The importance of animals in human lives differs greatly from one person to another, especially from one culture to the other. Animals of all kinds have always been omnipresent for mankind – for the purposes of domestication, as workers, as companions, as tools or as resources in the form of food for consuming. They appear in ancient cave paintings, and nowadays on commercial farms. As long as humanity existed, animals have always played an important role and society could not have advanced to the point it has today.
Nevertheless, there are different perceptions of animals and how they are treated. A popular instance is the case of dogs. In some cultures, like the United States or the United Kingdom, they are loved and considered a great pet to have with the family and at home. In other cultures, such as those where Islam is the majority religion, dogs may be perceived as dirty or dangerous. In China, milk-fed puppies are considered a delicacy.
So why do human beings assign different levels of importance to animals? In Hinduism, every single living being possesses a soul, from the animals down to the insects and tiny organisms. In their belief system, like human beings, animals are also beings and subject to the cycle of birth and death and the laws of nature. Hinduism is a compassionate religion and treats all living beings with great respect. This could be one explanation why animals occupy an important place in Hinduism.
According to that, Hindus have special feelings about animals and treat them in another way then people of other religions and cultures do. A widespread view of Jains, Buddhists and Hindus is that animals should not be used by humans as food or for other purposes. Differing attitudes and beliefs regarding the relationship of humankind to other creatures lies in the inner motivation of how to see and treat them and is expressed in forms of emotions and feelings towards the animals. Therefore, the human-animal-relationship, in a Hinduist way of life, depends on their belief system and hence emotions and feelings are coherent with that. Accordingly, faith determines how these people, who belong to the oldest religion in the world, feel about animals.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 About Emotions and Feelings
2.1 Emotion
2.2 Feeling
3 Hinduism
3.1 The Hindu Way of Life
4 Animals in Hinduism
4.1 Status of Animals
4.2 Treatment of Animals
4.3 Sacred Animals in Hinduism: The Cow
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how practitioners of Hinduism perceive and relate to animals, analyzing the theological and cultural origins of these attitudes. It explores the manifestation of these beliefs in the actual treatment of animals and investigates the unique status of the cow within the Hindu faith to understand the interplay between religious philosophy, human emotion, and animal welfare.
- The intersection of Hindu religious philosophy and animal ethics.
- Distinctions between emotions and feelings in a cross-cultural context.
- The concept of Ahimsa (non-violence) and its impact on animal treatment.
- The symbolic and religious significance of the cow in Hinduism.
- The role of reincarnation in shaping human-animal relationships.
Excerpt from the Book
4.3 Sacred Animals in Hinduism: The Cow
In particular, the cow enjoys a special status amongst animals in Hinduism. “The cow is the most sacred animal of the Hindus and Buddhists…” (Majupuria, 79). As the national animal of Nepal, the cow is considered to be the axis on which the economy of the agricultural country revolves (73). Hindus even attribute the cause of poverty mainly due to the failure in protecting this animal. Hence, the cow is very reverently worshipped by Hindus. “Even from the pure sentimental point of view, it can be stated that the Hindus have recognized the sanctity of cow for ages making her the epic centre of their culture and civilization” (73).
Although, there are not find many representations of the cow in art, the impact of this animal is very high. This animal is seen as a symbol of motherhood, “the cow is considered as the Great Mother because she is the giver of nourishing milk and the companion to Krishna who is known as the cow-protector ‘Gopala’ “(79). Furthermore, the cow is regarded as the embodiment of a goddess called Laxmi, and stands for wealth, as well as the abode of every goddess and god on earth and heaven, being the abode of them. The “Great Mother is everything to everybody and there is no limit to her bounty, to her patience and compassion” (79). For these and innumerous other reasons, the cow is greatly revered in Hinduism and regarded as sacred. It is banned in India to kill a cow.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of how the importance of animals varies across cultures and introduces the research aim of understanding the unique Hindu perspective on animals.
2 About Emotions and Feelings: This section defines and differentiates the terms emotion and feeling, establishing a theoretical framework for how these internal states influence human actions and interactions.
3 Hinduism: This chapter briefly outlines the historical and philosophical foundations of Hinduism, focusing on the concept of Sanatana Dharma and the inherent divinity in all living beings.
4 Animals in Hinduism: This chapter discusses the status and treatment of animals within Hindu traditions, highlighting the principle of Ahimsa and the specific religious veneration of the cow.
5 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that Hindu teachings foster a deep, compassionate, and emotionally grounded relationship between humans and animals.
Keywords
Hinduism, Animals, Emotions, Feelings, Ahimsa, Reincarnation, Sacred Cow, Animal Welfare, Compassion, Human-Animal Relationship, Indian Culture, Spirituality, Ethics, Non-violence, Religious Traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the relationship between Hindu beliefs and the way practitioners of Hinduism perceive, feel about, and treat animals.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The main themes include the psychological distinction between emotions and feelings, the theological principles of Hinduism such as Ahimsa, and the practical application of these beliefs in animal treatment.
What is the central research question?
The work seeks to understand how Hindu religious faith and philosophy determine the specific attitudes and emotions that practitioners express toward animals.
Which scientific or theoretical framework is utilized?
The author uses psychological definitions of emotions and feelings combined with religious studies and historical overviews of Hinduism to analyze the subject.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the theoretical definitions of emotions, the historical context of Hinduism, the general status of animals in Hindu mythology, and a specific case study on the sacredness of the cow.
How would you describe the key terms of this work?
The work is characterized by terms linking spiritual philosophy with animal ethics, such as Ahimsa, reincarnation, and sacred status.
Why is the cow considered the most sacred animal in Hinduism?
The cow is revered as the "Great Mother," a provider of essential sustenance (milk), and is symbolically linked to the deity Krishna and the goddess Laxmi.
How do traditional ceremonies like "Shradha" reflect Hindu attitudes toward animals?
The ritual of gifting a cow during funeral ceremonies reflects the belief that the cow can guide the deceased's soul, highlighting how personal emotions are intertwined with religious tradition.
- Citar trabajo
- Janine Bergmeir (Autor), 2018, How practitioners of Hinduism feel about animals, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/453347
