Hinduism

Found among the devas, the Lopakalas (the deities of Vedic recycled in the pantheon of Sanatana Dharma), the Navagrahas (the nine planets in Indian astrology ).

The mystic syllable OM

The Omkara (or Aum)

Om (or Aum) is one of the sacred symbols of Hinduism. It is the primordial sound that emerges from the chaos before the Creation, it is the source of life.
It is sometimes used as a prefix and suffix to mantras and any Hindu prayer. It represents the contraction of the three states of matter: Sattva , Tamas and Raja , and represents the universe.

Writing "Om", it is the contraction of Aum, "m" is the resonance and "o", the original vibration .

m language Tamil

The sound Om (or Aum) is filled with a profound symbolic message: it is considered the primitive divine vibration of the universe that is all there, surrounding the whole nature in an ultimate truth .

Thus, the sound, produced a prolonged, the result of a combination of three sounds AUM (the triad of unit), meaning "what was, is and will, and has, for those who devote themselves meditation, a force both magical and religious . A Upanisad says:

"As agglomerate all leaves strung on a rod through them, and every word blends into the sound OM. The sound OM is all this universe . "

Schools and currents

Philosophical elaborations, as the source of what we now call "Hinduism" have been transmitted orally for centuries and began to be transcribed in the first half of first millennium BC. AD The religious and cultural system called Hinduism developed in the Indian subcontinent and is rarely out of its boundaries .

The six major philosophical and theological systems

Hinduism has developed Astika ancient or orthodox schools (for accepting the authority of the Vedas ) philosophy, or shadarshana. These systems, or "visions" (darshan) of Hinduism are classic six in number, each of them is the result of a long development which reflects a broad literature :

1. Samkhya , one of the oldest is the system of thought based on a dualism between mind ( Purusa ) and nature ( Prakriti ), which was originally posted theological speculation.
2. Purva-Mimamsa (also called Mimansa or Karma Mimamsa ) system revolved around the clarification of the Veda.
3. Uttara Mimamsa (more commonly known as the Advaita Vedanta ), a system centered on the nature of metaphysics and mysticism of the Upanishads.
4. Yoga , a system based on personal practice (posture, breathing and meditation) to achieve liberation, deliverance (, moksa).
5. Vaisheshika , the system has proposed the atomic theory for the first time.
6. Nyaya , the system of logic in India (the 16 criteria of "valid reasoning"), and last of the Hindu philosophies.

The Nastik or non-Orthodox schools - which are not discussed in this article - are Jainism , the Buddhism and Charvak , the atheism of the old classic India that refutes the existence of the soul or atman.

Schools and current theistic

Some common view of Hinduism as a religion henotheistic or even panentheistic. The various deities and avatars are worshiped by Hindus regarded as different forms of the One, the supreme god, or Brahman , which alone forms adopted are accessible to humans (we take care not to confuse Brahman, the supreme being and the ultimate source of all divine energy, and Brahma , the creator of the world).

This way to the supreme knowledge Orthodox (inanamarga), advocated by the six Hindu schools, remains the privilege of an elite intellectual restricted, the believer People often mixing all these currents of thought. However, three major trends theistic Hinduism's stand on a relatively large in all segments of the population: Vishnuism the Shaivism and Shaktism . Within these streams, many schools have developed, which differ mainly in their interpretation of the relationship between the Supreme Being, individual consciousness and world, as well as esoteric concepts derived . Vedic texts ( Vedas , Upanishads , etc..) are a reference for the three currents, even though each of them complements the writings ( Purana -s, s-Gita, etc.). their own . These writings are not mutually exclusive, because Hinduism allows the coexistence of different paths to salvation (Moksha) . Thus the choice of a current does not imply the rejection of others .

The Brahminism , which is the new form of the Vedic religion (see Vedism ), is divided into branches, themselves divided into sects:

1. Vishnuism or Vaishnava which refers to the worship of God as Vishnu or one of its avatars. The sacred books are the Bhagavata Purana - often called Shrimad-Bhagavatam - and the Bhagavad Gita.
2. The Shaivism Shaivism or that relates to the worship of Shiva , whose legend is reported in the Shiva Purana . The divinity of the Vedas Rudra is identified with Shiva.
3. The Shaktism , is divided into two or three branches according to the classifications and refers to the achievement of shakti , the 'act of awareness' often associated with a form of Devi , the mother goddess (like Kali , Durga , etc.. - the Shaktism is related to Tantra : one and one is, somehow, the extreme development of Hinduism ).

