Glimpses Of World Religions

SR No.: 032397
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 228
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 26 MB

Page 28

linduism (The religion of the Hindus)
15
purushartha of achieving the condition of freedom in life
(Jiwanmukta) by sacrificing ignorance or Māyā. (8) In order to achieve this state of freedom in life, the help
of a worthy Guru, worship of God, the study, contemplation and hearing of the scriptures as well as holy journey, repetition of names of God (Japa), meditation etc. are very much helpful. So each worshipper must remain active in
all the activities. (9) In the Hindu religion two contrary aims are found
regarding a woman spouse. On one side, by saying that “O’woman ! you are a goddess” and thus, she is given a place of pride; on the other side, 'a woman is the mine of hell' and in this way, she has been degraded. If we look to the tradition, a woman is expected to remain within the four walls of the family house, and she should do the chief duty of her family and service to them - this is believed in the Hindu society. Along with this many philosophers and saints have praised and glorified a woman as goddess or a 'satee' (a wife who burns herself lighting a holy fire, after
the death of her husband). (10) The soul is immortal, so there is morality, there is ‘Dharma'
and the motivation for philosophy. The soul has to suffer the births and re-births, and just as a person throws off old garments and puts on new ones, so does Atma or Soul relinquishes one physical body and adopts a new body.
Births and Deaths are for the body and not for the soul. (11) There are different varied paths (Panthas) or creeds like
Vaishnav, Swaminarayan and Shaiva in Hindu religion. This religion which is sprouted in the form of the main 'Sanatan’ (or original perennial) Dharma has different, multifarious branches and sub-branches spread over.