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In Hindu Gods in West Africa, Wuaku offers an account of the histories, beliefs and practices of the Hindu Monastery of Africa and the Radha Govinda Temple, two Hindu Temples in Ghana. Using historical material and data from his field work in southern Ghana, Wuaku shows how these two Hindu Temples build their traditions on popular Ghanaian religious notions about the powerful magicality of India's Hindu gods. He explores how Ghanaian soldiers who served in the colonial armies in India, Sri Lanka, and Burma during World War II, Bollywood films, and local magicians, have contributed to the production and the spreading of these cultural ideas. He argues that while Ghanaian worshippers appropriated and deployed the alien Hindu religious world through their own cultural ideas, as they engage Hindu beliefs and rituals in negotiating challenges their own worldviews would change considerably.
The Hindu pantheon comprises such a multitude of gods and goddesses that even the most devout can find it difficult to remember their names and characteristics. This self-contained volume presents a comprehensive picture of the gods and goddesses commonly worshiped in India; their origins, and their related myths and legends. It covers the deities from both the Vedic and Puranic literature, as well as demons, sacred birds, and other lore, all accompanied by excellent illustrations from traditional sources.
Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan by Saroj Kumar Chaudhuri Pdf
Buddhism introduced many Hindu Gods and Goddesses to the Japanese. The rulers were the first to be attracted to them. Historical records show that they earnestly believed in the miracles of these divinities promised in the sutras. Many miracle stories started appearing in popular literature as the divinities percolated down to the masses. The resulting naturalisation process in the case of some divinities went to the extent that they became an integral part of the native Shinto pantheon. Their popularity remains unabated even today. The Tantric Buddhist sects also played a vital role in propagating the divinities. They regularly worshipped the divinities in their temples where people thronged in large numbers. Many steps in these ceremonies, for instance, the homa ritual, are very familiar to the present-day Hindus. The monks have also produced a considerable volume of religious literature related to these divinities. Descriptions of many divinities show that they have not changed substantially over centuries. A study of these writings also shows that a large volume of Hindu myths and legends related to these deities were transmitted to Japan. These writings are also a testimony to the way the ancestors of the present-day Hindus thought about these deities, say, around the eighth or ninth century of the Christian era.
India in Africa, Africa in India by John C. Hawley Pdf
India in Africa, Africa in India traces the longstanding interaction between these two regions, showing that the Indian Ocean world provides many examples of cultural flows that belie our understanding of globalization as a recent phenomenon. This region has had, and continues to have, an internal integrity that touches the lives of its citizens in their commerce, their cultural exchanges, and their concepts of each other and of themselves in the world. These connections have deep historical roots, and their dynamics are not attributable solely to the effects of European colonialism, modernity, or contemporary globalization -- although these forces have left their mark. The contributors to this interdisciplinary volume come from the fields of history, literature, dance, sociology, gender studies, and religion, making this collection unique in its recreation of an entire world too seldom considered as such.
The Oxford History of Hinduism: Hindu Diasporas by Knut A. Jacobsen Pdf
Hindu Diasporas presents the histories and religious traditions of Hindus with a South Asian ancestral background living outside of South Asia. Hinduism is a global religion with a significant presence in many countries throughout the world. The most important cause of this global expansion is migration. This book presents and analyses the most important of the geographies, migration histories, religious traditions and developments, rituals, places, institutions, and representations of Hinduism in the diasporas, capturing some of the great plurality of Hindu religious traditions. The first part of the book concentrates on the major regions in the world in which Hindu diasporas are found. The main focus is the modern period, but the book discusses also the possibility of premodern Hindu diasporas in Southeast Asia. The second part focuses on specific central themes such as Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta traditions in diasporas, temples, and traditions of sacred sites and pilgrimage outside of South Asia, Hindutva organizations and the diaspora, as well as relations between Hindu diasporas and new followers of Hindu traditions. The chapters in this book show some of the global presence of the Hindu diasporas and some of the dynamic developments in multiple geographical spaces. Analysing specific spaces and themes, the chapters of the book offer a foundation for understanding the Hindu traditions in its most important global diasporic contexts and the dynamic developments around the world.
"Hinduism is the term now used to summarize the religious aspirations of the majority of Indians. It includes a variety of highly intellectual, metaphysical and philosophical systems, as well as the naive demonology and magico-religious beliefs of the masses. Hinduism is also a synthesis of three, originally separate religious traditions: the Dravidian, the Aryan and the aboriginal." "Although many Westerners regard Hinduism as polytheistic, this view does not take into consideration the sophisticated basis of the tradition as seen in the ancient Rgveda where a transcendental Oneness is perceived that manifests Itself only partially in this world to "create" apparent forces which appear to human beings as separate deifies, thus there are as many gods as there are aspects of creation." "Many deifies are depicted with a multiplicity of arms, heads, and emblems, so distinguishing them from ordinary mortals as well as pointing to the immense potentiality of the Divine that is forever beyond the comprehension of human beings."--BOOK JACKET.
