Interesting and shocking facts about India and Hinduism. Interesting facts, surprising facts, unknown facts in the museum of facts India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world
Hindu scriptures have been written over thousands of years, and the theology and philosophy they expound provide an opportunity for spiritual realization and guide the spiritual life and practice of dharma. Among all the texts of Hinduism, the Vedas and Upanishads enjoy the greatest authority and are considered the most significant and ancient. Other important scriptures include the Puranas and the ancient Indian epic poems Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is often said that the main essence of Vedic knowledge is set forth in the Bhagavad-gita, which is a philosophical conversation between Krishna and Arjuna.
The Aryans mingled with the local tribes, called Dasa in the Rig Veda. As a result, the composition of society became more complex, which led first to Varna, and then to caste system which became the social base of Hinduism. IN new system the paramount role was assigned to the brahmins - experts in the Vedas and the main performers of rituals.
Brahmanism became widespread in India in the 1st millennium BC. In the second half of the 1st millennium BC. the positions of Brahminism began to weaken, and for some time it was pushed aside by other religions, mainly Buddhism and Jainism. By the end of the 1st millennium BC. In India, a complex of heterogeneous religious ideas developed, which did not come into direct conflict with the Vedas, but were more in line with the new conditions of life.
The period of "mixing" ideas about the world of proto-Indian culture and the Aryans is called the period of Brahmazism. The picture of the world offered by the Brahmins was extremely ritualized. She divided the world into two levels, sacred and profane; they corresponded to the world of the gods and the world of people. The symbolic side of the ritual was noticeably intensified and the main active principle of all ritual procedures stood out. It also began to be understood as the substratum of all things in the world. In the pantheon, the creator god Prajapati came to the fore. He became a personified creative force and the fundamental principle of all things, generating the world and preserving it. This idea received further mythological development in the concept of the Hindu triad (trimurti): the gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva performed the functions of creating the world, its preservation and destruction, and were thought of as a single whole, embodying the trinity of divine forces.
In the epic (VI-II century BC) and the subsequent Puranic periods, the first versions were recorded ancient Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, although they were transmitted orally for many centuries before and after this period. In these epic works stories about rulers and wars are described ancient india which are presented in combination with religious and philosophical treatises. The Puranas describe the stories of various avatars, as well as devas, their relationships with people and battles with demons.
This was followed by such a period of development of Hinduism as the period of the Upanishads. According to the deep worldview of the Upanishads, the relationship of the deity to the world is seen through their unity. The Deity can appear in many personifications, but from the point of view of the ultimate truth, it is the highest objective reality and the impersonal absolute - Brahman. It is inexpressible, cannot be described in terms of differential features, and is incomprehensible within the framework of any logic. Most precisely, it is defined apophatically.
As you can see, as a religious phenomenon, Hinduism is different extraordinary complexity and inconsistency, to say the least: to many it seems confusing, chaotic and difficult to comprehend. Until now, there is not even a satisfactory definition of the concept of "Hinduism" and a clear explanation of what to refer to it, what is the content and boundaries of this concept.
To summarize what has been said, we present interesting example: legal definition Hinduism was given by the Supreme Court of India in 1966. With clarifications made on July 2, 1995, it includes 7 main features:
- "respectful attitude to the Vedas as the highest authority in religious and philosophical matters";
- the presence of a spirit of tolerance towards a different point of view, arising from the recognition that truth is many-sided;
- recognition of the cosmic "great world rhythm" - huge periods of creation, preservation and destruction of the universe, following one after another in an endless sequence, the idea of which is shared by all six major systems of Hindu philosophy;
- belief in rebirth (reincarnation) and the previous existence of the soul (individual spiritual entity);
- recognition that liberation (from the "wheel of reincarnation") is achievable in various ways;
- awareness as "equal" possibilities of "idolatry and denial of veneration of the visible image of the gods";
- understanding that, unlike other religions, Hinduism is not associated with the recognition of a certain set of philosophical postulates.
Thus, although Hinduism is a huge conglomeration of theories, views, practices of more or less early, common features are still very, very clear.
You only need to watch a few Bollywood films to understand that the concept of reincarnation is one of the foundations of Hinduism. However, India is not the only country that believes in the transmigration of souls. And not only because Hinduism is practiced by people in various parts of the globe, but also because the very concept of reincarnation is characteristic of many religions. It is especially common in the beliefs of various traditional tribes around the globe.
What is this thing, reincarnation? The term "reincarnation" itself comes from the Latin language and literally means "re-incarnation". In Hinduism, this process is known as "Punarjanma". You can learn more about the Hindu vision of reincarnation by reading various myths about how the god Vishnu reincarnated into various creatures to help people. talking plain language Reincarnation is the transmigration of the soul. People who believe in reincarnation position a person not as a body with a soul, but as a soul with a body. After the death of the body, the soul can change it, just as we change clothes when they wear out. However, the soul cannot choose absolutely any body it "likes" because each subsequent reincarnation depends on how a person lived his previous life - on his karma. So, if a person behaved unworthily, he can be reborn into a bird animal or any other form of life.
