SOUTH ASIAN RELIGIONS

ORIGINS

SOUTH ASIAN RELIGIONS

HINDUISM: DESCRIPTION

• Hinduism refers to numerous religious movements, philosophies, teachings, and practices that originated in India over the course of thousands of years and is part and parcel with the cultures of the Indian sub-continent.

• Any indigenous Indian religious practices or beliefs may be considered Hindu unless there is a perception of a distinction by those who hold such practices and beliefs (Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism)

Hinduism: General Observations (1)

No founder (the religion tends to grow organically by an unfolding of Truth)

No agreed upon scriptures (except perhaps for the Vedas)

No clear agreement on the number of divinities

No agreement on doctrine

Hinduism: General Observations (2)

Religious practices are more important than beliefs

Main points of agreement• ‘worship’ (pjÁ) either communally or within the household• life-cycle rituals (marriage, birth rituals, funeral rituals)• Performance of festivals that involve most or the entire

community• Certain doctrines that are accepted by many: reincarnation and

karma

Viu or one of his ten Incarnations on earth (ex. Rma, Ka) [Vaiavism]

Śiva [Śaivism]

The Goddess in any of her forms [ktism]

Hinduism: Divisions

Founder: perhaps Prvantha (?b. 872); Reformer: Mahvra (? c. 598-526 BCE)

Motivation: The world (including living beings) is in a state of disharmony or suffering

Jainism

a moral code which includes he centerpiece of Jainism: non-violence (ahis)

The belief in the existence of souls in all living beings

No Supreme Being The emphasis on getting of karma in

order to be delivered from karma

Jainism: Teachings

• There is no agreement

• Digambara Jains reject the Śvetmbaras scriptures

• About 45 books are recognized by the Śvetmbaras

• 32 are recognized by the Sthnakavavsis and Terpanths

Jainism: Scriptures

• Founder: Guru Nnak (1469 – 1539)

• Origins: from the Sant Mat Hindu tradition (emphasis on God as Supreme and Personal)

Sikhism

Sikhism: God-Centered Religion

• God is – One– Absolute– Creator– Without Fear or Hatred– Timeless– Unborn– Self-Existent– Omnipresent– Supreme Truth

• The Middle Path between– The fanaticism of Islam– The ritual and caste in Hinduism

• Both existed in the homeland of Guru Nnak: the Panjab

Sikhism as a Middle Path

Sikhism: Teachings and Practices

• Acceptance of some basic Hindu teachings such as reincarnation and karma.

• Purpose of human life is to dispel ignorance,egoism and suffering and to achieve purity and illumination of mind.

• God’s Grace and constant repetition of the name of God brings about the previous goal.

Sikhism: Teachings and Practices (cont.)

• Although a person cannot become God, there is ultimately no difference between God and a God-Conscious soul

• Khlsa Sikhs (those who recognize all ten Gurus) practice the 5 Ks after initiations

• Leaving the hair uncut (over which a turban is worn

• Keeping a comb within the hair• Carrying a steel dagger• Wearing a steel bracelet• Wearing a white knee-length undergarment

The Five Ks

• The Guru Granth Sahib• 5894 hymns comprise the Guru Granth

Sahib. – 974 hymns are written by the first Guru – 62 by the second Guru – 907 by the third Guru– 679 by the fourth– 2218 by the fifth, and – 115 by the ninth. Among the remaining 922 the largest

number of hymns (541) is by Kabir (1398-1518)

Sikhism: Scripture