Rel 133 Hindu Religions Tradition Paper
Hindu Religions Tradition Paper
Phonesia Machado
University of Phoenix
REL 133/ Calvin Habig, Faciliatator
The sacred elements of Hinduism are comprised of Hindu religious traditions, and their transcendent connotations. It would be very difficult to completely list all the sacred elements of Hinduism that make up the Hindu religious traditions because of the sheer enormity and depth of the Hindu culture and traditions that have evolved through thousands of years. However, I will deign to describe some of the most notable or prevalent elements.
Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. While religion means to bind, Dharma …show more content…
means to hold. What man holds on to is his inner law, which leads from ignorance to truth. Though reading of the scriptures Shastras or Vedas, the teachings provide a basis and a path for spirituality (Das, 2007). The sacred elements include different roles as they describe aspects of the religion. Samhitas are hymns praising deities mostly of the elements. Brahmanas are written works of these rituals (Fisher, 2003). The Aryankas are works dedicated to old Hinduism and primarily serve forest deities and serve as the foundational element of traditional Hinduism today. The Upanishads are theological discussions of Hindu text. Today’s Veda branches which are descendants of these texts are the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva (Fisher, 2003). Again these texts are broken into sections to describe the different roles of deities, practices, rituals, worship and discussion. If one was to further discern the sacred elements there are five basic themes for all and they are listed as follows:
1) Common Scriptures
2) Common Deities
3) Common Beliefs
4) Common Practices
5) Common Ideals
Common scriptures of the Hindu religion are inclusive of centuries of storytelling, teaching and rituals. The Vedas represent the spiritual experiences of the Rishis or seers of yesteryear. The Rishi is only a medium or an agent to transmit to people the intuitional experiences which he received. The truths of the Vedas are revelations. All the other religions of the world claim their authority as being delivered by special messengers of God to certain persons, but the Vedas do not owe their authority to anyone.
Common deities of the Hindu religion Hindus have a multitude of gods and goddesses that symbolize the one abstract Supreme Being or Brahman. The most fundamental of Hindu deities are the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Other deities such as Ganesha, Krishna, Rama, and Hanuman, are popular with Hindus across the world. As one of the more popular deities Ganesha has one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha is depicted has having a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of knowledge, wisdom and wealth (Das, 2007).
There is no belief that is common to all practitioners of Hinduism. Many historians believe over the centuries Hinduism had adopted many spiritual traditions and practices, which are seen even today in the homes of many Hindu (Fisher, 2003) s. It is not easy to generalize the beliefs of Hinduism because the practices vary widely among the believers of this religion. In trying to gauge some commonality in a few basic and common beliefs that are practiced by all Hindus, the most prominent are as follows:
1) All religious paths lead to God who is supreme power and omnipotent.
2) The Law of Karma is one of the basic beliefs of Hinduism. Karma means "actions or deeds". Hindus believe in rebirths and reincarnation. It is believed the karma of a person in this birth decides his life after death. There are seven cycles of birth that a person undergoes before he achieves moksha or nirvana (Fisher, 2003).
3) To achieve moksha, a person has to perform "Jyana". To achieve the eternal level, a person has to follow the philosophical writings of the Vedas and other religious books (Fisher, 2003).
4) The Hindus practice "bhakti marg" or the path of devotion. Bhakti is the way of getting the help of the gods by giving offerings to please them. This is practiced to achieve moksha from the life cycle (Fisher, 2003).
Hindu religious practices center on the importance of fulfilling the duties associated both with one 's social position and one 's stage of life. With regard to the latter, traditional Hindus are expected to pass through four stages or over the course of their life: All stages of life for the Hindu involve religious rituals and practices. Common Practices of the Hindu religion include the following: 1. Ayurveda - Ayurveda is an ancient Hindu system of medicine and healing that has found new popularity in the west today.
2. Yoga - Outside of Hindu culture, the word "yoga" is usually understood to refer to the practice of meditative movement. Yoga is only one part of the Hindu traditions of Yoga and Tantra. It is one of the paths leading to the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, or contemplation of the One Reality. 3. Kundalini Yoga - Kundalini yoga is a tantric form of yoga focused on awakening the kundalini, the latent psychic energy that lies at the base of the spine, and making it rise through the seven chakras to the top of the spine. 4.
Puja - Puja is a religious ritual which some Hindus perform every morning after bathing and dressing but prior to taking any food or drink. Puja is seen as a way of relating humans to the domain and actions of the divine, and can be performed for anything considered divine, from Vishnu to a holy tree. Common Hindu Ideals is sometimes referred to in classical sources and by Hindus as the "duties of one 's class and station" or varnasramadharma (Das, 2007). The ancient texts suggest four great classes, or castes: the Brahmins, or priests; the Ksatriyas, or warriors and rulers; the Vaisyas, or merchants and farmers; and the Sudras, or peasants and laborers. A fifth class, Panchamas, or Untouchables, includes those whose occupations require them to handle unclean objects (Das, 2007). It is speculated that the Untouchables were originally assigned such lowly tasks because of their non-Aryan origins. This classification system hardly does justice to the modern complexity of the caste system, however. The classical works on dharma specify distinct duties for different classes, in keeping with the distinct roles each is expected to play in the ideal …show more content…
society.
