Chapter Three : The Hindu Ethos
| Hindu Etiquette - Namaskar And Tilaka |
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Namaste or Namaskara is the traditional Indian form of salutation. It is used while greeting friends and acquaintances as also while paying obeisance to God. As a word it finds its place in the invocation to our different Gods, for instance we have Shri Ganeshaya Namaha Aum Namaha Shivaya, Krishnaya Tubhyam Namaha etc.
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| Hindu Religious Beliefs - Moksha, Upavasa, And Muhurta |
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In this chapter we turn our attention to the more prevalent social practices. These practices are part of real life for any average Indian. We have taken six practices for discussion viz. the doctrine of Moksha (Salvation through release from the cycle of re-birth), the practice of observing Upavasa (fasting) on various religious festivals, and of performing important events at a particular auspicious time (Muhurta).
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| Hindu Social Customs - Dowry, Sati And Child Marriage |
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Dowry is one of those social practices which no educated Indian would own up with pride, although many of us still adhere to this much deplorable practice. Dowry continues to be given and taken . Even among the educated sections of society, dowry continues to form an essential part the negotiations that take place in an arranged marriage.
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| Hindu Religious Practices - Yagna, And Dana And Gotra |
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Every society has passed through a tribal stage at some time or the other. Some societies are still in the tribal stage for instance the Australian aborigines, and the Red Indians living in the preserves or nearer home in India the Nagas and Bhils , etc.,.
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India is a land of innumerable beliefs, rituals and religious symbols. These beliefs and symbols are highly respected and revered. The origin of the syllable OM is lost in the misty past. Its not being specific to any one country or civilization is indicative of its being an universally perceptible sound for the human race.
Pralaya means a flood or deluge. In Hindu folklore there is a belief that when evil reaches its zenith, a great flood would occur and wash everything away and civilization would have to be started afresh which should be devoid of the evil traces that caused the flood.
In this chapter we shall see look at the institution of monogamous marriage. Marriage is one institution that is looked upon as sacred and having existed from time immemorial. This is one aspect of culture which has never been treated lightly in traditional literature.