Each of these cults is practiced with the same means of philosophical or yoga , it is their methods that differ. These names should not be considered "churches" because there is no central dogma in Hinduism, and individual beliefs are always respected. Moreover, a large majority of modern Hindus may not consider themselves as belonging to a specific name.

According to a rough estimate, the Vaishnavas make up approximately a majority of Hindus to this day, believing that Vishnu personalizes Brahman, the venerable and often through, inter alia, the two avatars - or earthly incarnations - of Vishnu , Rama and Krishna. Non-Vaishnava Hindus are most often Shaivite (especially in the southern part of India), who consider Shiva or his son as the representative of Brahma, the rest treats Shakti the Brahman, Ishvara, or the goddess Kali / Durga. But often, the Hindu believer has in his performances of several of these forms of God ( Ishvara ).

Buddha in Hinduism

Buddha is revered by Hindus as an avatar of Vishnu.

In Hinduism, Buddha is considered an avatar of Vishnu. In the texts Puranic , it is the twenty-fourth twenty-five avatars, prefiguring a forthcoming final incarnation . A number of Hindu traditions speaks of the Buddha as the most recent ten main avatars, known as the Daavatar (Ten Incarnations of God). It should be noted that some people reject the idea that Buddha is an avatar of Vishnu.

Beliefs, rituals, and common practices

The four goals of life

In parallel the four stages of life Hindu, Hinduism believes that there are four goals to the existence or pouroushrtha. Human desires are natural, each of these goals is to improve the knowledge of man, since by the senses and participation in the world, he discovers the principles. However, the Hindu must be careful not to be charmed, under penalty of wandering in the endless cycle of samsara.

Kamadeva , the god of love and desire (Kama)

1. Kama or desire, especially desire and pleasure in love. In mythology, the god of love, kama is the source of creation. The Kama Sutra outline ways to exalt the senses and fulfilling life together. The man and woman unite and recreate the divine unity. The pleasure must be directed into the goal of knowledge and should not become a lifestyle that would lead to perform immoral acts or Adharma (contrary to the Dharma, see below).
2. Artha or material prosperity: Man must contribute to society by creating wealth and relationships that are the fruit of his labor. He must be careful not to get fooled by the charm of a life of ease, but must withdraw instruction. Grihastha period is conducive to the development of this goal.
3. Dharma or duty: The Dharma should direct all four periods of Hindu life. The assignment allows man to continue his life on track, in accordance with law and morality that are transcribed in the Dharma-sutra or the Manu-Samhita says Laws of Manu .
4. Moksha or deliverance: During the last two periods of the life of the Hindu this research moksha, liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. But it is primarily the ultimate goal of life Hindu who can do this by various means, such as Batki Yoga (see Indian philosophy ). According to Hindu tradition, the man who missed the issue must go through a cycle of 8.4 million rebirths in other conditions that the human condition before accessing it again . Nevertheless, we must not forget that Hinduism, with the bhakti (devotion), even an animal can reach through Deliverance his devotion to a deity, in contrast to Buddhism , in Jainism or Sikhism , Indian religions that consider he must be born human to access the moksha . The conquest of this absolute freedom is the goal of all philosophies and all the Indian mystical techniques .

These worms Kalda perfectly summarize this thought:

"Children, they cling to the study, young people seek pleasure; old, practiced asceticism, and it is in yoga they complete their lives."

- (Raghuvama )

The four stages of life

The spiritual life of a Hindu is traditionally divided into four stages or Ashram . These four stages are closely related to the four goals of life, each of these stages can best achieve these goals. This rigor gives access to a full spiritual life.

