Religious Customs, also known as cultural practices, are an important part of Indian tradition and culture. Many of these originate from the ancient Indian scriptures and literature, which have traditionally dictated the manner of life in India for many thousands of years. However, certain elements have become more prominent in the last few decades. One such element is the wearing of cow’s earrings.
The popularity of cow’s earrings has waxed and waned over the years. The reasons vary as much as the individuals themselves. Some historians attribute this change in Hindu religious customs to the spread of Mughal and British influence in India, with the former wanting to stamp their cultures and traditions with western styles, and the latter wanting to retain their traditional values. In any case, the spread of Mughal and British culture into India led to the westernization of many Indian customs.
Another aspect that changed over time was the eating habits of the Indian people. Until quite recently, Hindu society strictly prohibited the practice of dietary fat consumption. Today, however, the banning of pork and milk has made the practice of consuming vegetarian food a more integrated part of Hindu religion and culture. For centuries, it was an essential part of Hindu dietary requirements, but nowadays a more liberal approach to vegetarianism has crept in.
Religious rituals have also undergone a sea change. Over the past few decades, many Hindu scriptures have been translated into English for use in the Indian masses. Though not all of these have been abided by ayurvedic doctors, who believe that only Hindu scriptures should be enacted in the Hindu faith and architecture, many of them have been. Some of the biggest changes in Hindu religious customs that have come from these translations are the inclusion of mantras in the Hindu hymns, as verses, or in addition to them as verses.
Also, some temples allow the visitors to touch the holy cows (dairy cattle), without performing any ritual. This is known as ‘sattva mukta’ in Hindi. The cow is considered to be a pure creature and is revered as such in the Hindu faith. Hindus also consider certain other species of cattle as holy cows, for example, the deer, the camel, the fish and the reindeer.
Cremation of the dead is a taboo in many Hindu religions, but in the new century, the ‘good departed souls’ has become a popular concept in many Indian sub-continent religions. According to one Indian myth, the cowman travels to heaven and brings his cow with him. He then buries her there in a hole he makes in the earth, prayers are made to her and offerings made to her. After nine days, she is resurrected and given life again. Hindu cremation services do not burn the body.
There are several other Indian traditions associated with Hinduism. Some of the most interesting are the following: A Brahmin wedding is marked by the breaking of the water sprinkler over the groom’s head (in northern India, this is called ‘surya nishchitar’). After this ritual is complete, the bride’s family thanks God for granting their daughter a handsome husband. After the wedding is over, the groom steps over the edge of the dam and into the sacred river Ganges to take his bride to her new home. Indian families view the marriage as a journey of the soul, from the village where the marriage takes place, till the house where the bride lives. So on wedding day, for the bride and groom, the family holds a grand celebration, to say a thousand good-bye words to each other.
The Brahma temple in India is believed to have five different gates, symbolizing the different stages of life: sattva (youth), nishchitar (adulthood), prasad (conscience), dwaad (entrepreneur), and muftis (relationships). A cow is considered to be the representative of all life, therefore being worshiped at the Brahma temple, symbolizes a transition from samsara (rut), which is impermanent, to nishchitar (adulthood), which is progressive. Cows also represent strength, power, and fertility in Hinduism, so a cow is considered to be a very auspicious item on auspicious occasions such as Vrindhavan, or Purnima, the start of spring.