August 3, 2013: Hinduism is the oldest of the major religions and is almost exclusively Indian. In fact, to be a Hindu means to respect the traditions of India. There are more than 900 million Hindus in India. It is not a single unified religion but a combination of beliefs and practices accumulated over 5,000 years. It has no founder, no fixed doctrine and no common worship.

About 2500 B.C., India was occupied by a dark-skinned people (Dravidian) who created a sophisticated civilization stretching along the Indus Valley. They lived by agriculture. Archaeologists have found many female goddess figurines, and it is supposed that the worship of the mother goddess was prevalent in this society. They domesticated animals and had a written language, which has not yet been deciphered.

In about 1500 B.C., these people were overcome by the warlike Ayrians who migrated into India from the northwest and drove the Dravidians south. The Ayrians were cattle herders and their language was Sanskrit. Hinduism evolved from a combination of the religious practices and beliefs of indigenous people over a long period of time.

The scriptures of Hinduism are Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata and the Ramayama. The Vedas hymns are the oldest of the scriptures. They contain numerous myths about the origin of the world and explain the necessity of sacrifice to keep the gods happy and to communicate with them. Priests, or Brahmans, performed the sacrifices, which started off as fairly simple but became more and more elaborate as the Brahmans became more important.

The Upanishads were written about 1000 B.C. Upanishad means “sitting by a teacher.” These wise men gave answers to the big questions about life and new ideas about the gods and how humans should behave.

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, written 1,000 years later, are two very long poems that tell the stories of gods and heroes of old and provide models for the Hindu way of life. (The Bagavad Gita, which is inserted into the Maharabhata, gives the story of the Padava brothers who have to fight because they belong to the warrior caste and explains that death in war is good as it frees one to go on to a better existence).

Hinduism is monistic. It contends that everything, the gods, humans, animals, plants, are part of the Ultimate Reality. All are bound together as one. Hindus believe in thousands of gods, but they are all merely reflections of this Ultimate Reality.

The Trinity of gods is Braman, Vishnu and Shiva, the creator, preserver and destroyer gods. All the other gods are manifestations of them. Brahman, the creator, is often symbolized as having four heads so that he can look in all four directions at once. Vishnu is responsible for the correct ordering of the world and society. Vishnu often takes human shape. He appears as Rama in the Ramayana, and as the charioteer, Krishna, in the Maharabata. Shiva is the destroyer, but this is good, because destruction leads to new life and rebirth. He is often shown engaged in a wild dance.

Each person has a soul called the Atman. It is not an individual soul but is part of the Ultimate Reality. The Atman dwells in the body only for a lifetime. During one’s life, Karma — good or bad actions — are accumulated. At death, the Atman is transferred to another body, according to the Karma it has accumulated. This cycle of rebirths (Samsara) can go on indefinitely. The Atman longs to perfect itself and achieve Nirvana, a state of blissful existence, and become reunited with the Ultimate Reality. But this may take many lifetimes.

There are four castes in Hinduism: the priests (Brahmins); the warriors, (Kshatriyas); the merchants and workers, (Vaishyas); and the Servants (Shudras).

There are outcasts who don’t fit in anywhere and do the lowliest work. These were known as the “untouchables,” but his term is rarely used now.

One is born into a particular caste because of the Karma accumulated in the last life. If the Karma was good, one is born into a better condition. If one’s Karma was bad, one may return as an outcast. Caste restricts behavior. One is locked into the caste into which one was born. Marriages take place within the caste. Escape is not possible until death.

Dharma, or doing one’s duty, is an important concept in Hinduism. It means submitting willingly to the social status of one’s caste and doing one’s duty within that caste. The best one can do to achieve a better status next time around is to perform one’s Dharma.

Ghandi said of Hinduism: “If I were to define the Hindu creed, I would simply say, a search for truth through nonviolent means. A man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu. Hinduism is relentless pursuit for truth. Denial of God we have known; denial of truth we have not known.”

Dr. Elizabeth McNamer is assistant professor and Zerek chair, religious thought, at Rocky Mountain College.

The Faith & Values column appears Saturdays in The Billings Gazette.

Pastors, ethicists, educators or others who would like to write a column about faith, ethics or values for the section, should contact: Susan Olp; Billings Gazette; 401 N. Broadway; Billings, MT 59101. Or call her at 657-1281; fax to her attention at 657-1208; or email to solp@billingsgazette.com.

Source: Billings Gazette, DT. August 3, 2013.