Lecture and Explanation: Practicing Religion, in Everyday Life in South Asia, by Diane P. Mines and Sarah Lamb (Eds.), 2010
Keywords: Indian Culture, Indian Social Structure, Religion, Buddhism, Hinduism, Brahmanical Hinduism, Brahmanism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Indian
The University of Delhi, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology of India: Images and Reality
Reading to be covered:
Mines, Diane P. and Sarah Lamb (Eds.), 2010, Practicing Religion, in Diane P. Mines and Sarah Lamb (Eds.), Everyday Life in South Asia, Indiana University Press: Bloomington, pp. 219-225
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| Practicing Religion, Everyday Life in South Asia, Diane P. Mines and Sarah Lamb, Image Credit pexels-beingthetraveller-2730218 |
Practicing Religion
This chapter is mainly talking about the basic philosophy and how Indian is practicing the different religions. India is the host of almost all religions of the world. Most of the religion in the world can find their root in India during their initial stages. India is also a mother place of many philosophical traditions and lifestyle. It is said that the Indian lifestyle is very near to nature; however, this is also true for most of the great civilization. Here we must not be ethnocentric.
(Meaning of ethnocentric is evaluating other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture)
Pg. 219
The “world religions” of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism, and Sikhism as well as Christianity and Judaism, have religious traditions that have led many Westerns to imagine that South Asia is a very “spiritual” place.
For many middle-class Americans and European, as well as Asian, the practice of Yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic medicine, and other “Eastern” traditions has been promoted as a healthy, spiritual alternative to our harried, anxiety-filled and materially overwhelming lives.
This is, South Asian religions have, since the nineteenth century, been structured by Western in opposition to capitalist values and economic culture.
However, looking at the practical religious experiences of residents of the region, it turns out that material well-being, politics, power relations, and the violence these sometimes entails are also aspects of South Asian religious life. The interviewing of religion with politics and economics can be discerned in even the briefest outline of the histories of these religions in South Asia.
What is Brahmanical Hinduism?
What today we refer to as “Hinduism” is practised by the majority of Indians and Nepalis as well as by a large minority of Sri Lankans. Hindu trace the roots of their religion back at least 3,500 years to a set of Sanskrit texts called the Vedas. The Vedas, which include mythology, ritual instruction, magical formulas, philosophy, and criticism, formed the basis of what of often referred to as Brahmanical Hinduism. Brahmanical Hinduism took the form of “orthodox” or “orthoprax” sacrificial rituals performed and controlled by Brahman priest, who, for the most part, were the once who wrote, read, and studies the Vedas. The Brahmans were considered to be the highest class in a four-class (varna) system that some see as the beginning of what is now commonly called “caste”. Richard Davis (1995: 12-16) describe how, beginning perhaps around 500 BCF, some scholars become impatient with and critical of Brahmanical hegemony over the rituals of scarifies. These scholars began to reflect critically upon the actual meanings of the sacrifices and the Vedas. In a set of texts called the Upanishads, they development philosophical concepts such as moksha (release), sannyasa (renunciation), karma (action), samsara transmigration or rebirth), yoga (disciplined practice), and dharma (code of conduct appropriate to different classes of creatures), among others. These still form the basis of much Hindu thought and action.
According to the article, the temple was not only a place for worship but it was also a centre or social, political and economic activities.
For me the Indian society is Matha (मठ) centric, where they were worshipping their ancestors. . Indian society is not temple centric, where imaginary or superpower gods were worshipped. We can still find these realities.
Dear students rest of the article is describing the fundamentals of the different religions of India, like Buddhism, Hinduism, Jain, Sikhkh, and Islam. You can find this anywhere and your common understanding is enough here.
According to the authors, the base of Hinduism is a Sanskrit text of Vedas, which include mythology, ritual instruction, magical formulas, and philosophy.
Critic of Hinduism
The critic of Vedas and Sanskrit text is that they are Brahmanical Hinduism.
Why there is a critic of Brahmanical Hinduism? Or What is the Meaning of Brahmanical Hinduism?
