of Religion

‘Hinduism’ In Terms

Explanation and An Apology

I HAVE an apology to make —to a few scores of thousands of Indians in Fiji, and to R. C. Macpherson.

A woman, writing in a Sydney maga zine, made some inaccurate statements about Fiji. Mr. Macpherson, formerly a journalist in Fiji, wrote an article for “PIM,” in which he sharply corrected the lady.

Among other things, the lady said that the visitor to Fiji could hear “long wailing recitations from the Koran, ampli fying the paper prayers. . . .” Mr. Mac pherson commented: “Ye gods! Prayers from the Koran, and paper prayers, for the worshippers of Buddha!”

Editing that, I thought I would assist Mr. Macpherson’s point by adding the words, “The majority of the Fiji Indians are Brahmans.” That is what I intended to say; but, in a moment of mental care lessness, I wrote “Buddhists” instead of “Brahmans.”

The result has been most unhappy. Mr.

Macpherson, with his tartans flying and his dirk unsheathed, wanted to know who added this foolish line to his article just when he was busily correcting the foolish errors of another journalist. And some indignant people in Fiji, in close touch with Indian institutions, have written jeeringly to the “PIM.”

I abase myself before them all. My in tentions were good, but my hand certainly fumbled.

FEW people know much about the re ligions of India. The belief that the majority of these people are Moham medans is common. Actually, there are only some 80 million Moslems in India’s total of over 350 million people. In Fiji, the Moslems in the total Indian population of some 128,000 are only a handful.

Buddhism—which some thoughtful people claim to be the world’s finest re ligion—at one period prevailed generally in India; but now it is found mainly m the border countries like Burma and Thibet. There are comparatively few ad

herents in India proper; and that condi tion is reflected in Fiji.

About 250,000,000 of the 350,000,000 people in India are followers of Hinduism; and Hinduism comprises the various branches of Brahmanism. One would need long study, and much time and space, to describe the origin and history of Brahmanism, and the development of Hindu philosophy and culture.

Writers have traced the beginnings of certain divisions of the Vedic works in the period 1,200-1,000 years BC. The sacred book named “Rig Veda” has been called the oldest of the Vedas, and probably is the oldest human document in existence.

In reading the history of this religion, one is impressed with the age of old India, the length of its history and the once great depth of its culture.

At an early stage in the slow formation of this philosophy or religion the word Brahman first appears. A part of the Vedas is devoted to an effort to reconcile the pure worship of elementary powers with the idea of one supreme being, and this is called “Brahmana.” The conflict goes on over the centuries: the philosophy is changed and modified - and although Brahma never actually disappears from the 'constitution of the religion, the two gods, Vishnu and Siva, dominate all de velopment, until there comes a time when Vishnu and Siva appear to be rivals for the faith of the masses.

BUT the popular faith, as seen among the great masses of Hindus to-day— and which now is generally called Hin duism, rather than Brahmanism—is based on the triad of Brahma, the creator, Vish nu, the preserver, and Siva, the destroyer.

Brahma now has lapsed into an abstrac tion, and practical adoration is divided between the other two. It is a most com plicated religious system, and very diffi cult of comprehension by anyone who has not read deeply of Indian history and culture.

The rule of life is comprehended in the word Dharm, which includes religious fidelity and moral virtue.

The caste system, which now is part of Indian life, actually is not based on the Hindu religion, but in the course of time has become deeply interwoven with it.

Compared with Hinduism, such religions as Christianity, Mohammedanism and Buddhism are simple and easily compre hended. Hinduism drove Buddhism out of India; but when, in the last century, India began to feel the impact of Western civi lisation, and Christianity made sharp in roads, leading Hindus realised that, if the Brahma-based religion was to stand up to modern conditions, it would have to have a more definite shape, and made simple and direct.

Thus there arose Brahma Samai and Arya Samaj and other theistic reforming movements, being modern attempts to produce a pure, spiritual Hinduism We wish them well; for there is much in ancient Hinduism that Europeans, when thev have to live in close contact witn Indians, do not like. Brahma Samai is said to be very close to Christianity, but it appeals more to the intellectuals. Arya Samai preserves much more of the ancient

Vedic philosophy, and apparently appeals

more to the masses.

Other religions of India include the Sikhs, the Jains and the Parsecs. each of which has some special merits and— from our viewpoint—some peculiarities.

But the overwhelming maionty of Indians in Fiji belong to the Brahman-Hindu faith.—R. W. ROBSON.

A son (Garth Trevor) has been born in Brisbane to Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Ward, of Veimauri Estate, Papua.