World Religions

A majority of the world religions have founders, but there are two that do not have a historical founder. Those two are Hinduism and Shinto; the latter being a religion that was not covered in this site. From the Hindu perspective, the uncertainty of the religions’ founder adds to the pull that the religion creates. The Sanatama Dharma of Hinduism comes from antiquity in a perfect mystery… the same as the truths of divine origin

• Have there ever been any reform movements in the history of Hinduism?

Since the early 1800’s, numerous reform movements have taken place to try to get most of the Hindu population to reinterpret ancient traditions to fit the modern lifestyle. The Brahmo Samaj, or Universal Society of God, denounced the belief that widows must commit suicide, and helped encourage the understanding that there was one god in the Hindu faith. Before this organization came to being, the Sadharan Brahmo, also known as the Universal Society of God, aimed at creating a Hindu caste system and began searching for ways to update the religion without converting to European ways of thinking.

Reformers such as Ramakrishna (1836-86) and his disciple, Vivekandanda (1869-1948), offered new interpretations of both the bhakti and Vendanta that they hoped would one day reach the world beyond India, and capture its interest. Their twentieth century successors, which included Shri Aurobindo and Mahatma Gandhi, found quiet places where people could find devotional sanctuary.

• How are Hindu religious leaders given authority?

Hindu ministry is often a hereditary place in the Hindu community; families of these priests trace there origins far back in order to be sure of their placement. There are spiritual teachers called gurus who help people of the culture with their knowledge of the different aspects of Hinduism. They are given the equivalent of a license to teach this way, but many of them become well known through popular acclaim of their teachings. Individual people become known when their holiness is viewed by their peers, holiness being their special powers and qualities. Seekers of the truth gather around these people in the hopes of sharing knowledge and devotion.

• How is Marriage incorporated in Hinduism?

In the older practices of this religion, there were arranged marriages which are still continued by many Hindu families today. After a wedding, there is an extended period of gift giving and receiving, and celebrations. The actual ceremonial wedding takes place in the early evening or at sunset, at a location chosen by the family of the couple. It begins with the family of the bride “giving” their daughter to the family of the groom, and the ceremonies continue up to the point of the betrothed couple taking the “Seven Steps” of life.

• Does the idea of inter-faith marriage concern the Hindu people?

Due to the large population of Hindus in India, there is very little chance of a Hindu marrying a person of another faith. Yet, even in other countries, due to the faithfulness of Hindus to their religion, there are still very few Hindus who would like to marry one outside their faith.