Lecture and Explanation, Reading to be covered:
Srinivas, M. N. and A. M. Shash, 1968, “Hinduism”, in D. L. Sills ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, Vol. 6, New York: MacMillan, pp. 358-366
Keywords: Hinduism, International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences,
The University of Delhi, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology of India
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| Hinduism, by MN Srinivas and AM Shash (in The International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, 1968) Image Credit pexels-elina-sazonova-2072577 |
Pg. 359
Hinduism as a faith system can be found in every part of the worlds, however, the majority of them are living in the Indian subcontinents.
The Study of Hinduism
The doctrine of Hinduism, unlike those of Christianity and Islam, is not –
Embodied in anyone the sacred book
Single historical founder
One innumerable God
Believe in a single God
Single major religious text (they have many texts)
Hinduism has many sources to derive theory philosophy, theology, mythology, and manuals for the performance of sacrifices and other sacred rites in temple and homes, and a code of conduct for daily life.
There is the problem of study Hinduism because data are not available systematically like authorship and the period of writing.
Hinduism and the Social Order
Hinduism is lacking a centralized church; therefore this is very difficult to make the relation between one ends to another end.
Hindu social order is divided into four varnas which are later divided into different Jatis/caste.
Authors have also emphasised that the untouchables are not mentioned in the hymn of the varna system.
#PLEASE-NOTE This is not described in this book that the “untouchable” castes were classified as ‘Fifth Varna’ / ‘Panchama’ / ‘Antyaj’
These Jatis are based on the concept of purity and pollution.
#KNOW-MORE-ABOUT Purity, Pollution, and Systems of Classification or Classification of Based on Purity and Pollution https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2003
And also read this #BOOK Homo Hierarchicus: Essai sur le système des castes, by Louis Dumont (1966) https://amzn.to/3vhCaU7
Pg. 359
These Jati systems are maintained by the endogamy marriage system.
But it not means that caste is entirely determining Hindu religious behaviour. Other factors are also important in the Hindu social structure. For example, we can find that each and every village hey have their own God and Goddesses and Deity.
Dominant Theological ideas of Hinduism
Hinduism does not have a body of clearly defined dogma, but some theological ideas may be considered basic.
#WHST-IS DOGMA? FIND HERE >> A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true >> #READ-MORE https://www.britannica.com/topic/dogma-religion
But even that we have much text which is guiding Hinduism for example Upnishads. Where we can find many philosophies which are reflecting Hinduism however, again we have not only the Upnishads, and all philosophies are not deriving from there. Hinduism is getting philosophy from a wide range of texts, tradition, sects, and schools.
Hinduism is also recognising the school of atheistic and hedonistic philosophy of Charvaka.
#WHST-IS HEDONISTIC? >> Engaged in the pursuit of pleasure; sensually self-indulgent >> #READ-MORE >> https://www.britannica.com/topic/hedonism
Hinduism believes in the result of previous birth.
The idea of Karma, Dharma, and Moksha are intimately related to the caste-system. Therefore the birth in so-called high and so-called low caste depends on the deeds of the previous birth.
The nature of Moksha and how to achieve it are major issues in Hindu theology. According to the Hindu religion, the main ways of achieving Moksha are through knowledge, deeds, love and devotion towards God.
Pg. 360
There are many Vedic Gods but the major Gods gradually transformed into the trinity of Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the protector, and Siva, the destroyer.
Brahman does not appear in the Vedas but seems to have developed during the period of the Brahmans. Later of Brahma decline and Shiva and Vishnu become powerful God. Later on, also many Gods were considered the incarnation of the Vishnu.
Hindu temple has some features that they are known by the principal God, however, the temple can have also had a minor deity.
In general, we can find Shiva and Parwati as a major God and others as a minor deity.
Sectarianism
Like other religions, Hinduism has given birth to many sects in the course of history, and it is not always easy to say whether a sect is within the Hindu fold or outside.
For authors, Buddhism and Jainism had emerged as distinct sects by about the 5th century B. C.
