Practices

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam: Forget intellectual philosophy for a moment, but what practices do most Hindus do? Maybe it can be defined by what we do, not what we believe.

I'll start a list

(Most) Hindus ...
1) attend temples somewhat regularly
2) do some sort of home ritual
3) have samskaras, like first feeding, namakarana
4) have Hindu names
5) wear some sort of tilak sometimes
6) dress modestly
7) are vegetarian
8) honor Gods
9) respect elders
10) go on pilgrimages once a year or so
11) have Hindu weddings
12) get cremated
13) burn incense
14) fast on occasion
15) give to religious institutions, or charity
16) associate with other Hindus
17) remove shoes in houses
18) offer guests at least a glass of water
19) sing bhajans at least occasionally
20) do some japa or meditate
21) read scripture
22) have Hindu pictures on the walls
23) have a shrine area or meditation space at home
24) have some kind of Hindu reminder in the car ... on dashboard, hanging from mirror

Feel free to add... critique, disagree,

For me personally, actions speak louder than words.

Aum Namasivaya

[Viraja]

Hindus culturally are supposed to stay away from liquor..

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

This is a great way to define Hindu.

I also think most Hindus do not drink intoxicants meaning liquor as noted. I would add do not smoke tobacco or opiates (most Hindus do not, but there was a saint I read about who smoked a hooka pipe).

I don't want to take anything off track, but wouldn't it be correct to say that most Hindus honor and are members of one of the four asramas, either self identified householder or grihasta and all rules associated with, or have entered a religious student and celibate brahmacharya stage, or a forest ashram or vanaprastha, or even mendicant or renunciation vow and order as sanyasa?

Om Namah Sivaya

[ShivaFan]

Namaste - and opps! Fundamental mistake. "Do nots" are not the same as "do".

What Hindus Do ...

Om Namah Sivaya

[Viraja]

How about 'adorn the hair with flowers' (for females)?

And also, adorn the pictures of deities with flowers.

[Friend from the West]

Hari Om

Namaste

Can not speak for most but for consideration:
Think maybe speak nicely or mindfully and celebrate much!!
Think eat the blessed food and appreciate much.
Think being concerned for "others" and prostrating much.
Thinking. Actually meant here as a "do."

Om Namah Shivaya

FFTW

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam:

... greet with palms together, and some version of 'Namaste'
... respect learned Gurus and teachers
... stay clean, or try to , in mind and body
... use polite speech
... for married women ... wear a wedding pendant
... respect the sanctity of temples

Thanks to others for contributing.

Aum Namasivaya

[Believer]

Namaste,

Most Hindus..
1. Worship Godesses and Gods.
2. Have a healthy respect for women.
3. Address women as beti (daughter), behanji (sister), maataaji (mother) to emphasize/define their relationship with females (strangers) of different age groups.
4. Do not indulge in pre or extra marital sexual relationships.

Pranam.

Note to ShivaFan, there is an edit feature to make amends to your posts, which comes in handy for changing/adding/deleting the text in your already submitted posts. You don't have to make a new post to correct the last one that you submitted few minutes ago. Just a friendly pointer about the HDF capabilities.

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

We all cherish and worship the Mother Cow (as well as other animals of merit)!

* we use Ghee in many ways, homas, in our puja lamps!

* the cows of India are exceptionally beautiful!

* the Munis and the mendicants love the cow, and we love Her milk!

* we love Her as our Mother!

* Lord Shiva loves Mother Cow and all the Gods do!

Om Namah Sivaya

[Equinox]

Vannakkam,

Vannakkam: Forget intellectual philosophy for a moment, but what practices do most Hindus do? Maybe it can be defined by what we do, not what we believe.

Feel free to add... critique, disagree,

For me personally, actions speak louder than words.

Aum Namasivaya

Using astrology (panchangam) and numerology for at least some rituals in life (namakaaranam, weddings, death prayers, other prayers and occasions). Even the least religious ones consult astrology for some ritual or other at some point in their lives.



Aum Namah Shivaya