1. The brahmacarya is the period of life education. It involves detailed study of sacred texts, primarily of the Vedas. This stage is for children and students, chastity and abstinence are the main virtues. The guru or spiritual master is considered as the representative of divinity, the student owes obedience and respect.
2. Grhastya corresponds to the necessities of life and follow a worldly: it is that the father in the prime of life whose aim is to have children and must be enriched for the survival of his family.
3. The Vnaprasthya is the stage which corresponds to a life of retreat from the attachments of the material life and family. Once the material goals achieved, watching leaves his home to get the hello.
4. The Samnysa is the last stage of life that achieves moksha, spiritual liberation .

Today, these observances are followed more rigorously. The philosophy of bhatki which consists of worship of the gods tends to supplant the tradition.

Society Brahmin - Four Varnas

Young Brahman Shiva

"The four Varnas rigorously assumed their responsibilities. The Brahmins followed scrupulously the rules of life recommended by the scriptures: they were full of faith, gentleness and good manners, scholarly connoisseurs of the Vedas and their six branches . The Kshatriyas, warriors, practiced in the virtues of courage, loyalty and determination: they were attached to the code of honor of their varna. Vaishya, shopkeepers, craftsmen and farmers, filled with honesty and dedication the duties of their profession, without thinking of illegal gains. The shodras served with joy the other Varnas, and they were highly respected for their zeal by the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and Vaishya. "

- Valmiki, The Ramayana .

After the arrival of the Aryans , a nomadic people of Indo-European, the priests of the Indus asserted their supremacy by creating the caste system :

• the Brahmins , the priests, the cleric teacher;
• the Kshatriyas : warriors, kings and administrators;
• the Vaishyas : farmers, tradesmen and artisans;
• Shudras: servants.

These classes are called varna and the system was called Varna Vyavastha. The varna system is an integral part of Hinduism, and it is strictly sanctioned by the scriptures, the Vedas . The texts of Smriti (including Laws of Manu) drew up the rules of that system. Previously, the system was only based on occupation, place in the Vedic ritual and character, and there have always been examples where people have changed their profession freely and are freely inter-married.

Later, this system was fixed on birth. Thus, with the evolution of several sub-castes (with a class of untouchables outside Vyavastha Varna), the system has evolved into the caste system as we know it today. With modernization, blurring the differences of caste in modern India, but tensions and prejudices still persist, especially towards the Dalits.

The system of caste based on birth, which exists in modern India, did not exist in ancient Vedic Hinduism. A famous hymn of the Veda says:

"I am a poet, my father is a doctor, my mother's work is to grind the wheat ..."

- (Rig-Veda 9,112,3)

The varna system is explained theologically: in India, considering that the company is also organized according to the balance of dharma. This organization allows the harmonization of relations between men and define acts upon them. This concern has a steady source of doctrine, as it responds to the symbolism of the gunas or qualities / flavors. The three Gouna, match three colors (black, red and white) which are each associated with a varna. Originally, the Hindu is not born into a varna: it fits into the latter depending on the role it is to play and responsibilities that will be returned. Many mythological texts denounce the usurpation under Brahmin certain characters who, under color of birth, enjoyed a rewarding status without fulfilling their duties. But following the invasion as the British colonial rule tightened the benefit of the ruling castes, locking in a status shodras dominated society.

"There is no entity, or on earth or in heaven among the gods, which is not subject to the interplay of these three qualities (gunas) born of nature. The works of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishya and of the shodras differ depending on the qualities (gunas) born of their own inner nature. "

- (Bhagavad-Gita, XVIII, II, 40 and 41)

In Hinduism, every being is born to be unlike any other . In the indefinite number of possible combinations of elements that constitute the living being, it is virtually unthinkable that the same arrangement could happen again, that two beings are exactly alike, having the same nature, same appearance, same function, the same rank . However, according to their characteristics, can be classified into categories that people will for everyone to realize in order to achieve the perfection that is the only path to progress within . The varna system obeys this vision.

The Hindu belief maintains that this system is "natural" (see Hatha Yoga Collection Vol. 11: Life in the city ), which is found in the animal kingdom ( ants , bees and mammals live in herds) and family organization (respect and authority of parents and ancestors), as in society. From the Hindu point of view, this system would be scalable and would fit with the company.

