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Hinduism, Culture, and Conflict Background of Lesson: Students will learn the basic tenets and features of Hinduism, including its focus on multiple-god worship, the concept of reincarnation, and the historical caste system. Students will then relate this to the formation of India and the circumstances that have created religion-based conflict in recent years. Objectives: Students will be able to: o Identify and understand the basic principles of Hinduism, including the system of worship and the central concept of reincarnation. o Understand various connections between Hinduism and general Indian culture, including its history with a caste system. o Incorporate basic knowledge of Indias history into their understanding of religious conflict, especially the conflict over Kashmir, that persists in India today, centuries later. o Relate the Hindu-Muslim conflict to other instances of religious rifts across other countries and periods.
o Ask students to think about the ways in which their own identity factors are different from or similar to others labels. How and when do these identities matter? 4. (10 minutes or longer if you extend it to Day Two) - Share pictorial representations of the various gods (see Appendix 2). Gather students impressions and talk about the characteristics of each god based on his or her appearance. If you have extra time and access to the Internet, have students, either individually or in small groups, research different Hindu gods and their roles in the faith as a whole. Have them look for pictures, descriptions, and functions and share their findings with the class. 5. (15 minutes or more, best for Day Two) - Read the handout on food in India as it relates to Hinduism (see Appendix 3). o o o o Whats the role of the cow in Hinduism? Are there any other religions that hold certain animals in high esteem? How are Hindus diets affected by their faith? What are some other food restrictions you know of that are based on religion? o Have you ever changed your diet because of your belief system?
As a class, have students share some of the ideas they expressed in their smaller discussions. Explain to students that while violence between Hindus and Muslims in India reached an apex in 2002, tensions are still simmering, and fear of another major outbreak of violence is very present. Pose these questions to students: o Why are disputes of a religious nature so difficult to resolve? o What kinds of solutions have you seen work or not work with other religious conflicts? What do you think can be done to reduce the tension, and in many cases, violence in India between Hindus and Muslims? What will both parties have to do? o When have you seen violence, discrimination, or hate in your community, what caused it? How was the conflict resolved? What kinds of problems still persist based on the idea of otherness (differences regarding ethnicity, religion, gender, skin color, etc.)?
Appendix 1
Great Temples exist throughout India; they honor different gods. Hindus go to the Temple to worship as individuals. They do not worship as a congregation nor is there any day set aside for worship. The Temples are spread over acres and are like little towns. In the outer areas one will find tanks for ritualistic bathing, shrines, halls, and bazaars. Artists and sculptors practice their professions and sell their wares. Vendors hawk flowers, sandalwood, and souvenirs. The inner part of the Temple is where the image of the deity is kept. As one prays in this cool, darkened prayer hall; it is believed that the soul unites with the three forms of Brahman. Devout Hindus also start their mornings with personal prayer and religious rituals (puja). The worship can not begin until he visits a stream to touch the purifying waters. Before eating, puja is also performed.
Today these four original divisions have been divided into thousands of different castes. For each caste there are definite rules and regulations that dictate with whom they could marry, with whom they could socialize, and what they could eat. Those that did not belong to any caste were thought to be created from darkness that Brahma discarded when he was creating the universe. These are known as outcasts or untouchables. The government has tried to outlaw the caste system, especially untouchables, but it has been difficult in the small villages. o Brahmins are the privileged or highest caste. Originally they were not permitted to engage in any type of work other than study and religious teachings. Now they can become lawyers, doctors, businessmen, government employees or university professors. Being a member of this caste still retains an esteemed social position. Originally, those from other castes were expected to support and sustain the Brahmins with gifts of food or money. The gifts provided the donator great benefits or merit. Brahmins are expected to be lacto-vegetarians.
o Ksatriyas as the warriors and rulers were originally obligated to protect the community. They had to be willing to give their lives to protect the Brahmins and the sacred animals. Since they were warriors they were permitted to kill animals, other than the sacred cow, to eat. o The Vaisyas as farmers and traders were supposed to make money to improve the economic conditions of the country. They were encouraged to give gifts to the Brahmins and money to build Temples. o The Sudras serve the three higher classes with diligence and humbleness. Some of the subdivisions created out of this class are the weavers and the carpenters. o The outcasts or untouchables are not allowed to enter the villages and towns except to do the most menial labor. They are not allowed to own land or to build houses. They live in wretched conditions.
