RELIGION

10 Sunday June 10, 2007 ■■ CatholicNews

Hinduism arrived in Singaporein the early 19th century withthe wave of immigrants fromsouthern India to work mostlyas labourers for the BritishEast India Company. Theseimmigrants brought alongwith them their religion andculture. Initially, the immigrantsworshipped in makeshiftstructures, but these were soonreplaced by temples contributedby rich Hindu merchants.These temples were mainlyof Dravidian architecture (theTamil style found in Tamil Nadu)with imposing entrance towers,intricate carvings and murals onthe walls and ceiling.

Today there are 24 well-established temples in Singaporeto serve the religious needs of theapproximately 200,000 Hindusliving here. The temples alsoserve to bond the community.

Two government bodies dealwith Hindu affairs in Singapore

 – The Hindu Endowments Boardand The Hindu Advisory Board.Members of the boards areappointed by the Minister forCommunity Development, Youthand Sports for a term of threeyears.

The Vedas are the basic andauthoritative texts of Hinduism.They are the most ancientreligious texts which define

truth for Hindus. Hindusbelieve that these truthswere received by rishis(sages) directly from Godand passed on orally tosucceeding generationsbefore they were written (onpalm leaves) some 2,000years ago. Their cardinalteachings are:

 – Everything and everybeing is divine.

 – The goal of life isto manifest this hiddendivinity.

 – The means are manybut the goal is the same.

 – Accept and welcomethe plurality of faithsbecause each faith is a wayto the same end.

Hinduism s̓ other sacred

and recitation from Hinduscriptures by specially trainedpriests are an important part of worship. The purpose of externalritualistic worship – prayers(repeating the names of theirfavourite gods and goddesses andchanting mantras) and offerings(of water, fruit, flowers andincense) – is to keep the mindpure and focused on God.

At most Hindu homes, thereis a shrine where family membersworship.

Undertaking a pilgrimage isan important aspect of Hinduism.Popular pilgrimage places arerivers, temples, mountains andsacred sites in India where godsand goddesses are believed tohave appeared. The river Gangesis the holiest river for Hindusand the city of Varanasi situatedat the banks of the Ganges is oneof the most important pilgrimagecentres.

When a Hindu dies, it iscustomary to wear white at thefuneral. The body remains atthe home until it is taken to theplace of cremation. Cremationis considered obligatory for allHindus except for their children,who are buried. After cremation,the ashes are immersed in a riveror in the sea.

Hindus believe that when thephysical body dies, the immortalsoul is reincarnated. What it isreincarnated into (destiny) isdependent on how the previouslife was lived (karma, theaccumulated sum of one s̓ goodand bad deeds). The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth continuesuntil the ultimate goal of life(Nirvana) is reached (after manyreincarnations) when the soulloses individual consciousnessand becomes one with Brahman.

This union with Brahmancan be achieved by four paths orspiritual disciplines. Each pathis called a Yoga (the Sanskritterm for “union”) and Hindus arefree to take up any of the four orcombine all at once.

 – Bhakti Yoga leads to unionwith Brahman by loving him,chanting his name, meditatingon his form and performingritualistic worship.

 – Karma Yoga leads to unionwith Brahman through selflessaction.

 – Gyana Yoga leads tounion with Brahman throughknowledge.

 – Raja Yoga leads to unionwith Brahman through meditationand renunciation.

Every important event of aHindu s̓ life has to be sanctified

Hinduism recognizes only oneGod, Brahman – the SupremePower who is the cause andfoundation of all existence; heis everywhere; and his power isinfinite.

Brahman is believed to havemany forms and natures andHindus personify him in differentgods or goddesses, each witha specific power – knowledge,prosperity, protection, successetc. While Hindus worshipthese images of Brahman, theyalso meditate on him as PureConsciousness.

From Brahman, threeprincipal gods (known as theHindu Trinity) emerge: Brahmathe creator, Vishnu the preserver,and Shiva the absorber. These arenot three separate gods but threedifferent aspects of Brahmanpersonifying respectivelythe creation, sustenance andliberation of each soul.

The use of symbols, images andtemples helps remind devotees of the existence of God.

At all Hindu temples, rituals

(Above) Hindus pray at the

Ganges, their holiest river. Hindus

believe that dipping into the river

cleanses away sins. There are

some 1 billion Hindu devotees

worldwide. Of the world religions,

only Christianity and Islam have

more adherents. CNS photo

The first temple, Sri

Mariamman Temple in South

Bridge Road, was originally

built in 1827 by Narayana

Pillai, a clerk to Sir Stamford

Raf fles. Today it is one of 

the two Hindu national

monuments in Singapore.

HINDUISM is the world s̓ oldestreligion, generally accepted ashaving its origin in 14th centuryBC India (but some Hinduscholars say it may have begunearlier).

Unlike Christianity, Hinduismdoes not have a founder or aspecific theological system.It has no central authority ororganization. Over the centuries,Hinduism has absorbed hundredsof divergent schools of thoughtand sects, and renewed itself to meet the changing needs of society without sacrificing itsessentials. To a non-Hindu,Hinduism s̓ diversity and richnessmay be bewildering.

Hindus believe that thereare many paths to reach Godand oneʼs spiritual goal.Consequently, they do not believein proselytizing or conversion.

Today, with just over a billionHindus, Hinduism is the thirdlargest religion in the world, afterChristianity and Islam.

texts include the Smritis (codeof conduct on the personal andsocial level), Agamas (ritualisticworship and observances),Puranas (stories and allegoriespromoting ethical values andspiritual truths).