three tiers of hinduism...?

Society Religion & Philosophy
21

[quote]
Originally posted by pukka desi:
**
but some things give away the religious rift... e.g when i greeted my Tamils friends on dewali they did not seem very happy!!! **
[/quote]

Whhhhhaaaat?!!!!!!! Is is one of the biggest celebration time. Some people (people hailing from farming communities) may like "Pongal' or 'Sankranthi' a little bit more than Deepavali. It is because Ponal is harvesting time and traditionally it is when they realize their fruits of an year's hard work.

But nodbody would not be happy on Deepavali. There is no religious rift anywhere in India. There may be moron who fight against Islam or Christian conversions. Have you ever seen a place where you have seen people killing each other fighting against Vishnu for Shiva (and vice-versa?)?

As an illustration to this belief, here is a quote from an ancient hindu scripture "The ignorant think that I am different from you"

22

Originally posted by pukka desi:
zz... about the AIT(Aryan Invasion Theory) the original inhabitants of india were dark skinned dravidians who worshipped shiva esp his reproductive organ....

worship of reproductive organ goes all the way to ancient iraq. so that could be how it spread. but i donno.

fair-dark theory.. well shiva is fair 'karpurgauram' (fair as camphor) is his description while incarnations of vishnu are dark. 'krishna' means dark.

however, AIT maybe right. I just do not know enough on history. Nor it matters except for academic curiocity.

23

[quote]
Originally posted by Changez_like:
**When these Hinduism guys are here, let me ask a basic question about Hinduism please.

Why do people worship idols?
please choose one:
1. because idols will help reach the God
2. because idol is a symbol, so they pray his symbol
3. because God listens thru idols (prefers to listen through idols)
4. because idols are closer to God (same as 1?)
6. idol is the God
7. other reason (please explain)

**
[/quote]

Well Changez, I asked my grand father( he is still a practising priest in out family temple in kerala) and in in bombay for a visit .
He found this question pretty interesting ..

His opinion was that Hindus humanise god, according to what they feel a superpower should possess. ir, they give god a name, face and qualities as per what they feel a super power almighty should have. Hence you see all Hindu gods have strength, knowledge, sexual vigour, beautiful faces and bodies, 20 arms and legs, anger, etc etc ,,, Every person's perception of perfection differs hence you have lakhs of Gods or rather, sub sections of the trinity, Ie Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma..
So people prefer to worship God in a visible and familiar form, ie, like themselves. This has also been in Hindu upbringing since the past 4000 odd years.

So yes, people worship idols bcos they feel comfortable having an object to worship as a symbol of the unseen, unknown almighty,
they worship various idols as they want the qualities they assosiate with perfection, I E God.
They do not worship the stone in the diety but the percieved image of Gos, their God.

And its only the brahmins who actuall touch and pass on the worship to God. The others pray via teh brahmin or priest.

Any more questions do let me know.

Religion was created by man.....but dont forget......man was created by God.... Allah Ho Akhbar, Halleluiah, Jay Dev..... all are salutations to the Great One....

24

[quote]
Originally posted by Rudra:
**
So people prefer to worship God in a visible and familiar form, ie, like themselves. **
[/quote]

i remembered something. Jesus was a jew. right! and from palestine! he should look something like Yaser Arafat. should have black hair and central asian features.

but Jesus in catholic churches is blonde and almost north european.

similarly buddha in chinese temples has small nose like chinese..

but i think that is human necesity to look at objects of worship as something recognizable..

btw, there are two types in hinduism one is 'saguna' (with attributes) worship and one is 'nirguna' (without attributes). saguna god can be described as good and calm and whwtever while nirguna god is neither good nor evil, neither old nor young, beyond attributes whatever and thus also shape, form etc. i think islamic god is saguna, it has attriobutes, except that it has no shape or form.

25

Thanks Kumarakn and Rudra.

From your answers, it looks like that everything that "appeals", "source of power", "source of knowledge", "has God-ly attributes" can be regarded as God and prayed.

So there is no concept of "creator" ?
how does Hinduism answer the question of creation of universe? objects in universe? is that by evolution?

what is theory of re-incarnation?

We oughta be Changez like, don't we?

26

[quote]
Originally posted by Changez_like:
*Thanks Kumarakn and Rudra.
From your answers, it looks like that everything that "appeals", "source of power", "source of knowledge", "has God-ly attributes" can be regarded as God and prayed.
So there is no concept of "creator" ?
how does Hinduism answer the question of creation of universe? objects in universe? is that by evolution?
*
[/quote]

No Changez_like! It (the idols) doesn't even have to be appealing, nor have to be a power of source or knowledge. It can be anything living, non-living, abstract or imaginary. Anything that your senses can relate itself to, as everything, including you and me are a part of the same comic supreme, Brahm.

About your question on creator:
Yes, in true Hindu Philosphy there is no concept of Creator. Brahma (not to be confused with Brahm), is just another reflection of Brahm. Knowing about Brahma is Mythology. Knowing about Brahm is Philosophy.

Hindusim doesn't say anything about evolution. It doesn't have to. It doesn't care. Anything that happens (also doesn't happen and things that cannot seen as happening or happened or will happen)including evolution and the knowledge of the process of evolution (and even our this conversation) is all a part of that Brahm.

I frequently used to quote, "If science helps me understand all the mysteries of the universe, it is still at the will of Brahm". If science helps me disprove the existence of god or even disprove the use of its ownself - science, it is still the effect of this Brahm.

If one day I am able to explain evolution and another day I (or somebody else) is able to disprove my theories on evolution, it is still at the will of Brahm.

It is difficult concept to put in words or even to understand. In fact some scholars even use negation ("Not that") on everything that you can possibly see, hear, feel, smell or taste or imagine as Hindu God.

As I said earlier, Hinduism is virtually undogmatic. Both acceptance of the theory of evolution and rejection of evolution is in sync with Hindu concept of God.

Regarding re-incarnation, I will get back to you shortly.