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Sacred Cow
All Hindus avoid eating beef since they venerate the cow. The cows appear to know that they are sacred. It is estimated that 40,000 cows wander the streets of New Delhi being patted by each person they meet. They amble slowly crossing highways or relax in the middle of the road if they feel so inclined. While all animals are considered sacred, the cow has been singled out as particularly sacred because they: o Have given years of faithful service in helping man till the soil and pull the carts. o Provide man with food, milk. o Provide man with fuel, in form of cow dung, to heat his home and cook his food. o In Hindu mythology the cow was created by Brahman on the same day as the Brahmins thus it is an animal venerated above all others. o Symbol of motherhood.
Foods Effects
Hindus believe that there is a connection between foods, moods, fitness and longevity. Foods are divided into three major categories depending upon how they are believed to effect the body. o Sattvic foods are thought to contribute to making a person serene, enlightened, healthy, and long-lived. It is considered very
complimentary to say that at a person is sattvic. Sattvic foods include rice, wheat, ghee, most legumes, some other vegetables, milk and milk products (except cheeses made from rennet). Rennet comes from the stomach of animals; to obtain it, the animal would have to be slaughtered. o Rajasic foods are believed to contribute to a person becoming aggressive, greedy, passionate and desiring of power. Warriors were encouraged to eat these foods. Rajasic foods are some meats, eggs, and foods that are very bitter, sour, salty, rich and/or spicy. o Tamasic foods when used for pleasure and in excess can contribute to lust, malice, confusion, slothfulness, and dullness. These foods are garlic, pickled, preserved, stale, or rotten foods and alcohol or drugs.
Indian Medicine
The classic system of Indian medicine called Ayurveda (the Code of Life and Longevity) involves the interaction of "humors" in the body and foods. If they are in balance the body will be healthy, out of balance the body will become ill. o Kapha foods like white sugar, millet and buttermilk are thought to be heavy, dense, and mucus-producing. They should be avoided when one suffers from respiratory ailments. o Vata or vayu are the "wind" or gas producing foods such as some legumes. They are thought to be "unpredictable" and should be avoided when the stomach is bloated. o "Hot" or ushna foods include mungo bean, cowpea, ripe eggplant, and papaya. These foods are thought to promote digestion. o "Cool" or seeta foods consist of the "typical" foods eaten by a lactovegetarian; many cereals, like rice, wheat, mung beans, kidney beans, most fruits and vegetables, milk from most animals except goats, butter and ghee. These foods are thought to impart strength and nourishment.
Obesity Disapproved
Even when one is eating proper foods, moderation is advocated since obesity is not approved. The laws of food consumption dictate that solid food should fill half the stomach, liquid one-fourth, and the remainder should be left empty for smooth digestion. Fasting is practiced by many Hindus on days particular to the god that they worship. There is no "formula" for fasting as in other religions. It can be for one meal, part of the day, or for a few days, or can just involve eating a sparse diet or avoiding a particular food group. Fasting is thought to cleanse the body and uplift the spirit.
Sacred Kitchen
In the Hindu home the kitchen is considered sacred. Proper reference must be observed when preparing and consuming food. Those who prepare, and those who eat, must
purify themselves first by ritual bathing of the entire body. A Brahmin will not accept cooked food from a member of a lower caste, but will accept uncooked food. The shadow of a lower caste person can render the food unfit to eat. There are vast differences between North and South India, not only in culture, language, and climate, but also in cuisine.
