Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Weekly Religion: Hinduism

autumn · 04-18-2007, 03:01 AM

Hinduism/Hindu isn't really a good word to describe the many branches of faith found in India ("India" is also a more modern word), but I see you guys have also touched on that. So just to add to it:

What is hinduism?

A Christian, visiting India from the West, would surely think it strange if he or she was told by an Indian, "You are a follower of Jordanism."

Christianity, along with Judaism and Islam, hails from the region of the Jordan river. But it is unlikely that Christians, Jews and Muslims would like their faiths being lumped together under such an artificial, unscriptural category as "Jordanism."

Yet just this sort of thing was done to the followers of the indigenous religions of India. The word "Hinduism" is derived from the name of a river in present-day Pakistan, the Sindhu (also known as the Indus). Beginning around 1000 AD, invading armies from the Middle East called the place beyond the Sindhu "Hindustan" and the people who lived there the "Hindus" - due to the invaders' language, the "s" was changed to "h". Soley used by the invading Muslims, in the centuries that followed, the term "Hindu" became acceptable even to the Indians themselves as a general designation for their different religious traditions. But since the word Hindu is not found in the scriptures upon which these traditions are based, it is quite inappropriate. The proper term is "Vedic dharma" or "sanatana dharma".

Vedic traditions

There are four main groups or practices in Vedic tradition: Vaishnavism, Smartaism, Shaivism, Shaktism

1. Vaishnavism

Om Namo Narayanaya, Hare Krishna

Worship of Vishnu and His various avatars, especially Rama and Krishna, in a profoundly devotional form is the basis of Vaishnavism. Intense devotion to a personal Supreme God, Vishnu through bhakti yoga is the path to perfection. There are four main Vaisnava traditions - Visistadvaita, Dvaita (includes Acintya-bheda-abheda), Suddha- advaita, and Dvaitadvaita. Vaishnavism is followed by majority of people in India.

2. Smartaism

Om Namah Sivaya

Smartaism is an ancient brahminical tradition reformed by Adi Shankara. The word smarta means one who follows the smriti or dharma sastras. Smartas follow the smriti literature, particularly dharma shastra, Puranas and the Itihasas. They worship five forms of God and also revere the Vedas and the Agamas. They worship Shiva, Vishnu, Ganapati, Surya and Shakti and this system is called pancayatana (pancopasana). Kumara was further added by Shankara's reform. Today they are synonymous with Adi Shankara's monistic, meditative and philosophical theories. The five group system of smartas is there because each deity can be chosen as one's own personal and preferred deity (ishta devata). Smartas believe in attainment of salvation mainly through jnana yoga. However other yogas like bhakti yoga, karma yoga and raja yoga are recognized as leading to enlightenment. Jnana yoga involves the study of scriptures (shravana), reflection (manana) and sustained meditation (dhyana).

3. Shaiva

Om Namah Shivaya

There are six main sub-groups of Shaivism:

Shaiva siddhanta

Pasupata

Kashmir Shaiva or Trika (tantric)

Vira Shaiva or Lingayata

Siddha Shaiva

Shiva Advaita

Sometimes Lakulisa Saivisms is also added.

A system of temple mysticism and an enlightened view of man's place in the universe as well as siddha yoga form the basis of Shaivism. The final goal of Shaivism is realizing one's identity with Shiva in perfect union and non-differentiation (monism, kevaladvaita) based on advaita philosophy.

The path for Shaivites is divided into four progressive stages of belief and practice called Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Jnana. Union with Shiva comes through the grace of the satguru and culminates in the soul's maturity in the state of jnana, or wisdom. Shaivism values both bhakti and yoga sadhana.

4. Shakta

Om Chandikayai Namah

The worship of Mother Goddess in her fierce or gentle form is the basis of Shaktism. Shaktas use mantra, tantra, yantra, yoga and puja to invoke cosmic forces and awaken the kundalini power. They consider the Goddess a manifested form of the deity whose worship leads to the masculine unmanifested form or Shiva, thus attaining salvation.

There are four different expressions:

Devotional

Shamanic

Yogic

Universalist

The devotional Shaktas makes puja rites to invoke Sri Chakra Yantra to establish intimacy with the Goddess. The Shamanic Shaktas - usually with the help of a medium - use magic, tantra and trance as well as fire walking and animal sacrifice for healing, fertility and power. The Shakta yogis seek to awaken the sleeping Goddess Kundalini and unite her with Lord Shiva in the sahasrara chakra. The universalists follow the reformed Vedantic teachings and traditions.

