1. Pandit Parasram
School of Hinduism
Group 1 Presentation:
The Impact of Westernisation on Hinduism
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN HINDUISM
2. Introduction
Change is inevitable and constant, and the
wise must manage it for the common good-
Pt. Parasram.
We must bear in mind that change has both
positive and negative aspects.
Today, we are at a position where locally in
Trinidad and Tobago, we have our own brand
of Sanatan Dharma.
3. Some Of the Issues To Be
Examined
• The Religious Practices
• Life Style
• Changing Structure Of The Family
• Birth Ceremonies
• Upanayan
• Marriage
• Funeral Rites
4. Lifestyle
We face new challenges :
Evolving Marriages
High Divorce Rate
Gay Marriages
Inter-Religious Marriages
Inter-Racial Marriages
Changing Roles of Spouses
Adoption of Christian / Western Celebrations
e.g. Valentine’s Day
5. Changing Structure of The
Family
Disappearing Extended Family
Development of the Nuclear Family
Development Of Single Parent Homes
Addition of a Nanny / Caregiver
Working Wife
Greater Responsibilities / Greater Demands of
Children
Smaller Families
Higher Financial Standard of living
Less Labour Intensive Lifestyle
Higher Priority on Academics above Dharma
6. Birth Ceremonies
• No 3 mths / 6 mths pre-natal sanskaars
• Introduction Of Baby Showers
• Does Caesarean section alter the destined birth
chart?
• No Naamkaran
• More Christian Names
• Parties replaces Chatthee & Barahee
• Working Mother results in reduced Breast
Feeding
8. Marriage
Pundit consulted last for wedding date
More “love” marriages than “arranged” marriages
Girls coming home before wedding
Types of food and drinks at wedding
Trunk culture and mandir weddings
Dharti puja in the night for Hardi
9. Marriage 2
Wedding rituals becoming secondary
Kanyaa-daan for non-virgins?
Brides wearing white/couples in western attire
Honeymoon more important than tri-raatri vrat
Inter-religious/inter-racial marriages
Sunday is a popular choice for convenience
Toasting, cake-cutting and dulha and dulhan
dancing at reception
10. Funeral Rites
Eats, Drinks, and Music at Wakes
Reluctance to Shave Head
Funeral, Shaving and Bhandaara on the same
day
Brahmans refusing to become Mahaapaatra
Persons from other castes opting to perform
the Mahaapaatra duties
11. Funeral Rites 2
Married women wearing totally white
clothes
Inappropriate bhajans and songs at funerals
and wakes
Card-playing is condoned in chutihar house
People eating and drinking at cremation site
For bhandaara, some shrootaa don’t sit on
ground to eat
12. Family life
Greater affluence-less labour needed for
routine activities, but less time for each
other!
More working women-more working wives
and moms. Our marriages can not be like
our parents!
Increased responsibilities for all males,
including dads!
Children reared by nanny, so cultural
foundation is weaker!
13. Family Life 2
Less extended families, more nuclear and single
parent families
Changes in family’s diet, less home-cooking and
more buy-foods
New fractured lifestyle has affected people’s
ability to take part in religious and cultural
activities- materialism becoming more important
People not taking up their family traditions
because other occupations are more lucrative -
less pundits being produced
14. Cultural Life
Development of Sunday Morning Service in Mandirs
Yagyas and services on the radio and livestream-
greater exposure of our culture
Computers and projectors in Mandirs- our pundits have
to become Information and Communication Technology
literate
Less orthodox pundits, so non-traditional pundits
(SRP’s) are performing purohit rites!
Some Hindus do not consult pundits for auspicious days
Some Hindus are less aware of the richness of their
culture, and are ashamed and easily converted!!!
15. Influences of other groups
Kabir Panth Association
Arya Pratinidhi Sabha
Dattatreya Ashram
Sai Baba Association
Hindu Seva Sangh
Divine Life Society
Various Shakti Groups
Murgan groups
Swaha
16. What we can do!
Need to strengthen our foundation
Participate in more family activities:
1. Praying, eating, talking as a unit
2. Going to Mandirs more often
3. Learning Hindi and music together
4. Learn more about our Sanatan Dharma
5. Be a good example for our children (and chelas)
6. Show everyone how to respect others (between
spouses, between parents and children, between
friends and acquaintances)
17. Thank you!
May we all rise in Dharma…
Sanatan Dharma ki Jai!!!