-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
What Makes a Hindu a Hindu?
- Thread starter Vinayaka
- Start date
Satyamavejayanti
Well-Known Member
Hmmm,, good question.
Do you do a daily puja? yes, at home every morning
Do you attend temple once a week? No need, one room in house is designated to Ishwar, and Ishwar is omnipresent, its everywhere.
Do you have a Hindu name? Hindi name
Have you been had the equivalent of a baptism, or formal entrance? No need, my Dad told me that when i was born the first thing he said in my ear was OM
Do you meditate daily? Yes, Every morning
Do you pilgrimage near of far at least once a year? No, too expensive for me
Are most of your friends Hindu? No, its hard to find many Hindus is Australia
Do you listen to Hindu music primarily or exclusively? Mostly, i like the Sama Vedic Chants (youtube)
Have you been initiated or taken diksha from a bonafide Hindu teacher? Not yet, i have a unofficial Guru.
Are you a vegetarian, or at least realise you should be one? I try
Do you dream about Hindu stuff? Yes
Will you call yourself Hindu in public? Yes
Will you consult an ayurvedic doctor? No, in this day and age i cant trust any of them
Will you consult a Hindu astrologer? No, don't believe it.
Do you know your nakshatra? No, but my mother does.
Do you believe fully in reincarnation? 95%
Do you believe in karma? 100%
Do you believe in a divinity within all things? 100%
Do you avoid wearing leather? try to
Do you know at least a few bhajans? maybe 1 or 2
None
You are more Hindu then i am
:bow:
Om Tath Sath
zenzero
Its only a Label
Friend Vinayaka,
Existence is about balance about *nothingness* none giving or taking. Again only personal understanding and no proofs, quotes, scriptures none.
A tree grows, it takes and gives equally till it lives. The tree dies its treeness lives on; another seed, another tree. Tree comes from and as part of TOTALITY or EXISTENCE or the WHOLE as a form and goes back into IT.
The whole effort if any that one needs to make is to be EMPTY and in that *emptiness* existence works through that part of ITSELF as that form *I* is only a Medium fr existence to carry out its work.
Whatever helps in reaching to that emptiness or balance is RELIGION or a path or way that one undertakes and finally all paths reaches to that point where one merges with that TOTALITY and that individual *I* ness is no more only a drop of that WHOLE remains. That is what is SANATAN DHARMA as understood.
LOve & rgds
You cannot give unless you have it first? There is no net giver, it is again a misunderstanding to personal understanding.
Existence is about balance about *nothingness* none giving or taking. Again only personal understanding and no proofs, quotes, scriptures none.
A tree grows, it takes and gives equally till it lives. The tree dies its treeness lives on; another seed, another tree. Tree comes from and as part of TOTALITY or EXISTENCE or the WHOLE as a form and goes back into IT.
The whole effort if any that one needs to make is to be EMPTY and in that *emptiness* existence works through that part of ITSELF as that form *I* is only a Medium fr existence to carry out its work.
Whatever helps in reaching to that emptiness or balance is RELIGION or a path or way that one undertakes and finally all paths reaches to that point where one merges with that TOTALITY and that individual *I* ness is no more only a drop of that WHOLE remains. That is what is SANATAN DHARMA as understood.
LOve & rgds
Last edited:
Alright very clever indeed. Now look at my profile pic and find out for yourselves. Easy one
No I didn't get it easily. You'll have to say, I'm afraid.
sadhak
Member
I thought you would recognize the picture of Shivaji
. Probably its not clear enough.
I thought you would recognize the picture of Shivaji
It is now. That was my third guess. :yes: Are you on the coast? I'd like to come for Chaturthi some day.
sadhak
Member
For Chaturthi ofcourse why not? You are welcome. Chaturthi, thats the time when i visit my native village along the coast. Rest of the time i am in the financial capital. You picked the name of my Araadhya
.
More random questions ...
Are you comfortable eating with your fingers?
Do you avoid stagnant water, preferring moving water for bathing?
Do you like the smell of incense?
Do you donate money or time to a local of far-off Hindu organization, even if its something as simple as putting money in a Hundi?
Are you comfortable prostrating, or does it seem uncomfortable?
Do you celebrate any other Hindu festival besides Divali?
Do you have Hindu pictures up in your house?
Do you have a few Hindu scriptures on your bookshelf?
When you're walking through a mall, are you 'on the alert' for anything Hindu, like incense or a Ganesha?
Do you greet fellow Hindus with 'Namaste' , 'Namaskaram' or silent pranams, hands together, slightly cupped?
Are you comfortable eating with your fingers?
Do you avoid stagnant water, preferring moving water for bathing?
Do you like the smell of incense?
Do you donate money or time to a local of far-off Hindu organization, even if its something as simple as putting money in a Hundi?
