I grew up in a moderately religious household. My mother regaled my sister and I with the epic stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, we went to the Mandir (Hindu temple) on a regular basis and my mother and my sister prayed everyday.
I began to question religion at a very young age. I suppose my early interest in science and constant observations of the mistreatment of women in Hinduism and Indian culture played a large role. Thankfully, I was raised by an intelligent, progressive woman who welcomed and encouraged my critical thought.
Despite what the girl on the yoga mat next to you might say, Hinduism, when practiced in its orthodoxy, is very far from enlightening, and like every other religion, is woefully guilty of being atrocious in its treatment of women. From the ancient practice of Sati, to the fasting of Karva Chaut, or even the ending of the Ramayana, Hinduism is no friend to the ladies.
Yet even as I started to question religion in general and mine in particular, I continued to celebrate Diwali.
Growing up, my mother would tell us how Ram defeated Ravana, and was returning to his home, so we needed to light the little clay lamps, known as diyas so Ram could find his way back. As we got a little older, my mother taught us about all the different ways Diwali is celebrated in India, but that all celebrations tended to have the common theme of good spirits prevailing.
Known as the "festival of lights," Diwali for Hindus represents the triumph of good over evil. The details of the meaning of the holiday vary depending on where you live for Hindus, and is entirely different for Sikhs and Jains, but that doesn't seem to matter as the entire country is busy celebrating lighting fireworks and eating burfi.
Sikhs celebrate Diwali in India to celebrate the liberation of the sixth Sikh guru from his imprisonment, Guru Hargobind Singh. Jains celebrate Diwali because it was on this day that Mahavira attained Moksh, or what is commonly referred to as Nirvana. If you are a Hindu from the state of Tamil Nadu, then you are celebrating Diwali to mark the death of the demon Narakasura, at the lands of Krishna. Often, even Indian Muslims, a group that the country has a long history of treating as second-class citizens, partake in the celebrations.
Diwali was always a particularly fun time for me growing up, and not just because it was the only day that I was allowed to use matches. India is a nation that is infinitesimally divided. It seems that Indians will use any motivation to distinguish themselves from another group, whether that difference is based on language, religion, caste, or region.
Diwali, however, seems to be the one day of the year where the whole country puts aside its trivial differences, lights up, and celebrates together as one. That's a holiday that even the most crotchety atheists, this one included, can celebrate.
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Allegra Wiprud: What Diwali Means: Love, Justice And Community
Parth Parihar: Why Do Hindus Celebrate Diwali?
This woman is trying hard to prove she's sophisticated by claiming to be a feminist and also an atheist for a double dose of imagined sophistication.
Because, they are not even following any scripture or guru, just following old tradition blindly. A famous writer of Bangladesh called Humayun Azad (a self-declared atheist) once quoted: 'The more an Abrahamic people follows religion, the more fundamental he is and the more a Dharmic(including Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddha) follows a religion, the more liberal he is.'
Sarve santu sukhina vavontu, Om shanti. (May all creatures in this universe be in peace.)
In brief, in Hinduism, learned people like acharyas and gurus hold greater power than scriptures. So, they can guide their disciples, and people have the freedom to accept the philosophy, deity, sect, guru and rituals (in order) by his/her own choice. This is not true with any other religion. Let me give last small example. According to my knowledge, Raja Ramamohana Ray first started anti-sati movement and later Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar started widow-marriage movement in Bengal around 18th century. Both of them wrote several articles citing the verses of Rig-veda and manu-smriti supporting their movements. Moreover, they also showed how orhodox Brahmins mis-used and mis-interpret the above cited verse of Rig-veda. Just search and you will find articles written by them. If you really want to learn Hinduism, go to any authentic Hindu school like ISKCON, Swami-narayan, Art of living, Chinmoy mission, Ramakrishna mission, which have their vibrant presents in the west. But, please learn and experience with open mind,http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/supriya-dwivedi/diwali-celebration-india-_b_2121786.html# if you are really interested in Hinduism. Dont critic something with shallow knowledge. As far as I know, no prominent Hindu school suggests for Sati these days. I am not sure about what you meant by Orthodox Hinduism. Which branch are you referring to? If you are talking about some old Brahmins who do not even pays attention to scriptures and philosophies, then I will not argue at all.
