - vigyaan

5.     Mimamsa, an anti-ascetic and anti-mysticist school of orthopraxy

6.     Vedanta, the logical conclusion to Vedic ritualism, focusing on mysticism.

Among the above, except the Vedanta, all other though accept Vedas as the revealed text/ infallible source of knowledge, but they don’t always follow them as the only way of life . . . like samkhya philosophy doesnot believe in gods described in vedas . . .

But the best of all about Vedas is, its a collection of works of all earlier sage by Ved Vyas. Vedas are the different rituals prescribed by different sages and thats why ways to perform rituals for the same god appears again and again . . . he also included ideas questioning the origin of these gods! In that perspective Vedas itself is very secular. in addition ved vyasa also wrote Mahabharata, Gita and Puranas – the story of lifes of gods and other divine creations which made the basis of  later life. Before him Valmiki ahd narrated the story of lord Rama . . . here interesting things to note is that neither Valmiki nor Ved Vyasa was Brahmins – a bold reply to usual blame game by our detractors – that Vedas/ Hinduism/ sanatan dharma is Brahminical religion and using Brahminism interchangeably with Hinduism/ sanatan dharma.

Hinduism does not have a single founder, does not have a specific theological system, does not have a single concept of deity, does not have a single holy text, dDoes not have a single system of morality, does not have a central religious authority, does not have the concept of a prophet.

Hinduism is not a religion in the same sense as any of the Abrahamic religion is – Judaism/ Christianity/ Islam; it is more like an all encompassing way of life.

This conglomeration has been possible because none of the Hindu gods/ scriptures advocated slaying of other human being only for the reason of his thought . . . his idea about gods . . . rather they advocated proving their superiority by discourses . . . shastraarth . . . life was never the punishment for difference of opinions . . . even among gods if there were differences in opinion, time was the leveller . . . at opportune time when the truth was obvious/ proved . . .  prayashchit/ paschaataap was the only solution . . . and in due course of time different opinions have found its role and place in the society . . .

Philosophers from different schools can still have a rich and meaningful conversation agreeing on many points while differing on subtle points of difference.

Competition and integration between the various schools was intense during their formative years, especially between 800 BC to 200 AD. Some like the Jain, Buddhist, Shaiva and Advaita schools survived, while others like Samkhya and Ajivika did not, either being assimilated or going extinct.

Jain tirthankars find exclusive mention in the Vedas and the Hindu epics. During the Vedantic age, India had two broad philosophical streams of thought: The Shramana philosophical schools, represented by Buddhism, Jainism, and the long defunct and Ajivika on one hand, and the Brahmana/Vedantic/Puranic schools represented by Vedanta, Vaishnava and other movements on the other. Both streams are known to have mutually influenced each other.

Vedas, conduct of the virtuous men, traditions and self-satisfaction – the fourfold basis of conduct of Hindus

Vegetarianism or nonvegetarianism is not the issue –

1.     food is a personal issue – till it hurts others specially other human

2.     we all know that human as an species were nonvegetarian and idea of vegetarianism have come only later impoverisation . . . in fact if we see the methods of sacrifice explained in Vedas . .. there is no dearth of the examples . . . if we see the vedic rituals of sacrifice, its horrifying . . . from that we can guess, how far humanity has travelled . . .

3.     Slaying of cow giving milk is not allowed in Vedas - among ancient scriptures, hindu traditions, nonvegetarian food is practiced . . . even cow and horse flesh and sacrifice is mentioned at many places – in Vedas/ manusmriti . . .

4.     pure vegetarian food is more an influence of Buddhism and Jainism (Satvik – without Garlic and onion)

5.     there are many castes like chamar and tribes . . . and this world is full of such people . . .varieties of human beings . . . few people take lizards . . . frog . . . snake . . . we should be able and ready to embrace them . . .

6.     last but not the least - economy is an issue as goat flesh or cock/ hen/ chicken is costly for the poor people

the difference with other religions specially with Abrahamic/ Ibrahamic religions – specially in india  is not on food . . . but the attitude –

1.     They teach intolerance to others – mosses killed 3000 followers of his own brother – and did not harm the brother who had told them to do so!

2.     All three major Abrahamic religions preach - They are the only truth

3.     They believe in the instructions through the ghosts . . . ours is a direct conversation with god

4.     Biggest and practical problem is Muslims or Christians are either invaders who looted/ exploited  and left (thats was the introduction of Indians to muslims or Christians) or those traiters who changed religion for money/ power . . .

5.     There is no harm in believing some other god . . . some other name of superpower – that’s how we have been brought up and every Indian has that attitude towards other religions specially Abrahamic/ Ibrahamic religions . . . but they too should  remember – India is the land of gods . . . But they feel mecca/ Israel as their own – not India - difference with other religions specially with Abrahamic/ Ibrahamic religions – specially in india  - the place of birth of gods . . . most of their political leaders/ religious leaders, never talk of common welfare of every Indian – they talk only of their community – however small it might be. They have kept their masses isolated and blame the system for their poverty/ illiteracy and backwardness.

Most of the recent converts to Christianity/ Islam are poor and mostly belonging to the untouchable community . . . are they moving in a better direction?  

One more issue of concern is all the ancient texts are being corrupted . . . I can see even on net . . . paragraphs are missing or are being added . . . ! so we need to keep an eye and preserve the originals.