Hindu Sacred Texts
Posted on Jun 02, 2009 under Culture, Religion, Travel | No CommentHinduism is a major religion in India. The country has many cultural aspects that relate to common Hindu themes. Many of the entertainment fields, architecture and arts also reflect the importance of this in society. This however, does not mean that Indians are not tolerant of other religions, which the majority of the population is. Tourists staying in five star hotels in New Delhi will most likely encounter some aspect of Hinduism during their stay. A familiarity with Hinduism helps to orient Western tourists to the culture and vacation expectations. The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are two essential Hindu texts.
The Mahabharata is full of sacred stories and philosophies regarding human spiritual evolution, moral standards and ethical norms. The title of the book may be literally translated as The Great Tale of the Bharata Dynasty. The authorship of this sacred text is most commonly accredited to Vyasa. It is believed to date back to the 8th century BC, though some of its layers date as late as the 4th century CE. The text comprises one of the longest epic poems in the world with its one hundred thousand verses and extended prose passages. It is about four times as long as the Ramayana.
The Ramayana is another sacred Hindu text. This work is commonly attributed to Valmiki. It contains major teachings of the ancient sages and it describes the ideal archetypal characters, such as mother, son, brother, wife, husband and daughter. Relationship ideals are a common theme in this epic. Most of the stories relate to the concept of dharma and its relevance to the human experience. These lessons are told through the main characters of Rama, Bharata, Sita, Hanuman and the villain Ravana. Much like the relevance of the Mahabharata, these themes and stories are fundamental elements in India’s culture and social consciousness.
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