Religion

HINDU COMMONALITY.

(Customs, Traditions, Beliefs and Practices which are common to most Hindus.)

 Hinduism has been defined by Dr S.Radhakrshnan, a s more than a Religion, "A Way of Life," "An attitude," and "An approach", to the problems of life. It has neither a date of origin, nor associated with any founder. All definitions and descriptions of its theology and philosophy, of its Legends, its scriptures and Deities are, neither wholly true nor entirely false. 

Amman       

Like a mighty mountain presenting a variety of views from different angles to different individuals differently, Hinduism creates impressions with a greater diversity. The view of the mountain depends on the directions, angles and elevations and distances to the view of the mountain from the position of the observer. Thus the Hinduism stands in the same relation to the discerning critics as well as ignorant on lookers.

The following are some of the commonalties found with variations among the followers of Hindu faith. The insignificant variations are due to the influence of climate, impact regional history, and geographic and economic factors. Yet there is much common in the belief systems and practices of the followers of Hindu faith from Kashmir to Cape Comorin, and from Dwaraka to Sylhet.

These are-

  • A common calendar-Solar or Lunar.

  • Common Festivals regulated by the Lunar.

  • The variety of the Festivals- (a) Seasonal, (b) Astronomical, (c) Religious, (d) and Historical.

  • Hindu Marriage customs and Death Ceremonies are same,

  • Births and deaths are observed with varying emphasis on pollution.

  • Sea Baths and Chaturmas are common to Hindus.

  • The Gods and their anecdotes are similar.

  • The lore of faiths and the spirit of philosophy are identical.

  • The methods of worship are the same.

  • The practice of Yoga is similar.

  • The belief towards the Ancient system of Ayurvedic medicine and surgery carries the same weight.

  • The (a) Folk lore (b) The folk songs and music, (c) the folk dances, (d) the themes of folk dramas and their rendering on  the boards,   in doors, in the open, are the same.

  • The much detested Caste divisions ,( with all its aberrations in the course of its historic evolution,) and their ideals, (declining for  the better, under the impact of education and empowerment of the so called lower castes,)

  • The social codes of conduct and Laws of society,( also gradually changing since the days of RajaRam Mohan  Roy,)

  • The prohibitions and inhibitions of relationship  through marriages,( also changing in free India,)

  • The treatment accorded to women,

  • The laws of inheritance,( changing under constitutional changes,)

  • The civil institutions,

  • The dress ( with slight climatic adaptations,)

  • The Diet( with slight adaptations,)

  • The bathing and washing practices,

  • A variety of superstitions  and prejudices connected with daily domestic routine work,

  • The conception of eclipses,

  • The beliefs regarding Heaven and Hell,

  • The twelve sacred rivers,

  • The seven sacred mountains,

  • Most of the centers of Pilgrimages,

  • The Seven Island Continents,

  • The influence of the stars on human life,

  • The personification of the Earth,

  • The significance attached to the River Ganges,

  • The Sacredness of the Cow,

  • The reverential attitude towards the Three mothers, namely, THE  BHUMATA, THE  GANGAMATA, And THE  GOMATA,

  • The auspicious months, inauspicious timings, dates and days and even directions, for social functions such as marriages,   sending  daughters to husband's homes, entering a new house, sending a child for the first time to school etc are more or    less identical among  all Hindus and in many cases the other faiths whose ancestors were originally were   Hindus.