Religion assignment
jennyswufe
Hinduism8NeoHinduismandcontemporarydevelopmentsre-written2017.pptxHinduism 8
Recent reforms,
“Neo Hinduism” and contemporary developments
“The Hindu Renaissance”
Hinduism re-emerged after centuries of decline under the influence of Ram Mohan Roy’s Brahmo Samaj, Sarasvati’s Arya Samaj and the work of the Ramakrishna Mission.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_by_country
Map by By M Tracy Hunter - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33660494
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Hinduism in Bali, Indonesia
“Fundamentalism” Nationalism and “Hindutva”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are a Hindu nationalist party who led India from 1998 to 2004 – but are they “fundamentalist”? What would this mean? They advocate “Hindutva” – “Hindu-ness”…meaning?
(Consider the case of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, destroyed in December 1992)
Hindutva: Religion or Culture?
See opinion piece “From IS to RSS: Drawing parallels between Islamism and Hindutva” at http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/from-is-to-rss-drawing-parallels-between-islamism-and-hindutva/story-pmJCTRGbXlMfyp4r72EZsJ.html
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Gandhi
“The Allah of Islam is the same as the God of Christians and the Ishwara of Hindus. Even as there are numerous names of God in Hinduism, there are many names of God in Islam. The names do not indicate individuality but attributes, and little man has tried in his humble way to describe mighty God by giving Him attributes, though He is above all attributes, Indescribable, Immeasurable”
Satyagraha: the power of truth
central to Gandhi’s philosophy:
Non-violent resistance to injustice was satyagraha, the power of truth.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Instrumental in spreading Hinduism to the West was the popular interest in “eastern mysticism” led by artists and musicians in the 1960’s (e.g. the Beatles)
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His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder of ISKCON – coming to New York in 1965, he (virtually single-handed) fulfilled a prophecy, made by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:
"The Holy Names of Krishna will be sung in every town and village in the world."[
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
“Gouranga” a name of their inspirational saint Chaitanya is a slogan used by ISKON
Aka “Hare Krishna” movement (after their mantra) in Scotland.
ISKCON texts
The Bhagavata Purana, recounting the life of Krishna, is valued highly by ISKCON, along with the Bhagavad Gita.
Part of their missionary work is to distribute annotated translations of these texts.
Krishna’s promise (Bhagavad Gita 4:78)
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in Dharma and wicked actions predominate, I descend to earth and assume a form to protect the saints, annihilate the devils and to establish Dharma.”
(left: Krishna subdues Kaliya)
Modern Avatars
This belief in avatars (literally “descents”) allows for a continuing renewal of belief and practice in Hinduism.
The saving grace of God continues…
Swaminarayan
Sahajanand Swami was a nineteenth century social reformer and holy man in Gujarat:
He opposed superstition, and preached against animal sacrifice, sexual immorality, meat eating, and addictions of any sort.
Shree Swaminarayan Sampradaya
This Gujarati sect have a large international presence following the migration of merchants from Gujarat, notably to East Africa and then on to Britain and America.
They are notable for their construction of traditional mandirs throughout the world.
They do not practice missionary activity.
Some Swaminarayan Sanstha aims :
to inspire a better and happier individual , family and society. .. through the humanitarian values of service, purity, discipline, love, tolerance, harmony.
Energise efforts against dowry, smoking, drugs, alcohol and other destructive addictions…
Sathya Sai Baba (1926 – 2011): An Avatar of Shiva?
A controversial, charismatic guru, claimed by his devotees (est. between 6 and 100 million) to be a miracle worker.
“I am God. And you too are God. The only difference between you and Me is that while I am aware of it, you are completely unaware.”
“Love All, Serve All” “Help Ever, Hurt Never”
Sai Baba’s ashram in Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh) provides much of what might usually be provided by government: education, health care, sports facilities, museums…
Principles (or “Platitudes”?) from Sai Baba
The principles that Sai Baba bases his movement on are simple:
Sathya - Truth
Dharma – Right Conduct
Ahimsa – Non-violence
Prema - Love
Shanthi - Peace
Mata Amritanandamayi (the “hugging guru”)
Nasadiya (Rig Veda 10:129)
Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it? Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation? The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe. Who then knows whence it has arisen, this creation…– perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not – the One who looks down on it, in the highest heaven, only He knows. …or perhaps He does not know.
