Hinduism
Letters (2)
Hinduism is an Indian religion encompassing diverse ritualistic Vedic traditions stressing the importance of karma and societal norms. The vast field of Hindu scriptures includes the Vedas, Brāhmanas, Āranyakas, Upanishads, Purānas, and the epics known as the Rāmāyana and the Mahābhārata, the latter of which contains the important Bhagavad Gītā. Hinduism is roughly divided into four major sects: Vaishnavism (devotion to Vishnu), Shaivism (devotion of Shiva), Shaktism (devotion to Shakti), and Smartism (nonsectarian devotion to Brahman). As the world's third largest religion, Hinduism has almost one billion followers, 90 percent of whom live in India. Hinduism is deeply ingrained in Indian society. The religiously based caste system is illegal but remains widely socially enforced. Calls for the recognition of India as a specifically Hindu nation have increased, and Hindu groups often seek to maintain the tradition's cultural hegemony.
March 23, 2011
Upon my arrival at my university in Jaipur, India for orientation, I was welcomed with a strand of marigolds and small red dot on my forehead with sandalwood paste, known as a tilak, which represents the mind’s eye and is a sign of auspiciousness in the Hindu faith. Our first day of class was initiated with a prayer to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, arts, and music.
In my home-stay family, I’ve been taught to perform pooja, ritual prayer, in the incense-filled pooja room before...
In my home-stay family, I’ve been taught to perform pooja, ritual prayer, in the incense-filled pooja room before...
November 4, 2010
Dusserhra is a celebration, a reaffirmation of the goodness in us which always triumphs over evil. Happy Dusserhra to you.
Who knew that I would learn about the meaning of Hindu holidays from a text message? In India, everyone SMS-es. The chaiwallas, the security guards, the teenage kids downloading ring tones, even my quite hip hostel mom Swapna used the above text to wish me a Happy Dusserha, the tenth day of the Hindu holiday of Nine Nights: Navratri.
The first three days are devoted to...
Who knew that I would learn about the meaning of Hindu holidays from a text message? In India, everyone SMS-es. The chaiwallas, the security guards, the teenage kids downloading ring tones, even my quite hip hostel mom Swapna used the above text to wish me a Happy Dusserha, the tenth day of the Hindu holiday of Nine Nights: Navratri.
The first three days are devoted to...