There is thus a distinction between the system as it is expressed in the text and its current application. Aurobindo wrote: "The words of the Gita refers to the old system chaturvarna, as it is supposed to have existed or existed in its ideal purity - it was anything other than an ideal, a standard generally followed more or less closely in practice? "

You may be dismissed from his caste, but for this, the faults of the individual must be relatively serious. In India, recognizes five major sins or mahpataka, the worst being the murder of a Brahmin (or brahmahaty), but the consumption of alcohol, theft, adultery with the wife of his guru and protecting criminals are also severely punished. Lose his caste may be painful for a Hindu, since living in a close-knit community offers a number of benefits and protections.

Ahimsa (nonviolence), a vegetarian diet and the sacred cow

Hindu prayer facing two cows

Ahimsa is a concept which recommends non-violence and respect for all life, human and animal and even vegetable (see Bishnoi ). Ahimsa is quite often translated as non-violence. In fact, this term means, in its true sense, not nuisance in respect of all living beings, or respect for life in all its forms. In a positive sense, or active, ahimsa stands for compassion and generosity. The root Sanskrit is hims ("harm") with the private "a". Ahimsa is based on Vedic injunction:

" - , mhimsyt sarva-Bhutan (which does not impair any living being) "

But the term ahimsa appears for the first time since the Upanishads and the Raja-Yoga is the first of the five Yamas, or eternal vows, restrictions Essentials Yoga.

In this regard, Bishma said in the Mahabharata :

"The meat of animals is like the flesh of our own son "

The belief in reincarnation is fundamental to Buddhism and Jainism into Hinduism: we were, we are and we will (maybe) all of the animals during our countless lives.

The Ahimsa is the philosophical notion of Hinduism (and also of Buddhism or Jainism ) which introduces the vegetarianism as an ideal in the diet. According to some estimates, 85% of the Hindu population follows a vegetarian diet (no meat, fish or eggs, fertilized eggs are considered non-vegetarian foods in India ): especially in Orthodox communities of South India, in some northern states like Gujarat and South in Karnataka (where the influence of Jains is significant). This diet is based mainly on a diet containing dairy products and green products. Some even avoid the onion and garlic , is regarded as having properties rajas, that is to say "passionate". In traditional India, a Brahman cow was nothing without her, because she provided the offering to the gods most appreciated. The svadharma (the dharma staff) includes vegetarian Brahmins, the Brahmin is called to lead a life absolutely pure . Hinduism encourages vegetarianism . The consumption of meat, fish (and fertilized egg) is not promoted - only condoned, tolerated as part of range that Hinduism has assigned as the Vedas: less, not friendly and Ahimsa impure compared to a vegetarian diet .

here, Haridwar : the alcohols and non-vegetarian food (meat, fish, eggs) are completely prohibited in the holy city of Hinduism (as in almost all the holy cities of India).

Some Brahmins are not only vegetarian but vegan, that is to say, they consume no animal products (milk, etc.)..

In general, the Upanishads, already (from the sixth century BC.) stress that animals and humans are brothers, because all host them in the atman , and therefore are sanctuaries of Brahman ("Absolute", the highest concept of God in Hinduism). Precisely because all living beings are the sanctuary of Brahman there is no temple in India's Brahman, as there are temples of Vishnu or Shiva .

We can see that in most of Hindu holy cities, there is a ban on all non-vegetarian food and all alcohol, and a legal prohibition exists even on the slaughter of cows in almost all Indian states. The leather of a cow died of natural causes, however, is acceptable.

Most Hindus see the cow as the best representative of the benevolence of all animals - because it is the animal most appreciated for her milk, she is revered as a mother. The cow is the symbol of the power of Brahman and Ahimsa .

The cycle of life

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Ganesh

The Hindu believes in life after death and before birth, the body being only a temporary casing material .

Karma was originally the only ritual act ^, but subsequently considered engine of samsara, it is identified in any action automatically determining not only the rebirth after death, but also forms of the future existence and condition that the individual will experience in his new life .

In other words, man becomes what he is doing : good deeds in a previous existence improve the living conditions of future life, while bad actions aggravate .

Also each individual determines there by the law of its own maturation acts destiny in life to come, the " theater "of his fruit renewed (there is no question of reward or punishment, as does there is nobody to reward or punish) .