How do people who believe in it see all this? Here are seven of the most interesting facts about reincarnation that you will need to know.
Unfinished business and unfulfilled desires
If the deceased has some unfinished business or unfulfilled desires, the soul cannot be reborn into a new body. She will wander between the two worlds until her desires are fulfilled and her deeds are completed.
beating a dead man
This is how the custom looks from the outside, which is necessary in order to erase all the memories of the soul about the life of its dead body. The fact is that, according to Hindu beliefs, the soul must be freed from the memories of her past life. That is why, during one of the posthumous rituals, Hindus hit the deceased hard on the head: it is necessary that the soul forget its life. Memories of a soul's past life can negatively affect its next life.
Memory saved
Despite all efforts, the memories cannot be completely erased: they are preserved, but remain in the subconscious of the new being. In general, Hindus believe that our subconscious mind stores information about all the events that happened to our soul during all its earthly lives. But, since our soul is not pure enough, we cannot connect with Brahma (the Hindu name of the main God) and remember all our lives. Only a few people who practice meditation and sadhana can remember their previous lives.
Not only a cat has multiple lives
According to Hinduism, each living creature has 7 lives. All these seven lives the soul will be reborn again and again, depending on its karma. At the end of the seventh life, the soul gains freedom (in Hinduism, this is called Moksha).
Wheel of Samsara
Birth, death and rebirth are the natural stages of the existence of the soul. As soon as she assumes the form of a new body, she also acquires a new ego. If the soul abuses the good things that it got along with the new body, it loses its purity. Thus, when the body dies, the immortal soul is left alone with the sins committed, which means that it will need to be cleansed in the next life (this usually happens through suffering). This is why Hindus believe that all the good (or bad) of this life is the result of their past lives.
Reincarnation is not instant
The soul does not immediately find a new body. It may take a year or even decades before she can start new life in a new body, because it should suit the soul according to karmic parameters.
Third Eye
Hindu texts and illustrations show that we all have a third eye: we just couldn't open it. Because of this, we cannot see our karma. The third eye is the eye of enlightenment. It can be "opened" through the practice of sadhana and dhyana, which can also help our soul to rise to a new level. It was in this way that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.
How did Hindu Newar women escape the fate of self-immolation?
Self-immolation of widows has long been practiced not only in India, but also among the Hindus of Nepal. However, the Newar tribe figured out how to avoid this. Girls at the age of ten were symbolically given in marriage to a tree, considered the incarnation of the god Vishnu. If in the future the husband of a Newarka died, no one could force the widow to go to the fire, since Vishnu remained her full-fledged husband.
In which temple are rats worshiped, of which there are more than 20 thousand here?
In the town of Deshnoke in western India, there is a temple of Karni Mata, built in honor of the Hindu saint of the same name, who was considered the incarnation of the goddess Durga. It differs from all other Indian temples in that rats are worshiped here, of which there are more than 20 thousand. Thousands of believers flock here, bringing gifts. It is considered a great honor to taste food bitten by rats or milk from their bowl. And if the visitor accidentally kills an animal, he is obliged to compensate for the damage with exactly the same rat, made of pure gold.
Where does the religious leader live who has hugged more than 30 million people in his lifetime?
Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as the "embracing mother", is a recognized guru of Hinduism, many followers revere her as a saint. At a young age, she began to hug different people just like that, although an Indian girl is not allowed to touch strangers, especially men, and her parents constantly punished her for this. Rejecting all attempts by her parents to marry her off, Mata established her own ashram in 1981 and charitable organization, which helps the poor and homeless around the world, builds shelters and hospitals. Almost every day, Mata embraces hundreds of people who come to her ashram, and in total, according to her organization, she has already hugged more than 30 million people.
Why did one Indian in 1973 raise his right hand and never lower it?
Hindus often deliberately renounce the blessings of life in the name of their religion and want to prove their faith by unusual methods. Mahant Amar Bharti Ji lives in New Delhi, who raised his right hand in 1973 and has not lowered it since then. According to him, at first the pain was terrible, but over time it subsided, and the hand atrophied. This old man has many followers who deify him, and some of them also raised their hands and live like this for years.
Where are newborns dropped from 15 meters to grow up healthy?
In some Indian villages, there is a ritual to throw newborns from the roof of the temple. For example, in the village of Musti, Maharashtra, children are thrown from a height of 15 meters onto a tent stretched below. The rite for their babies is ordered by both Muslim women and Hindu women, who believe that this test will bring health and good luck to the child in the future.
Where can you see temples decorated with thousands of erotic sculptures?
