Hindus Cultural Traditions and Beliefs in Nepal & all Over the World

By Dirgha Raj Prasai- Nepal

Nepal was bigger during the ancient time. ‘Himwatkhanda-Nepal’ extended from Bramhaputra in the East to Hindukush in the west, Kailash Mansovar in the North and Ganga in the South. Before the Muslim and English regime, Bharatbarsha had comprised 25 nations. After the unification of India by East India Company, then India was called Hindustan. But, before the King, the creator of greater Nepal- Prithvi Narayan Shah 1800 B.S (Bikram Sambat era) had said- ‘Nepal is the real ‘Hindusthana’ at 1800 Bs (1753, AD)
During the time when Himwatkhanda Nepal remained a unified country the current powerful nations were divided into many smaller nations. Bismark had unified Germany, which had existed in the façade of many smaller nations, a hundred years after Nepal’s unification. Italy was also divided into many smaller nations a hundred years before Nepal’s unification, which was transformed into a greater Italy by good sons as Kabur and Gyalibhardi. Japan came out of the dark-age under the leadership of its King after Mehiji restoration hundred years after Nepal’s unification. Two decades before the unification of Nepal the now superpower America was a British colony. Prithvinarayan Shah had already unfurled the flag depicting the Sun and the Moon and unified the small kingdoms into a Himwatkhanda Nepal to save the tradition of this area. The Sanskrit language was the popular language of ancient Nepal and India. A famous Scholar Max Mucller has written in his book- ‘India-What Can it teach us’-‘ Sanskrit no doubt has an immense advantage over all other ancient language of the East. In a certain Sense we are still speaking and thinking Sanskrit or more correctly Sanskrit is like a dear aunt to use and she takes the place of a mother who is no more. Let us take a brief look at additional evidence to help verify the ides that Sanskrit was the original language of the world, and that it is connected with numerous countries and cultures. Latin and Persian are dialects of Sanskrit. Greek has borrowed a lot from Sanskrit. French & English are full Sanskrit words, roots and speech forms.

So, the identification of Himwatkhanda Nepal is associated with the ancient Vedic Hindu religion. May all be happy in the world and let no one suffer from disease and be sad. May no one keep ill will towards another being? May all be liberal and compassionate? All humans of the world are our relatives. ‘Basudhaiv Kutumbakam’. May all receive equal amount of food, relation and shelter. Let us become a liberal character of compassion and be active for omnipresent. May all worlds be well? ‘OM- Shanti’  is Vedic Hindu customs cleansed indicative. The welfare and happiness of all is the supreme system which is the belief of the Vedic Hindu society. Dr. Basudev Krishna Shastri writes, “Hindus worship the Sun. The light that emanates from Sun is common for all. Without water no living being can survive. This is everyone’s right. Such things are beyond divisions, and consumed by all as per their necessity. For the prosperity of human life there must remain equal right and prerogative among us. No one should be hindered from contributing to their nation. So it is mentioned in the Veda, ‘Let us all rise for national awareness.’” This shows that Hindu religion is the vehicle that would show path to all human societies. Bramha- Bishnu-Maheshwor (the three Lords) is the guidance of Vedic Hindu life. In the ancient, Vedic Hindu religions the supreme is the ocean where anyone can swim anyhow.

An American Scholar Dr Hiro Badlani writes in his book-‘Hinduism: Path of the Ancient Wisdom’- ‘The word Veda originate from the root Vid, which means ‘to know’. The Veda scriptures are considered to be the divine knowledge perceived by the ancient sages, Rishis. The great truth which is remains unchanged even today. Hinduism is a vastly liberal religion. It openly and fervently uncurious and tolerates differences of opinion, use of discretion, and interpretation based on one’s own circumstances and perception. In Hindu philosophy, ‘Consciousness’ is considered as a Divine Awareness’ behind all the activity.’
Vedic Hindu ancient religion is the devotee of Panchadev (the five Gods).  ‘OM’ is the follower of Vedic Hindu Panchadev. A suffering man will remember one of the Pachayan Devs (the five Gods). Panchayan means- it is compulsory to worship the Gods Ganesha, Devi, Surya, Shiva and Bishnu. If one of them is discriminated while carrying out the ritual of worship then the worship will not be complete. However, some Hindu communities have developed their own definition which has created controversy in the ancient Hindu beliefs. We are all the same. We Hindus and Buddhists do not want to invite controversy and dispute. Nepal is stable as a Hindu and Buddhist nation. Our respect to our compatriot is based on the ancient Vedic Hindu religion. Our concern and that of Buddhists’ corresponds to each other. Goddess Kali is worshipped by all Hindus as a manifestation of Shakti – the fierce destroyer of all evil. Her peaceful manifestation is Goddess Durga. Like God and Goddess, Cow is known as a shrine for all Hindus and the Buddhists. The cow was venerated as the mother goddess in the early Mediterranean civilizations. The cow became important in Nepal & India, first in the Vedic period (1500 – 900 BCE).  The lord Bhishma also observes that the cow acts as a surrogate mother by providing milk to human beings for the whole life. The cow is truly the mother of the world. Cows as Gifts of all gifts, the cow is still considered the highest in rural Nepal, India and the Hindu world. So the holy animal- ‘COW’ has declared a National animal in Nepal.

