Download Gr10 LO2 AS4 Hinduism Explained

Hinduism Explained
Interview with Mrs. Usha Ramjatha, a devout Hindu leader
Is there more than one god in Hinduism? What names are given to the Hindu god(s)? How are
they related / linked?
Yes, there is more than one god (more often referred to as a deity or deva) in Hinduism. We worship
many “forms” of god. Unlike most religions that only serve one “father” deity, we are also dedicated to
worship of the female form – the “mother” figure who is responsible for creating life. Each Hindu follower
chooses which deva(s) they want to worship, depending on their personal situation and experience.
But you should know is that devas are celestial beings that control forces of nature such as fire, air,
wind, etc. They must not be confused with the One and the Supreme God, which can be visualized as
Vishnu or Shiva. God (Brahman) is the ultimate controller. Brahman is the only Ultimate Reality - all
devas are simply manifestations of Him. Some Hindu sects allow God to be worshipped in any physical
form for the sake of devotion. There are a vast number of devas. Some of the main devas include Agni,
Vishnu, Savitr and Prajapati. Some of the mother goddesses are Lakshmi, Uma, Kali and Durga.
You also get what we call an avatar, which is the incarnation (bodily expression) of a higher being
(deva), or the Brahman. These incarnations deliberately come to the lower realm of earth for special
purposes. For example, the two main avatars of Vishnu that appear in the epics are Rama, the hero of
the Ramayana, and Krishna, the chief character in the Mahabharata. Vishnu’s relatives include Sita,
Parvati and Ganesh among others.
What sacred texts are used in Hinduism? How are they linked?
Hindu scripture is known as “Shastra”, and it is divided into two categories:
Sruti – that which is heard (revelation). This consists of the
 Vedas, which are the oldest Hindu texts and are considered scripture by all Hindus.
 Unpanishads, which are the basis of much of Classical Hindu thought. They mainly discuss
philosophy and "cosmic reality". Only 13 of the 123 Upanishads are accepted by all Hindus as
primary texts. They are commentaries on the Vedas and their branch of Hinduism is called
Vedanta.
 The Bhagavad Gita is the most significant Upanishad and is considered our “bible”. It is
accepted by members of all Hindu sects.
Smriti-that which is remembered (tradition). This consists of Post-Vedic scriptures that came after the
Sruti texts. Smriti literature includes:
 The Ramayana and Mahabharata, which are epics telling the great tales of Rama and
Krishna.
 Puranas, which are mythological texts. Eighteen of them are considered to be Great Puranas,
giving authoratative references on the gods and goddesses, religious rites and holy places.
 Agamas, which are theological studies.
 Darshanas, which are philosophical texts.
What is yoga? How do Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana Yoga differ?
Yoga means “union” It is the union of our soul with the cosmic soul – or the union of man with god. Yoga
is the balance of our mind and freedom from all bondage. It remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen
as a means to enlightenment.
There are many different types of yoga, but the four main yogas considered by the Hindus are:
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Karma yoga, or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. It
focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states
that one can attain moksha (salvation or liberation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner.
Bhakti yoga is the spiritual and loving practice of devotion to god. Traditionally there are 9
forms of bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths
to moksha.
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Raja Yoga involves psycho-physical meditational techniques which attain experiences of the
truth and finally achieve liberation.
Jnana yoga is often interpreted to mean "knowledge of the true self". Jnana yoga teaches that
there are four means to salvation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Viveka - Discrimination: The ability to differentiate between what is real/eternal
(Brahman) and what is unreal/temporal (everything else in the universe).
Vairagya - Dispassion: After practice one should be able to "detach" her/himself from
everything that is "temporary.
Shad-sampat - The 6 Virtues: Tranquility (control of the mind), Dama (control of the
senses), Uparati (renunciation of activities that are not duties), Titiksha (endurance),
Shraddha (faith), Samadhana (perfect concentration).
Mumukshutva - Intense longing for liberation from temporal limitations.The desire for
liberation might be described as "wanting to be one with the universe."
What is Dharma? Karma? Moksha? Samsara?
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Dharma is the way in which someone leads his or her life. If you adhere to your duties then
you will lead a good life and be greatly blessed.
Karma is not only action, but also reaction. Wherever there is a cause, an effect will be
produced. How we live in this lifetime determines where we will end up in our next lifetime.
Moksha is when someone attains spiritual enlightenment and is free from all sins. They are
released from the continuous cycle of birth and death.
Samsara is the cycle of rebirth.
Who are the Hari Krishnas?
Hari Krishna is one of the gods that we worship, also known as the “God of Love”. The Hari Krishnas are
a Hindu sect that is dedicated to worshiping Krishna as their only god. Although considered a rather new
religion, its core philosophy is based on scriptures like the Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam,
which date back thousands of years. They were formed to spread the practice of Bhakti Yoga, whereby
devotees dedicate their thoughts and actions towards pleasing Krishna – their supreme being and only
god.
Why is Diwali so significant to Hinduism? What rituals/customs are practised?
Diwali (or Deepavali) is more commonly known as “The Festival of Lights”. It is seen as the equivalent
to Christmas – the most popular and eagerly awaited of all of the festivals. Hindus regard it as a
celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. It is celebrated in
the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). The festival symbolises the victory of good over evil,
but has a number of origins, including:
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The marriage between Lakshmi and Vishnu.
The worship of the goddess Kali.
The day the triumphant Rama, king of Ayodhya, returned to his wife Sita and brother
Lakshmana after defeating the demon king Ravana.
The day Sri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.
On Diwali you wake up at 4am (this time is called the Brahmamuhurta, and is believed to be a great
blessing on your health, ethical discipline, work efficiency and spiritual advancement). Ritually, people
(specifically in South India) take an oil bath in the morning and then wear new clothes. They eat sweet
meats and light fireworks – which are symbolic of Narakasura, the demon who was killed.
In North India, businessmen usually start their financial year and new account books are opened.
Everyone forgives and forgets wrongdoings. Homes are cleaned and decorated, and at night they are
all lit by oil-lamps. This illumination is symbolic of how your inner self should be – light, not full of
darkness and ignorance.
(The 2006 celebration will occur on 25 October.)
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Why is Krishna Janmaashtami so significant to Hinduism? What rituals/customs are practised?
It celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. It occurs on the eighth day
of the dark half of Bhadrapada (August-September) and is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals.
Devotees fast for 24 hours the previous day and then break fast at midnight – the time Krishna was
born. Fast is broken with Prasdam, which is food that has first been offered to god.
Temples are decorated, morning prayers take place, kirtans are sung, bells are rung and Sanskrt hymns
are recited in praise of Lord Krishna. Pilgrims from all over India attend the festivities. Mid-day feasts are
held, where extended families get together. Sweets made of milk and other dairy products are
traditionally prepared.
What is the caste system?
The caste is a hereditary system of social segregation. You are born into a caste such as the
“Brahmans” or the “dalits”. The Brahmans are the priests who are on the right path to moksha. The
dalits (untouchables) are people of the lowest class - their ancestors performed duties that were
important to the well being of the society, but they were seen as dirty in nature.
If you lived your life in evil then you would be reincarnated as a dalit. But since Ghandi declared that
there was no such thing as an untouchable, and that all men are equal, this system has not been as
stringent as it was before.
What are some of the most common misconceptions of Hinduism?
That Hindu devotees are idol worshippers. Many people think that our shrines are some kind of
voodoo. In reality, we do not worship the images and statues of our chosen gods. The images are
merely there as a point of focus to keep our attention on our devotions. We don’t pray to or even through
the images. They just help us to avoid distraction and remind us of where our attention should be.
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