Interfaith Discussion Forum on Perspective of Hinduism On 14 th December 2010 at IAIS
Brief Account on HINDUISM The most oldest religion with religious scriptures of 10,000 years and above The Vedas The richest blend of piety, tradition, culture, philosophical form of religious system Remarkable Universal Concepts, Scientific and applicable to any era of time.
The Concept of GOD in HINDUISM Contrary to popular belief HINDUISM also a MONOTHEISTIC religion HINDUISM belief in ONE GOD BRAHMAM Without any Attributes Nirguna Brahmam With many Attributes Sarguna Brahmam
The Ultimate GOD in Hinduism BRAHMAM Nirguna Brahmam Without Any Attributes Nameless, Formless, Infinite & Beyond Our Imagination Sarguna Brahmam With Many Attributes Based on Symbolism Symbols Help Us to Focus On
HINDUISM a religion of symbolism It belief in one GOD with many attributes The common attributes are; HE is the Sound of Divinity, HE is the Begin, HE is the Creator, HE is the Protector, HE is the Regenerator, HE is the ultimate Power, HE is the endless Kindness, HE is the everlasting Wealth, HE is the profound Knowledge, HE is the enormous Wisdom, HE is the nameless, formless and indefinable Each of these attributes represented by a symbol in Hinduism
GOD s Attributes by symbols the Sound of Divinity, OHM the Begin, GANESHA the Creator, - BRAMHA the Protector, VISHNU the Destructor, RUTRA
GOD s Attributes by symbols the eternal Being, SIVA the ultimate Power, SAKTI the everlasting Wealth, LAXMI the profound Knowledge, SARASWATHI the enormous Wisdom, MURUGA
The Eternal Trinity of HINDUSIM (Exist forever NO Beginning NO End) 1. The one GOD the Brahmam 2. The many Souls the Athmans 3. The three Bonds the Anava (The Ignorance), the Karma (the Universal Law of Cause & Effect) & the Maya (the physical World and the Universe)
The Ultimate Aim of Life in HINDUISM The liberation of the ATMANS from the engulfing BONDS and the ultimate unison with GOD
The Symbolism of the MOKSHA Anava GOD Atmans Maya Karma GOD perpetually FREE from all the BONDS ATMANS are perpetually entangled with the BONDS of Anava, Karma & Maya
The Ultimate Purpose of LIFE is MOKSHA Anava GOD Atmans Maya Karma i.e. Liberation from the BONDS & Unison with GOD
The Concept of SAMSARA The Spiritual Evolution in Hinduism SAMSARA the Cycle of Rebirth Through the process of SAMSARA" the souls would undergo multiple Cycles of Rebirth and evolved to be the Human Beings with progressive knowledge to attain the MOKSHA ATMANS dwell in physical Bodies
The Concept of KARMA in HINDUISM
KARMA The Hindu concept of Karma encompasses action, causality, and destiny. It is the moral equivalent of the law of conservation of energy or the law of physics that states 'for every action there is equal and opposite reaction.' Karma gives tremendous responsibility to the individual and places in his/her hands the key to his/her future destiny.
KARMA Each person is responsible for their good and bad deeds, which will reap appropriate results in this or future lives. Naturally, the unerring law of Karma can work itself out only over a sufficiently long period of time, hence the belief in Reincarnation (Atman being reborn again and again at the different planes of universe until the attainment of Moksha).
The Four Purposes of Life in Hinduism: Dharma - Virtue, Righteousness, Living morally and ethically Artha - Prosperity, Wealth, Fame & Career Development Kaama - Pleasure, Enjoyment, Desire, Happiness from Arts & Culture Moksha - The ultimate purpose of life is the freedom or liberation from the Cycle of Rebirth or the Karmic Cycle
DHARMA The most important concept of Hinduism is Dharma ('dhar' in Samskrit means 'to uphold'), which means the "privilege, duties and obligations of person, a standard of conduct as a member of the community and as a person in a particular stage of life".
DHARMA "Dharma laid down the rules and ordinances for actions in all situations. Always steering away from absolutes, always sensitive to context, the laws allow qualifications for time, place and exceptional circumstances". For example, it is acceptable to seek wealth (Artha) and pleasure (Kaama) as the purposes of life as long as they concord to Dharma.
DHARMA The concept of dharma thus in entirety speaks to the connection between spiritual health and all other domains of well-being within Hinduism. Regardless of its many mutations, the tradition has historically forged and continues to maintain an integral relationship between proper faith and appropriate practice within the physical, mental, and social arenas.
ARTHA Artha is prosperity, wealth, fame & success in worldly pursuits. Although the ultimate goal of Hinduism is enlightenment or the MOKSHA, the pursuit of wealth and prosperity is regarded as an appropriate pursuit for the householder (the second of the four stages life).
ARTHA It also ensures social order, for there would be no society if everyone renunciated worldly life to meditate. But while Hindus are encouraged to make money, it must be within the bounds of dharma.
KAAMA Kama (Sanskrit, "desire") primarily refers to various pleasure one should righteously enjoy the pleasure from variety of activities including arts & culture like music, dance, romantic love sexual pleasure and so on.
KAAMA Like artha, KAAMA is seen as an appropriate pursuit of the souls as the GIFT of GOD. But again, while Hindus are encouraged to enjoy the worldly pleasure, it must be within the bounds of dharma.
MOKSHA The ultimate end of every Hindu's life is Moksha, which can be understood in a variety of ways: liberation from rebirth, enlightenment, Self-realization, or union with God.