TBC
Another unique aspect of Hinduism is that Hindu scripture does not command, rather always suggests things. Its an evolving knowledge passing through gurus and disciples. Moreover, they are really hard to grasp. If a novice reads the scriptures, he or she will even find contradictions among the same scripture. Therefore, you need to learn it through an experienced guru, who can guide you properly and deeply. Moreover, since there is no authoritative scripture or founder of the religion, many of the rituals and practices are CHANGEABLE over time. This is a sharp CONTRAST to Islam and orthodox christianity, which do not allow deviating from Quran or Bible. For example, animal sacrifice was a part of parcel of earlier vedic rituals (specially in Rig-vada time), but those were abandoned in later scriptures like Atharba -veda, puranas, and so on. God did not have any image or murti in vedic time. In puranic time around 200 BC later on, images were created for Gods and Goddesses. Then, the conflict between two philosophies started which one should be followed. Bhagavad-gita later reconciliated that. Even today some sects like Arya-samaj and Kerala vedic brahmins do not sanctions idol-worship. There can be numerous examples like that.
TBC
Hi Supriya,
I'd say your knowledge about Hinduism and its scriptures is too shallow. Do not judge Hinduism as what current Hindus follow. Even, Hindus living in different parts of the world have different customs. Hinduism is not bound by any authoritative church or scripture like Abrahamic religions such as Islam and Christianity. Hindu scriptures are an ocean, where multiple paths/philosophies/sects co-existed for thousand of years. Sage Ramakrishna says:'Unity through diversity'. Let me give some examples. Hinduism sanctions both theists and non-theists (Charbak phiosophy), represents God as both male(Vaishnavism, Saivism) and female(Shaktism), allows numerous philosophy based on the relationship between God and souls(advaita, dvaita, bisishta-dvaita, achinta-vedaveda), to name a few. In old days, people from all these different sects and philosophies used to debate on the bank of holy rivers for months and whoever was defeated accepted the winner as a guru. (Read 'Argumentative Indians' written by noble laureate Amartya Sen). Swami Vivekananda said:'Indian religions like Hinduism and Budhdism were preached by knowledge not by sword.' Different sects follow different scriptures also. Only Bhagabad gita and Upnishads are followed by all sects and philosopher.
TBC
They do not realize that Hindu scriptural lore is like a dense forest and needs a guide to make sense of it all. A minimum knowledge of Shankara, Ramanuja or Vivekananda's writings (to name a few) is necessary before giving opinions in public about Hindu scripture or Hinduism.
Finally they have a non-critical attitude towards Western academic writings on Hindu scripture. They should read books like "Invading the sacred" by Ramaswamy, de Nichols and Banerjee or "Interpreting Ramakrishna" by Tyagananda and Vrajaprana.
They are sure to be shocked to read what Sri Ramakrishna says about Hindu scripture:
"The scriptures contain a mixture of sand and sugar as it were. It is extremely difficult to separate the sugar from the sand." [September 19, 1884],
"One cannot get true feeling about God from the study of books. This feeling is something very different from book-learning. Books, scriptures, and science appear as mere dirt and straw after the realization of God." [October 26, 1884],
or to read Sri Vacaspati Misra, another Advaita Vedanta philosopher, who says, "Even one thousand scriptural statements cannot transform a jar into a piece of cloth".
They do not realize that Hinduism is a laissez faire and an experiential system and not an authoritarian or a blind faith system.
is in Chandi which is a part of the Markendya Purana:
Vidya: samastastava Devi veda:
Striya: samasta sakala Jagatsu (Chandi XI.6)
English translation:
All lores are your aspects O Devi;
So are all women in the world,
Endowed with various attributes.
Atharva Ved
Atharva 11.5.18
In this mantra of Brahmcharya Sukta, it is emphasized that girls too should train themselves as students and only then enter into married life. The Sukta specifically emphasizes that girls should receive the same level of training as boys.
(Book: Mera Dharma, Author: Priyavrat Vedavachaspati, Gurukul Kangri University)
Chapter 1: Women in Vedic Dharma, Page 8
Girls should train themselves to become complete scholars and youthful through Brahmcharya and then enter married life.
