Jhola : The negative aspect of Hinduism
Hinduism is considered as one of the oldest religion in the world, which is the dominant religion of Nepal and India. It describes about the eternal responsibilities all Hindus have to follow, regardless of class, caste , sex or origin. “ Unlike other religions in the world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one Prophet, it does not worship any one God, it does not believe in any one philosophic concept, it does not follow any one act of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not satisfy the traditional features of religion or creed. It is a way of life and nothing more.”
Klostermaier, Klaus K. (1994), A Survey of Hinduism: Second Edition, SUNY Press
Hinduism is diversified religion which does not have a single founder and there are many positive areas that are related to this religion but “sati” system, the burning of women alive after the death of the husband is the negative aspect that people used to follow in the ancient time and is still prevailing in some part of India.
In the novel “Jhola” written by Krishna Dharubasi, the story explains about the culture and tradition of Nepal in the 18th century . “Jhola” can be compared with Linda Heaphy's “Life in India : The Practice of sati or widow burning” as both the writers expalin about the Hindu system where woman used to burn alive. “Jhola gives an emotional touch to all the readers and make us realize how the male dominant society tortured the woman after the death of their husband. “Sati refers to a funeral practice within some Indian communities in which a recently widowed woman immolates herself, typically on her husband's funeral pyre.” (wiki). There are different ways of sati like burning in fire, buried a...
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... makes everyone think how the male dominant society used to torture woman in the past. After I read this story, there were different kinds of question that arised in my mind. How can a father think of burning his daughter alive, how can a son think of burning his mother. Animals were worshipped in the past as a god, how did the society think of showing the cruel behavior to the innocent woman. Being hindu we worship different goddess, but I cannot believe, how the community did not think mother as a part of god. I would like to thank all the British Empires who have eradicated this sati system from their colonies and made it illegeal and I would like to thank Shree Tin Chandra Samser Janga Bahadur Rana, who removed the negative culture that our society was following in 1920 B.S. and saved many lives of the woman, childrens, orphans and protected the rights of women.
Hinduism is a religion with no known founder, with its understandings and actions developing over thousands of years. This religion has roots from the Aryan people’s religion, when they invaded India at 1500 BCE. The Aryans created a caste system when they invaded India so their kin would remain in power. Hinduism has absorbed and accepted this caste system as a large part of their religion. They believe in reincarnation, which is being reborn after you die, and Samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. If the person completes their dharma, the rules of their caste, and live a good moral life then they advance to the next caste, but if they do bad in their life then they remain at their caste level or they are downgraded. The most respected caste group is the Brahmins, they are high priests, making them very religious, and they are the closest in the caste system to reaching moksha, release from samsara or entering paradise. Another way of viewing moksha is that their Atman, the soul, gets reunited with the Brahman, the universal spirit. They then infer that everything that does not exist forever, unlike their Atman, are not real, which they call a veil, also known as Maya, because it is not permanent. Along with reincarnation there exists karma, similar to the idea what comes around goes around, so if you live an immoral life, your future lives will be a punishment. Guidance for priests and rituals are written in the most ancient Hindu scriptures called Vedas. The Rig Veda is the most important scripture out of the Vedas. The Upanishads, however, explain the Vedas through a teacher student dialogue, this helps anyone learn the Vedas much easier. Finally, the rituals described in these scriptures incl...
Hinduism is the oldest religion founded in India in 1500 BCE. Hindus believe in one soul force known as Brahman. The followers of this religion follow the Caste system. The four major castes emerged from who was believed to be the first human being, Purusha. The priestly class represented the mouth and were known as the Brahmins. The Kshatriyas were the ruler and warriors within society and represented Purusha’s arms. The legs were unskilled workers, such as peasants and traders and were known as the sudras. The untouchables of the Hindu religion were the lowest class and are not even represented on Purusha (Doc 7). Hindus believed that their good and bad deeds throughout one lifetime would move them closer or further from Moksha, freedom from life and death. With the idea of moksha being
Other than a religion, Hinduism is a way of life through philosophy that is mostly concerned with spirituality and enlightenment. The impracticality of the Hindu religion comes from the Vedas. Vedas are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu religion that are considered to be a straight ...
Hinduism, also known by the name Sanatana-Dharma, is often referred to as the “oldest religion” in the world, is generally considered to be an ethnic religion and is fundamentally based on the religion of the original Aryan settlers. “Hinduism, from the Persian Hindi (Sanskrit sindhu), literally "river." Means "of the Indus Valley" or simply "Indian." Hindus call their religion sanatama dharma,"eternal religion" or "eternal truth” (“Facts on Hinduism”). It was founded around 3000 BCE, and is now considered to be the third largest religion in the world. Followers of Hinduism, which is estimated to be anywhere around 900 million, are especially concentrated in India, Nepal, and other countries throughout Asia. The broader world contact that has occurred since World War II allowed various forms of Hinduism to become more widely known and accepted. The multiple Hindu sects, including the Krishna Consciousness, have been particularly successful among young American and Europeans and claims to be adherent around the world. Hinduism is dissimilar compared to other religions, in the fact that it has no founders. This religion is considered to be permissive in creed or code as it is not necessarily coordinated in any way, even though various sects and cults are formulated. This religion is especially known for its tolerance because it is willing to accommodate those who are exceptionally religious; whether it be a Jew, Christian, or Muslim as a part of their religion. Hinduism is very transformable and accepts elements of different religion. Overtime it has even developed different aspects of both Christianity and Buddhism and incorporated them into the religion of Hinduism. Hinduism worships a multiplicity of gods; the most important in...