Conclusion
Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma. Contrary to popular perception, it is not a religion: It does not have any one founder, and it does not have a Bible or a Koran to which controversies can be referred for resolution. Consequently, it does not require its adherents to accept any one idea. It is thus cultural, not creedal, with a history contemporaneous with the peoples with which it is associated. Since Hindu scriptures include not just books relating to spirituality but also secular pursuits like science, medicine and engineering, it defies classification as a religion.
References
Dasa, S. (2007). Vedas: The Sacred Writings of Hinduism. Retrieved June 4, 2010, from
http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/vedas.html
Fisher, Mary Pat (2003). Hinduism: Living Religions. This information was retrieved on June 4,
2010 from: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2
Hindu Religious Traditions Paper Rubric – Individual Assignment (Week Two)
Content60 Percent | Percent Earned 60/60 | Additional Comments: | All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way. * Paper is 1,050 to 1,400 words in length * Paper discusses the sacred elements characterized in Hindu religious traditions. * Paper describes the significance and meaning of Hindu religious traditions. * Paper refers to at least one Hindu-inspired text. | 12/1212/1212/1212/1212/12 | | | | | Major points are stated clearly and are supported by specific details, examples, or analysis.
| | | | Organization / Development20 Percent | Percent Earned20/20 | Additional Comments: | The paper has a structure that is clear, logical, and easy to follow. | 4/44/43/33/33/33/3 | | The paper develops a central theme or idea, directed toward the appropriate audience. | | | The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points. | | | The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points. | | | Transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections aid in maintaining the flow of thought. | | | The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment. | | | | Mechanics 20 Percent | Percent Earned20/20 | Additional Comments: | The paper follows APA guidelines for format. | 3/33/32/24/43/35/5 | | Citations of original works within the body of the paper follow APA guidelines. | | | The paper is laid out with effective use of headings, font styles, and white space. | | | Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed. | | | Sentences are complete, clear, concise, and varied. | | | Spelling is correct. | |
| | Total 100 Percent | Percentage Earned100/100 | Additional Comments: | | | |
Phonesia Machado
University of Phoenix
REL 133/ Calvin Habig, Faciliatator
The sacred elements of Hinduism are comprised of Hindu religious traditions, and their transcendent connotations. It would be very difficult to completely list all the sacred elements of Hinduism that make up the Hindu religious traditions because of the sheer enormity and depth of the Hindu culture and traditions that have evolved through thousands of years. However, I will deign to describe some of the most notable or prevalent elements.
Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. While religion means to bind, Dharma …show more content…
means to hold. What man holds on to is his inner law, which leads from ignorance to truth. Though reading of the scriptures Shastras or Vedas, the teachings provide a basis and a path for spirituality (Das, 2007). The sacred elements include different roles as they describe aspects of the religion. Samhitas are hymns praising deities mostly of the elements. Brahmanas are written works of these rituals (Fisher, 2003). The Aryankas are works dedicated to old Hinduism and primarily serve forest deities and serve as the foundational element of traditional Hinduism today. The Upanishads are theological discussions of Hindu text. Today’s Veda branches which are descendants of these texts are the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva (Fisher, 2003). Again these texts are broken into sections to describe the different roles of deities, practices, rituals, worship and discussion. If one was to further discern the sacred elements there are five basic themes for all and they are listed as follows:
1) Common Scriptures
2) Common Deities
3) Common Beliefs
4) Common Practices
5) Common Ideals
Common scriptures of the Hindu religion are inclusive of centuries of storytelling, teaching and rituals. The Vedas represent the spiritual experiences of the Rishis or seers of yesteryear. The Rishi is only a medium or an agent to transmit to people the intuitional experiences which he received. The truths of the Vedas are revelations. All the other religions of the world claim their authority as being delivered by special messengers of God to certain persons, but the Vedas do not owe their authority to anyone.
Common deities of the Hindu religion Hindus have a multitude of gods and goddesses that symbolize the one abstract Supreme Being or Brahman. The most fundamental of Hindu deities are the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Other deities such as Ganesha, Krishna, Rama, and Hanuman, are popular with Hindus across the world. As one of the more popular deities Ganesha has one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha is depicted has having a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of knowledge, wisdom and wealth (Das, 2007).