Are you comfortable prostrating, or does it seem uncomfortable?
Do you celebrate any other Hindu festival besides Divali?
Do you have Hindu pictures up in your house?
Do you have a few Hindu scriptures on your bookshelf?
When you're walking through a mall, are you 'on the alert' for anything Hindu, like incense or a Ganesha?
Do you greet fellow Hindus with 'Namaste' , 'Namaskaram' or silent pranams, hands together, slightly cupped?
Are you comfortable eating with your fingers?
Yes.
Do you avoid stagnant water, preferring moving water for bathing?
Yes, of course.
Do you like the smell of incense?
I have almost no sense of smell but I use incense anyway, scents I remember: jasmine, sandalwood, cinnamon.
Do you donate money or time to a local of far-off Hindu organization, even if its something as simple as putting money in a Hundi?
Don't know of any.
Are you comfortable prostrating, or does it seem uncomfortable?
Have done it, no problem.
Do you celebrate any other Hindu festival besides Divali?
Yes.
Do you have Hindu pictures up in your house?
All over the place.
Do you have a few Hindu scriptures on your bookshelf?
More than a few.
When you're walking through a mall, are you 'on the alert' for anything Hindu, like incense or a Ganesha?
Always.
Do you greet fellow Hindus with 'Namaste' , 'Namaskaram' or silent pranams, hands together, slightly cupped?
Yes.
Yes.
Do you avoid stagnant water, preferring moving water for bathing?
Yes, of course.
Do you like the smell of incense?
I have almost no sense of smell but I use incense anyway, scents I remember: jasmine, sandalwood, cinnamon.
Do you donate money or time to a local of far-off Hindu organization, even if its something as simple as putting money in a Hundi?
Don't know of any.
Are you comfortable prostrating, or does it seem uncomfortable?
Have done it, no problem.
Do you celebrate any other Hindu festival besides Divali?
Yes.
Do you have Hindu pictures up in your house?
All over the place.
Do you have a few Hindu scriptures on your bookshelf?
More than a few.
When you're walking through a mall, are you 'on the alert' for anything Hindu, like incense or a Ganesha?
Always.
Do you greet fellow Hindus with 'Namaste' , 'Namaskaram' or silent pranams, hands together, slightly cupped?
Yes.
Satyamavejayanti
Well-Known Member
Are you comfortable eating with your fingers? Yes
Do you avoid stagnant water, preferring moving water for bathing? Yes
Do you like the smell of incense? Yes
Do you donate money or time to a local of far-off Hindu organization, even if its something as simple as putting money in a Hundi? Yes
Are you comfortable prostrating, or does it seem uncomfortable? Comfortable
Do you celebrate any other Hindu festival besides Divali? Yes
Do you have Hindu pictures up in your house? 33 million.lol yes a few
Do you have a few Hindu scriptures on your bookshelf? Yes
When you're walking through a mall, are you 'on the alert' for anything Hindu, like incense or a Ganesha? No, Malls here have nothing Hindu, maybe the markets
Do you greet fellow Hindus with 'Namaste' , 'Namaskaram' or silent pranams, hands together, slightly cupped? Yes, Namaste and Ram Ram, Sita Ram
Do you avoid stagnant water, preferring moving water for bathing? Yes
Do you like the smell of incense? Yes
Do you donate money or time to a local of far-off Hindu organization, even if its something as simple as putting money in a Hundi? Yes
Are you comfortable prostrating, or does it seem uncomfortable? Comfortable
Do you celebrate any other Hindu festival besides Divali? Yes
Do you have Hindu pictures up in your house? 33 million.lol yes a few
Do you have a few Hindu scriptures on your bookshelf? Yes
When you're walking through a mall, are you 'on the alert' for anything Hindu, like incense or a Ganesha? No, Malls here have nothing Hindu, maybe the markets
Do you greet fellow Hindus with 'Namaste' , 'Namaskaram' or silent pranams, hands together, slightly cupped? Yes, Namaste and Ram Ram, Sita Ram
ratikala
Istha gosthi
Do you do a daily puja? .....yes .
Do you attend temple once a week? ......our home is our ashram it is our temple
and we attend that ahram every day .Do you have a Hindu name? ......the name ? ... vaisnava ! does that count ?
Have you been had the equivalent of a baptism, or formal entrance?....initiation .
Do you meditate daily?......yes
Do you pilgrimage near of far at least once a year?....ive no money to travel but I go to vrindarvan every day
Are most of your friends Hindu?......real freinds ... yes !
Do you listen to Hindu music primarily or exclusively? ......yes , and sing it too
Have you been initiated or taken diksha from a bonafide Hindu teacher?....yes
Are you a vegetarian, or at least realise you should be one? .....pure vegetarian !!! well actualy vegan !
