Why do Hindus cremate the dead? (Part 15)

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Why do Hindus cremate the dead?

Hindus arrange swift cremation of the dead, ideally within 24 hours. The fire and accompanying rites sever ties to earthly life and give momentum to the soul for its continuing spiritual journey.

HINDUS TRADITIONALLY CREMATE their dead because a fiery dissolution of the body brings swifter, more complete release of the soul than burial, which preserves the soul’s psychic connection to its just-ended earthly life. After death, the departed soul hovers close to the earth plane in its astral body, emotionally attached to the physical body and its old surroundings, still able to see this material world. The funeral rites and burning of the body signify spiritual release, notifying the soul that, in fact, death has come. Some of the funeral chants address the deceased, urging the soul to relinquish attachments and continue its spiritual journey. The Gods and devas are invoked to assist the soul in its transition. The fire severs ties to earthly life and gives momentum to the soul, granting at least momentary access to refined, heavenly realms. All attention is on a singular goal, as expressed in this prayer from the Rig Veda: “Release him again, O Agni, to the fathers. The one offered to you now proceeds to his destiny. Putting on new life, let him approach the surviving, let him reunite with a [new] body, All-Knowing One!” (10. 16. 5).

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Why do some Hindu Gods have animal features? (Part 14)

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Why do some Hindu Gods have animal features?

In dreams and visions the inner-plane beings have revealed themselves to mankind to be of many forms, expressing many powers. Some appear human, and others, like Ganesha, have animal features.

T

HE VARIOUS GODS IN HINDUISM’S WIDE-ranging traditions possess distinct personalities and forms based on how they have been seen in visions and how they are depicted in stories and legends. Hindus feel no need to question the fact, for instance, that Lord Ganesha has the head of an elephant. They know He has been seen in this way by rishis and even by ordinary devotees. Did He choose that form to distinguish Himself as the Lord of Obstacles? No one really knows. The important fact is that millions of Hindus worship and receive blessings from the benevolent Elephant-Faced God every day. Many Hindus seeking an explanation hold that Ganesha is a real being who looks like an elephant. Others believe the elephant form is symbolic. Millions are content with the ancient stories in the Puranas that explain how He came to have an elephant head. Interestingly, and perhaps because of His endearing visage, Ganesha is the most popular of all the Hindu Deities. Numerous other Hindu Divinities have animal attributes, including Hanuman, Varuna, Kamadhenu, the Nagas, the vahanas (animal mounts of the Gods) and four of Vishnu’s ten incarnations (fish, turtle, boar and half-man-half-lion). 

      In a discussion with Christians, who tend to ridicule Hinduism on this point, you can recall that winged angels are half-human and half-bird. Four-headed beings called the Cherubims were central in the early Christianity. In the Bible’s Book of Revelation, John writes: “I saw a throne standing in heaven; and the One who was sitting on the throne… In the center, grouped around the throne itself, were four animals with many eyes, in front and behind. The first animal was like a lion, the second like a bull, the third animal had a human face, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle. Each of the four animals had six wings...” (4:1-8). The description matches an account by Jewish prophet Elijah centuries before. Importantly, these beings are the most powerful beings in the pantheon, closest to the Creator.

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How do Hindus view other religions? (Part 13)

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How do Hindus view other religions?

Hindus honor all religious traditions and the people within them. While regarding our faith as uniquely endowed, we believe that there is no exclusive path, no one way for all.

IN INDIA, WHERE HINDUS ARE THE overwhelming majority, the rights of minority religions have always been honored. Hindus have welcomed, embraced and lived peacefully among other religions for centuries. During those same centuries, Hinduism itself evolved into hundreds of strains, and thus Hindus are fully at home with many different traditions and viewpoints within their own faith. Hence, they are naturally tolerant of other religions, respecting the fact that each has unique beliefs, practices, goals and paths of attainment, and not objecting when the doctrines of one conflict with those of another. Hindus readily accept the idea that it is not necessary, desirable or even possible for everyone to hold the same beliefs. And certainly such differences should never be cause for tension, criticism, intolerance or violence.