There is no belief that is common to all practitioners of Hinduism. Many historians believe over the centuries Hinduism had adopted many spiritual traditions and practices, which are seen even today in the homes of many Hindu (Fisher, 2003) s. It is not easy to generalize the beliefs of Hinduism because the practices vary widely among the believers of this religion. In trying to gauge some commonality in a few basic and common beliefs that are practiced by all Hindus, the most prominent are as follows:
1) All religious paths lead to God who is supreme power and omnipotent.
2) The Law of Karma is one of the basic beliefs of Hinduism. Karma means "actions or deeds". Hindus believe in rebirths and reincarnation. It is believed the karma of a person in this birth decides his life after death. There are seven cycles of birth that a person undergoes before he achieves moksha or nirvana (Fisher, 2003).
3) To achieve moksha, a person has to perform "Jyana". To achieve the eternal level, a person has to follow the philosophical writings of the Vedas and other religious books (Fisher, 2003).
4) The Hindus practice "bhakti marg" or the path of devotion. Bhakti is the way of getting the help of the gods by giving offerings to please them. This is practiced to achieve moksha from the life cycle (Fisher, 2003).
Hindu religious practices center on the importance of fulfilling the duties associated both with one 's social position and one 's stage of life. With regard to the latter, traditional Hindus are expected to pass through four stages or over the course of their life: All stages of life for the Hindu involve religious rituals and practices. Common Practices of the Hindu religion include the following: 1. Ayurveda - Ayurveda is an ancient Hindu system of medicine and healing that has found new popularity in the west today.
2. Yoga - Outside of Hindu culture, the word "yoga" is usually understood to refer to the practice of meditative movement. Yoga is only one part of the Hindu traditions of Yoga and Tantra. It is one of the paths leading to the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, or contemplation of the One Reality. 3. Kundalini Yoga - Kundalini yoga is a tantric form of yoga focused on awakening the kundalini, the latent psychic energy that lies at the base of the spine, and making it rise through the seven chakras to the top of the spine. 4.
Puja - Puja is a religious ritual which some Hindus perform every morning after bathing and dressing but prior to taking any food or drink. Puja is seen as a way of relating humans to the domain and actions of the divine, and can be performed for anything considered divine, from Vishnu to a holy tree. Common Hindu Ideals is sometimes referred to in classical sources and by Hindus as the "duties of one 's class and station" or varnasramadharma (Das, 2007). The ancient texts suggest four great classes, or castes: the Brahmins, or priests; the Ksatriyas, or warriors and rulers; the Vaisyas, or merchants and farmers; and the Sudras, or peasants and laborers. A fifth class, Panchamas, or Untouchables, includes those whose occupations require them to handle unclean objects (Das, 2007). It is speculated that the Untouchables were originally assigned such lowly tasks because of their non-Aryan origins. This classification system hardly does justice to the modern complexity of the caste system, however. The classical works on dharma specify distinct duties for different classes, in keeping with the distinct roles each is expected to play in the ideal …show more content…
society.
Conclusion
Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma. Contrary to popular perception, it is not a religion: It does not have any one founder, and it does not have a Bible or a Koran to which controversies can be referred for resolution. Consequently, it does not require its adherents to accept any one idea. It is thus cultural, not creedal, with a history contemporaneous with the peoples with which it is associated. Since Hindu scriptures include not just books relating to spirituality but also secular pursuits like science, medicine and engineering, it defies classification as a religion.
References
Dasa, S. (2007). Vedas: The Sacred Writings of Hinduism. Retrieved June 4, 2010, from
http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/vedas.html
Fisher, Mary Pat (2003). Hinduism: Living Religions. This information was retrieved on June 4,
2010 from: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2
Hindu Religious Traditions Paper Rubric – Individual Assignment (Week Two)
Content60 Percent | Percent Earned 60/60 | Additional Comments: | All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way. * Paper is 1,050 to 1,400 words in length * Paper discusses the sacred elements characterized in Hindu religious traditions. * Paper describes the significance and meaning of Hindu religious traditions. * Paper refers to at least one Hindu-inspired text. | 12/1212/1212/1212/1212/12 | | | | | Major points are stated clearly and are supported by specific details, examples, or analysis.
| | | | Organization / Development20 Percent | Percent Earned20/20 | Additional Comments: | The paper has a structure that is clear, logical, and easy to follow. | 4/44/43/33/33/33/3 | | The paper develops a central theme or idea, directed toward the appropriate audience. | | | The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points. | | | The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points. | | | Transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections aid in maintaining the flow of thought. | | | The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment. | | | | Mechanics 20 Percent | Percent Earned20/20 | Additional Comments: | The paper follows APA guidelines for format. | 3/33/32/24/43/35/5 | | Citations of original works within the body of the paper follow APA guidelines. | | | The paper is laid out with effective use of headings, font styles, and white space. | | | Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed. | | | Sentences are complete, clear, concise, and varied. | | | Spelling is correct. | |
| | Total 100 Percent | Percentage Earned100/100 | Additional Comments: | | | |