Religion

Eastern Religions

To begin with an example from the religions of the Indian subcontinent, Hinduism, or Vedism as it was first known, was based on the worship of nature with three gods—Indra (rain), Surya (sun), and Agni (fire). In the present day, the reverence for cows is well-known, and there are many animals represented as gods such as Nandi (bull), Ganesha (elephant), and Hanuman (monkey). This has led to many actual animals being cherished in Hindu temples. The Karni Mata temple in Rajasthan, India, is inhabited by thousands of rats; and there are [Page 1480]also monkeys in many Hindu temples, the Durga Temple at Varanasi (Benares) is home to hundreds of them, and the Sangeh Monkey Forest on the Indonesian island of Bali adjoins a seventeenth century Hindu temple. Also in Bali there is the Goa Gajah Elephant Cave, although it has been a long time since elephants have been there.

One of the predominant social aspects of the Hindu society is the caste system by which particular castes have specific social positions that cannot be changed. The Brahmans, the highest caste, are priests and religious teachers, while the lowest, the untouchables, collect trash and work in the most unpleasant jobs. In between there are castes for kings, warriors, and officials, another for merchants, businessmen, lawyers, doctors, and the like. Another lower position is reserved for farmers, servants, and those engaged in menial but not unpleasant tasks. How much the caste system owes to long entrenched Hinduism, or is just a necessary social/racial divide in the vast Indian society is an area in which experts cannot agree.

The personal habits of Hindus, such as vegetarianism, spring from the reverence for nature and the belief in reincarnation. Hindus should avoid intoxicants and take part in numerous pilgrimages, the most important being washing themselves in the Ganges River. While cremation is a feature of Hindu belief, it may well have a basis in commonsense hygiene, as of course do most, if not all, the dietary requirements.

Another religious belief emanating from India is Jainism. In this monastic order, monks take a vow of nonviolence and keep a strict vegetarian diet and don't eat after dark because it increases the possibility of harming insects that might be attracted to the food. All drinking water must be carefully strained first to ensure there are no life forms in it. A very fine net mask is also used to breathe through to prevent the accidental breathing in of insects.

Buddhism, which also originated in India, preaches nonviolence, and most Buddhists try to develop a certain harmony with their natural environment, with many Buddhists being vegetarians. Lord Buddha (624–544 b.c.e.) himself grew up in a very sheltered environment, with his parents anxious not to expose him to bad things in life. However, he once alighted from his carriage, according to legend, and saw the suffering of the people—the beggars, the diseased, the old, and the dead—and he cut his long hair, put on old worn clothes, and went out into the world. Out of this long episode came his teachings about life. He talked of conduct toward others providing a social code that was much needed at that time and ever since—it became known as the Middle Path. This was developed by people who wish to achieve Nirvana, and thus avoid the pain of rebirth, an ever-present threat in Hinduism.

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