Describe a visit to a Hindu place of pilgrimage, explaining its importance to believers.
All mankind's need purification of the body, mind and the soul. To achieve the same pilgrimage holidays have been designed. The secularism of India and the variety of religions followed by the people of the country are amazing. The faith reflected in the chanting of 'Om', 'Budham Sharanam Gachami' and 'Wahe Guru' all remind us of the Almighty and focus on the gospel of peace and love for humanity. Being a country of the religious, India is dotted with pilgrimages. Great religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism have originated on the Indian soil. The unity in diversity is the keyword for the grand country. The Hindus flock to take a dip in the holy rivers, the Sikhs walk up to a height of 4329 meters through the difficult terrain to reach the Hemkund Sahib. The cradle of Buddhism, devotees from the world over frequent the holy city of Sarnath. In Hinduism pilgrimage is called the YATRA. In Hinduism religious ceremonies are classified: Nitya Naimittika Kamya Nitya is the daily rituals, such as offering water to the sun in the morning or mostly Hindu people perform puja to the family deities at the home shrine. Naimittika ceremony is important but they only occur at certain times during the year e.g. diwali, Saraswati puja, and karma. A special thanksgiving puja occurred for the good fortune smiles on the family. Kamya is the highly desirable rituals but optional
Attacks on religious minotirties in Bangaladesh
Minority: 'Minority' is a construction of the modern state. The latter, being predicated on the idea of 'nation', marginalizes and alienates the communities that, for one reason or another, cannot identify themselves with the nation. The state of being marginalised, alienated and to a large extent derogated is inherent with in the very etymology of 'minority'. It implies something minor as opposed to major, subordinate as opposed to super ordinate or dominant, hence less important. Minority does not necessarily have to do with numbers, but is rather a matter of status, role and, more importantly, access to power and resources. Thus one might be a minority in ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender or, for that matter, sexual terms. Religious Minorities: Religious Minority means specific religious group who are ignorable in number status and role. In this essay I have focused on the religious minorities in our country and their rights. There are 4 religions in Bangladesh - Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and more. The majorities are Muslims and Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and other religious groups belong to the minorities. International bill of rights regarding minorities: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Article - 2 Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language,
Hindu Marriage
Hinduism Coursework a) The Hindu wedding service consists of 10 main areas necessary to the meaning of the service. The joining of 2 people is a key event in the life of a Hindu not only for themselves but their family around them. Before the ceremony the bridegroom and his family are invited to the bride's house. By doing this both families can be introduced to each other in a pleasant environment, which in due course they will all become more familiar too. This allows time for them to focus on their relationship with each other as a family and puts the two families as ease with each other rather than keeping them separated. Now at the ceremony the bridegroom is delivered to a beautiful altar called a Mandap where he is offered a welcoming drink. The drink contains ingredients that link to aspects of marriage. These consist of milk, yogurt and honey as a token of sacredness, purity and sweetness. The bride and groom begin by standing at the front facing each other. The bride greets the groom by placing a garland around his neck and the groom reciprocates. A silk cloth is held between them by the priest and supporter. This forms a curtain between them to show they were separated before this. Rice grains of nourishment are passed out between the guests present. Songs and blessings are sung this is to support them through marriage, at the same time the rice is showered on them
Did Gandhi's influence help to achieve Indian Independence quicker or did he hinder it?
Did Gandhi's influence help to achieve Indian Independence quicker or did he hinder it? "Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted, inspired by a vision of humanity evolving toward a world peace and harmony. We may ignore him at our own risk." -Dr Martin Luther King.Jr - 1 This is one positive view on Gandhi by Martin Luther King. There were many others who had a lot to say about Gandhi. During World War 1, Gandhi became the political leader of the Indian nation. India's fight for freedom was an on going 'saga' for around 30 years. It is believed that even without Gandhi's contribution it would have achieved Independence after the end of World War 2. Therefore he cannot be the sole reason for India's freedom. An important point to note is that it was due to his leadership and guidance that India did achieve Independence. Gandhi must be credited for sticking with the Indian cause through the worst and best of times of the nation from around 1920 until the day in August 1947 (Indian Independence). His personality and character, though not the key to India's freedom, evidently played a major role in the way that it was acquired. Historians and others still believe that Gandhi's
How does Anita Desai exploit language in "A Village by the Sea" to give us an insight into Indian tradition and culture as reflected through the life of the people in Thul?
Question: How does Anita Desai exploit language in "A Village by the Sea" to give us an insight into Indian tradition and culture as reflected through the life of the people in Thul? Answer: A Village by the Sea is Anita Desai's "private attempt to seize upon the raw materials of life and is no reflection of Indian society, politics or character", (Desai's comment on her work) but the novel is on the whole based on Indian Culture. Anita Desai has successfully blended India's tradition, environment and a bunch of more problems that surround the poor Indian family who are being torn apart by illness and alcohol. The children of the family work and fight to keep their family together. On the way they have to deal with change and tragedy. Anita Desai through the book and life of people in Thul explains that the term culture includes arts, beliefs, customs, inventions, language, technology and traditions. She creates a vivid picture of family, of life in a small Indian village and of all the teeming hustle and bustle of Bombay. The novel is set in a village on the west coast of India, some where around Bombay, a land of varied cultures and diverse traditions. Traditions in the life of a Hindu play a vital role and it is these traditions only which has kept the Hindu religion alive today, as these traditions have been followed generation after generation and is hoped to
To what extent were the builders of the Erechtheion successful in solving the problems caused by the site and position of the temple?
