Hinduism and Upcoming Hindu Holidays

Dear WISDOM Sisters:

There are several Hindu holidays on the horizon, and Padma Kuppa, our esteemed Hindu WISDOM board member, has graciously taken the time to educate all of us about Hinduism, and the three Hindu holidays coming up in August and early September. Thank you, Padma!! Please take the time to learn about our sisters’ religion!!

Gail Katz
WISDOM President

Hinduism

It is difficult to define Hinduism, better known as Sanatana Dharma,
since it is not a particular creed or ideaology but a way of life. It
also has no founder. There are varying schools of thought and
philosophy, but there are three spiritual truths which all human
beings have to deal with:

God (Brahman)

Individual Soul (Atman)

Creation (Jagat)

The Hindu philosophy of Vedanta, or monism, proposes that everything
in this world is God. According to this philosophy, God is the ocean,
and an individual soul is a wave of this ocean, having a temporary
identity of its own, but a part of the ocean. According to the
alternative philosophy dvaita, or dualism, God and man are separate;
man is like a clay pot filled with water that comes from the same
ocean that God is. The essential life-giving principle or
consciousness of everyone is the same.

The Hindu scriptures include the Vedas, teachings developed by sages
and seers over many centuries, the Upanishads, the Puranas (of which
the Ramayana and Mahabharata are very popular) and the Bhagavad Gita.
They are all written in the ancient language of Sanskrit. The Puranas
contain examples and stories to illustrate the concepts found in Vedas
in much simpler language. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are the
historical narrations of Rama and Krishna, which serve as a guide for
the common man to live a moral life. Hindus believe that the universe
undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution,
and the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva represent or govern these
three (creation, preservation, dissolution) respectively. Rama and
Krishna are avatars or forms of Vishnu, the preserver, and the
philosophy of the Vedas and other scriptures is presented with
analogies and parables in a way easy for a common man to understand.

India, where the majority of the one billion Hindus worldwide live, is
a country of many languages and ethnicities. Hence many religious
works, including literature and hymns or bhajans have been written
over the centuries in many commonly spoken Indian languages which
include Hindustani or Hindi, Gujarathi, Tamil and Telugu.

Holy Festivals of Hinduism: Insights into the Annual Celebrations
Hindus Enjoy the World Over -
August/September 2008 Edition
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When it comes to Hindu festivals, Nepal rules - they celebrate 19 a
year on their official calendar, three of them exclusively for women!

India, by contrast, sets aside just two Hindu days a year on its
national calendar - Navaratri and Diwali. Many others are on the
religious calendar, which is lunisolar and similar to the Jewish
calendar in that we sometimes have an extra month. There are also
regional calendars in different parts of India, and holidays differ by
ethnic and geographic area. In America, the US Congress officially
recognized Diwali as a annual holiday for American Hindus, in 2007.
But whatever official calendars say, Hindus miss no opportunity to set
mundane matters aside and join with friends, neighbors and strangers
alike in invocation of the One Supreme God and the many Gods, in honor
of the Guru or in celebration of the passing of the seasons. While
anthropologists generally assign mere social significance in the
cycles of festivals, the devout Hindu knows these are times of
profound mystical connection to the inner worlds, times when God and
the Gods touch our world, revitalize our very souls, lighten our
karmas and bless our families. The following are India-wide or
rather, worldwide, festivals which are celebrated at this time of year.

Aug. 16, 2008: Raksha Bandhan

On the full moon of Karkata, or Cancer (Sravana July/August), sisters
tie a rakhi around the wrist of their brothers, who in return give a
present of clothing, cash or jewelry and become obligated for the
safety of the sister. The rakhi can also be given to anyone chosen as
an "adopted brother," even outside the Hindu community. It signifies
that she is praying for his welfare and that he is determined to give
protection to her. Originally the rakhi was a handspun cotton thread
dyed yellow with turmeric, but now many colors and materials are used.
Three knots are made in the thread to signify protection in thought,
word and deed. This day is also celebrated as Narali Purnima, "coconut
full moon," when coconuts are offered to Varuna, God of the Sea, by
throwing them into the ocean. It is also called Avani Avittam, or
Jandhyala Purnima, the ceremony of changing of the sacred thread among
the brahmins. This tradition dates back to Vedic times when the year's
studies were commenced on this day. Here in America, one can buy a
rakhi at the local Indian store, make one or even order one online!
Additionally, the temple priests will perform the rites for people who
wish to change their sacred thread (aka yajurveda upakarma) - .
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Aug. 23, 2008: Krishna Janmashtami

Lord Krishna, eighth incarnation of Vishnu, was born on the eighth
lunar day (ashtami) of the dark half of Karkata, or Cancer (Sravana
July/August). Devotees fast the preceding day until midnight, the time
that Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki in the Mathura kingdom's
prison 5,000 years ago. At midnight, amidst grand ceremony, the temple
priest places the image of the newborn Krishna in a swinging crib.
Among the traditional observances, pots of sweets, curd and butter are
hung near homes, on trees and street poles in recollection of
Krishna's love for these things. Teenage boys dressed as cowherds form
human pyramids to reach and break the pots. The following day is again
one of festivity, including puja, storytelling and the Ras Leela, a
folk theater depicting major events of Krishna's life. "Dark as a rain
cloud," reads one account of His birth, "He made the prison glow with
the splendor of His crown, His jewelry and His yellow silk robes. He
was the Lord God incarnate." American Hindus celebrate in different
ways depending on the "ethnic leanings" of their local temple - the
Bharatiya Temple in Troy usually has a cultural program after the
religious and celebratory rituals. This year, there will be aa Raas
Garba - a more social or folk dance that can be performed by all who
wish to participate, often using sticks or dandiyas, going about in a
circular pattern. A link to the activities can be found here:
http://www.bharatiya-temple.org/home/events/KrishnaJanmashtami.shtml.

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Sept. 3, 2008: Ganesha Chaturthi

The fourth lunar day of the bright half of Simha, or Leo (Bhadra
August/September), is celebrated around the world as the birthday of
Ganesha, the elephant-headed God of Wisdom and Lord of Obstacles. As
with other festivals, the homes and temples are elaborately decorated
for the day. The special activity is the making of clay images of
Ganesha, reverently formed and decorated. Some are huge works of art
created by craftsmen, others are tiny icons painted and decorated by
children. At the end of the day, or seven or ten days later, these
images are ceremoniously immersed in the ocean or a nearby stream or
lake, signifying the creation of Ganesha from the Earth and His return
and dissolution in the ocean of universal consciousness. So intense
has been His presence at this time that even grown men weep at His
auspicious departure. His worship on this day removes obstacles and
ensures smooth progress in all ventures through the year. As Ganesha
is common to all Hindu sects and schools of belief and practice, this
festival is serving both inside and outside of India as a day to
celebrate Hindu unity. As it falls on a working day, the Bharatiya
Temple, like many American temples, has an event which involves
children performing the a simplified version of the ritual or puja, on
the following Sunday (Sept. 7). Many Hindu families will perform the
ritual in their homes, often making special food items such as
'modaka" which are considered Ganesha's favorite. The puja is one that
celebrates nature and may involve the use of fruit, vegetables and
other plant materials (leaves, grass, etc.) depending on the region of
India that one comes from.