Page 89 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol III

908 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

temples all over India. Since independence in 1947, tice that is common to all Hindus, except perhaps the
more new Hindu temples have been built in India than nominal acceptance of the Vedas as revealed scripture
in the five hundred years before, amongst them the well- and the belief in karma and rebirth.
known Birla Temple in New Delhi.Today more than 25
million Hindus live outside India. In Southeast Asia, Education
Europe, North America, Africa, Australia, and Oceania The initiation ceremony at which the sacred thread was
hundreds of Hindu temples have been built, often repli- given to a young boy (now increasingly again to young
cas of famous Indian temples, with Hindu priests per- girls) was the “second birth” which entitled someone to
forming Hindu ceremonies.The Vishva Hindu Parishad, receiving instruction. It was given to the three higher var-
or World Association of Hindus, founded in 1964 in nas: Brahmans, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. Sudras and Ati-
Mumbai, is active in India and among overseas Hindus sudras were excluded. Traditionally, education was a
protecting and promoting Hindu culture. high priority for Brahmans, whose early life was devoted
to study and for whom life-long education was a duty. In
The Transmission addition to learning from a guru in his home, a student
of Tradition could attend a school attached to an ashram or temple.
Vedic religion was family based: Specific branches of the The well-organized, publicly and privately sponsored
Veda were preserved in individual families. The home ancient Indian universities, such as Taksasila (now Taxila,
was also a center for religious practices: The sacred established c. 700 BCE) in the Punjab, and Nalanda (tra-
hearth fire was not allowed to die out. Husband and wife ditionally dated to the sixth or fifth century BCE, though
together had to perform the domestic rituals. Families archaeological evidence points to establishment around
were responsible for the lifecycle rituals. Young boys the fifth century CE) and Vikramasila (established c. 800
moved into the families of gurus, to be taught. The role CE) in Bihar, had thousands of teachers and tens of thou-
of the guru reached great prominence when specific sands of students. They taught not only the Vedas, but
worship communities developed under the leadership of also the “eighteen sciences,” later supplemented by the
charismatic personalities, who often claimed to be the “sixty-four arts.” The basic curriculum included linguis-
embodiment of a deity.These religious leaders helped to tics, arts and crafts, medicine, logic and dialectics, and
shape mainstream Hinduism and still exercise great spirituality.
influence on Hindus at large. They regulate the lives of High ethical standards were expected both from stu-
their followers and reinterpret scriptures and traditional dents and teachers. Students not only had to pass strin-
teachings. Their writings—especially the commentaries gent examinations to prove their aptitude, they also had
on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma to live an austere and pure life. Hindus believed in a bal-
sutras—are the main texts for students of Hindu theol- ance of values, however, as expressed in the four “aims of
ogy. In some circles Vedic tradition has remained intact life”: It was legitimate to acquire wealth and to enjoy life,
—in others, it has not. Instead of leaving home with a but one also had to practice morality and religion and to
guru, many boys in big cities receive the sacred thread at seek final emancipation from the bonds of this existence
the appropriate age and begin being taught traditional in order to lead a fulfilled life.
ethics and lore by a senior relative or a Brahmin who is
a family friend. Ayurvedic Medicine
Pluralism was a hallmark of Hindu religion from its Ayurvedic medicine, whose principles derive from the
very beginning: Many gods and goddesses are invoked in Vedas, was cultivated systematically from early on. It was
Vedic hymns, and Hindus continue to worship a great mainly oriented towards preventing diseases and healing
variety of deities in their temples. There is no creed to through herbal remedies. Good health was not only con-
which all Hindus subscribe and no one doctrine or prac- sidered generally desirable, but also a precondition for