Moreover, in this succession of earthly existence, the atman remains the essence unchanged in the individual, despite the complete transformation of being, representing the continuity of the self in the migration of souls, "by which we are identical to each other and identical to the powers of the universe " .

To break this perpetual cycle, the Hindu should live so that his karma is neither negative nor positive. The yoga taught him the way to achieve this result, the Hindu has the freedom to choose the method that suits him best according to the schools of Indian philosophy in order to attain liberation or moksha of the soul. He can choose between a variety of ways such as devotion or bhakti , action or karma , or by knowledge ( jnana ) and meditation ( Raja ). Today, the majority of Hindus living in a materialistic age or kaliyuga , chose the path of Bhakti Yoga or devotion, appropriate to its time.

Rituals

The Puja , the ritual offering that punctuates the lives of Hindus and whose songs resound everywhere and at any time of day and night

The ritualistic behaviors are integrated into the daily lives of Hindus, the dawn to sunset sun , never the spheres of the sacred and the profane are really separated : it is the individual or the family , not community, which carries religious activity .

Adherence to the most famous is that of the three Brahmins they render homage to the three joints (samdhy) of the day . They open with rites of purification through ashes , of water , or products of the cow , proceed with recitations of mantras (formulas that become instruments of thought and meditation) and invocations to the sun (Smiling) . Other daily duties: the oblation to fire and, as evidenced by the Mahabharata, the worship of spirits (souls of dead ancestors), derived from the Vedic .

Temples

Diagram of a temple of Konarak

Hindu temples (mandir in Hindi , Koyil in Tamil ) inherited rituals and rich traditions and ancient, and occupied a special place in Hindu society. They are usually dedicated to a deity primary, called the tutelary deity, and other subordinate deities associated with the main deity. However, some temples are dedicated to multiple deities. (the abbots of monasteries Badrinath, Puri, Sringeri and Dwarka - four of the centers of the holiest pilgrimage - and sometimes a fifth, Kanchi) are regarded by Hindus as the four highest patriarchs. The temple is a place for darshan (vision of the divine being-) for the puja (ritual), meditation, among other religious activities. The puja or worship, frequently uses the aid of a murti (statue or icon in which the divine presence is invoked) along with the song or prayer as a mantra. The veneration of Murter is made daily in a temple. This form of worship of icon and temple, called puja, is an integral part of bhakti. Most Hindu homes also have a section on an altar for the daily worship deities with icons and a place for religious meditation.

Update on the Swastika

The swastika is a beneficial sign , of ancient origin, it is found in many cultures and symbolizes the revolution of the sun and cosmic forces. Turned clockwise, it is beneficial and represents the day; facing left, it is harmful and is the night and the goddess Kali , it is then called sauvastika . Its composition in 4 branches is the symbol of the four goals of life, the four Vedas and periods of life . With four branches that converge on one point, the bindu, it also symbolizes the number 5 with the 5 elements which represents ether bindu, the source of creation.

Main article: Swastika.

Social dimension

Right

Dance

Bharata Natyam dancer.

Real art ritual, the dance was born in Indian classical temples .

Several centuries before the Christian era, the great sanctuaries use the talents of young dancers .

Artists sacred , they are attached to the temple, named after devadai ("slaves of God"), and participate in ceremonies of offerings and adoration .

When, later, the dance is practiced at the courts of princes, it will retain that faith-based .

India has experienced two major classical types of dance.
Bharata Natyam is the oldest form, closely linked to religious ceremonies. For this art sober, delicate, generally slow pace, the dancer is alone on stage .
More dramatically, Kathakali has its major themes in episodes of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Each dancer wears a costume and a gorgeous thick makeup to match her character: the gods are generally painted green, the devils in red or black .

Environment

The environment in Hinduism is very important. Sanatana-dharma refers to the design of an eternal essence of the cosmos, the quality that binds all human beings, animals and plants around the world and possibly the source of all existence ^, . This perspective means that in India, religious and philosophical level, the environment can not be ignored or despised, but has its place in the world Hindu.

