Hinduism in southern California

One of the earliest structured religions is Hinduism. In contrast to Christianity and other monotheistic religions, Hinduism lacks a singular founder, holy book, and notion of deity. Similar to that, it lacks a centralized religious authority, a distinct moral code, or a theological system (Kumar 13). Due to the diversity of Hindu traditions, freedom of practice and belief are significant historically. In India, the separation of church and state has deteriorated due to the links between nationalism, the national government, and religions, which has resulted in a decline in religious tolerance. In the last and half-century, millions of the south Asian has migrated to the various parts of the world; searching better careers and education, and colonial transfer of labor in western countries such as North America.

Hindu nationalism refers to as the expression of the political and social thought, built on the native cultural and spiritual traditions of the Indian. Between the 1757-1947CE (British period), Robert Clive’s victory indicated the end of the Mughul Empire and hence British supremacy rise in India (Kumar 15). However, the British did do not interfere with the Indian culture and religion until the arrival of missionaries. Dayananda Sarasvati advocated the return to Vedic religion which emphasized on omnipotent, eternal and impersonal God. Paramahamsa Ramakrishna supported for the unity of all the religions. British rule of India indeed had an impact on the caste system due to an assimilation of native Indian community by the British East India trading company. There was a change in traditional and essential part of the culture due to the British economic and political power. For instance, women‘s voice is the new modern Hindu movement within the culture is a means to reach equality on that level (Kumar 15).

The growth of the American Hindus was due to the immigration from India since 1965. Also, there is indo-Caribbean Hindus from Trinidad and Guyana, and even small percentage number of the white American have become Hinduism as result of the Yoga practice or ISKCON (Hauser 202). Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse traditions and beliefs, and not a unique system of ideas and opinions. Some of the significant themes comprise Dharma (duties and ethics), Karma (rights), Samsara (rebirth) and Moksha (liberation from the samsara cycles. Hindus believe in the scriptural (Vedic) mandate which is the “truth is one,” (Hauser 204). And so, the belief of the directions to the divinity is valid. The Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu holy book, emphasizes one’s responsibilities to the community, nations, family, and world.

According to the PEW research center finding, the number of the Hindus rose from 0.3 to 0.7% in 2007 and 2014 respectively (Hauser 211). Out of the 1 billion Hindus globally, 2 million comprise American Hindu population (Hauser 209). Yoga refers to the spiritual disciplines that are vital to the practice and understanding of the Hinduism. Yoga entails mastery over the mind, self-emotional, body, and transcendence of desire combining spiritual and physical exercises. In American, yoga is an Asana- based physical practice, letting the specialists delink it from its Hindu philosophical and spirituals roots (Hauser 203). .

New land for the Asian Hindus in southern California affords for innovation and change resulting to modern myths and traditions (Kumar 40). For instance, the Hindu ritual that demands open-air cremation of the dead on a funeral pyre does not happen in the southern California; it goes against the Judaeo-Christian practice of burial. Hence, the Hindus are supposed to conform to the local laws and codes. Additionally, traditional Hinduism, there is a demarcation between profane and sacred. In India or Nepal, there are no latrines near the Hindu temple. However, in the southern California and USA as a whole, the lavatory is part of the house of worship (Kumar 43). Before the influx of the Hindu refugees, there were few of the Hindu festival in southern California like Tij festival. There is a tremendous growth of the Nepali diaspora; Hindu women of the Southern California have been annually organizing a Tij festival (Kumar 58). Nepali Hindus in southern California are more interested in the religion than spirituality. There is a significant turn up of Hindus when programs blend with the rituals, foods, and singing of bhajans than the knowledge-based spirituality (Kumar 53).