The Four Ways (Paths) to attain the MOKSHA in Hinduism: Sariyai - Karma Marga (S1-Service) (the path of works and action) Kiriyai - Bhakti Marga (S2-Surrender) (the path of devotion) Yoga - Yoga Marga (S3-Self-Realization) ( the path of meditation) Nyana - Nyana Marga (S4-Sagacity) (the path of knowledge)
The Four Stages of Life in HINDUISM Kallaram Bramachariya Individual Life - the stage of life to acquire all knowledge & Wisdom Illaram Gragahasta Family Life - the stage of life to partake in Family life Nallaram Vanaprastha Community Life - the stage of life to serve the community Sellaram - Sanyaasa Spiritual Life - the stage of life for contemplation & complete surrender to GOD to attain the MOKSHA
Family Institution in Hinduism In Hindu tradition, family is a spiritual institution. It has two important components, namely Love and Responsibilities. Family is an emotional communion or 'a sense of union in love'. Family also an institution with the role and responsibilities for every member of the family. Anbum Aranum Udaithaayin Ilvaalkai Pampum Payanum Athu - Kural
Family Institution in Hinduism A family thus, is an institution of a spiritual purity where people respect 'relationships' (called toll free bridges), where they are free and yet have all advantages of connectedness. In this way, conflicts can never arise, and sustainability comes with it by its large size and fulfilling needs and emotional contentment. Relationships in a family evolve and is defined suitably for creating a large network of bridges. Hindu family has a very developed network of relationship.
Family Institution in Hinduism In Hinduism, marriage is not really a social contract but a religious sacrament. It results in a more or less permanent relationship between a man and woman. Their aim is not nearly physical pleasure but spiritual advancement. It is not merely an individual function but has a serial enjoyment of pleasure of life. It exhibits an integral approach to this serial enjoyment of family institution.
The Main Aims of Hindu Marriage 1. Fulfillment of dharma or religions duties: According to the Hindu scriptures marriage is a basic of all religion activities. Marriage is primarily for the fulfillment of duties; the basic aim of marriage was dharma - Geetha. 2. Procreation: In Hindu families the child is given a very important place. According to Riga Veda, the husband accepts the palm of wife in order to get a high breed progeny. According to the Geetha, the chief aim of marriage is procreation.
The Main Aims of Hindu Marriage 3. Sexual Pleasure: The Hindu scriptures have compared the sexual pleasure with the relation of divine bliss. According to Vatsyanyan sexual pleasure is the an important aim in marriage 4. Path to Salvation: Marriage is considered to be self-contented social institution. According to Hindu scriptures, it is essential, because only by entering a matrimonial alliance, a man can enter into Grahastham the path to attain MOKSHA
A Brief Description of Hindu Marriage 1. Hindu marriage is essentially an extension of the four aims (purusharthas) and the four stages (ashramas) of human life. Unless a person has accepted the life of renunciation out of his intense longing for liberation, marriage is sacred responsibility (dharma) of each and every individual in society. 2. Hindus consider marriage as a sacred relationship, between two souls, not just two bodies. Marriage is meant for the continuation of family and practice of dharma. In Hindu tradition, there is no concept as divorce. Once married, a couple are wedded for life. 3. Hindus believe that the marriage relationship extends beyond one's life.
A Brief Description of Hindu Marriage 4. In the traditional marriage, the bride and the bridegroom are considered as divinities. The bride is first by the divinities and then placed under the bridegroom's protection as a gift from God. 5. At the time of marriage, the bridegroom ties a sacred thread around the bride's neck and accepts her hand (panigrahanam.) in marriage. Then they both take seven steps (saptapadi) together around the fire uttering vows of friendship and mutual loyalty. 6. Hindu marriage tradition recognizes the importance of a woman in the family. She is expected to share the responsibilities of the household like a goddess (grihalakshmi) and enjoy the love and care of her husband and children.
Challenges Faced By Marriages DIVORCE ADULTRY POLYGAMY PRE-MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS NON EFFECTIVE PARENTNG BROKEN FAMILIES DOMICILE VIOLANCE LOST THE TRUST IN FAMILY INSTITUTION
Challenges Faced By Marriages DIVORCE: As marriage is said to be sacred it is irrevocable, other parties to the marriage can t dissolve it at will. Each is bound to the other until the death of either of them and the wife is supposed to be bound to her husband even after his death. Concept of marriage, that it is, indissoluble, is a lofty one because it means that the husband and wife after marriage age to adjust their tastes and temper their ideas and interest, instead of breaking with each other when they find that these differ.
Challenges Faced By Marriages Hindu marriage, thus viewed, is not an ordinary affair where in the weakness of flesh plays a dominant part. On the contrary, demands of personal gratification and pleasures are subordinated, and the individual is called upon to make marriage a success by means of compromise and adjustment. Despite the fact that marriage was considered to be irrevocable the two partners were regarded as beings equal in their obligations, privileges. However, the difference between them are made as their responsibility towards each other and in responsibility for succession of marriage.
Conclusion More research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and increase the effectiveness of common values in all religion to safe guard the family institution Prevention initiatives and programs need to be developed jointly to face the challenges in protecting family institution, Spirituality and religiousness and document pathways through which religion and spirituality could work together to up hold the noble institution of
Conclusion Religious and spiritual tradition has it own unique beliefs, commitments and rituals to bring to bear to minimize the problems face by families. Therefore, we should take advantage of the potentially positive benefits of religion and spirituality to summarise the common values in all religion on the imporatance of the family institution.
Paper Presented by Dr.M.Bala Tharumaningam, MBBS, MSc; Deputy President MALAYSIA HINDU SANGAM
THANK YOU!!!