What Is The Dispersion Of Hindu-Americans?

Hinduism is one of the most diverse religions still practiced today. They are an adaptive religion, often taking in the local Gods of its followers, leading to many branches of the religion that occur much like dialects within a language. Although it is difficult to catalog all of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses, there is estimated to be over 300 million of them. It is common for people unfamiliar with the religion to generalize all those living on the Indian subcontinent as “Hindu”, since they are usually not aware of the many religions that are practiced in India, and how similar they can be. This generalization can trace its roots back to imperial British rule of the country. In an attempt to offer their colony representation in Parliament, a census was taken of the colony to offer representation based on religion. The census did not allow for the diversity of belief that occurs under the Hindu

Hinduism is one of the main religions in South Asia that focuses on one’s soul and eternity of themselves. This religion has shaped into a patriarchal society in India with a caste system that affected gender. In addition, Hinduism has impacted some of the aspects in United States politics. As the Aryans brought this religion to India around 1500 BC, its system and practices spread and evolved around the world into a primary belief. Hinduism has impacted the world socially, politically and even economically.

Hinduism is almost like a lifestyle in India. Hinduism has had a great societal impact on Indian culture. One of the more interesting impacts Hinduism had on society was the position of women. They ultimately were given a slightly higher position in society than they previously had. Hinduism has also impacted India through the caste system. The caste system was originally created to form a society where all people took on important roles based on their abilities. However, in later years they became assigned based on status. Buddhism made a unique impact on India because it practiced complete equality and rejected the caste system.

Immigrants’ refusal to appreciate a fused culture promotes division. Mukherjee questions the idea of immigrants losing their culture for American ideals: “Parents express rage or despair at their U.S.-born children's forgetting of, or indifference to, some aspects of Indian culture,” to that Mukherjee asks, “Is it so terrible that our children are discovering or are inventing homelands for themselves?” (Mukherjee, 1997, para. 28). Many immigrants experience anger when their children no longer hold the ideals of their home country. This tension produced within the household hinders the unity within a resident country’s culture and encourages division within families. Using herself as an example, Mukherjee provides another instance of anger directed at her from her own subculture: “They direct their rage at me because, by becoming a U.S.

Living life in the distinguished land of opportunity and dreams: America, is an incredible blessing that I owe to my immigrant parents. Despite being so distant from my parent’s motherland in Punjab, India, the notorious caste system and sexist demeanor has never seemed to truly leave any of us, following me like a crept up shadow. Nearly 8000 miles separates me from the beloved land of my original descent and yet all of the characteristics my parents attempted to leave behind once again have binded to us through others. More specifically, I speak of the crude devout Indians that have migrated to America and still behave the same misogynistic ways. This clash between traditional Indian society norms and the modern American idea caused me, at

The Indian religions were composites of ceremonies and attitudes of the most diverse sort, no single technique of conversion could be employed. Conversion required both the introduction of Catholic Christianity and the extirpation of existing native religions, and of the two tasks the latter was the more difficult one.[xi] Modern anthropology demonstrates that the elimination of pagan traits was only partial. In Indian societies of the twentieth century, even in the areas of most active Christian labour, residual pagan forms survived.

Today’s discussion of America’s religious and cultural diversity echoes these voices of the past. America’s new religious diversity has produced fault lines, the cracks that indicate deep fractures and divisions. As experienced by immigrant Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, or Muslim communities, stereotypes and prejudice have taken both old and new forms. There are encounters—at times hostile—over “zoning” and “traffic,” as new religious communities move into the neighborhood.

Through her tasteful selection of contemporary Indian influenced prose pieces, Jhumpa Lahiri traces the unique journey of Indian families established in America. Focusing on the intergenerational aspect of traditional households, Lahiri conveys the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies a person who is branded as a foreigner. In America, there exists a common misconception that immigrants who arrive in this country fully assimilate or seek to assimilate as time progresses. The category I chose was "The Dot of true Happiness." The dot which signifies the bindi, a traditional red mark worn by Indian people, is the source of true happiness among these immigrants.

