Lesson 8: Current Status.
This is the last lesson and it ends this course on Hinduism with discussions on the current status of the religion in the world. It also treats some controversial issues within the religion. There is only one lesson test.
International Hinduism.
Hinduism is a faith that is over a billion strong. It is the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam. Though most of the Hindus are concentrated in the Republic of India there are substantial numbers present in Nepal and Indonesia, two of the countries discussed here. The student can consult the web-pages of Wikipedia Free Online Encyclopedia for more information on Hindus in other countries.
Hindus in Nepal:
Nepal is the only constitutionally-declared Hindu state in the world. About 87% of the population is Hindu with the rest being comprised of Buddhists, Muslims and other religious communities like Christians. Nepalese Hinduism follows the patterns of the religion as practiced all over Northern India.
As the percentage of the population is predominantly Hindu most regions of the country are Hindu and the people who are mostly so are the Magar, Sanwar and the Rai. Nepal has some very important Hindu pilgrimage places like the Pasupati Temple in the capital city Kathmandu. The temple is a principal locus of attraction for pilgrims from the lowlands of India and it is a major foreign exchange earner. It is dedicated to Lord Pasupati, an aspect of Lord Shiva. “Pasu” means “animal” and “pati” means “Lord”. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as the patron God of all animals. This is another evidence of the importance of all living beings to Hinduism.
Nepalese Hinduism is a sort of compromise between the tenets of Buddhism and Hinduism. Many Hindus worship at Buddhist shrines while there are many Buddhists who reciprocate. Nepal is the Land of The Buddha as he was born to the King of Kapilavastu, an ancient city in the country, as his loved son. In Nepal, Buddhism and Hinduism are considered to be very close religions and allegiance to one does not necessarily mean abstention from the other. Thus, it is also very difficult to estimate exactly how many Nepalese actually adhere strictly to Hinduism. Nevertheless, this should not matter as Hindus in India also regard Buddhism as a particular sect or branch of Hinduism. The Buddha is firmly regarded as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu and, as such, Hindus, especially those living in India and Nepal, behold Him with much love and reverence and worship Him alongside their own Hindu Gods.
Hinduism in Indonesia:
Hinduism in Indonesia is also known as Agama Hindu Dharma and it is principally guided by a broad religious society called Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia. The latest figures on the percentage of population of Indonesia that follow the religion is nearly 30%. The Hindus living on the Island of Bali comprise about 93% of the population there. Other Islands with significant Hindu populations are Java (The Tenggerese people of the East), Sumatra and Kalimantan.
In recent years the Hindu population of Indonesia increased significantly because of President Suharto’s legislation that all Indonesians register themselves as one of five acknowledged religious communities - Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Protestant and Catholic. The glorious Javanese Hindu past inspired many people of that island to convert to Hinduism under this law. Also, the native religions of Aluk To Dolo and Kaharingan were classified by the Ministry of Religion as variants of Hinduism. This increased the share of the devotees of the religion within the total population of Indonesia. There was also much enthusiastic missionary work by Balinese and Indians living in the island of Medan who managed to convert the Karo people of North Sumatra. All this conversion and classification increased the Indonesian Hindu population to its present proportion of 30%.
Some Basic Tenets:
Indonesian Hinduism is better known as Agama Hindu Dharma and certain salient features to it:
- Belief in a Supreme Being called variously Ida Sangyang Widi Wasa, Sang Hyang Tunggal or Sang Hyang Cintya.
- Belief that the other Gods in the pantheon are all manifestations of this Supreme Being.
- Belief in a Triad of Gods comprised of Brahma, the creator, Wishnu or Vishnu, the preserver and Ciwa or Shiva, the destroyer.
- Belief in other Gods and Goddesses. The deities are known as Dewa.
Only two of the Vedas of Indian Hinduism reached Bali and they form the basis of Indonesian Hinduism. The other religious texts are the Puranas and the Itihases. The Itihases are the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. These last two are extremely popular on the island and form the inspiration for many artistic activities and compositions.
Hinduism was greatly adapted from its original form to fit Indonesian society. One of its main concerns is to maintain ritual purity. This is primarily done by dividing society according to occupation. The divisions are known as Varna, literally color in Sanskrit. It must be remembered that these divisions were initially made to distinguish different segments of the population of the Indian subcontinent, especially the conquering Aryan who were fair and the indigenous Dravidians who were dark. The Indonesian Varnas are based on the original Indian ones and are - Brahmanas or priests, Satriyas or rulers and warriors, Waisyas or farmers and merchants and Sudras or commoners and servants. This distinction of people in Indonesia was never rigidly applied as in the subcontinent and never created a problem.
Much of the famous Balinese puppet theatre - Wayang - and dance performances are based on the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. In recent years the great pride Indonesian nationalists have shown in the ancient Hindu Majapahit Empire has attracted many Indonesians to the religion and induced them to convert their allegiance to it.
Hinduism in Indonesia was brought by emissaries from the Gupta Rulers of the Indian city of Ujjain during the period 400-600 A.D.
Yoga and Meditation in the International Context:
The recent increase in the awareness of Hinduism as a religion in the Western Hemisphere can be directly attributed to the widespread popularity of yoga and meditation. Though both Jainism and Buddhism incorporate both these techniques within their devotional systems the most pervasive forms are derived from Hinduism.
The cannabis-smoking flower-children of the sixties and seventies looked to the East for a solution to the problems of endemic mechanization and whether they found that or not they did take back to their homelands in North America and Europe the ancient Hindu systems of yoga and meditation. They were good judges of peaceful means to existence and they were certainly not far out when they chose these ancient techniques as a means to combat the denaturalization of excessive industrialization.
The main form of yoga practiced in countries like the US is Hatha Yoga, primarily a yoga system based on physical exercises that eminently suits persons with sedentary jobs wanting to tone up their bodies. The gurus, both pure Hindus of Indian origin and westerners who have learned the trade from someone, seldom acquaint their pupils with the true purpose of the Hindu yoga systems and only allow them as much knowledge as is necessary to do the asanas or physical exercises. Meditative techniques taught and practiced in the west are also slightly distanced from their original purpose in Hinduism and are also utilized to enhance physical well-being.
I have utilized an entire lesson - The Yoga Suite - to expostulate the ancient principles behind the four main spiritual yoga systems in Hinduism - Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Hatha Yoga, the principal yoga system now being practiced in the west, also has the same ultimate purpose of helping the practitioner achieve the Brahman within, the part of the Universal Spirit within an individual. I have utilized this course to acquaint the student with the true purpose of the yoga systems so that the student can later, if he or she wishes to, utilize the yoga and meditation systems with full knowledge of their true utility in Hinduism. This shall in no way detract from the western purpose of enhancing physical wellbeing. The additional spiritual awareness imparted by my lessons on the Yoga systems will only prepare my students to achieve a more rounded physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing if they do aim to utilize, now or later, yoga and meditation to enhance their quality of life on Earth. I also maintain that yoga and meditation not only adds to personal life quality but also adds to the ambience of the entire social atmosphere the practicing individual lives in.
I have not included any physical yoga systems in this course but I do recommend a book on Hatha Yoga, the most popular yoga system used across the world, including India.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a Sanskrit classic written by Swami Swatamarama in the 15th century A.D. It is the oldest surviving text on Hatha Yoga and is derived from older texts as well as the good Swami’s own yogic experiences. Many modern English translations of the book are available.