Do you dream about Hindu stuff?.......I dont dream , when I sleep , I sleep .
Will you call yourself Hindu in public?.....a vaisnava , a hindu only if someone dosent understand what a vaisnava is .
Will you consult an ayurvedic doctor?... how on earth would that make one hindu ????
Will you consult a Hindu astrologer?.....no , guru would on our behalf if auspicious date was needed for any purpose .
Do you know your nakshatra? ......yes but is that realy important ???
Do you believe fully in reincarnation?..... 108%
Do you believe in karma?........108%
Do you believe in a divinity within all things?.......awake or sleeping , yes !
Do you avoid wearing leather? .......where possible , and silk !!!
Do you know at least a few bhajans? .......at least a few .... :angel2:loads !
deppends how critical the onlooker is ????? or judgemental !!!!
who cares what an onlooker thinks ?it is what is in the heart that matters :yes:
I think you have missed a few .....
do you read shastra every day ?
do you follow the recomendations of no intoxicants ?....(or is that only vaisnavas that do that ?)
do you buy the incence for your self or for your deitys ???
ratikala
Istha gosthi
Or maybe maybe more than a few ... thanks for your additions. Sure some are less important, and it varies from sect to sect, but mainly I just wanted to get across the idea that a lot of Hinduism is in the day to day routine stuff ... as others have said in other threads ... we think differently. I do think its far more than just a philosophy ... its a practice, a lifestyle, an attitude.
Do you do a daily puja?
No. I try to perform puja twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays (Mondays to Shiva and Tuesdays to Devi).
Do you attend temple once a week?
Yes!
Do you have a Hindu name?
No, but I will when I get the money together for a naama karana. It will be Chhaya Sundari.
Have you been had the equivalent of a baptism, or formal entrance?
Nope
Do you meditate daily?
Nope, don't know how to
Do you pilgrimage near of far at least once a year?
Yes!
Are most of your friends Hindu?
Eh... not really? Agnostics and atheists, really.
Do you listen to Hindu music primarily or exclusively?
I have a very big playlist of Mata bhajans?
Have you been initiated or taken diksha from a bonafide Hindu teacher?
Nope
Are you a vegetarian, or at least realise you should be one?
I don't believe vegetarianism is a requirement of Hinduism. I believe it's helpful but it's not necessary.
Do you dream about Hindu stuff?
All the time!
Will you call yourself Hindu in public?
Yeap!
Will you consult an ayurvedic doctor?
If I could afford it
Will you consult a Hindu astrologer?
Again, it's a matter of money
Do you know your nakshatra?
I did but I've forgotten!
Do you believe fully in reincarnation?
Yes
Do you believe in karma?
Yes
Do you believe in a divinity within all things?
Yes
Do you avoid wearing leather?
No, leather is a guilty pleasure
Do you know at least a few bhajans?
Yeap!
No. I try to perform puja twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays (Mondays to Shiva and Tuesdays to Devi).
Do you attend temple once a week?
Yes!
Do you have a Hindu name?
No, but I will when I get the money together for a naama karana. It will be Chhaya Sundari.
Have you been had the equivalent of a baptism, or formal entrance?
Nope
Do you meditate daily?
Nope, don't know how to
Do you pilgrimage near of far at least once a year?
Yes!
Are most of your friends Hindu?
Eh... not really? Agnostics and atheists, really.
Do you listen to Hindu music primarily or exclusively?
I have a very big playlist of Mata bhajans?
Have you been initiated or taken diksha from a bonafide Hindu teacher?
Nope
Are you a vegetarian, or at least realise you should be one?
I don't believe vegetarianism is a requirement of Hinduism. I believe it's helpful but it's not necessary.
Do you dream about Hindu stuff?
All the time!
Will you call yourself Hindu in public?
Yeap!
Will you consult an ayurvedic doctor?
If I could afford it
Will you consult a Hindu astrologer?
Again, it's a matter of money
Do you know your nakshatra?
I did but I've forgotten!
Do you believe fully in reincarnation?
Yes
Do you believe in karma?
Yes
Do you believe in a divinity within all things?
Yes
Do you avoid wearing leather?
No, leather is a guilty pleasure
Do you know at least a few bhajans?
Yeap!
I sincerely think that the goal is to get rid of the attitude.
Yeah, but ... some people don't object to being called anything.
Just like the old saying ... you can call me anything you want, just don't call me late for breakfast.
Fair enough ... now I'm wondering how many cultural connotations there are to attitude
I've wondered about the silk thing. Were the saris and dhotis the deities wore made of silk? Or was silk just a term used for luxurious fabric? I know that India has always produced some of the world's finest cotton. I can't see Sri Krishna wearing a silk dhoti, when the caterpillars have to be killed (boiled) to unwind the silk thread.