An ancient Sanskrit verse summarizes the Hindu attitude: “As the different streams, having their sources in different places, all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”

Hindus do not proselytize, meaning they do not try to convert members of other faiths to their own. Proselytizing is based upon the belief that one’s religion is the only true religion and everyone else should join it. Hindus hold the view that all faiths are beneficial. A devout Hindu is supportive of all efforts that lead to a pure and virtuous life and would consider it unthinkable to dissuade a sincere devotee from his chosen faith. They know that good citizens and stable societies are created from groups of religious people in all nations. While encouraging others to follow their chosen path with dedication, Hindus hold Sanatana Dharma to be the fullest expression of religion, and do accept sincere souls who seek entrance into Hinduism.

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Is yoga a Hindu practice? (Part 12)

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Is yoga a Hindu practice?

Deeply rooted in Hindu scripture and belief, yoga is, and always was, a vital part of Hindu religion and culture. Today it is embraced by tens of millions of non-Hindus seeking its renowned benefits to physical, mental and spiritual health.

IN RECENT YEARS A VIGOROUS DEBATE has arisen as to whether yoga is intrinsically a Hindu practice or a universal science. The word yoga has changed as the practice moved west. Its original meaning, “union with God,” has been replaced with the more secular definition presented by upscale yoga studios around the world that teach a regimen of asanas along with basic breathing and a little meditation. A typical studio ad focuses on the physicality, stating that “yoga increases the circulation of oxygen-rich blood, nourishing and detoxifying the internal organs, musculature, cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, digestive, reproductive and nervous systems.” The United States alone has over 20 million practitioners, and there are hundreds of millions worldwide. 

B.K.S. Iyengar, a renowned yoga teacher, gives a more traditional definition on his website: “Yoga is one of the six systems of Indian philosophy. The word yoga originates from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means ‘union.’ On the spiritual plane, it means union of the Individual Self with the Universal Self.”

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National Temple Convention - Malaysia Hindu Sangam

Need guidance on how to run a Hindu temple effectively?

Join this convention, get some ideas, do it better...

Organized By Hindu Sangam.

Tel: 03-7784 4668

FB Event page is here

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Path To Siva contest! - Posters up in Varatharaja Perumal temple Subang Jaya

If you are a Hindu staying in KL, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan or Malacca and are aged between 10 to 25, you can take part in the Path To Siva contest! Details are at:
https://hindueventsmy.blogspot.my/p/path-to-siva.html

Prizes
1st Prize – 1 Path To Siva Book + RM300
2nd Prize –1 Path To Siva Book + RM200
3rd Prize –1 Path To Siva Book + RM100

& 7 consolation prizes of a Path To Siva Book

Join this fun contest now!

Our Path To Siva Road Cruisers have put up posters in the temples shown below.

Sri Varatharajah perumal
Subang Jaya
Selangor 

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Majlis Amal Kesejahteraan Negara/Adi Amavasai Sirappu Tharpanam

Majlis Amal Kesejahteraan Negara organized by Sri Vanathadavar Alayam (Sungai Udang, Melaka) on 23rd July. See the picture for details.

Phone number: Nadarajan (012 6585473), Mejar Sugu(013 6349329), Sjn Baskaran (013 2047824). Mr Sundram (019-6822383)

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Pradosha & Path To Siva talk at Vanathandavar temple Malacca

I attended a wonderful Pradosha puja at Vanathandavar Sivan temple (Sri Vanathandavar Alayam, Sungai Udang, Malacca) about 2 weeks ago.

But first let me start at the beginning of the journey that morning. After taking blessings of my Guru & Ganesha, I started my long drive to Malacca.