(Atharvaveda-Hindi Bhashya, Part 2, Author: Kshemkarandas Trivedi, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, Page 413-414)
Atharva 14.1.6
Parents should gift their daughter intellectuality and power of knowledge when she leaves for husband’s home. They should give her a dowry of knowledge.
(Book: Mera Dharma, Author: Priyavrat Vedavachaspati, Gurukul Kangri University)
Chapter 1: Women in Vedic Dharma, Page 8,9
When girls ignore external objects and develops foresight and vibrant attitude through power of knowledge, she becomes provider of wealths of skies and earth. Then she should marry an eligible husband.
(Atharvaveda-Hindi Bhashya, Part 2, Author: Kshemkarandas Trivedi, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, Page 654)
Atharva 14.1.20
Oh wife! Give us discourse of knowledge
(Book: Mera Dharma, Author: Priyavrat Vedavachaspati, Gurukul Kangri University)
Chapter 1: Women in Vedic Dharma, Page 9
The bride may please everyone at her husband’s home through her knowledge and noble qualities.
Sabha, Delhi, Page 804)...http://agniveer.com/women-in-vedas/
Yajurveda 13.26: O woman, you do not deserve to be defeated by challenges and obstacles. On contrary, you possess the power to defeat the stiffest challenge. Defeat the enemies and their armies. You have valor of thousands of men. Realize your true potential and demonstrate your valor. Please us all through your courage. The world demands that from you!
Rigveda 8.67.10: O woman, you are unbreakable. You are never impoverished. We urge you to spread happiness and prosperity in the world. We urge you to realize your potential so that we are able to fulfill our goals.
Yajurveda 14.13: O woman, you are the queen! You are brilliant like the east from where sun rises! You are possessor of tremendous potentials like the south. You are the empress like the glorious west. You enlighten us all like the north. You deserve vast respect like the sky.
Rigveda 6.75.15: O brave woman, for the criminals, you are an arrow full of poison. For defense of the society, you have donned an armor. You have tremendous valor. We humbly bow to your selfless glory!
And girls complaint!!....it's boys that should complaint to the Vedic god.
http://www.evilbible.com/
-- [ cf also Vishnudharmottarasutra VIII.p.111
for the same verse ]
yup, what a pro-feminist religion.
btw, it's laughable that somebody as religious as you is pursuing a scientific degree. tell me, how does a flying monkey fit into science? or a guy with an elephant head? or how about the holiday where a snake is supposed to drink milk?
You do realize don't you that India has 20 different alphabets, hundreds of languages and dialects based upon those alphabets, regional differences in climate and thus cuisine (Ayurveda agrees with this way of doing things), and associated rituals and traditions. This variety is what makes India. It is why people visit India because it is not a monoculture. I don't understand your objection... what kind of utopia do you have in mind.
Next, you have summarily juxtaposed as opposites the notions of science and Hinduism. On what basis do you do this? You should realize that the type of knowledge gained via science is accepted in Hinduism, but it is not elevated to 'the one truth'. Complementarity is the approach, in keeping with a sophisticated epistemology, which the modern West is learning about presently due to its own forays into science and Eastern philosophy. Your analysis is extremely lazy... what findings of science does Hinduism or Hindus oppose? Your analysis fits the bible belt. Don't bother extending it into places where you cannot support this with argument.
Like most people, you are confusing the monotheistic faiths with the Dharmas. Here, educate yourself... http://archive.org/details/AHistoryOfIndianPhilosophyBySurendranathDasgupta-5Volumes (2517), and then come back and make a relevant critique. See ya...
you realize that sati being a sanctioned practice in Hinduism has been given a lot of weight in the past, surely this can't be the first time you have ever read this anywhere...yes, it is a debated issue, but that doesn't mean that it is settled.
the fact that you are getting so personally offended is only proving her overall point on religion.
Brahma Purana.80.75 : " It is the highest duty of the woman to immolate herself after her husband ",
or how do you explain the story of Roop Kanwar? or why Raj Gandhi needed to pass a law in 1987 that would make sure Hindus no longer glorified sati?