Hindus believe in one divine reality that is formless (Brahman), and worshipping is in different forms (goddess / Ishvara). Hindu scripture is a vast collection of ancient religious writing which illustrates an eternal truth that has been revealed by ancient’s sages, god, and enlightened wise men. Oral tradition was a pillar in passing the fact from one generation to another which includes the Upanishads, Vedas and Agamas, Epics such as Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana, law books, Puranas, philosophical and sectarian text.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, III.19, and III.20, Karma is the universal law of the cause and effect (Brunn 1415). Hindu thrives on remaining intact to the fruits of their virtuous action in the deed, word and thought to avoid the cycles of the karma. Dharma is the mode of the conduct for a person that is conducive to spiritual advancement. Eternal law or Sanatana Dharma covers the natural laws of divine and nature. Special duties (Vishesha dharma) expound on the law defining on personal’s responsibilities within the family, community, and nation or society. Samanya dharma comprises the general rules that direct all the functions and forms including one’s duty to excel towards contentment. The caste was the divisions of the ancient India civilization based on four general occupation groups (Varna) comprising business people, law enforcers, workers and, lawmakers and priest. The Vedic and non-Vedic scriptures advance the concept of equality to all humankind as in the ancient hymn (Brunn 1419). Therefore, there is no discriminatory caste system. In the modern India, jurisprudence outlaws the caste discrimination.

Hindus refrain themselves from killing animals when there is the plethora of vegetarians. Pilgrimage is the practice of traveling to the places where knowledge, religious or experience are thought to be accessible (Brunn 1406). Puranas shows the capabilities of specific sacred sites to grant helps such as progeny, wealth, health, and deliverance after death. Text direct Hindu pilgrims to perform ritual rites: on behalf of deceased kin or ancestors. There is an increase in pilgrimage since the 20th century due to the improvement in the transportation. The Sanskrit and Hindu word for the pilgrimage center is Tirth, literally a crossing place (Hauser 214). . The environmental activist concludes that the mythology of the sacred sceneries encourages the Hindu population to embrace sustainable practices.

Modern and Puranic Hinduism replaces Hinduism by image worship and other forms of devolutions. However, there is tracing of the Hindu rites back to the Vedas. Vedic sacrifices such has Shrauta has been maintained from ancient times to the present groups of Brahmans and particular families (Brunn 1408). Similarly, supreme sacrifices such as Rajasuya remained popular with Hindu kings until modern days. Nevertheless, the Vedic period rituals tend to appear at the level of the domestic rituals (Grihya). The Samskaras constituent of the local rituals which are crucial in all the life cycles: from conception to the cremation (Brunn 1418). There was an expectation of the Vedic holder to maintain the domestic fire where he made his offerings. Hindus use Brahmans for the administration of the sacrament where a family priest gets a part of these ceremonies. The main aim of the Samskaras is removing sins and unfolding person’s dormant abilities for development. There was male initiation (upanayana) tradition when the boy was between the age of 8 and 12, and it marks the entry into the society (Hauser 218). However, in contemporary southern California Hinduism, initiation can be before the wedding and ceremony of hair cutting on the same day.

According to the Hindus culture, wedding ceremonies are elaborate, expensive and more so propitiations and expiations (Brunn 1414). In the old days, there was a significant divergence by the family, customs and caste traditions. In Hinduism, there are variations of types of rituals. For instance, a traditional funeral method is a cremation. Burials are for unpurified individuals or those who no longer need ritual fire. Though, members of the Vira Shaiva community do not practice cremation, Instead, they bury their dead. Shraddha ceremony is essential in complementing the funeral office in which food is given to the Brahmans for the deceased benefits. Sandhya is mainly Vedic but is lengthy due to the addition of the tantric and puranic elements. The morning and evening adorations (Sandhya) are crucial in many traditional householders.

Irrespective of the effect of the British colonization, it did not change the Hindu tradition. Although the world was modernizing, the primary beliefs of the Hindus did not change the world. First generation immigrant tends to embrace the Hinduism culture (Kumar 73). However, the new immigrant and American born tend to adopt a white Christian American culture. Some parent goes an extent to name their Christian child name to blend with the American culture. Additionally, there is a high percentage of conversion to Christianity.

































Works cited

Brunn, Stanley D., ed. The changing world religion map: Sacred places, identities, practices and politics. Springer, 2015, PP.1405-1420. Print.

Hauser, Beatrix, ed. Yoga Traveling: Bodily Practice in Transcultural Perspective. Springer Science & Business Media, 2013, P.P.201-224. print.

Kumar, PP. Contemporary Hinduism. Routledge, 2014, P.P.12-81.Print.