Page 87 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol III

906 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Hindu Sadhus (Holy Men) walking in a
procession.

food to the image of a deity or, in the evening, rotating
a plate with burning pieces of camphor before the
image, is still very widespread in India.
Music is an important part of Hindu rituals. Vedic
hymns are recited according to a definite pattern of
pitches. Instrumental and vocal music, together with rit-
ual dance, are indispensable ingredient in temple worship.

Societal Hierarchy
and Government
Traditional Hindu society functioned on the assumption
that humans are not born equal and that their birth in
different varnas (classes) defines their specific rights and
duties. Brahmans, born from the Great Being’s mouth,
were the custodians of the Veda, the highest in rank.
Kshatriyas, born from the chest, were rulers and war-
riors.Vaishyas, born from the belly—businesspeople, arti-
sans, farmers, and clerks—had to provide the necessities
of life for society at large. Sudras, originating from the
feet, were to serve the upper three classes. Ati-sudras, the
people below the Sudras, are known in English as
untouchables.They were outside the pale of Hindu soci-
The routine of fixed, or obligatory, rituals structured ety proper and were relegated to work that was consid-
the course of the year and the lifecycle, creating a frame- ered ritually polluting, such as skinning carcasses, clean-
work supporting communities and families.The change ing latrines, and disposing of the dead. They were not
of seasons was accompanied by rituals, as were the allowed to dwell in the village proper and were not enti-
stages in the development of persons: Public offerings tled to using amenities reserved for caste people.Today,
ensured the fertility of fields and domestic animals; home- in spite of legislation forbidding discrimination, they are
rituals accompanied birth, adolescence, marriage, and still often exposed to disadvantage and mistreatment.
death. Occasional, nonobligatory, rituals were available Each of the four classes comprise of hundreds of jatis
togivespiritualsupportinspecialcircumstancesandaddi- (subcastes) that also observe ranking among each other.
tional comfort to individuals. In later centuries, when Duties varied not only according to varnas, but also
puja, the worship of great gods like Vishnu and Siva with respect to one’s stage in life. Men of the upper three
associated with images and temples, became the pre- varnas were to spend the first twelve years after their ini-
dominant form of religion, the old Vedic rituals were not tiation with a reputable teacher.They then had to marry
given up. Besides the pujas the performance of Vedic and to produce children.After the children had grown up
rites continues to this very day: Brahmans recite Vedic they were to live lives of simplicity and meditation, and
hymns at initiations, marriages, and last rites. finally they were to become renunciates and as homeless
Many Hindus participate in daily temple pujas and pilgrims were to visit holy places till death relieved them
partake of consecrated food. Major temple festivals are of the burden of their bodies. In reality, relatively few
great public events for every village and town. The per- men actually ended their lives as homeless pilgrims.
formance of numerous domestic rituals, such as offering An important element of the Hindu tradition was the