Transcript Slide 1

B576 – Hinduism 2
Unit 2 - Religion in the Family
Candidates should have considered the following aspects of Hinduism:
the contribution of dharma and karma to the welfare of the community;
• varnashramadharma;
• birth rites and the nurture of the young;
• the sacred thread ceremony;
• the marriage ceremony;
• the role of the family;
• funeral rites, and beliefs about death and dying, life after death.
• There should be consideration of the ceremonies which mark these events
(samskaras),
• The significance of the events for Hindus, and the ways in which the ceremonies
reflect Hindu belief.
Dharma
•
•
•
•
•
Dharma means religion, duty, law, righteousness and eternal order.
Dharma is a mode of Hindu religious motivation, gaining merit and having good
re-birth.
Santana dharma is the eternal dharma which is the unchanging universal law
which states that every being must act according to the laws that apply to its
own nature.
Varnashrama dharma is accepting and followin the rules of caste
Jati dharma decides how and which samskaras (rites of passage) are celebrated
by each caste.
Caste System - Varna
Brahmins - Priests
The Brahmins are the priest and higher profession such as
teachers and doctors. They are responsible for preserving the
tradition, they understand the scripture and lead a good moral
example.
Kshatriyas Warriors and rulers
The Kshatriyas are the rulers and military forces in society,
such as the royal family, prime minister and members of
government. They are responsible for ruling society.
Vaishyas -Traders
The Vaishyas are business people in society dealing with
money. They are solicitors, shop owners, business men.
They are responsible for providing material wealth.
1
Shudras Manual workers
The shudras are the workers and servants, such as
farm labourers, factory workers, builders and manual
workers. Their responsibility is to serve the needs of
the higher castes.
Dalits – Untouchables
There are some jobs considered so unclean, such as rubbish collecting, dealing with
dead animals, that those people are considered to be outside of the caste system
altogether
Ashramas – Stages of Life
Brahmacharya or Student stage
This begins with the sacred thread ceremony. Nowadays this is
marked by students attending secondary school. The students duty
is to gain knowledge through study.
Grihasta or householder stage
This stage begins when the students has finished their studies
and marries. Marriage is very important for Hindus as it is a
sacred duty. A married woman's duties are to bring up the
children, manage the finances and clean the home. A married man’s
duties are to provide for his family by earning a good, honest
living.
Vanaprastha or retirement stage
This stage begins when a grandson is born to ensure the continuation of
the family. The head of the household will then turn over responsibility
to the elder son. In ancient time, it was as this stage that you became a
forest dweller. The duties of this stage are to become detached from
worldly goods and material concerns and devote time to quietness,
solitude, study of the scriptures and meditation.
Sannyasin or renunciation stage
This stage of life is regarded as a holy and spiritual way of life and it is
one that not many Hindus reach. The duties of this stage are to
completely give up all worldly ties and possessions and devoting one’s
entire life to the spiritual goal of liberation or Moksha.
2
Why is Dharma so important?
•
•
•
•
It is the core of Hinduism because by fulfiling it every Hindu can achieve moksha.
They learn the rules in their families.
It affects nearly every aspect of their life.
The rites of passage mark the major life changes.
Samskaras: Rites of Passage
Hindu rites of passage are there to purify the soul.
The word "samskara" means "mental impression," for the ceremonies help create
a favourable mentality for stepping positively from one phase of life into the
next.
The samskaras are considered essential for the three higher (twice-born) castes.
The rites of passage were considered essential for preserving the purity of the
individual and of the social system.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jatakarma – birth ceremonies (plus others in childhood)
Upanayana – initiation (the sacred-thread ceremony)
Vivaha – marriage
Antyeshti – funeral and rites for the dead
Jatakarma: Birth Ceremonies
The jatakarma ceremony welcomes the baby into the world.
1. The father places a small amount of ghee and honey on the baby's tongue and
whispers the name of God in his ear.
