I got a question

[Sagefrakrobatik]

Is there any delination between orthodoxy and liberal or reform in Hinduism like there is in JUdaism and Christianity. In Islam there is a distinction between Modernist and fundamentalist. Does such a distinction exsist in Hinduism?

[yajvan]

Hari Om
~~~~~


Is there any delination between orthodoxy and liberal or reform in Hinduism like there is in JUdaism and Christianity. In Islam there is a distinction between Modernist and fundamentalist. Does such a distinction exsist in Hinduism?

Namaste,
the following HDF posts may stimulate some thought. See what you think then we can poke around a bit more on the subject if you wish.
What do these posts cover? Orthodox and Unorthodox - maybe we can give a definition here so we have some guidance on these words and make them relevant.

āstika or आस्तिक which means there is or exists;
nāstika or na+ astika नास्तिक or it is not so and this word nāstika नास्तिक is not believing, or atheistical.

So what does this mean? astika there exists , or a regard that the Vedas as infallible, the final word, with out doubt. Hence this is called Orthodox e.g. there exists the Vedas as the foundation of infallible truth.


http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=18729&postcount=7 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=18729&postcount=7)
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=12725&postcount=4 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=12725&postcount=4)
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=18600&postcount=22 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=18600&postcount=22)
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=18769&postcount=11 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=18769&postcount=11)

pranams

[saidevo]

Namaste.


Is there any delination between orthodoxy and liberal or reform in Hinduism like there is in JUdaism and Christianity. In Islam there is a distinction between Modernist and fundamentalist. Does such a distinction exsist in Hinduism?

1. Practical Hinduism in public in today's India is mostly founded on Bhakti (devotion). People read devotional articles and stories published in spiritual magazines, discuss ways and means to solve problems through prayer, seek the guidance of gurus, worship God in their puja rooms in their preferred forms, attend social bhajans and satsang, and so on. Most Hindus have not read the Vedas and the Gita, though most have familiarity with the Puranas. Scriptural knowledge from the Vedas and Gita, however, is obtained in the gurus' pieces of advice to reader's queries in magazines, and in personal interviews. Since Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma, with emphasis on the dharma of life, Hindus have an approach which is more practical than spiritual.

2. Orthodox Hinduism is followed in the Hindu religious institutions, exemplarily by the Hindu religious leaders.

3. The Modernist among the Hindus comprise the intellectuals, professionals, bureaucrats, and many politicians who are steeped in the western culture in their homes and offices, yet do remember to worship God in temples and homes and celebrate the festivals, though not the to the extent the general public do.

4. There may be Hindu reactionaries but there are no Hindu fundamentalists.

5. There are many Hindu atheists however, specially in politics. They are often provacatively proactive, spreading canards about Hindu scriptures, gods and values.