Doing work without seeking personal benefits out of it is considered to be considered higher than the formal worship (Hindu Traditions, 2005).
According to Hindu religious traditions, the spiritual hopeful takes studentship under a personal spiritual teacher called a Guru. The disciple stays with the Guru and follows his instructions in order to attain the ultimate goal of spiritual life. Even though the Guru never asks any money for the guidance he has given, the student may give gifts (as a token of appreciation.
Pilgrimage is not something that is mandatory in Hinduism, as it is in other religions. A large number of holy places exist in India. Varanasi, Kedarnath and Rameshwaram are some of the places which are considered to be holy in nature (Hindu Traditions, 2005).
Significance and Meaning
Hinduism has a universal world view and willingness to accept and celebrate diverse philosophies, deities, symbols, and practices. It is a religion that emphasizes similarities and shared characteristics rather than differences. It has a difficult time setting itself apart because of this fact. It is often thought that this in itself if what sets it apart. It should not be said that there are no beliefs and practices that are solely identified as Hindu, but rather that the Hindu tradition has always concerned itself with the human situation rather than the Hindu situation. Instead of basing its identity on separating Hindu from non-Hindu or believer from nonbeliever, it has sought to recognize principles and practices that would lead any individual to become a better human being and understand and live in harmony. The difference of dharma from the Western sense of religion is crucial in understanding the Hindu religion. Hinduism carries with it the Western meaning of being a religion but the words often distort Indian reality. In the West a religion is understood to be conclusive, meaning that it is the one and only true religion. Secondly a religion...
Pilgrimage is another practice which, while not mandatory in Hinduism, is increasingly common. A large number of holy places (Tirtha Sthanas) exist in India, including Varanasi (Banares), Kedarnath and Rameshwaram, and Hindus often take pilgrimages there. The Hindu religious tradition is characterized by many different sacred elements, each of which has tremendous significance and meaning (Fowler, 1997(. These elements include fire, water, and the Hindu trimurti. In addition, the banyan
This puts the fate of each individual Hindu is his or her own hands. The significance of this is that Hindus are proactive when it comes to seeking spiritual release. They do not wait for salvation, and understand that it will not come to them. They must seek it out, or be stuck in samsara forever. While the journey is understood to take several lifetimes, the acquisition of good karma
A funeral is often seen as an opportunity to celebrate somebody's life and mark their transition into the after life. Hindus believe that death marks the transition of the soul from one personification to the next. They believe that this is the point at which the spirit begins its journey to Heaven (Hindu Traditions, 2005). Hindus believe in the idea of reincarnation, so the funeral is seen as much a
Religious traditions include laws, beliefs, doctrines and regulations that are found within a specific religion. They are a collection of belief systems and cultural systems which establish symbols that show and establish a relationship between humans and their spirituality. Religious traditions are handed down from generations to generations with significant events being viewed as part of historical time focusing mainly on conduct and behavior. These traditions are either true or
Religion Qualifications of the divine and the nature of supreme reality are core concepts of any religious tradition. Hinduism and Buddhism conceptualize the divine and the nature of reality in complementary yet distinct ways. Buddhism emerged from Hinduism, in a manner not wholly unlike the way Christianity emerged from Judaism. Therefore, there are several core similarities in the cosmologies and the conceptualizations of divine reality between these two faiths. Moreover, the
5. -List the three major gods of modern Hinduism and give a brief description of each. There are three major gods of modern Hinduism which are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma, who is called the Creator by Hindus, has always been a preeminent figure in Hinduism. Brahma is considered too otherworldly to be approached by humans. This explains a lack of devotion and temples by everyday Hindus to Brahma. Vishnu, on
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now