Our customs, traditions are linked to our religion, gods/goddesses to a very large extent. To such an extent that we cannot fathom any ceremony(the simplest) without the involvement of either a portrait or an idol of a god/goddess.
It's strange, isn't it? Your lifestyle is termed by the conditions provided by your religion. I out rightly refute this statement. Or should i say refuted, a thing of the past. I'm expected to put a dot on my forehead, since i follow Hinduism. More so, as my religion allows it. Whether a mark on one's forehead supplements an imaginary third eye is secondary.
Traditions keep changing. It's a thing of the past. If one starts performing a particular act, who knows, it might be regarded a custom, say, two hundred years down the line. Who knows?! Keeping this in mind, it's not obligatory on my part to follow a specific rite.
When we consider history, all major activities mainly took place within the precincts of a temple, or more precisely, in the presence of a God. That was then. Can we depart from this relation? On the other hand, don't we have the liberty to do this, since we are bound by our religion and it's ways?
A believer cannot be a non-traditionalist. Or can she/he digress on the latter half of the previous sentence. All of us are aware of this, to start new in the name of religion, initially is blatantly repelled. A non-traditionalist is a non-believer, without a second thought.
6 comments:
trqdition customs and beliefs vary acorrding to ones own faith and it is for u to test and cotinue what u feel is right. for any thing and everything there is a exlanation. but we have somehow forgoten ours and following oters. take good ones from and follow then its wpnderful keep going
pranesh
mouna,
Can we depart from this relation? On the other hand, don't we have the liberty to do this, since we are bound by our religion and it's ways?
yes why not? in hinduism you can follow or keep away from such activities, i think hinduism is most flexible in that sense
Traditions and Culture are intertwined, but can co-exist independently. Traditions actually are habit, that are borne out of practices. So to break away from tradition actually doesn't really implies breaking away from your religion or culture.
Traditions are changing over the age, with respect to time, compatibility, usability, likeability....so many factors.
To exemplify, in Gruhapraveshams(housewarming) it is a 'tradition' to let gau(cow) go in first to purify. Now a days with the houses in third floor, eigth floor or whatever and cows are costly for even a sight, we 'modify' the tradition by taking with us an idol of cow which has as much prominance in our customs.
As another example, it is a tradition for women to not touch anything at home during 'those three' days. And over the age, it has been 'modified' to some level of comfortability by each woman in her own style. And no complaints about it either.
I can go on giving examples about customised traditions.
In my opinion, it is good to change the 'traditions' according to one's convinience and observe it with happiness to spread smiles and contension, than try hard to observe it the traditional way and get angry over everybody only to spread tension and frustration around.
And I agree with Venu about the flexibility one gets in Hinduism. God is a representation of our inner goodness, and one respects him by placing an idol/photo during any occasion. And that brings a meaning to the occasion as well. Lets follow our heart and mind both in such matters.
I strongly believe in your last sentence....
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