The Bishnois (or Vishno) are members of a community created by the guru Bhagavan Jambeshwar , commonly called Jambaji ( 1451 -?), mainly present in the state of Rajasthan , mainly in areas of Jodhpur and Bikaner , and a lesser extent in the neighboring state of Haryana in India.
The following Bishnois twenty-nine principles set by their guru and are characterized by their vegetarianism , their strict observance of all life (non-violence, ahimsa), protection of animals and trees, their adoption of a dress particular . They are often defined as having a strong sense ecologically. The Bishnois live peacefully in remote villages far from population centers, and are about seven million in India. These are the few Hindus to bury their dead, because of the need to cut wood for the cremation.

Celebrations

The Kumbhamel which gathers every time millions of pilgrims

The festivals in Hinduism play a visible and undeniable in the practice of Hindu religion. Except holidays the most popular, such as Holi , the birth of Krishna , or Diwali , the festival of lights, which are celebrated across the India , the most important celebrations are mostly local .

Usually, the course of the festival is centered around a large ornate chariot bearing the images of deities of the temple, and is pulled through the village or the whole region .

One of the best known festivals is being held in Puri (in Orissa ) in honor of Krishna - Vishnu who is at this time the figures Jaqannatha ("lord of the world"), his brother Balarama and his sister Subhadra .

One can also cite Janmashtami, "eighth birthday, celebration of the nativity of Krishna in the month of August. A doll representing Krishna baby is placed in a manger, around which the family sleep much the night reciting the prayers and songs. The fasting is often observed during the ceremony .

Worldwide

A sadhu in Kathmandu , in Nepal

The India , Mauritius and Nepal are mainly Hindu nation. Until May 2006, Nepal was the only state in the world whose official religion was Hinduism , until the Parliament proclaims the principle of secularism in this country . In Nepal , in India and Mauritius around 60% of the population are Hindu

The South-East Asia has been largely converted to Hinduism since the ^third century. There remain many monuments such as temple city of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the temples of the island of Java in Indonesia , and the popularity of the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. The influence of the dance is less obvious. The Indonesian island of Bali is well marked by a strong Hindu influence, with elements of Buddhist and mostly animist , the syncretism is easier in these cultures. The Javanese culture is still heavily imbued with Indian elements, and there remain pockets of Hinduism in Java. The Thailand and Indonesia have national coat of arms as Garuda , the vehicle of Vishnu , which is also reflected in the name of the national airline, Garuda Indonesia.

Since the ^nineteenth century , a diaspora Indian was formed. Thus, there are currently significant minority Hindus in the following countries: Bangladesh (15 million), the Indonesia (more than 5 million), Sri Lanka (2.5 million), Myanmar (2.1 million) the United States (1.7 million), Malaysia (1.5 million), Pakistan (1.3 million), the South Africa (1.2 million), UK (1.2 million ), the Canada (0.7 million), Fiji (0.5 million), Trinidad and Tobago (0.5 million), Guyana (0.4 million), Netherlands (0.4 million), Suriname (0.2 million), France (0.15 million).

The Western gaze

Mircea Eliade , Romanian historian of religions, has proposed to divide the tradition into four basic concepts integral to purify and complexity of Hinduism: This is the karma of the maya , the nirvana and yoga .

1. the law of universal causality, which secures the man with the cosmos and condemns him to transmigrate indefinitely: it is the law of karma;
2. the mysterious process that creates and sustains the cosmos, and thus makes possible the "eternal return" of existence: the maya, the cosmic illusion, supported by the man while he is blinded by ignorance ( avidya ), the confusion related to attachment and desire that prevents him to discern his true nature;
3. absolute reality "located" beyond the illusion woven by karma, pure Being, the Absolute, the Neutral by whatever name it designates, or: the Self ( atman ), Brahman , the 'unconditioned, transcendent, immortal, indestructible, Nirvana, etc.;.
4. Finally, means of promoting the revelation of Being, the appropriate techniques to achieve deliverance (moksha, mukti): the sum of means is sometimes referred to as yoga (union).

Controversies

The sati ("virtuous," faithful unto death), the symbol of total dedication to the woman to her husband, who is the widow to ascend the pyre of the dead and dying burned alive. Practice late in India ^(sixth century AD) restricted to the caste of the Kshatriyas, absent in the Atharva Veda which are exposed to the rites of the funeral (it is being given no prescription), it originates from the interpretation of one of legends where the goddess Sati, who was so devoted to her husband, she is ready to throw herself into the flames to defend the honor that it has lost in competing with his brother father. Banned in British India , sati has spawned a distrust of Hinduism .

