For more than a thousand years, Indian influence was therefore the major factor that brought a certain level of cultural unity to the various countries of the region. The Pali and Sanskrit languages and the Indian script, together with Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Hinduism, were transmitted from direct contact and through sacred texts and Indian literature such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
THE SPREAD OF HINDUISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HISTORY
BELIEF
GOD
God is often conceived as the Supreme Being and principal object of faith. The concept of God as described by theologians commonly includes the attributes of omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness),divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence.
The Trinity also known as the gods.
THE TRINITY
The trimurti of the three hindu gods
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
Brahma: The Creator
Vishnu: The Maintainer or Preserver
Shiva: The Destroyer of Transformer
The three gods have been called" the hindu triad" or the "great trinity", aslo addressed as "Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwara"
THE STAGE OF LIFE
In Hinduisnm, human life is believed to comprise 4 stages. These are called "ashramas" and every man should ideally go through each of the stages:
-The First Ashrama - "Brahmacharya" or the Student stage
-The Second Ashrama - "Grihastha" or the Householder stage
-The Third Ashrama - "Vanaprastha" or the Hermit stage
-The Fourth Ashrama - "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic stage
SOUL
Atman is the meaning of soul in hinduism also "eternal self". The atman refers to the real self beyond ego or false self. It is often referred to as "spirit" or "soul".
KARMA & SAMSARA
Karma means action, work or deed, it also refers to the principle of causality where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual. Good intent and good deed contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deed contribute to bad karma and future suffering.
Saṃsāra or Sangsāra, meaning "continuous flow", is the repeating cycle of birth, life and death.
WHAT GO AROUND COME AROUND
IMPORTANT DEITIES
SALVATION
Salvation for a Hindu is called Moksha. Moksha is when an enlightened human being is freed from the cycle of life-and-death (the endless cycle of death and reincarnation) and comes into a state of completeness. He then becomes one with God.
Freedom from materialism
PRACTICES & WORSHIP
TEMPLE WORSHIP
First remove shoes and socks and leave it with contracted care taker outside the temple (mandir).
Buy some flowers, fruits, coconut, incense sticks etc in a near by shop. Usually they will have it ready in a small bamboo basket.
Enter premises by stepping into the temple using right foot first. There will be a some tap water to wash legs and sprinkle a little on the head (symbol of purification).
DOMESTIC WORSHIP
The home is the place where most Hindus conduct their worship and religious rituals. The most important times of day for performance of household rituals are dawn and dusk, although especially devout families may engage in devotion more often.
During the 1st century, the trade on the overland Silk Road tended to be restricted by the rise in the Middle-East of the Parthian empire, an unvanquished enemy of Rome, just as Romans were becoming extremely wealthy and their demand for Asian luxury was rising. This demand revived the sea connections between the Mediterranean and China, with India as the intermediary of choice. From that time, through trade connection, commercial settlements, and even political interventions, India started to strongly influence Southeast Asian countries. Trade routes linked India with southern Burma, central and southern Siam, lower Cambodia and southern Vietnam, and numerous urbanized coastal settlements were established there.
FASTING
Fasting is a very integral part of the Hindu religion. Individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on personal beliefs and local customs.
-
Some Hindus fast on certain days of the month such as Ekadasi, Pradosha, or Purnima.
-
Certain days of the week are also set aside for fasting depending on personal belief and favorite deity.
-
Tuesday fasting is common in southern India as well as northwestern India.
-
Thursday fasting is common among the Hindus of northern India.
-
Fasting during religious festivals is also very common.
KAWADI
Kavadi Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Lord Murugan. It is often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage. The kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from Murugan.
The kavadi consists of two semicircular pieces of wood or steel which are bent and attached to a cross structure that can be balanced on the shoulders of the devotee. It is often decorated with flowers, peacock feathers (the vehicle of God Murugan) among other things. Some of the kavadis can weigh up to 30 kg.
GURU
Guru is a Sanskrit term for "teacher" or "master", particularly in Indian religions. The Hindu guru-shishya tradition is the oral tradition or religious doctrine or experiential wisdom transmitted from teacher to student.
The importance of finding a guru who can impart transcendental knowledge is emphasised in Hinduism.
THE SYMBOLISM OF OFFERINGS
In Hinduism, food plays an important role in rituals and worship, and the food offered to the gods is called prasada. The Sanskrit word "prasada" means "mercy," or the divine grace of God.
Preparing of food, the offering of food to God, and the eating of the food offered, into a powerful devotional meditation.
God's transforms the food offered from material nutrition to spiritual mercy or prasada.
CONDUCTING PUJA
Puja is a prayer ritual performed by Hindus to host, honour and worship one or more deities, or to spiritually celebrate an event.
The word Puja comes from Sanskrit, and means reverence, honour, homage, adoration, and worship.
