Hinduism And Hinduism In India

Archaeologically speaking, Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion. In India, it serves as the most predominant religion. It is comprised of several sub-traditions/schools of teaching known as Shaivism, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism. The religion has no solid founder; rather it is described as a fusion of numerous cultures and traditions that are native to Indian. Additionally, Hinduism, historically, coincided with Buddhism for a number of centuries. Native to India for over six thousand years, the religion would make its way to America, where it would take almost another two hundred years before it and its people gained proper recognition.

Hindus seemed to be enjoying an influence in America for a time. In 1893, Swami Vivikananda addressed the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He explained why people disagree on religion with a parable about two frogs. One frog lives in a well and he believes that the well is the whole world. But then a frog from the sea comes in and tells him that there is a world much bigger than his. The frog from the well refuses to believe the frog from the sea and chases him away from his well. Swami was hailed a hero and people began to be accepting towards this new faith, which they were just beginning to learn from.

It is rather hard to say when the first wave of Hindus came to America. Historically, it is disclosed to the reader that in the earliest years of immigration “all immigrants from India were lumped together as ‘hindoo’ or ‘Hindu’ regardless of the religion they practiced” (Hill 1). This grouping is characteristic of the ignorance of early white American settlers towards other non-white individuals. Arguably, the Anglo-Americans were perhaps under the belief/misunderstanding that Hindu w...

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...n traction. However, in the 1960s with bands such as the Beatles and authors such as Ginsberg, the Hindu religion and culture finally got the traction it needed to succeed in America. The Hindu peoples continue to rise economically, financially, and in regards to education. Furthermore, with the growing New Age movement and a desire to understand Hinduism, the religion is growing more and more popular in the mainstream society. The Hindus in Diaspora have influenced a modern America by contributing to the way of thought of the free man, the transcendent soul, and the New Age movement. It has flourished as a result of thousands of years of cohesion and is able to adapt to American culture and stay firm. As Swami Vivekananda had hoped, individuals are slowly starting to emerge from their wells of close mindedness and enter into the larger sea that is understanding.