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CURRENTS
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The Hindu religion is predominant in today's India (80%). There are approximately 14% Muslims, 2.5% Christians, 2% Sikhs, 1% Buddhists, and 0.5% Jains. Hinduism is both a powerful religious and social force. Hindus believe in the power of the Supreme Being, but this is not the central focus of Hinduism. There is one impersonal and spiritual Being which pervades everything, but thousands of gods are worshipped. The Supreme Being, called Brahm, has three personal manifestations. These are as Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva (Shiva), the Destroyer and Reproducer. To assist you in the identification of temple sculptures, the following descriptions and mythological information should be helpful. Brahma is generally represented with four heads and four arms, in which he holds a portion of the Veda, a spoon for ceremonial observations, a rosary, and a vessel of ceremonial water. Sarasvati, the wife of Brahma, rides on a peacock and has a musical instrument, the vina, in her arms.
Siva holds in his four hands a trident, an antelope, a noose for binding his enemies, and a kind of drum. He wears a tiger's skin around his loins. Siva has many roles. He is the Great Yogi meditating on Mount Kailasa. He is Nataraja (Lord of Dance), creating and destroying. He is the seed of life and his phallic symbol is worshipped in many temples. Siva's wife is known by several names and in several characters. She is Shakti (Energy). In her beneficent form she is Parvati, the goddess of beauty; while in her terrifying form she appears as Durga, or Kali. Siva has two sons. One is Ganesh – with a fat body and an elephant's head. Ganesh is often viewed as a bringer of success, and he is the god of learning. Kartikkeya (also called Skanda or Subrahmanya), is Siva's other son and the god of war. Of all the Hindu gods, Krishna is the most human. He is pictured as a child, stealing butter; as a handsome youth, dressed in yellow silk with a crown of peacock feathers; and as the wise philosopher whose teaching is embodied in the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna fell in love with Radha. Their romantic love is interpreted symbolically as the relationship of the human soul with the Divine Spirit. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is moksha, liberation from the cycle of existence. One's soul is eternal and goes through a cycle of births, deaths, and rebirths. The conditions of life in each birth are determined by the cumulative results of the karma (deeds) performed in previous lifetimes. Thus, present difficulties are caused by sins committed in a former lifetime. The future may be improved by a series of selfless actions. The Hindu code for living is based on dharma, doing one's duty. Hindus believe that the earth has experienced a series of different ages, and that we are in the last age. The only people on earth today are those who have not yet lived sufficiently good lives to have attained Nirvana. This is seen by some Hindus as the reason that so much evil exists in today's world. Hindu practices include the following: The Code of Manu (CE 100-300) specified rules of domestic conduct and ceremony.
It created four Varnas (literally, colors) which became the basis for the caste
system: Brahmins, Warriors, Agriculturists and Traders, and Non-Aryans (Sudras).
The first three were of Aryan descent and honored by the name "twice born".
By the time this code was formed, racial distinction between the Aryans and
non-Aryans ceased, and the Sudras included all persons who were not born in
the twice-born status. The Sudras were not allowed to be present at the great
national sacrifices or at the feasts. Each trade in time came to have a separate
caste. There are more than 3,000 castes in India, from the Brahmans (highest)
to the Untouchables or Dalits (lowest). Although the caste system has been outlawed,
it still exists in the form of racial, social and religious pressures. Another
paradox is found here: the caste system has been both a force for stability
and a cause of dissension. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hinduism