Georgina Stewart To what extent were the builders of the Erechtheion successful in solving the problems caused by the site and position of the temple? One would find the remains of the unique Erechtheion situated on the Acropolis after the Propylaea. The Erechtheion was built in 421 BC and completed by 406 BC by Pericles. The Erechtheion owes its name to Erechtheus who was a local hero and legendary king of Athens. This particular temple like others was interupted by war, yet this factor was not why the Erechtheion caused so may problems for the arithects who built it. The purpose of the Erechtheion was to replace the old temple of Athena Polias. When it was built, the architects and builders had to be careful not to make the Erechtheion more exuberant and revolutionary than the neighbouring Parthenon. However my opinion is that this temple is more unique than any temple that stands on the Acropolis, this argument is evident through out the essay. The following essay will attempt to allow myself to come to a suitable conclusion, whether the builders of the Erechtheion were successful in solving the problems caused by the site and the position. In order to do this, I will be using evidence such as illustrations, ground plans and different viewpoints of the Erechtheion. I will analysis the Erechtheion through the individual elevations. A comparison of the
Describe Hindu belief in respect for all living creatures.
RS GCSE Coursework Hinduism (a)(i) Describe Hindu belief in respect for all living creatures. In the Hindu scripts, Hindus strongly believe that all living forms should be respected they also believe in the sacredness of all life, whether in animal, plant or human kind. The reasons for these beliefs are that Hindus believe that Brahman, the universal spirit is present everywhere in the universe, therefore it is considered to be highly respected. The Upanishads contain these teachings, "His being is the source of all beings, the seed of all things are in this life have their life. He is God hidden in all beings, their inmost soul. He lives in all things and watches all things." This is taken from the Svetasvatara Upanishad teaching respect for all life. According to Hindus, both living and non-living objects, (eg - mountains), was put there for a reason, by God. They also believe that all human beings need one and other to live, and it is all a chain. In the Bhagavad Gita it quotes, "Thus joy supreme comes to the yogi whose heart is still, whose passions are peace, who is pure from sin, who is one with Brahman with God...He who sees the oneness of love, loves me in whatever he sees. Wherever this man may live, in truth this man lives in me." Since Hindus believe in samsara (the cycle of life and death), they believe that in some way, everyone is related to
Is the Parthenon a Typical Doric Temple?
Is the Parthenon a Typical Doric Temple? The Parthenon temple of the goddess Athena is considered to be the greatest of the Greek temples in the Doric style. However it is not a typical Doric temple, incorporating the Ionic order as well. The Doric Style that was developed by the Dorian Greeks, it was sturdy in proportion, with a simple cushion capital, a frieze of triglyph's and metopes and mutules in the cornice. The Athenians in 451, who were now challenging for the supremacy in Greece, considered it proper that they should build new temples to commemorate their victory over Persia and as well to glorify the city and make it a architectural splendour that would be worthy of its name. The Parthenon was built in honour of the Goddess Athena who was the Protector of Athens and the Goddess of war. It was designed so that it would dominate the city, and be the most magnificent temple in all of Greece even out shining the Temple of Zeus in Olympia. It was built in fifteen years which is a very short length of time. It was commissioned by Pericles, with Iftinas and Callicrates as the architects and Pheidas as the sculptor. There were many reasons behind the building of the Parthenon to glorify the city of Athens, political purposes, religious purposes and propaganda. The Parthenon an exceptional building designed by Pericles incorporated Doric and Ionic Orders to make it an
Hindus and respect for life.
+ Meaning of Ahimsa Ahimsa is a Sanskrit term that translates roughly into non-injury to living beings or dynamic harmlessness. Ahimsa tends to evoke images of monks wearing cloths over their faces to avoid breathing microscopic beings and sweeping the insects off the path in front of them as they walk so they won't accidentally crush one under their feet. One cannot easily live in today's world without causing some harm to other beings - but that does not mean we shouldn't try to keep it to a minimum. There are some relatively easy steps you can take to reduce the suffering in your wake. Practice of Ahimsa develops love. Ahimsa is another name for truth or love. Ahimsa is universal love. It is pure love. It is divine Prem. Where there is love; there you will find Ahimsa. Where there is Ahimsa, there you will find love and selfless service. They all go together. The one message of all saints and prophets of all times and climes, is the message of love, of Ahimsa, of selfless service. Ahimsa is the noblest and best of traits that are found expressed in the daily life and activities of perfected souls. Ahimsa is the one means, not only to attain Salvation, but also to enjoy uninterrupted peace and bliss. Man attains peace by injuring no living creature. There is one religion - the religion of love, of peace. There is one message, the message of Ahimsa. Ahimsa is a supreme
To what extent were propaganda and national pride as important as religion in the design, construction and decoration of the Parthenon?
To what extent were propaganda and national pride as important as religion in the design, construction and decoration of the Parthenon? Although the decision to build the Parthenon was highly controversial in Athens because of the politics that surrounded it, was the Parthenon erected simply as sign of dedication to the gods? Or was it to fuel the dwindling pride of the Athenian citizens? By studying the structure, decoration and design, I hope to come to a conclusion as to whether the Parthenon was simply physical evidence of Athenian pride or whether it was pride in religion. Brief History Though the Persian wars were possibly over before the Parthenon was being considered, the wars played a vital role for Athens and her temples. During the wars, the armies of Persia attacked Athens and sacked the city leaving much of it in ruins, including the new temple in honour of Athene atop the Acropolis that was under construction. During the struggle, many of the states in Greece joined together to fight against the Persians and decided that they should not rebuild any of the temples that had been destroyed by the Persians to have an eternal memory of the devastation they caused and the lack of respect they have for religion. The once impressive city of Athens was reduced to dust, with small basic houses and nothing really imposing. The relatively basic buildings of Athens must