The Asian Indian-American population increases dramatically every year. In 2010, a total number of 2,843,391 Asian Indian-American live in the United States. According to The U.S. Census Bureau, the Asian Indian-American population has grown to 130%, which is 10 times of the national average of 3% within 1990 to 2000. Particularly in 2010, Maryland’s Asian Indians population is 25.2%. They are the largest group among the Asian American population in Maryland. The ever-increasing migration of Asian Indian-American in the United States, especially in Maryland, increases the demand for Indian traditional clothing, especially among the Indian women.

Hinduism and Buddhism are two very prominent religions in modern day America. With roughly 2% of all Americans being either Hindu and Buddhist the importance of these religions in our culture is ginormous. Many Americans do not label themselves as a member of one of these religions, but still practice some of the things done in the Hindu and Buddhist cultures, such as; meditation and the belief in karma. With karma as a main focus in both religions, typically, modern day buddhists and muslims try and live peaceful lives so that in their next life, they will be something desirable, as opposed to a cockroach or in the Hindu culture someone low on the caste system. In modern day America, buddhists and muslims

In Chapter ten the history of Hinduism is discussed in America and India. Instead of illustrating the religious doctrines of Hinduism. The author lists statistics about the livelihoods of Asian Indians. For example, there are eighteen different official languages in India. As the author emphasizes that doctrines have nothing to do with Hinduism, but the actions that individuals commit. The orthodoxy is a set of responsibilities that Hindus must carry out. If they wish to be reincarnated into a higher caste. In addition, the origin of Hinduism is mentioned within the chapter. That Hinduism is the only major religion that does not have a founder and has no beginning as there is not a specific known date of when it originated. Moreover, Hinduism is the oldest major religion and is the only polytheistic faith among the five popular creeds.

Seeking tradition and spirituality has always been prime through the course of this life. Believing and finding truths of the spirt realm’s unknown gives comfort while living. With so many people coming and settling in America, there begins to be a shift of different religions and spiritual practices emerging. America's founders established a civilization that would embrace the differences that countless cultures would bring to the United States. But here lies the challenges with this concept. It has been hard even in the late 1800s when the Native Americans did not want to conform to new Christianity; it created a rift that is still president here today with not only the natives but different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. In an article

When introducing about Hinduism in the book “Invitation to World Religions”, Jeffrey Brodd mentions about the caste system of this religion. The introduction does not go with details and situations that reflect deeply the inequality of Hinduism social organization. Occasionally, reading the article “Why this family’s conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism matters” of Max Bearak. I understand the dark side of the Indian dominant religion.

The Asian-Indian immigrant population has increased dramatically in the last several years, consequently, this populations group is the second largest group after the Chinese (Joseph, 2006; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2010). The increase in this population group could be a strength for a multicultural counselor who specializes in Asian-Indian culture. Some aspects to consider for this group would to be aware of your own cultural values and biases in fact, Sue & Sue (2016) states, “Programs stress the importance of not allowing our own biases, values, or hang-ups to interfere with our ability to work with clients”. A counselor should be aware of the stigma and shame that can be associated with psychological disorders and mental illness for the

In India, during the late Vedic Period which lasted from 1000 to 500 B.C, an ancient form of Hinduism flourished. As it possessed no official superior work of literature, such as the Bible or the Koran, Hinduism became one of the most tolerant religions due to its lack of binding documentation. A life committed to Hinduism was spent constantly maintaining the socio-economic order in an attempt to achieve universal stability, which was something highly valued in this tolerant religion. “Thus Indian society has always been concerned with stability rather than with progress...” (Early India).Hinduism’s central requirement was to fulfill the duties of a person’s caste, or class, which largely affected the daily life of anyone living in ancient India. At the top of the social pyramid