Appendix 4
India - History
Indian history can be traced back over some 5,000 years. The countrys rich natural resources - spices, indigo, sugar, cotton, silk, sandalwood, and ivory - made it a target for invasion and colonization by European powers from the fifteenth century onwards. The history of the British in India begins in 1600, with the setting up of the East India Company, a trading company designed to exploit Indias rich natural resources. The company gradually extended its rule through India, and in 1858 the British crown took over from the East India Company as the ruler of India. Britain then ruled India as part of the British Empire until the independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi and others, succeeded in gaining Indian independence in 1947. Following independence India was divided up in a process called partition, to create Pakistan as a Muslim state. This was a difficult process; many millions of people had to travel between the new states, and in the unrest, people were killed. Mahatma Gandhi opposed partition; he was assassinated by a Hindu fundamentalist. Newly independent, India worked to establish strong institutions of justice, media and bureaucracy. It is now the largest democracy in the world and reviving the traditional Panchayat (village council) system makes sure people can take part in democracy. Fast economic reform has also made India the worlds tenth most industrialised country, with a globally competitive computer market and its own space programme. But border disputes continue to be an issue. In 1962, war broke out with China over the IndiaChina border and in 1971, war with Pakistan led to India recognising the new state of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan. The dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir began at independence and has rumbled on ever since with periodic outbreaks of cross-border skirmishing. The potential dangers of conflict over Kashmir were underlined when both countries tested nuclear weapons within weeks of each other in May 1998 and for several months in 2002 there seemed to be a real risk of war. Photo: Rajendra Shaw/Oxfam
Appendix 5
Appendix 6 World>Asia: South & Central from the May 22, 2002 edition
of Krishna and, right next door, Muslims regularly turn to face Mecca at a red sandstone mosque. Mathura is recognized as one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities. Hindus believe that Krishna was born here 3,500 years ago in a prison cell where his parents were held captive by a tyrannical king. A series of Muslim invaders concluding with Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century razed the site, then built a mosque in its place. Now, a more recent Krishna temple also stands cheek by jowl beside it, blaring Hindu bhajans (hymns) across the mosque's cobblestones. The tension at the site is palpable. At the Hindu temple, so-called "Black Cat" elite commandos accompanied by city, regional, and intelligence bureau officers patrol the grounds. To enter the complex, visitors must go through airport-style electronic arches, then be patted down. A two-story-high, barbed-wire fence circles and divides the temple and mosque. At the mosque, security isn't as tight. Muslim families, goats, and bulls live on the grounds. A Hindu soldier on the mosque's perimeter was blunt about his view of the future. "These Muslims don't like us here. We will wait some time, then they will be meat," says the soldier, making a swift chopping motion with his hand. In his concrete room at the mosque, the Muslim cleric, Imam Abdul Wazid says he continues to preach "about living together like brothers and good neighbors, always trying to get along." But he still hears the worry in peoples' voices. "People talk about Gujarat and wonder if this trouble will come here," the Imam says. A high-ranking district official has said that the government is spending 400,000 rupees (more than $8,000) per day to protect both monuments. "[Government officials] are worried that if trouble erupts here, it will just keep spreading until we have a massive conflict across India and maybe with (mostly Muslim) Pakistan," says Mohini Giri, chairperson of the Guild of Service, a women's charitable group who has interviewed officials about the issue. In addition, India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has "a bloody nose because of the Gujarat crisis, and they are very keen to stabilize," before upcoming state elections and the 2004 general election, says Vinod Mehta, editor in chief of Outlook, a respected Indian newsmagazine. "I don't think they want to be further marginalized." Mr. Mehta says hopefully, the government is learning lessons from Gujarat. Police in Gujarat now, for example, gather elders from both Hindu and Muslim communities to sort out problems and talk peace so that no future flare-ups occur.
Mehta says the future of Mathura will depend on how the Gujarat conflict develops. "The people who would be behind any Mathura agitation are the same people as the perpetrators of the carnage in Gujarat, and right now, I don't think they have the capacity to spread their activities so far out and have two or three things going at once," says Mr. Mehta. At his sweets stall, Maheshwori believes there is still room for hope in this city. "Hindus and Muslims live happily together now and keep quiet. I think we all want to stay that way," he says.
Appendix 7
Creative activity on Vishnu and Shiva http://home.att.net/~tisone/mythology.html Complete basic info on Hinduism: http://socialstudies.com/article.html?article@PIN149A+af@donn Hinduism and elephants: http://www.pbs.org/edens/anamalai/teach.html In-depth look at various aspects of Hinduism: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/ Basic history of India: http://www.oxfam.co.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/world/india/indihist.htm Oxfam Overview of India: http://www.oxfam.co.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/world/india/index.htm Why India Matters: http://www.world-affairs.org/globalclassroom/resources/2006-11-14%20%20Web%20Version,%20India.pdf Anger over Gujarat religion law: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5362802.stm