Religion and Development in Africa by Ezra Chitando,Masiiwa Ragies Gunda ,Lovemore Togarasei Pdf
"What is development? Who defines that one community/ country is "developed", while another community/ country is "under-developed"? What is the relationship between religion and development? Does religion contribute to development or underdevelopment in Africa? These and related questions elicit quite charged reactions in African studies, development studies, political science and related fields. Africa's own history, including the memory of marginalisation, slavery and exploitation by global powers ensures that virtually every discussion on development is characterised by a lot of emotions and conflicting views. In this volume scholars from various African countries and many different religions and denominations contribute to this debate."--
Hinduism: The Basics introduces readers to the third largest, and arguably the oldest, living religious tradition. It opens a vista into the rich and dynamic ethos of the Hindu religious tradition in India and other parts of the world. The book explores the variety of philosophical schools, priestly rituals, and popular practices common in the Hindu faith, presenting the layered diversity of its traditions and how they function in everyday life. Chapters unpack key concepts from the tradition and discussions about its various aspects, including: The historical development of Hinduism Religious practices such as pilgrimage, meditation, and life cycle rituals The organisation of Hindu society into castes and related social justice issues The spread of Hinduism around the world, the rise of Hindu nationalism, and other challenges of modernity The continuum between sacred texts in both elite Sanskrit and in South Asian vernacular languages Hindu worldviews including karma, reincarnation, and ethics The vitality of indigenous cultures in every form of Hinduism Featuring glossaries, timelines, suggestions for further reading, and a list of key deities as well as practices, this is an ideal introduction to Hindu beliefs and traditions for undergraduates and others new to the study of Hinduism.
The Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous by Asa Simon Mittman,Peter J. Dendle Pdf
The field of monster studies has grown significantly over the past few years and this companion provides a comprehensive guide to the study of monsters and the monstrous from historical, regional and thematic perspectives. The collection reflects the truly multi-disciplinary nature of monster studies, bringing in scholars from literature, art history, religious studies, history, classics, and cultural and media studies. The companion will offer scholars and graduate students the first comprehensive and authoritative review of this emergent field.
All Vedic Hindu Gods are of Mesopotamian Origin by Sukumar Das Pdf
For the first time, this book revealed, rubbing off the mythological muds, and established that the Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Hindu Religion included 12 Living Human beings of Mesopotamia of 15th Century BC, who were deified by writing Hymns in their names by the contemporary High-Priest Clans from Mesopotamia, under the dictation of the Great War-Lord Indra, who successfully invaded, conquered and established four major Indo-Aryan Dynasty along with his own empire during 1432 BC to 1390 BC, deified himself as the King of all Gods, and also deified his war-strategist, Technocrat and Medico-Surgeon Hittite Royal Twins by a God-name Nasatya, deified his young age patron Rishi Rudra of Canaan [ as God of Storms, Chief Priest of the Angira Rishi Clans of Kassites, his life-long career-associate Rishi Vrihaspati as Chief God of the Vedic Gods' Pantheon, deified his Cavalry Chiefs with common God-Name Marutas, coping the name of Kassite War-God Marruttwas, including his childhood friend Lord Vishnu, Mother Aditi, weapon-maker Tvasta, just expired Indo-Aryan pride, emperor of Babylon, Burna-Buriash by the word Varuna, King Barattarna of Mitanni Kingdom by the word Mitra [ alternative word for a Sun-God], his three illicit sons by a common God-Name 'Ribhus', and their mother, Indra's Consort Saranyu, and allowed to induct traditional Gods of Natural phenomena like Fire, Air, Sun, Water, Rain, Dawn, River, Dyous and Prithvi, all together 33 gods, compiling Hymns on them in the world's oldest Book of Religion called Rig-Veda, having 1028 Hymns, of which 71% of Hymns were awarded to 8 human Gods like Indra, Nasatya, Marutas, Varuna and Mitra. Lord Indra the conqueror India was honored by 250Hymns, Agni, the fire-God was praised in Rig-Veda by 2nd highest number of 209 Hymns, as fire's contribution to burn the Cities and Settlements of the Black-Indians and thus getting their left out wealth and vacant lands], Hard-Drink Soma Juice was highly praised with 123 Hymns in exclusive 9th Mandal in addition to Hymns in all other Mandalas, as it could only give Indra and his Cavalry Soldiers the 10-time extra energies for insane destruction, cruelest killings, plundering [not otherwise possible, all victories in all 150 wars], and the most resulting giving time of attack being dawn-time before rise of the Sun, and so, the Usha-devi [Goddess of Dwan] was offered more hymns that God Vishnu, Rudra, Brihaspati, Varuna, Mitra etc. So, the deification crave to the invaders, destroyers, plunderers, killers of the local Indians, colonizer of conquered land, got 91% of the total God-making Hymns of 846, living aside other hymns on non-god subjects. This gives a factual idea that the Holy Book of "Rig-Veda" was composed as a book of cheering and praising poems of "Physical Imperialism & Mass-Killings", and this created a new Religion to worship the Human Gods, that succeeded to provide permanent settlement, political and military hold, religious and socio-economic dictatorship of the Indo-Aryan invaders and settlers for perpetuity, and imposing a religion for the 'enslaved population' to worship their devastating killers. But such a sadistic joke, such a impossible scheme, could still made to work, as all religions spread very fast by the sponsorship of political and military powers only. Rig-Deva created the " Vedic Hindu Religion" in India, and the Hinduism is still surviving as the 3rd biggest religion of the mankind.And the bare fact also is that out of 33 gods, 30 were imported from various regions of Mesopotamia, retaining their original name and domains, and all gods did have their equivalent counterparts spread over the vast land of Ancient Mesopotamia.