This is called Brahmanical Hinduism because, they believe, practicing, and performing the orthodox. Not only these but all sacrificial rituals are performed and controlled by the Brahman priests. These Brahmans were considered to be the highest class in a four-class (varna) system that some see as the beginnings of what is now commonly called caste. (Pg. 219). Brahmins are hegemonies in the Hindu religion. These scholars (means Brahmin) create different philosophy, practice and code-of-conduct for the different classes of creatures. For example moksha sanyas karma Samsara yoga dharma etc. (Pg. 220).
Bhakti Movement
During the 7th century, India was shifting to the Bhakti Movement. This has changed Indian society, from worshipping of God and Goddess to spirituality. Or in the simple word these Bhakti Movements lead Indian from worshipping the supernatural God and Goddess to spirituality. Even after the Bhakti Movement, the cities, town, and village today, the establishment and patronage of the temple remain closely tied to social, political, and economic power.
Buddhism and Jainism
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BOOK Ambedkar Buddha and His Dhamma (#SHARE THE BOOK) > reintroduce Buddhism in a popular way
Islam
They have two basic books, Quran and Hadith
Islam came to Indian with the Muslim ruler, but the majority of the Muslim in India are converted
Most of them converted from the low caste of Hindu
Those who still believe that they come from the Middle East are calling themselves Sheikh, Saiyad, Pathan. Those who converted from Brahmin and upper caste Hindu they are also calling themselves Sheikh, Saiyad and Pathan.
Rest are called Pasmanda Muslim. The terminology Pasmanda has given by Ali Anwar, journalist and politician from Bihar.
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Muslim Ruler and Temple
Muslim ruler looted the temple because that was the centre of wealth but they also built many Hindu temples for making good relation with the Hindus.
Islam in South Asia is different from the Middle East. Islam believes that no one should be worshipped except Allah, however in South Asia Muslim also accepting the Sufi and Sant Tradition. > Pir Baba, Dargah of Ajmer, Dargah of Delhi,
Sikhism
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Guru Nanak born as a Hindu and wondered South Asia in search of the truth.
Sikhs believe that a person can unite with God (sat Nam, literally “Truth Name”) through discipline and purification, which help one overcome the five vices of greed, anger, self-centred pride, lust, and attachment to material things.
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A person can have many rebirths for good works.
Unlike Buddhism and Jainism, Sikhism believes that a person can obtain union with God while living everyday life as a married, family person.
Sikh do not necessarily believe in non-violence
Christianity
Various sects of Christians came to India at different point of time.
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Holi Festival
You can find many objectionable and double meaning Holi Songs on YouTube, especially Bhojpuri Holi Song.
McMarriot has said that villagers use Holi to critique the everyday forms of gender and caste relations, making their Holi into a “ritual of rebellion” that is a ritual that exposes and critiques the power structures of everyday life.
(#PLEASE-NOTE for many scholars this should not be called Hinduism, rather Brahmanism, because there is no respectable place in Hinduism for all others than Brahmin including Kshatriya. No one can become a priest except Brahmin. Therefore there is discrimination of the followers.
The term Hindu is basically denoting the geographical location and identity of those who were living east of the Sindhu River. However, this is not acceptable that they called Hindu because they had no letter “s” therefore they pronounced “s” as “h”. They have already many words like Salam, Sabba-Khair, Shakila, etc
#LEARN-WITH-FILM
Dear students, please watch these Clips from the Film “The Matrix” (1999), which will give you some insights into religion. Please try to relate these clips with religion. The question raised in the film is similar to the question of what is religion.
What is real?
"The Matrix" (1999) -- 'Construct' Scenes
Film clip from the film “The Matrix” (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGZiLMGdCE0
What is the truth? Blue Pill or Red Pill - The Matrix (2/9) Movie CLIP (1999) HD Film clip from the film “The Matrix” (1999) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE7PKRjrid4
#ASSIGNMENT
1. Give two minutes presentation on Bhakti Period in Literature or साहित्य में à¤à¤•्ति काल
2. Write a brief introduction of sects among Muslims with basic differences.
3. Who are Pasmanda among Muslim.
4. Write a brief introduction of sects among Christians with basic differences.
5. Watch the budget session and also, read article and news on budget.
#Class-Assignment
How the Indian caste system is affecting social and economic life?
What is the idea of purity of blood and how it is related to endogamy?
Submit your answer to StudyWithAnil@gmail.com by 11.30
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