Hinduism

Hinduism is a loosely based name for beliefs of people living in the Indian subcontinent (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009). Otherwise known as Sanatana Dharma, Hinduism is a spiritual way of living and worshipping of several deities. There are so many ways of practicing rituals that there is no specific uniting system of Hinduism. While the label "Hinduism" was coined by outsiders, it is very real to the people living by its beliefs and ways of life.

At first glance, Hinduism seems without much order and vast in beliefs. The Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009) states, "According to tradition, there are actually 330 million deities in India" (p. 69). Because the religion is so old, many different forms of worship and deities have emerged. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "The spiritual expressions of Sanatana Dharma range from extreme asceticism to extreme sensuality, from the heights of personal devotion to a deity to the heights of abstract philosophy, from metaphysical proclamations of the oneness behind the material world to worship of images representing a multiplicity of deities" (p. 69). However, because they all come from a basic set of beliefs and practices, Hinduism is considered by many one single religion.

For instance, all people who practice Hinduism believe in reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief that when one dies, one's soul is carried on by a new life form (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009). Those that practice Hinduism also believe in karma, or actions and their consequences. In other words, there is a ripple effect to every action done and a person is shaped by those actions (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009). However, the ultimate goal of Hinduism is not living a pure life full of good deeds, but to leave the cycle of samsara, or birth, death and rebirth. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "To escape from samsarais to achieve moksha, or liberation from the limitations of space, time, and matter through realization of the immortal Absolute" (p. 75). Furthermore, the Indian Supreme Court issued seven statements that define what it is to be a Hindu (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter Three, 2009). These are:

1 Acceptance and reverence for the Vedas as the foundation of Hindu philosophy;
2 A spirit of tolerance, and willingness to understand and appreciate others'
points of view, recognizing that truth has many sides;
3 Acceptance of the belief that vast cosmic periods of creation, maintenance, and
dissolution continuously recur;
4 Acceptance of belief in reincarnation;
5 Recognition that paths to truth and salvation are many;
6 Recognition that there may be numerous gods and goddesses to worship, without
necessarily believing in worship through idols;
7 Unlike other religions, absence of belief in a specific set of philosophic concepts
(Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009, p. 113)

In addition, the vast majority of Hinduism comes from the Brahmanic tradition. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "The Brahmanic tradition can be traced back to the Vedic age, thousands of years ago (p. 70). Metaphysical and philosophical beliefs were practiced by spiritual discipline made known by the Vedas, or religious texts (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009). These religious texts were written down only after many years of being taught orally (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009). Different theories exist on the influences of other religions and foreigners on the formation of the Vedas, but none have been proven. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "And the Vedas themselves are the foundation of uppercaste Brahmanic Hinduism, but not necessarily of all forms of Sanatana Dharma" (p. 72).

Furthermore, Hinduism is vital to the region in which it originated culturally and in society. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "The orderly working of society included a clear division of labor among four major occupational groups, which later became entrenched as castes" (p. 96). Brahmins were the priests, kshatriyas were the nobility, vaishyas were merchants and farmers, and shudra were artisans and manual laborers (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009). The lowest of the low were the untouchables, or those that removed waste and dead bodies. They were the outcasts of society (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009). Which part a person belonged to was often hereditary, and even today a mixing of any of the castes is frowned upon (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009).

In addition, Hinduism helps protect the area in which it was founded. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "Not only forests but also hilltops, mountains, and river sources are often viewed as sacred and their natural environment thus protected to a certain extent" (p. 100). Pilgrimages are made to holy sites, and festivals are numerous. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "Sanatana Dharma honors the divine in so many forms that almost every day a religious celebration is being held in some part of India" (p. 103). However, people have not always believed that Hinduism benefited the people, and when outsiders ruled over the land, many were convinced to turn away from their original beliefs. According to the Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3 (2009), "To counteract Western influences, Mahatma ("Great Soul") Gandhi (1869-1948) encouraged grassroots nationalism, emphasizing that the people's strength lay in awareness of spiritual truth and in nonviolent resistance to military-industrial oppression" (p. 107). Gandhi believed that Hinduism was the universal religion to the area (Axia College Week Two reading Chapter 3, 2009).

In conclusion, Hinduism may not be considered a formal religion by some, but to be a Hindu has specific meaning to many people in India and globally. Hinduism may have many different traditions, but the core is usually the same and its beliefs are universal. Not only has Hinduism brought meaning to life for many people, but it has also brought a sense of national pride to India as well.

Axia College of University of Phoenix. Chapter 3. HUM130 Religions of the World.