2. On about the 11th day after birth the parents celebrate the name-giving ceremony
(namakarana) by dressing the baby in new clothes.
3. The family astrologer announces the child's horoscope.
4. Traditionally the child's name is chosen according to the position of the moon in the
birth chart. Songs and sometimes a havan (fire sacrifice) accompany these rites,
followed by the obligatory feast.
After these two ceremonies, various others follow, including:
•
the first outing (normally at around two weeks) the child takes darshan of the sun,
then the temple deity and in the evening sees the moon.
•
the first grains (when teething begins)
•
the first haircut (called mundan – between 1 and 3 years)
3
•
piercing the ear lobes (normally 3–5 years)
Upanayana Initiation: The Sacred Thread Ceremony
•
•
•
•
•
•
This ceremony is essential to the members of the three higher classes and
marks a boy's official acceptance into his varna (caste).
At this point he becomes "twice-born."
Everyone has a first, biological birth, but when a young man seeks his spiritual
identity he symbolically accepts a spiritual teacher as father and the Vedas as
mother.
Upanayana means "sitting close by," referring to the boy's taking shelter of the
guru (spiritual teacher).
Traditionally, he would move away from home to the teacher's ashram, called
"gurukula."
The emphasis at gurukula was on the study of the Vedas and development of
character.
The ceremony:
1. The ceremony itself involves shaving the head, bathing and wearing new clothes.
2. The boy may also beg alms from his mother and from other relatives.
3. There is a havan (fire ceremony) and the wearing of the sacred thread, which hangs
over his left shoulder.
4. The boy will then hear the Gayatri mantra from his priest or guru, who may give him
a spiritual name to signify his "second birth".
5. Thereafter, wrapping the thread round the thumb of his right hand, he will chant
this prayer thrice daily, at dawn, noon, and dusk.
6. The boy takes vows to study the Vedas, serve his teachers and follow certain vows,
including celibacy.
7. He often concludes the ceremony by offering the traditional dakshina (gift) to his
teacher.
Key Words
•
Dvija – "twice born," referring to full members of the three upper varnas. It also
refers to birds and teeth.
•
Jenoi – a modern word for the sacred thread (it rhymes with "annoy').
Vivaha - Marriage
•
•
•
•
•
Vivaha (marriage) is perhaps the most important samskara.
Traditionally it was the only rite performed for women, and for men in
the fourth varna (shudras).
A couple would stay together for life or until the husband took to the
path of renunciation.
Divorce was not allowed, and those who left their partners were often
ostracized from society.
Matches were usually arranged by the elders and based on astrological
principles. Despite modern attitudes towards this practice, evidence
suggests that these marriages worked relatively well.
4
The Wedding Ceremony
1. Sometimes a Hindu marriage is arranged by the parents because it is a
joining of two families, not just two people.
2. The horoscopes of the couple are checked before the date is set.
3. The ceremony usually takes place at the bride’s home.
4. The parents and priest recite blessings before the father hands his
daughter to her new husband.
5. The groom recites a prayer asking that the marriage will be fruitful and
that they will have many children.
6. Offerings will be made to the Gods.
7. The Bride will stand on a stone to represent the stability marriage
brings.
8. The couple join hands as the priest lights a fire on the small altar that
has been set up.
9. The couple will throw rice into the sacred fire (havan) to encourage
fertility in the bride and groom.
10. The husband’s scarf is tied to his wife’s sari to show that they are now
united as one couple rather than two separate people.
11. The groom puts his right hand on his bride’s right shoulder and they
circle the sacred fire seven times. Seven prayers are said asking for
seven blessings on the marriage – This is the essential part of
marriage laid down in the law of Manu.
12. The groom and his family make an
offering of barley which is a symbol
of fertility.
12. The groom places a black and gold necklace round the bride’s neck to
represent the union of their families.
Roles of men and women
Some Hindus believe that:
•
Men are the protectors of women and should have the role of
•
breadwinner and leader of the household.