‘Athmana Pratikulani Paresam nasamacharet’ meaning, ‘Don’t do so for others which you dislike to do or talk’. This is the chief policy of Hinduism. But, a concerning crisis seen in the Hindu communities is the growth of Vaisnav religion, Krishna Pranami, Jain, Shikh along with different definitions and interpretations of religious Gurus has created crisis in the Hindu communities. This has plunged the Hindu religion into controversy. There have been foul attempts to create artificial lacking in the ‘OMKAR’ (followers of OM). The Cosmic Word OM becomes the raft of knowledge. According to Yajur Veda XL-17, this word OM is Brahma Itself. “OM Khamma Brahma”- OM Thy name is Brahma. Through this Word, He not only created Prakrti and Universe but also protects the same with the divine energy coming out of Shabad Brahma. This cosmic word OM is from the root Ava (to protect).
A famous scholar Stephen Knapp writes-‘ Vedic culture has been changing the world throughout the ages. The fact is that more Westerners than ever before are adopting the ways and philosophy of Vedic culture, whether it is through yoga and meditation, or adapting the philosophy of karma and reincarnation. Many are those who want to follow this path. I=m an example of that, and there are many more out there, and many more who want to but don=t know it yet. We need to be willing to share it with them. That itself is a great contribution to the world from the Vedic path. The more we uphold our principles and let others know why they are important, the more they will also adopt our ways’. Every nation has a unique cultural identity. The values, believes, ethos, conduct, moral compass, dress, personality, family values and demeanor of a given country are set apart from other countries. Muslim culture, African culture with many differences, American culture, Italian culture, Mexican culture, Chinese culture, etc are examples of their uniqueness in terms what they stand for. There are many differences among Hindus depending on their region and sub-regions. There are many traits that are unique to Hindus. Many scholars and people describe- Hindu culture as unity in diversity resulting in more tolerance.  Never invaded any other country and never subjugated others for reasons of religious dominance. After all, we Hindu in the world are suffering from the nonsense money-minded brokers of Christian.

The reality is that the Hindus’ mind is universal, nonsectarian, non-religious, scientific, exploratory, methodical, sacred, logical, investigative, intuitive, objective and inclusive. It is with this kind of mindset, one can live in peace, wipe out terrorism, root out sectarian dogmas, value the human life, respect the dignity of individuals, practice non-violence, tolerate differences, value the freedom of expression, advocate the pluralistic believes,  uphold the liberty for all, refrain from terror, abstain from destroying other civilizations, and live in peaceful coexistence. The fact is that there’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If we are alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

We are proud to be Nepali. We want to be free of foreign intervention pertaining to our national unity, our traditional culture, and we will be free. Since the ancient times democracy has been a system that has been exercised and recited in Himwatkhanda. We have been adopting as the chief policy of giving equal opportunity to all to exercise their freedom, and we have tried to provide food and shelter for all. Religious freedom is our belief. Everyone has the right to follow their own religion. However, by showing the attraction of money, Christians have been alluring people to convert their religion; they have become one of the destroyers the foundation of Hindu religion, which we regard as enemies. Against such people all Hindu world must unite. We must all know that to bring secularism is to invite war. Regardless of who we are; Rai, Limbu, Magar, Gurung, Newar, Brahman, Chetri, Kami, Damai, Sarki, Maithali, Bhojpuri, Awadhi among others, we are all either Hindu or Buddhist. Some Sherpa, Tamang and Newars are affiliated to Buddhism. No matter who follows what Pashupatinath and Swayambunath lay in the same world?

Hindu religion is highly liberal in nature. Whether one worships an idol or one is either vegetarian or non vegetarian we are all Hindus. Hindus are free to live as they see fit. This religion is regarded as highly democratic and liberal. However, there are conspiracies in Nepal against Hindu and Buddhist religion. The Indian government should realize the facts. We Nepalese people must act to retain our identity. The ancient Vedic Hindu religion must drape these religions that have chosen to go against humanity with the cloak of civilization and harmony. Long live- ‘Hinduism’ in all over the world.

(Shri. Dhirgha Raj Prasai is a former member of Nepal Parliament and a hard supporter of Constituional Monarchy in Nepal as a solution to the present problems / crisis in Nepal. He regularly write’s about various issue’s present day Hinduism facing in Nepal and other partts of the world.

He can be contacted in the following mail ID

[email protected]
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