Hess, Linda. Rejecting Sita: Indian Responses to the Ideal Man's Cruel Treatment of His Ideal Wife. Vol. 67. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.
“If I were asked to define the Hindu creed, I should simply say: Search after truth through non-violent means. A man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu. Hinduism is a relentless pursuit after truth... Hinduism is the religion of truth. Truth is God.”
Susan Thrane MSN, RN, OCN discusses the beliefs of Hindu culture in the article “Hindu End of Life: Death, Dying, Suffering, and Karma” published in the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. Thrane (2010) states that there are almost 2.3 million Hindus in India. Hindu’s believe in interconnectedness, karma, and reincarnation.
Sati is defined as “a Hindu practice whereby a widow immolates herself on the pyre of her husband” (Dictonary.com). Sati also means righteous, women throughout the Hindu myths were willing to do anything for the man that they loved. This symbolized the perfect Indian wife to any man. Imagine being a married couple in the Hindu religion, as the wife you have to prove yourself to your husband. According to About.com it goes into brief detail of the idea of marriage in the Hindu religion; “after marriage the Hindu women lead the men by keeping the lustful propensities under control. While married, thought of any other man does not enter the mind of a Hindu lady until she loses her faith in her husband due to his consistent misbehavior and 'don't care' attitude” (Rajhans). Basically in this commitment women must keep the male under control and keep the loving relationship alive and well. Suddenly, during your marriage your husband suddenly dies and you are now left as a widow. How would you feel? Would you mope around and have sorrow for the months to come? Or would you go to the extent of suicide to be with your husband once again. Some say sati is a voluntary act chosen by the newly widowed woman to end her life by being burnt to death at her husband’s pyre. But there are moments in history that Sati was forced upon these women, some ever were dragged to their burning death (Daniel). “The custom of burning the widow on her dead husband's pyre probably did not evolve from religious background but from social background” (Daniels). This paper will explore the horrible act of Sati and how it was practiced throughout history.
Hinduism is the oldest known religion to date and continues to maintain a loyal following. Beginning in India it flourishes and thrives in a more modern society. With over 750 million followers Hinduism continues to make its mark. It contains an assortment of holy texts called the Vedas, this includes the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. Through these books the Hindu people are taught the ways in which a follower must act. Striving to please the gods and reach a state of Nirvana. By achieving this Hindus are able to be reborn or reincarnated into a higher class. To be reincarnated in a higher class is something to strive for as you become a better version of yourself in a new life.
In India, majority of Hindus lived with shortcomings of many kinds very happily throughout, as simplicity is the base of its culture. This is very evident when we see its country side temples that are very old and primitive. Hindus lived a contented life, learned the art of living from these serene backgrounds of life. Needless to say this feature has been easily manipulated due to its diversified and open kind of approach. Over the past this has happened and this has become a culture that anyone can do anything against what you called Hindu or its basic foundations. This was the experience of all Hindus in India irrespective of whether they are from any political backgrounds. Interestingly, other religions have thrived beautifully in this land without any sorts of hindrances. Communists stand for their ideologies, Islam stand for their own things and Christians are good in their own aspects. People who cannot understand the basic Hindu social fabric or has no learning capacity, patience or for social advantages has left this beautiful religion. To be a Hindu or to remain as a Hindu you need only three things guts, patience
“India is the meeting place of the religions and among these Hinduism alone is by itself a vast and complex thing, not so much a religion as a great diversified and yet subtly unified mass of spiritual thought, realization and aspiration”(Sri Aurobindo). Hindus believe in karma, which means that the actions that are made will affect this life or the lives to come (Fisher 120). Reincarnation is a rebirth in a new life (Fisher 120). In Hinduism the roles that the women play in their society is similar to Rukmani’s in Nectar in a Sieve. Hindu women take care of the children and help the husband with farm work or any other work ("Hindu Beliefs"). The three main themes in the book that connect to the Hindu religion are Humans choose their actions which cause happiness or sadness, suffering purifies for the soul, and truth is the most important moral value to have. Every action made by humans is based on a choice the outcome could be happy or sad.
Most people in the world derive their religious beliefs and traditions from their parents and peer influences. From a religious point of view, “There are many definitions for the term ‘religion’ in common usage. [Broadly defined], in order to include the greatest number of belief systems: ‘Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, and a philosophy of life’” (Robinson, 1996). However, in examining Hinduism, it is difficult to label the practices as a religion. This paper will expound upon the Hindu traditions, taking into account the characteristics of sacred elements, their meaning, and significance.
Today, Hinduism stands as India’s primary religion. In fact, India houses 90% of the world’s Hindi population and 79.8% of India’s population follows the Hindu religion, according to the 2011 census. It is thought by some to be the oldest religion in the world and the “eternal law” (Fowler). This culture is truly one as defined by Edward Taylor: “A complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs, and any other capability and habit acquired by man as a member of society.” In order to have somewhat of an understanding about what the Hindu religion entails, one must study the Hindu conception of God, its basic concepts and key beliefs, as well as symbolism.
Amanda Hitchcock. 2001. “Rising Number of Dowry Deaths in India.” Annual Editions: Anthropology 11/12, 34th Edition. Elvio Angeloni. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Garg in ‘Hari Bindi’ discusses the story of a common woman and made it extraordinary by the active force she was experiencing in herself to live her life. The husband of the protagonist symbolises the power and control of patriarchy that had restricted her life in such a way