A Look At Hindu Reform Movements - By: Victor Epand

In the past there has been several different contemporary groups, collectively termed the Hindu reform movements, that have striven to introduce the regeneration and reform to Hinduism.

Although, these movements are very individual in their exact philosophies, they generally stress the spiritual, secular, logical, and scientific aspects of the Vedic traditions, which have created a form that is egalitarian that does not discriminate based on Jati, gender, or race.

You can locate active Hindu communities in all parts of the world. In particular, countries of the former Soviet Union and Poland now have thriving Hindu communities, which is due to the missionary work of the Hare Krishnas. Most of the Hindu movements, with the exception of the Hare Krishna movement, reflect a more Smarta like ideology.

There are groups in India, who are actively engaged in trying to get women and those from socially disadvantaged jatis to become priests of the Vedic ritual. One of the foremost movements in breaking the caste system and educating the down trodden was known as the Lingayat movement, which was spearheaded by Basavanna in the twelfth century in Anubhava Mantapa in Kalyani of Karnataka. The less accessible Vedas were rejected and parallel Vachanas were compiled.

The new movements look up to Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Ramana Maharshi, Shri Aurobindo, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who was the founder of the modern Hare Krishna movement, Swami Sivananda, Swami Rama Tirtha, Narayana Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, and for inspiration.

However, more recently, the work of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Sathya Sai Baba, Shirdi Sai Baba, Swami Muktananda, Swami Chinmayananda, Dayananda Saraswati, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Mata Amritanandamayi have inspired millions to create new centers of spiritual development through out the world. In the intellectual field, the writings of Ananda Coomaraswamy, Ram Swarup, Stephen Knapp, Sita Ram Goel, Subhash Kak and David Frawley have truly been influential and informative.

In social work, Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Pandurang Shastri Athavale, Baba Amte, and Shrii Shrii Anandamurti have been the most important. Sundarlal Bahuguna created the chipko movement for the preservation of forestlands according to the Hindu ecological ideas. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is also know as the RSS, was founded Keshav Baliram Hegdewar in 1925. The main goal was to unite Hindus, make them rise over their caste differences, and work together to achieve a Hindu Rashtra, which is the ideology of the Sangh, and is closely associated with political Hinduism, which has come to be known as Hindutva.

In Indonesia, there are several movements that actually favor a return to Hinduism in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. Balinese Hinduism, which are known as Agama Hindu Dharma, has witnessed great resurgence in recent years. Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar, who was the founder of Ananda Marga, initiated a new renaissance in the Indian world of samgeet.

Along with the traditional Hindu lineages, which are now opening their doors to Westerners, there are also many non traditional spiritualities that are also embracing the beliefs and practices of Hinduism to varying extents.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books. Please visit these sites for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and reform movements.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Victor-Epand/8693

Additional Articles From - Home | Arts & entertainment | Books