The Indian temple complex of Khajuraho was built in the 10th and 11th centuries and is famous for the fact that the outer walls of the temples are decorated with thousands of erotic sculptures. Although most of the sculptures show everyday life Indians of the medieval period, it is frank erotic images, including even scenes of bestiality, that primarily attract tourists. According to a common interpretation, the architects of these monuments wanted to show that everything human, including sexual desires, should be left outside the temple, because inside its walls only gods are depicted and no eroticism.
Why did Hindus and Muslims unite in 1857 and rebel against the British?
In 1857, the British brought the long-range Enfield rifles to equip the Indian army. However, they did not take into account possible problems with animal fat, which was used to lubricate the rifle and impregnate cardboard cartridges. Indeed, for Hindus, a cow is a sacred animal, and for Muslims, it is a sin to touch a pig. There were both in the army, and each group decided that the British did not take into account its particular religion. Hindus and Muslims united and organized an uprising, which resulted in the death of many both military and civilians originally from England.
India is amazing country. But what do we know about her? Let's open the curtain a little and learn about its strange customs, culture and traditions.
Below are 12 interesting facts about India that will surely surprise you!
1. All major world religions are represented in India
Although 80 percent of Indians are followers of Hinduism, an interesting fact is that the country is home to a large number of large communities and all world religions. Christian communities and churches can be found in Kerala and Goa. Judaism in India is represented at Kohi Fort in Kerala.
Also, followers of Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other religions coexist in different regions of India.
2. India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world
Although not all Hindus are vegetarians, and not all Indians are Hindus, vegetarianism is important part traditional views and views of the traditions of Hinduism. Approximately 20-40% of Indians are vegetarians, making India the largest vegetarian country in the world.
3. India is the second largest English-speaking country in the world
The number of people who speak English here is slightly less than in the US. Another interesting fact about India is that English language is one of the 22 official languages of India, and a subsidiary official language of the government along with Hindi. Only 10% of Indians know English, and a small minority know it as native language, but in a country with such a large population, you can almost always find someone with whom you can communicate on it.
Landmarks of India
4. Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people in the world
Kumbh Mela is a rite of Hindu pilgrimage, which is getting bigger every year. It is held every three years in one of the cities of Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain, but the meeting in Allahabad, which is held every 12 years, is the largest and most sacred. An interesting fact: in 2013 the festival attracted about 100 million people.
5. India has long been a center of fashion
Among the interesting facts about India is that since ancient times, Indian fabrics have been sold all over the world, and the country has long been known as the producer of the best cotton and silk. One of the consequences of British colonialism was the impoverishment of Indian textile manufacturers.
Today, the Indian fashion industry is once again flourishing, with fashion weeks regularly taking place in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Also in India, many traditions have been preserved, such as hand weaving and hand stuffing.
6. Step wells can be found throughout the desert
In the dry climate of northern and western India, water is not always available to the public and often has to be extracted from underground. Many stepwells in Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat have been carved and decorated like temples with zigzag steps with many tunnels and balconies that lead to the water.
One of the most beautiful step wells are Chand Baori near Jaipur and Ajalaj outside Ahmedabad.
7. Meghalaya is the rainiest inhabited place in the world
Although the arid deserts of Rajasthan in the west are better known, the northwestern state in Meghalaya is the rainiest inhabited place in the world, which is quite an interesting fact! So, for example, the village of Mawsynram receives 11,871 millimeters of rain annually.
8. Bridges made from living trees
In the state of Meghalaya, you can find amazing bridges that have been created by nature for more than 500 years. Such bridges of roots and climbing stems are much stronger than wooden bridges, which would quickly rot in the humid climate of Meghalaya.
9. India has the largest sundial in the world
The Jantar Mantar observatory complex in Jaipur and Delhi, built in the 18th century, was once a place where astronomical tables were prepared and the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets were predicted with the naked eye.
The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the largest, and is equipped with 19 architectural astronomical instruments, including the largest sundial in the world. The observatory in Delhi is smaller but not as crowded and you can even climb some of the structures.
10. There are over 140 types of traditional Indian desserts.
Interesting fact: each region of India has its own distinctive desserts: petha - a dessert made from boiled pumpkin from Agra, daulat ki chaat, made from milk foam, which is sold in Delhi only in winter, rasagolla - Bengali balls based on milk in syrup, ghazhar ki halva , made from grated carrots and popular in the north, rice pudding kheer or jalebi are dough swirls soaked in syrup.
Indian desserts are very sweet, made with lots of ghee and flavored with cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, coconut, rosewater or nuts.
11. India has 6 seasons
According to the Hindu calendar, there are 6 seasons in India: summer, autumn, winter, spring, monsoon season and the season before winter.
12. The biggest family in the world
Among the interesting facts about India, there is one more - Zion Chana is the head of the big family in the world. He has 39 wives, 94 children and 39 grandchildren. They live in a 4-story, 100-room house in the village of Baktwang in the state of Mizoram.
