Introduction
The Hindu religion does not have one unified belief system instead it is made up of several different religious paths. In this paper I will describe the different religious paths Hinduism has taken. In This paper I will explain why there is such a desire to be liberated from this earthly existence. The Hindu religion has been around for a very long time in one form or another. This paper will clarify the cultural influences that have made Hinduism vital to the people that live in that region. It might seem to someone on the outside that the Hindu religion does not have a unified belief system however the many different religious paths have commonalities.
The Hindu religion is comprised of an assortment of religious paths. The religious ways of the people in India have been put together as if they were one religion known to foreigners as “Hinduism.” The preferred terminology for Hinduism today is Sanatana Dharma. The definition of Sanatana is external or ageless and it represents believing these ways have always been around. Dharma is construed as religion. Fisher (2005) stated, Dharma “encompasses duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health, and transcendental realization.” (p. 69). Sanatana Dharma ranges from one extreme to the next.
Sanatana Dharma is expressed as abstract philosophy or believing in a single deity or several. In the Hindu religion they believe the higher power has an unlimited number of faces. Today there are millions of deities in India. The Hindu religion is made up of beliefs such as Karma and Reincarnation. Karma is the belief that there is action and there are consequences of that action. Every choice we make will mold our life experiences to come. Reincarnation is when you die your spirit is reborn into another body that could be human or animal. When you are bad in one life you will be faced with consequences in the next. Not only can these consequences from the actions follow you to the next life but the one after that and maybe more.
Part of the Hindu religion was found in a religious text known as Vedas. Some believe the Vedas was created out of the Aryan Invasion however, this is false and no one really knows. According to Fisher (2005) The Vedas are a respected copulation of sacred hymns that are ancient. There is a total of four parts to the Vedas. The Brahmanas consisted of how to perform rituals such as sacrifices to the gods. The Brahmanas also explained why theses rituals were performed.
The Aranyakas is the 3rd part of the Vedas and is more focused on meditating in the forest. The oldest Veda known is the Rig Vega. These scriptures praise the earth gods, celestial realms, and deities that are unseen. The last one that was believed to have been created was the Upanishads. The Upanishads explain how participating in the rituals effect you on a personal level. The concepts karma and reincarnation came from the Upanishads.
According to karma and reincarnation you will be stuck in the constant cycle of dyeing and being reborn. This cycle is called Samsara and people do not really like it. In order to break this never ending cycle you must move above worldly possessions. You have to be good and pure for many lives before you can stop the cycle and leave this earth forever. To achieve this state of transcendence from earthy torment is known as Moksha.
This might seem easy because your spirit is still the same however the body you are in might not cooperate. Through teachings there was a story that one of the gods was once sent to earth as a pig and didn’t even realize it he was enjoying himself rolling in the mud and doing other pig things. The other gods wanted him back but he wouldn’t come back because he felt he had a good life. The gods had to kill his family then eventually just had to kill him because he didn’t realize he was a pig. When he saw his pig body he was glad that they killed him so he could go back.
There are other Major Philosophical systems in India besides the Vedas. The practices of Buddhism and Jainism do not have anything to do with the Vedas. Even though they don’t have anything to do with the Vedas they are similar in many ways. Some of the systems that are related to the Vedas are Samkhya, Yoga, Advaita, and Vedanta.
Yoga is practiced to help you become at peace with yourself. This ultimate goal in Yoga is acknowledged in the Upanishad scripts. There are several types of Yoga. Each different type of Yoga is for a certain type of person. For example Raja Yoga is for people that meditate and seek mental concentration.
Conclusion
Society and Culture interrupt the religions in different ways. In Hinduism society and culture shaped the way they want to worship. There society is at peace because everyone understands the fundamentals of their beliefs. They are free to choose the way they want to seek enlightenment. It is known that being good and pure is the only way to get out of the never ending cycle Samsara.
They have 13 religious holidays in India that allows them to get out of work and relax. Hinduism is very important for these people to continue living peacefully. Because Hinduism tells them to pure of heart they strive to be as such. Rituals are part of Hindu’s way of life. They have a total of 16 rites they must get through that sanctify and make the person pure during their travels through life.
Without Hinduism the society would fall apart. The same goes for Hinduism which would crumble without the society keeping it alive.
Reference
Fisher, M. P. (2005). Living Religions (6th ed.). : Prentice-Hall. Retrieved: January 31, 2010