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04-18-2007, 03:01 AM	#29 (permalink)
autumn Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 35	Hinduism/Hindu isn't really a good word to describe the many branches of faith found in India ("India" is also a more modern word), but I see you guys have also touched on that. So just to add to it: What is hinduism? A Christian, visiting India from the West, would surely think it strange if he or she was told by an Indian, "You are a follower of Jordanism." Christianity, along with Judaism and Islam, hails from the region of the Jordan river. But it is unlikely that Christians, Jews and Muslims would like their faiths being lumped together under such an artificial, unscriptural category as "Jordanism." Yet just this sort of thing was done to the followers of the indigenous religions of India. The word "Hinduism" is derived from the name of a river in present-day Pakistan, the Sindhu (also known as the Indus). Beginning around 1000 AD, invading armies from the Middle East called the place beyond the Sindhu "Hindustan" and the people who lived there the "Hindus" - due to the invaders' language, the "s" was changed to "h". Soley used by the invading Muslims, in the centuries that followed, the term "Hindu" became acceptable even to the Indians themselves as a general designation for their different religious traditions. But since the word Hindu is not found in the scriptures upon which these traditions are based, it is quite inappropriate. The proper term is "Vedic dharma" or "sanatana dharma". Vedic traditions There are four main groups or practices in Vedic tradition: Vaishnavism, Smartaism, Shaivism, Shaktism 1. Vaishnavism Om Namo Narayanaya, Hare Krishna Worship of Vishnu and His various avatars, especially Rama and Krishna, in a profoundly devotional form is the basis of Vaishnavism. Intense devotion to a personal Supreme God, Vishnu through bhakti yoga is the path to perfection. There are four main Vaisnava traditions - Visistadvaita, Dvaita (includes Acintya-bheda-abheda), Suddha- advaita, and Dvaitadvaita. Vaishnavism is followed by majority of people in India. 2. Smartaism Om Namah Sivaya Smartaism is an ancient brahminical tradition reformed by Adi Shankara. The word smarta means one who follows the smriti or dharma sastras. Smartas follow the smriti literature, particularly dharma shastra, Puranas and the Itihasas. They worship five forms of God and also revere the Vedas and the Agamas. They worship Shiva, Vishnu, Ganapati, Surya and Shakti and this system is called pancayatana (pancopasana). Kumara was further added by Shankara's reform. Today they are synonymous with Adi Shankara's monistic, meditative and philosophical theories. The five group system of smartas is there because each deity can be chosen as one's own personal and preferred deity (ishta devata). Smartas believe in attainment of salvation mainly through jnana yoga. However other yogas like bhakti yoga, karma yoga and raja yoga are recognized as leading to enlightenment. Jnana yoga involves the study of scriptures (shravana), reflection (manana) and sustained meditation (dhyana). 3. Shaiva Om Namah Shivaya There are six main sub-groups of Shaivism: Shaiva siddhanta Pasupata Kashmir Shaiva or Trika (tantric) Vira Shaiva or Lingayata Siddha Shaiva Shiva Advaita Sometimes Lakulisa Saivisms is also added. A system of temple mysticism and an enlightened view of man's place in the universe as well as siddha yoga form the basis of Shaivism. The final goal of Shaivism is realizing one's identity with Shiva in perfect union and non-differentiation (monism, kevaladvaita) based on advaita philosophy. The path for Shaivites is divided into four progressive stages of belief and practice called Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Jnana. Union with Shiva comes through the grace of the satguru and culminates in the soul's maturity in the state of jnana, or wisdom. Shaivism values both bhakti and yoga sadhana. 4. Shakta Om Chandikayai Namah The worship of Mother Goddess in her fierce or gentle form is the basis of Shaktism. Shaktas use mantra, tantra, yantra, yoga and puja to invoke cosmic forces and awaken the kundalini power. They consider the Goddess a manifested form of the deity whose worship leads to the masculine unmanifested form or Shiva, thus attaining salvation. There are four different expressions: Devotional Shamanic Yogic Universalist The devotional Shaktas makes puja rites to invoke Sri Chakra Yantra to establish intimacy with the Goddess. The Shamanic Shaktas - usually with the help of a medium - use magic, tantra and trance as well as fire walking and animal sacrifice for healing, fertility and power. The Shakta yogis seek to awaken the sleeping Goddess Kundalini and unite her with Lord Shiva in the sahasrara chakra. The universalists follow the reformed Vedantic teachings and traditions. Copied from this website. Last edited by autumn; 04-18-2007 at 03:08 AM.