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Introduction: - Hinduism is a religion with various gods and goddesses. According to Hinduism, three Lords rule the world. Brahma: the creator; Vishnu: the preserver and Shiva: the destroyer. Lord Vishnu did his job of preserving the world by incarnating himself in different forms at times of crisis. Hinduism originated in the area now called India and is still practiced by 80 % of its inhabitants. Hinduism is considered a major world religion because of its approximately 700 million believers and it has influence on many other religions during its long history.
Some authorities date it back to about 1500 BC and consider it the oldest religion in the world. This religion cannot be traced to a specific founder and does not have only one "holy book" as a spiritual guide. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism does not promote the worship of one particular deity. A Hindu may worship one or many different manifestations of the divine. They consider themselves successful Hindus when the reach the "Ultimate Reality" or nirvana in their lives. History and evolution: - The word Hindu comes from the river Indus, and it just means the people who live near the Indus river (actually in modern Pakistan).
The Harappa people who lived near that river about 2500 BC carved images of several different gods on their clay seals. We can't read Harappan writing, so we dont know what the Harappan people called their gods. But some of these gods look a lot like the later Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu, so this may be the earliest part of Hinduism. About 1500 BC, when the Aryans invaded India, they brought with them their Indo-European sky gods. As the two cultures mixed, it seems that their gods mixed too. So Hinduism got some new gods, and also some new ideas.
Hinduism has a long and complex history. It is a blend of ancient legends, beliefs and customs which has adapted, blended with, and spawned numerous creeds and practices. Significance: - The first significance of Hindu is marriage. Hindu marriages signify customs, rituals and elaborate celebrations. Traditional Hindu wedding ceremonies mostly last for four to five days. And the function is divided into three parts pre wedding ceremony, main day ceremony and post wedding ceremony.
Each day has its own significance and meaning. The pre wedding celebrations mainly includes engagement, sargent, mehndi, had and tilak. Each of the custom has an importance. The main day function is the wedding day and the post day rituals include vida and reception. These are some of the important rituals and customs that sum up the Indian marriage ceremony. A wedding is an important religious ceremony in the Hindu religion and one of the most important of the sixteen Hindu sankara or sacraments.
It is not only establishing the bond between two people, but also the bond between two families. The second significance of Hindu is the Hindu society which is the only significant society in the world today which presents a continuity of cultural existence and functioning since times immemorial. Impact in todays society: - In Hinduism religion there are approximately 700 million believers and it has influence on many other religions during its long history. During the European colonization of India in the nineteenth century the British, French, and Dutch imperial powers shipped Indian people overseas to work in plantations that were once worked by African slaves.
Most of these Indian were Hindus, and so Hinduism was transplanted in places, like Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and other territories. Large pockets on Hindus can be founded in most cosmopolitan centres of the western world, such as London, Birmingham, Amsterdam, New York, Sydney, Toronto, and Vancouver. In those major centres, there are well over one million Hindus one of the most influential aspects of Hinduism on modern western culture is the discipline of yoga. The impact of yoga and mediation can be judged by the multitude of classes and courses offered everywhere, and mainly by non-Hindu teachers.
Changing by 2020: - The country is headed towards becoming a developed nation and a superpower by the year 2020, where The Hindu, which is celebrating its 125 th anniversary, would continue to play a pivotal role in India's march towards achieving that major goal. other thing will happen in 2020 is Infanticide may critically impact Indias future, according to the Universities researcher who projects that because baby boys are prized over baby girls, India could face a critical shortage of women of prime marrying age by the year 2020. but now in India, its illegal to do it, but later on 2020 it will continues to happen. News on Hinduism: - 1) Polavaram: wall to protect villages Thursday, Oct 26, 2006 HYDERABAD: Faced with criticism against possible extensive submersion in Khammam district, the State Government has introduced a new component to the Polavaram project to protect the threatened villages.
It will construct a 44 -km-long flood bank at a cost of Rs. 307. 5 crores. The flood bank will be a massive structure with a height of 189 feet. It has been so designed since the water level in the Godavari had touched 182. 6 feet, the highest point in its recorded history at Bhadrachalam during the worst-ever floods in 1986 when the inflows reached 35 lakh cusec's. During this year's monsoon, there were widespread apprehensions that the Polavaram project, once completed, would wreak havoc in Khammam district.
Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshmaiah said here on Wednesday that the "China Wall-like structure" would have a free-board of 6 ft above the level touched in 1986 and act as a barrier. Quoting an empirical study, he said the 1986 kind floods, however, would occur only once in 500 years. Talking to reporters after discussions with officials on various aspects of the much-criticised project, the Minister said Polavaram dam would, however, be constructed to a height of 150 ft but it would be capable of discharging flood water of 49 lakh cusec's.
