Cultural Corner

The sights, sounds, smells of India are unique. As I itinerate, people often ask about news highlights, recipes for missions banquets, cultural differences, personal stories of Indian friends and funny things that happen while living in a different culture. This page is for you. You will feel a little closer to the very diverse life in India as you read these pages.

India's major religion, Hinduism, is followed by approximately 80% of the population. Hinduism has a number of Holy books, including most notably the Bhagavad-Gita. It teaches that we will all go through a series of rebirths that eventually lead to Moksha, the spiritual salvation that frees one from the cycle of rebirths. With each rebirth, one can move closer to Moksha, the deciding factor being your Karma. Bad actions result in bad karma, which ends in a lower reincarnation.

The Hindu religion has four basic practices and beliefs. They are:

1. Puja or worship
2. The cremation of the dead and belief in reincarnation
3. The rules and regulations of the caste system
4. Dipping in "holy waters" such as the Ganges River, which is believed to wash away sins and lead to heaven

There are four main castes in Hinduism (but hundreds of subcastes); the Brahmin or priest caste, the kshatriyas or soldiers and governors, the Vaisyas or trades people and farmers, and the sudras or menial workers and craftspeople. Beneath all these castes lie those called Harijans or untouchables, the lowest class in society.

India has millions of gods, but three main deities. They are:

1. Brahma is the Creator
2. Vishnu is the Preserver
3. Shiva is the Destroyer and Reproducer.

Each god has an associated animal known as the "vehicle" in which he or she rides along with a consort with certain attributes. Cows, monkeys, elephants, cobras are among these animals considered "holy" due to their association with the gods.