•
Women should look after the home and children, and care for
•
the shrine in the home They do not allow women to be
•
religious leaders.
Some Hindus (such as Iskcon and the Virashaivas) believe that:
•
Women and men should have equal roles in life and religion.
•
They have women religious leaders.
Some Hindus (such as the Swaminarayan) believe that:
•
Wlthough men and women are equal in life, men and women should have different
roles in Temple worship, and they do not have women religious leaders.
5
Antyeshti: Funeral Rites
•
•
•
Most Hindus cremate their dead.
The exceptions are small children and saints, whose bodies are considered pure,
and are therefore buried.
The burning of the body enables the soul to be released from it’s entrapment in
the body.
•
Funeral ceremonies should therefore be performed as soon as possible – by dusk
or by dawn, whichever occurs first. Therefore, in India a funeral takes place
within hours of death. Regulations elsewhere mean that it may take much longer.
•
Significantly, though, these rites are more for the benefit of the deceased than
for the bereaved. They are essential to ensure the smooth passage of the soul to
a better level of existence. Most essential is the shraddha ceremony performed
on the first anniversary of death. Prasad, often balls of cooked rice, are offered
to God and in turn to the departed soul.
Funeral rites are very important for two reasons:
• They show respect for the dead and, they include various ceremonies which
people believe are necessary to ensure that people go on to whatever their next
life will be.
• Perhaps more importantly, they give the relatives and friends of the dead person
time to mourn and show their grief in a certain way. People often say that showing
their grief formally helps them to get over their loss.
What happens after death…
1. When a Hindu dies their body is washed and wrapped in white cloth. Sweet smelling
paste called ghee is rubbed into the skin, perfume called sandalwood is also rubbed
in.
2. Members of the family may offer gifts to Shiva and place them with the body.
3. A Candle is lit and placed near the head to represent the atman.
4. Tulsi leave is placed into the mouth of the deceased because it is said to bring
instant liberation.
5. The body is carried to the pyre by close members of the family. Often a priest
may be present at the ceremony.
6. The fire is lit by the eldest son and ghee is placed over the wood to make sure it
burns well.
7. A prayer is said over the body, ‘...may your sight return to the sun and your soul be
released to return to the earth to enter a new body or to enter the realms of the
Ganges’ (because it is the most important river in Hinduism).
8. It is associated with Shiva who holds the power of life and death.
6
9. Prayers are said for the dead person:
“O Supreme light, lead us from untruth to truth, from darkness to light and from
death to immortality.”
10. Afterwards the ashes of the dead person are sprinkled on water. Many people take
the ashes to India to put on the waters of the Ganges, others may take them to the
sea near to where they live.
11. After the funeral the widow or widower will wear white as a sign of mourning.
12. The close family may mourn for twelve days.
13. On the thirteenth day the samskara ends with Kriya. During this ceremony, rice
balls and milk are offered to the dead person to show the gratitude of the family for
the life of that person. After this, the mourners can continue with their normal lives.
The significance of the events for Hindus, and the
ways in which the ceremonies reflect Hindu belief
• Hinduism is often considered a way of life rather than a religion. This way of life is
centred around a Hindu’s dharma (duty).
• To achieve Moksha (Liberation) a Hindu has to be the best they can be and this is
defined by their varnashramadharma.
•The Rites of passage ceremonies mark a change in a Hindus stage of life, and
therefore their Dharma. For example, once a Hindu is married they enter the
householder stage.
• The rites of passage ceremonies are symbolic in recognising a change in status and
duty and also promises that you make.
• The marriage ceremony recognises promises that the husband and wife make to
each other and symbolic gestures to encourage fertility.
• Having males is important to continue the family name and an eldest son is needed
for the funeral rites.
• The funeral rites are essential to help the soul (atman) to continue on it’s journey
through the afterlife and also help to cleanse the relatives.
7