Hindu Mythbusters

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Hindu Mythbusters
Meet Hindus who debunk Western misconceptions about caste, cows, karma and more.

By Lavina Melwani

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/155/story_15543_1.html

Adapted with permission of Hinduism Today and the author.

Do Hindus eat monkey brains? You would think so if you saw the film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Though some western viewers might have taken this Hollywood excess with a pinch of salt, many still have misperceptions about Hinduism–from the horrors of caste to the burning of widows. Yes, and don’t forget rat worship, arranged child marriages, female infanticide, dowry and the killing of young brides.

As always, sensational aspects are magnified, and a deeply complex religion is seen as some sort of a primitive idol-worshipping cult.

So who will set the record straight in the West? After all, here in America, Hinduism is not organized religion with a huge PR machine and official spokespeople. It is simply a way of life, a philosophy of living practiced by individuals in whichever way they choose, each working toward salvation.

Enter the Interpreters of Dharma, the Mythbusters.

They are ordinary people–students, housewives, physicians, retirees, academics and engineers–often asked by curious Westerners about the faith. Some have studied Hinduism in-depth; others have learnt the faith simply by living it. They speak to non-Hindus in schools, churches, colleges and social settings and answer the neverending questions.

“Naturally, I tend to get what I call ‘the 3 Ks’ on a regular basis: Kaste, Kows & Karma,” says Fred Stella, 49, an actor and yoga instructor who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is president of the Interfaith Dialogue Association and has received training in the Self Realization Fellowship and the local Vedanta Society ashram.

Stella, who started attending a Hindu temple when he was 15, was still being educated in the Catholic school system, and so “developed the ability to speak about Hinduism to those with a Christian mind set.”

He adds, “The other misconceptions are that Hindus don’t acknowledge one absolute source of the universe or God, and that karma is fatalism. They also assume that the cruel tradition of caste bigotry is blessed by our scriptures and that we are somehow related to Islam. They even confuse ‘tamasic’ with turmeric!”

Stella points out that the only exposure many church groups have to Hinduism is through missionary films which show images of destitute villages in India and say “Well, this is what you get when you practice bad religion.”

Contd …

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Do you have any literature on Hindu?

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Misperceptions about rat worship? But there is a rat temple in India, and why would worshipping rats be considered 'bad' in Hinduism anyway? Erm everything mentioned as myth in this article is or has been part of Indian Hindu culture, and since Hindu culture is Hinduism how can any of this be myth? These may or may not be common practices any more, lekin myth kaho ko keh rahe haiN?

Aren't there four main casts in Hinduism, so why deny that? AweiN publicity stunt, tsk.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by sabah: *
Misperceptions about rat worship? But there is a rat temple in India, and why would worshipping rats be considered 'bad' in Hinduism anyway? Erm everything mentioned as myth in this article is or has been part of Indian Hindu culture, and since Hindu culture is Hinduism how can any of this be myth? These may or may not be common practices any more, lekin myth kaho ko keh rahe haiN?

Aren't there four main casts in Hinduism, so why deny that? AweiN publicity stunt, tsk.
[/QUOTE]

itis more like social system even if dalit converts to islam ashraf
will not marry them. dalit muslim themselves demand reservation

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The Caste System or varna-ashrama has been one of the most misrepresented, misinformed, misunderstood, misused and the most maligned aspects of Hinduism. If one wants to understand the truth, the original purpose behind the caste system, one must go to antiquity to study the evolution of the caste system. Caste System, which is said to be the mainstay of the Hindu social order, has no sanction in the Vedas. The ancient culture of India was based upon a system of social diversification according to SPIRITUAL development, not by birth, but by his karma. This system became hereditary and over the course of many centuries degenerated as a result of exploitation by some priests, and other socio-economic elements of society.

However, as Alain Danielou, son of French aristocracy, author of numerous books on philosophy, religion, history and arts of India, says: “Caste system has enabled Hindu civilization to survive all invasions and to develop without revolutions or important changes, throughout more than four millennia, with a continuity that is unique in history. Caste system may appear rigid to our eyes because for more than a thousand years Hindu society withdrew itself from successive domination by Muslims and Europeans. Yet, the greatest poets and the most venerated saints such as Sura Dasa, Kabir, Tukaram, Thiruvalluvar and Ram Dasa; came from the humblest class of society.” In the words of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, " In spite of the divisions, there is an inner cohesion among the Hindu society from the Himalayas to the Cape Comorin."

Caste system has been exploited against the Hindus, for the last two centuries by the British, Christian Missionaries, Secular historians, Communists, Muslims, Pre and Post-Independence Indian politicians and Journalists for their own ends. One way to discredit any system is to highlight its excesses, and this only adds to the sense of inferiority that many Indians feel about their own culture. Caste system is often portrayed as the ultimate horror, in the media, yet social inequities continue to persist in theoretically Egalitarian Western Societies. The Caste system is judged offensive by the Western norms, yet racial groups have been isolated, crowded into reserves like the American Indians or Australian Aborigines, where they can only atrophy and disappear.

This chapter is not a justification of the abuse of caste system, rather it is a collection of interesting information. Caste system has enabled Hindu civilization to survive all invasions and made Indian society stronger. Caste system served a purpose, performed certain functions, and met the needs appropriate to the times in history. India’s caste norms may once have had a rationale; but the norms are outlived today. Caste system is not stagnant and is undergoing changes under the impact of modernization. Caste system should undergo reforms in the social arena so that unjustified discrimination and abuse is eliminated.

http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Caste_System.htm

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Rizvk, I think one of the main issues with understanding Hinduism is that everything is culture and nothing is culture at the same time. I think I once asked our Hindu members which of the religious books in Hinduism is used as main source of religion, there was no clear answer. That just adds to the confusion. I think it's perfectly okay that Hinduism changes with time, as that seems to be inline with your believes, however to dismiss religious history as myth is not exactly ok in my books.