I had plans to visit a number of temples but for some reason God Siva wanted me to only meet him at Sanyasi Malai (also known as Sannasi Malai temple, Cheng, Malacca) & Vanathandavar temple.

I was just in time to get Sanyasi Malai Andavar's darshan just after His abishekam. I wanted to put up a Path To Siva poster at the temple but I was told we can't stick anything in the temple.

So, I left a poster in the grooves of 1 of the pillars & moved on to Vanathandavar temple.I was just hoping to pass the QR code poster & move on to other temples to put up more posters but seeing the abishekam being performed made me stick round a bit longer. Though only a balasthabanam (temporary temple) at the moment, there was a potent vibration I could not ignore. I decided to stay for the puja. It felt like Siva wanted me there.

It was nice to see children attending the Pradosha puja. One little girl was keen to play with my phone & so this little video got made :) The divine vibrations of temple puja will bring out the higher qualities within us & in our children. So don't hesitate to take your kids to the temple. Of course, kids will be playful but that's OK. Kids will be kids :)

After the puja, I was taken by surprise when the temple President Dato Seri Mejar Segar asked me to give a talk on Path To Siva to those attending the puja. The talk was well received & so was the idea of using QR codes to view the Path To Siva on our mobile phones.

A Path To Siva poster was also put up in the temple & devotees were keen to try scanning the QR code to download the book. One devotee was even explaining it to another girl & so an impromptu video had to be taken of course :) If you didn't already know, there is a contest associated with this poster. Come join the Path To Siva Contest!



Plans are already underway to build a wonderful temple for God Siva here with ground-breaking done last year. You have a chance to help too. Sponsor a stone or bricks or even buy a square feet for the temple construction. A chance to build a Siva temple is rare. Don't miss this oppurtunity! :)
Go to vanathandavar.com for details.

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What about caste and untouchability? (Part 11)

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What about caste and untouchability?

Caste is the hereditary division of Indian society based on occupation. The lowest class, deemed untouchables, suffer from discrimination and mistreatment. It is illegal in India to discriminate against, abuse or insult anyone on the basis of caste.

CASTE, FROM THE PORTUGUESE casta, meaning “clan” or “lineage,” refers to two systems within Hindu society. The first is varna, the division of society into four groups: workers, business people, lawmakers/law enforcers and priests. The second is jati, the thousands of occupational guilds whose members follow a single profession. Jati members usually marry within their own jati and follow traditions associated with their jati. In urban areas they often enter other occupations, but still usually arrange marriages within the jati. 

Wealth, especially in urban areas, often trumps caste. Industrialization and education have greatly altered India’s jati system by eliminating or changing the professions upon which it was originally based, and opening new employment options. The jatis are evolving to function today less like guilds and more like large clans of related families. At the bottom are the so-called untouchables, who perform the dirtiest jobs and have suffered much like the black people of America, who were freed from slavery just 138 years ago. Strong laws have been passed in India to end caste-based discrimination. Modern Hindus rightly deplore caste abuse and are working to set matters right. Just as in the US, it is a difficult task that will take decades, especially in the villages.

Picture and write up courtesy of The Himalayan Academy 

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PATH TO SIVA CONTEST!

As promised, announcing the Path To Siva Contest !!!

This is a shout out to all Hindu Youth. If you are seeing this & have friends & relatives who are youth (age defined in contest rules), please share the joy with them :)
Hindu Events Malaysia believes we can learn Hinduism in a fun way. If you like treasure hunts, rock in traditional attire & love taking photos, this is the contest for you!

We gave you all a hint of what's coming a few weeks ago in this post:

https://hindueventsmy.blogspot.my/2017/07/coming-soon-path-to-siva-contest.html

So now here is the link to the full contest details. Make sure you read it if you are keen to join:

http://hindueventsmy.blogspot.my/p/path-to-siva.html

We are also including a short video that summarizes how you can join the contest. Lets have fun & in the process let's walk the Path To Siva.

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