Reflections is a weekly spotlight on faith within the campus community through intimate student interviews.
Many Americans may not be aware of the of the fact that Judaism and Christianity are not alone among the ancient monotheistic religions of the world. Developed over thousands of years prior to the emergence of the Old Testament, Hinduism is a complex religion that focuses on a single higher being, as reflected in an interview with Nikhil Pande, a 25 year-old international business student at The U of M.
Hinduism teaches that there is one ultimate reality behind the Universe, Brahman, that manifests itself in various gods and goddesses. Through reincarnation or repeated births, the human soul tries to realize its unity with this ultimate God. The major scriptures of Hinduism are Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bagavad Gita. There are more than 800 million followers of Hinduism around the world, mostly in India. Nearly 2 million Hindus live in the United States.
"I Love my faith because it brings people together," Pande said. "We come together to feel the presence of God. There are over two hundred different dieties, but they are all representations of the higher God. A person's diety can depend on regional factors as well as family tradition."
As a member of the Brahman priest caste, Nikhil sees God as being free from any certain form or structure. God is a higher cosmic force. This abstract nature of God is difficult for some people to understand. Hindus worship hundreds of dieties, much in the same way as Christians worship the power of God through the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, or though attributing power to Mary and the various Saints.
"I feel that it is a great thing to pray at all times, not just special occasions or holidays," Nikhil said. "I always make sure and call upon thepowers each time I set out on a special task."
Nikhil is also proud of Hinduism's record of coexisting well with modern science. "The Hindu religion is based on epics that are over 7,000 years old, and yet many of the truths that they hold are remarkably applicable to today's world," Nikhil said.
A focus on spirituality through Hindu religion is an important part of Nikhil's daily life. He shares his faith with about 200 other U of M students and hundreds of other area residents who often attend services at a local Hindu temple.
As more Hindus move to the United States, Americans will no doubt gain a better understanding of the rich heritage of this religion of ancient truths.
Colorful pageantry aside, at its core, Hinduism is just as monotheistic a religion as Christianity. And although he has been in the country for only seven months, Nikhil Pande has already made a contribution to the diversity of his new community by sharing his ideas and beliefs.