The study showed that such a level of flood would occur only once in 10, 000 years. Satish Chandra, secretary, irrigation, was present. Mr. Lakshmaiah said a maximum of 28. 5 lakh cusec's flowed down from Bhadrachalam during the recent floods when the water level touched 173. 9 ft.
About 250 villages were inundated in Khammam district (45 more than estimated). Only one village (Mysamma Guide) was flooded additionally in East Godavari above the estimated 42. The flooding was confined to 29 in West Godavari as originally anticipated. The Minister said most of the villages coming under submergence were in Khammam district, especially the Chintoor area. The flood bank planned would protect them all.
He said plans were afoot to pay compensation for lands, houses and structures located up to 100 metres from the full reservoir level of 150 ft. He called "false" the reports that the satellite image ries taken on August 7 had showed that 359 villages were inundated as against 276 estimated under the project. The report was yet another propaganda by the Opposition with a view to thwarting the Jalayagnam programme. 2) - Diwali candles start three fires Sunday, 22 October 2006, 10: 46 GMT 11: 46 UK Three serious fires have been started by candles lit for the Diwali celebrations in the West Midlands. A Sikh temple in Foleshill Road in Coventry was damaged when candles lit by worshippers started a blaze in the early hours of Sunday.
Earlier a woman was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation after a blaze at a house in Radford Road was started when a candle set fire to a net curtain. And a fire started in Smethwick after a candle was left on a television. Diwali, or the festival of lights, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. It began on Saturday this year and lasts five days and involves a wide use of candles and tea lights. Jim Sinnott, a spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service, said: "This is the time of year when everybody has the candles out. We get the same things happening and it is a struggle to get the message across. " He said candles should always be placed in heat-resistance containers, kept away from items such as curtains that can be blown on to the flames and warned people never to leave candles unattended.
Six firefighters had to enter the Ramgarhia Gurdwara to put out the fire, which had been started by candles placed outside the temple by worshippers. One man was treated for smoke inhalation. The most serious of the three fires was at the house in Radford Road, which did not have a smoke alarm. Mr Sinnott said: "The first floor was gutted and the entire house was damaged.
It was a right mess. " In Smethwick the occupants were alerted to the fire by an alarm. 3) - Religious festival fire warnings: - Thursday, 19 October 2006, 05: 51 GMT 06: 51 UK Warnings about fire safety have been given to people celebrating two major religious festivals this month. South Wales Fire Service is urging people celebrating Diwali and Eid Ul Fitr to be aware of fire safety in the home during the festivities. Diwali is associated with candle use, while special meals are prepared for Eid - both of which the brigade says cause a rise in home fires. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, while Muslims mark Eid.
The brigade, which covers areas including Cardiff and Newport which both have large communities celebrating the two festivals, says it is concerned that "safety comes second" at times of any celebration, including Christmas. Chief Fire Officer, Brian Fraser said: "It is ironic and tragic that during periods of celebration there is a dramatic increase in the number of fires amongst many communities. It's not only Diwali and Eid, but we also see an increase at Christmas. "I would especially urge the celebrating communities to ensure they have a working smoke alarm installed on every floor of their home. " He said fire statistics from across the UK showed there was an increase in fires during Diwali - the festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. He said it was because the festival involves the use of candles, tea lights and fireworks. Candle fires increase by over a third during the Diwali period and over 20 % of deaths UK-wide are caused by candles occur at this time. During Eid Ul Fitr, celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, the preparation of special celebratory meals increases the risk of cooking fires.
The celebration involves an increased amount of cooking and entertaining in the home. Bibliography Chow Andy et at. [online] October 25 th, 2006; available from web Dr. Carr Karen [online] October 25 th, 2006; available from web Hindu Marriages [online] October 26 th, 2006; available from web India to become superpower by 2020 [online] Friday, Nov 28, 2003; available from web News in Brief [online] October 25 th, 2006; available from web Online edition of India's National Newspaper [online] October 25 th, 2006; available from web Quinlan, Don et at. Exploring world and religion Don Mills, ON: oxford university press, 2001 Significance of Hindu Society [online] October 26 th, 2006; available from web BBC news [online] Sunday, 22 October 2006, 10: 46 GMT 11: 46 UK; available from web warwickshire/ 6074604. stm BBC news [online] Thursday, 19 October 2006, 05: 51 GMT 06: 51 UK; available from web east/ 6062358.
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Research essay sample on Wedding Ceremony Hindu Society