#PLEASE-NOTE Many scholars are disagreeing with the above sentence. For them, Buddhism had born before Hinduism. This should be also noted that there was many Buddha in Buddhism.
For authors, Buddhism was almost disappeared in India. Buddhism again raises after a large number of conversion by the Untouchables particularly the Mahar of Maharashtra.
#PLEASE-NOT it is better to say those who were suffering from the untouchability rather untouchable as it has said by the authors.
Jain is similar to Hinduism for the authors.
Pg. 361
Kabirpanthi
We can find Kabirpanthi among Hindus, Muslim and Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism has claimed to be a distinct religion, but this does not mean that Sikha does not have anything in common with Hindu. The Sikha are divided into castes, with even an Untouchable division and have a veneration for Hindu holy places Until recently, in many families in rural Punjab one son would become a Sikh while the other remained Hindu, Many Hindu castes become Sikhs in an efforts to improve their status. The Pirana Sect in Gujrat and the recent Saibaba Cult have both Hindu and Muslim followers. In its later phase, the Bhakti Movement was influenced by Sufism.
Pg. 362
Process of Emerging new Sects
One can find many sects in India within Hinduism. And to establish their sects, the founder of every major sect travelled about the country. WHY? The founder of every major sect was travelled across the country for FIRST in search of knowledge, SECOND to win dialectical battles, and THIRD to give discourse and recruit followers. The founder followers and learners may come from a different region. Normally, membership in a sect, unlike that in a caste, is not hereditary but come through initiation. For example Lingayat Sects of Kannada etc. No sect recruits members from all caste. Untouchables are very rarely admitted into sects including the high castes, even a sect admitting “touchable” castes would cover only a certain span in the caste hierarchy.
Non-sectarian Hinduism
Non-sectarian Hinduism is found both in towns and villages; it is largely Sanskritic in towns and non-Sanskritic in the village.
For authors, generally belong form the lower castes including the priests. And they are offering included meat and liquor.
The name of God may or may not be derived from the Sanskritic.
They are usually a village level of deity.
Usually, village Goddesses are regarding as manifestations of Parvati, and Village God of Shiva.
Pg. 363
If the temple belongs to Sanskritic deities, then the priests will belong from Brahmans and only vegetarian and non-alcoholic offerings are made.
Non-sectarian Hindus generally worship many deities.
Hinduism and the Polity
Like every religion, Hinduism too has political thoughts.
Devout Hindu regarded their kings as representative of God on earth. This belied was common to all, including Brahmans who themselves claimed to be a god on earth.
The social order, as represented by the caste system, was also believed to be divinely created.
Different castes have different rights according to the hierarchy.
Pg. 364
For authors, Hinduism has a tradition of tolerance and welcomes all sects and religions.
Authors are also saying that Hinduism has also tolerance towards the different castes.
DISAGREE ...
“The freedom of thought in ancient India was so considerable as to find no parallel in the West before the most recent age” – Max Weber quoted in Smith 1963, p. 62)
Hinduism and Economic Development
Max Weber (1921) thought that he Hindu belief in the transmigration of that soul and related doctrines of Karma and Dharma seen in the context of caste, produces and irrational, otherworldly social ethnic that prevented the development of industrial capitalism.
#TO-KNOW-MORE READ https://amzn.to/3q8l87p
Authors are saying that Max Weber’s view got wider popularity, and Hinduism is now believed to be one of the major obstacles in India’s economic development. For authors, this is a partial view of Hinduism.
Hindu Reform and Modernisation
Hinduism has, in the courses of its long history, undergone many and radical changes, and several diverse forces have contributed to making Hinduism what it is today. The major changes were brought into Indian society or the Hindu society was the British Government, such as prohibiting of the institution of untouchability, Sati, human sacrifice, female infanticide, infant marriage, etc.
These made it clear to the orthodox that the state could use its power to alter their religious institutions.
Many social reformers also played important roles in social reform.
Pg. 365
Examples of Social Reformer and their Work
Pg. 366
Bibliography
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