Essay_on_Hinduism

Essay on Hinduism Becky Smith August 29, 2010 HUM/130 William Lehman Essay on Hinduism The term Hinduism is derived from a name that was given to the people who lived in the Indus River region. The more common term used to describe the religion of the people of the Indus River region is Santana Dharma. Santana Dharma means Eternal Truth. Santana Dharma is focused around the belief that there are many worldly things that keep us from finding our true inner self and also keep us from reaching our inner self’s true potential. In Santana Dharma the way to finding your true inner self is through the achievement of moksha or liberation and peace within yourself (Fisher, 2005). Santana Dharma is composed of the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads. The Samhitas are the sacred hymns that are used to worship the deities. The Brahmanas are the directions that teach how to perform ritual sacrifices. The Aranyakas are the writings from recluses who went to the forest to meditate. The Upanishads are the teachings of the spiritual masters. All four of these together are referred to as the Vedas. Veda means knowledge. The Vedas are the foundation of Santana Dharma. It is believed that the Vedas are the breath of the eternal as heard by the ancient sages or rishis and they were later written down by Vyasa (the Collector). However, scholars believe that the Vedas were written by many different people. The Vedas are the oldest Hindu scriptures, they were written in 1500 B.C. Santana Dharma also includes belief in reincarnation, karma, yoga, and that every living thing has a soul (Fisher, 2005). Overtime Santana Dharma has affected society and culture, Santana Dharma is based on a caste system, just as much of society is based on a kind of caste system today. In Santana Dharma when you are reincarnated your karma from your previous life determines your caste in your new life. There are four levels to the caste system. The highest level is that of the Brahmins and priests. Next are the warriors and rulers. Next in line are the merchants and farmers. Last are the laborers. Only the top three levels of the caste system are capable of reaching salvation when they die (Fisher, 2005). Being in one of these castes at death does not guarantee that you will reach salvation. Salvation only comes when you reach liberation. Thus the desire of Hindus to reach liberation: So that they may enter into Nirvana and achieve salvation. In Santana Dharma in order to reach liberation (moksha) you must first experience the four wants. The four wants are desire (kama), success (artha), moral duty (dharma), and then liberation (moksha). There are three different paths that can be followed to reach moksha. These paths are all different forms of yoga. The first path is called the way of works or karma yoga. In this path liberation is obtained by fulfilling familial and social duties that will make you overcome the weight of bad karma you have accrued. The second path is called the way of knowledge or jnana yoga. With this path you achieve a state where you are one with divine reality through deep meditation. The third path is called the way of devotion or bhakti yoga. This is the most favored path. In this path you have to obtain the mercy and help of a God in finding a release from the cycle of reincarnation. This is done through worship at temples and in the home, participation in festivals, and pilgrimages to the holy sites in India (Fisher, 2005). As you can see, there are many parts to Hinduism as there are to every religion. Every part of Hinduism leads up to achieving liberation and salvation. Everything that is done in each life that a Hindu is given is done so that they may someday achieve liberation and enter Nirvana and salvation. If one follows one of the three paths to liberation they will then be rid of all worldly distractions and find their true inner self and then they will be liberated and may then enter into Nirvana and no longer have to live in a cycle of reincarnation (Fisher, 2005). References Fisher, Mary (2005). Living Religions (Sixth Ed.). [University of Phoenix Custom Ed. e-text]. Prentice Hall. Retrieved from University of Phoenix Hum/130 Capstone Course Website.