Hinduism is criticized since the ^nineteenth century by the West - at the time offering its colonization of the world as "civilizing" - for some social traditions deemed regressive, backward-looking, ultimately incomprehensible to its culture, criticisms that the one must know nuance knowingly without altering the severity .
Here are typical examples:

• The dowry that parents must ensure that the bride, illegal under the Indian constitution , also practiced by all other religious non-Hindu Indian (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain ...) and domestic violence that derive from this custom . It should be noted that according to Hindu tradition, the dowry was a personal property of the young woman, inherited from his own family, she brought with her into the house of her husband . As it is late, it has betrayed its original form to become the "price" that the family of the girl should pay for the boy . It is unfair to equate the dowry, as it exists in its degenerate form, a practice inherent in the cultural substrate that represents Hinduism, especially as in many non-Hindus - in developing their economic -too - it is also practiced .

• The marriage between minors , which is no more shocking to the point of view that Indian family parent , rather common in the West .

• The prohibition for widows to remarry , to relativize, since, for example, it is permissible for women to always crop shakta , India enjoying a very high esteem, to remarry after a period of widowhood .

• The suicide of the widow on the funeral pyre of her husband or Sati , unknown to Hindu scriptures and also practiced as an alternative ritual, a religious response to a situation inextricable linked to the impurity .

• The practice of sacrifice humans ^{, ,} , which according to Hinduism, has value only if the human victim is voluntary, giving his own life - supreme offering - on the altar of the universe (the universe seen as symbolizing a ritual sacrifice, Tchinnamast , goddess holding in one hand she has severed her head and drank the blood spurting from his neck, is associated with virtue the courage of those who self-sacrifice ritual) .

• The caste system socio-professional , whose excesses were also condemned by the reformers, philosophers and wise Hindus as Basava from the ^twelfth century ^, . This caste system can still be seen as a way to generate a direct democracy controlled by federations of groups at human scale (Panchayats, representatives of different socio caste): it is not surprising that the Indians remain attached especially since they may idealize through religion ^{, , ,} .

• From the perspective of the three Abrahamic religions , Hinduism is also criticized as being polytheistic idolatry and friendly. Indeed, the cult of Mourti (visible form of god) is idolatry (which can take a negative connotation in religions such as Judaism , the Christianity or Islam ). During the ceremony ( puja ), the Hindu believes that the gods use these forms to spread their power and blessing to the faithful (darshan) .

• Hinduism is also seen in the West as a religion in which gods and goddesses, mythology, have a highly sexual nature and marked by violence ^, . Hindus do not condemn these interpretations, since for the Hindu philosophy of violence and sexuality are immutable components of the empirical world, the sensible world: according to them it is not only a misunderstanding of the real meaning of forms and symbolism of the Hindu pantheon, but criticism in context of evangelization and collected a sum disinformation to obscure the value and benefits of their religion .

• Another criticism is called Hindutva "being a Hindu." Many Indian media have become, because of Western influence, Puritans and fundamentalists, which is contrary to the true spirit of the Hindu tradition . Thus, in the twentieth ^century, emerging Indian patriotism began to promote Hinduism in opposition to the British Raj but also to Islam , in the following Indian independence, during territorial disputes with Pakistan. The "Indian Supreme Court" has yet legislated "blur the meaning" to give under: Hindu, Hinduism hindoutva and by not limiting not only the sphere of religion does not exclude the ideas of culture and common heritage India. A "mosque", a symbol of repression and intransigence of the Mughals for Hindus at Ayodhya , received, December 23, 1949, the statue of Rama who was placed under the central dome of the mosque, and before the crowds flocked to worship Hindu settled there. The structure was destroyed Dec. 6, 1992 no longer functioned as a mosque for decades, but as a Hindu temple for 42 years . According to tradition, and some historians and specialists , Rama was born on this site. Mir Baki, the Mughal who administered the place, had built the Babri mosque after this same place, is destroying this temple in honor vaishnavite of Ram , on the grounds of idolatry ( shirk ).

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