NJ, how cast system is defined in Hinduism is not the issue in this article, it's the claim that cast is a myth in Hinduism, which is not exactly true. If you want to believe that caste system is based on spirituality, perfect. I'd claim it's based on 'social status', or rather skills. I don't recall names, but there should be priests, warriors, teachers and worker group, in that order. Which is also fine as long as side effects are ignored. Original thought could've been whatever, and well respected too, but fact is that it's been part of Hinduism and still is very strongly followed in India, maybe in a new form, which is a consequence of accepting changes in religious scripts, IMO.

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Saba, you are confusing Mythological beliefs with practices. Hinduism, just like Roman and Greek is based on myths, but so are some aspects of Abrahamic religions. For example, Noah ark is a myth and Prophet Mohammad’s taking pony express to heavens is a myth, Jesus being pulled up is a myth, and so on. So Myths are as important to belief systems as water to plants. Caste system in Hinduism is very misunderstood concept.

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I thought in this article Myths == Misconceptions. Cast system may be misunderstood but how is it a myth? There's a rat temple so how is that a myth and misconception?

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The Brahmanas, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras, O Parantapa, are separated by the gunas – Sattva, Rajas, Tamas – born of their own nature.

The Uddhava Gita Verse 12.16 says, disposition of a Brahmin should be to control the manas and Indriyas (mind and senses), meditate on Isvara, observe purity, live contented, exercise compassion, abide in Truth, renounce, walk a straight path, and remain devoted to the Supreme.

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Saba, yes there’s a rat temple in India.. They are God’s creature. Worshiping them is symbolic, just as a muslim will bow towards Mekka is symbolic. It doesn’t mean that God lives inside Mekka but Muslims believe that Ibrahim called it God’s house after stealing temple from Pagans to convert that into God’s House on God’s orders. How do we know that God wanted it like that? So we believe in myths and fairytales. Same goes for Hinduism.

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Rats? Hahahaha.

Come on now, be serious.

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Madhanee bhai jaan, I'm not questioning any faith system. All I'm saying is that this person in the article is claiming that rat worshipping, cast system etc are myths == misconceptions, which they are not. This stuff is part of Hinduism, which is perfectly fine. HaaN there are misunderstandings, and those should be addressed, simple.

Fita, mere chaand, someone could just as easy say, stone? haha be serious now! Religions can be twisted so easily so learn to respect.

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Saba, these practices are ‘based’ on myths (or beliefs). Just as painting a black mole on one’s cheek to repel the Ballas (evil spirits).

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Hinduism is not a architectured religion but is simply a way of life.None knows when this system came in to being and who had propagated it. It has no rules and regulations and does not bind its followers in any manner.Perhaps that may be the reason for all anomolies.

What is expected out of human beings is to follow a selfless simple life,love all creations of God,treat them as equal and focus your energy on getting a berth in " Moksha" without bothering about the pleasures and pains in this life.Anybody following the above principles is considered as true Hindu.That way quite a few Muslims and Christians
who lead a Hindu way of Life.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Madhanee: *
For example, Noah ark is a myth and Prophet Mohammad’s taking pony express to heavens is a myth, Jesus being pulled up is a myth, and so on.
[/QUOTE]

If by myth you are implying the event is fictional, then you are wrong.

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^
then again many wud argue that God Himself is a myth....
so why bother trying to explain such things to these nutheads....

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!

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rats are delicacy too.

“It takes 20 rats to create one kilogram of meat, so it should be seen as a real delicacy,” he said.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Madhanee: *
Saba, you are confusing Mythological beliefs with practices. Hinduism, just like Roman and Greek is based on myths, but so are some aspects of Abrahamic religions. For example, Noah ark is a myth and Prophet Mohammad’s taking pony express to heavens is a myth, Jesus being pulled up is a myth, and so on. So Myths are as important to belief systems as water to plants. Caste system in Hinduism is very misunderstood concept.
[/QUOTE]

Ok it would help me and some other people aswell who are reading this a lot if we know where you're coming from. Are you a hindu, muslim, christian, scientologist, atheist etc?
Thank You.

btw, i heard that a common misconseption about hinduism is that its not a single religion or something like that. It would help if someone can clear that up for me aswell.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by I'm Kool: *

Ok it would help me and some other people aswell who are reading this a lot if we know where you're coming from. Are you a hindu, muslim, christian, scientologist, atheist etc?
Thank You.

btw, i heard that a common misconseption about hinduism is that its not a single religion or something like that. It would help if someone can clear that up for me aswell.
[/QUOTE]

Hinduism is not a religion. Instead hinduism is a philosphy, a way of life. Hindu word itself is very new. there is no mention of word 'hindu' in any of the scores of hindu holy books. if i am not wrong then it was given by persions when they invaded 'bharat', since bharat was a civilization based on the banks of river indus or sindhu they used to called it hindu and people who lived across the rivers as hindus and the land as hindustan. like brits gave the name india because of the river indu.
There are no hard and fast rules in hinduism. so there are so many sacts(now "religions") came out of hinduism , each following a different teaching. like sikhism, buddhism, jainism, etc etc. all the sects live peacefully with the rest of the mainstream.
Once a scholar from palistine told me that hindusism is the one of the few "religions" which gave birth to so many religions without a war.
Some say that everybody who lives in india is a hindu as it is not a religion but a culture. The religion hinduism doesnt exist.
I may be wrong, comments appritiated.