Hindu Religions - General Message of the Upanisads and the Bhagavad- Gita - Essay Example

The Bhagavad- Gita on the other hand, reiterates the necessity of knowing the Self, and also performing one’s duties, without attachment to the results. Sri Krishna says in Chapter II, verse 47, “Thou art entitled to work alone, not to its results.” This verse, in a nutshell, states that while it is important for a man to ‘know the Self,’ he should continue to perform his duties devoid of any attachment to the results (http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-46.html).   While the Upanisads generally stressed knowledge more than action, the Bhagavad- Gita revealed that knowledge is to be gained in the process of one performing duties without any selfish motive or attachment to the reward.

2) Explain the notions: Karma, Atman, Caste, and Liberation of the Soul?

Karma – is the action performed by the individual, in full conscious mind; Karma when performed with attachment to the results leads to the cycle of life and death; Atman – generally

denotes the ‘jivatman’ or the ‘lower Self’ that resides in the human body and is shrouded in ignorance regarding its true identity, and thus falls into ‘Samsara’ or the cycle of life and death. Liberation or Moksha is attained when this shroud of ignorance is removed and enlightenment regarding the true nature of the Self is gained. Caste – is the English term to denote the ‘Varnashrama Dharma’ or the system of social classification of communities according to birth. There are four ‘Varnas’ – the Brahmanas or the priestly community, the Kshatriyas, or the warrior/royal community, the Vaisyas, or the trading communities, and the Sudras, or the community that does hard manual labor. Some Scholars hold that the caste system began originally as a system of classification indicating the division of labor in society (http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part20/chap5.htm).

3) What are the gender roles and status of women in Hinduism?

            Hinduism deems women equal to men in abilities; this is proved by the fact that all important aspects of life, like knowledge, wealth, and courage are all given feminine personalities (Saraswathi, Lakshmi, and Parvathi). Even the rivers are considered to be women like The Ganges is called the ‘Ganga Matha’ or Mother Ganga. However, for establishing order and hierarchy in society and a clear division of labor, women are classified as under the rule of men (http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part17/chap15.htm). 

4) What did you discover from your exploration of Hindu Temples?

            Hindu temples are a place of high activity, with color and rituals forming an important part of worship. The temples depict mythological stories, as well as stories from everyday life, which go to prove that Hinduism is rather, more than a religion, it is a way of living (http://www.mypurohith.com/Epics/Hinduism.asp). 

           
5) What are Hindu concerns about nature?

            Hinduism incorporates into it the respect for nature and the preservation of ecology - which is why the mountains, the rivers, the trees, and the land are all sacred places. Every Hindu is to purify himself by going on a pilgrimage to visit the Holy Ganga (river), Mount Kailash, which is the abode of Shiva – one of the Trinities, carries the water from the Ganges and mingles them in the sea waters of Rameshwaram (South India), take the sand from Rameshwaram and mingle them in the Ganges. Thus, ecology for the Hindu, just as much as it is for the Cree, is “firmly rooted in myths about human nature and destiny” (Kinsley, 6). Read More