Isahluko 5

UbuHindu—Ukufuna Inkululeko

“Emphakathini wamaHindu, kuyisiko elingokwenkolo ukuba into yokuqala ekuseni, kube ukugeza emfuleni oseduze noma ekhaya uma umfula noma umfudlana ungekho eduze. Abantu bakholelwa ukuthi lokhu kubenza babe ngcwele. Khona-ke, bengakadli, baya ethempelini lendawo benze iminikelo yezimbali nokudla kunkulunkulu wendawo. Abanye bageza isithombe sakhe futhi basihlobise ngempuphu ebomvu nephuzi.

“Cishe ikhaya ngalinye linengosi noma ngisho ikamelo lokukhulekela unkulunkulu oyintandokazi kulowomkhaya. Unkulunkulu othandwayo kwezinye izindawo nguGanesa, unkulunkulu oyindlovu. Abantu bathandaza kuye ngokukhethekile ukuze bathole inhlanhla, njengoba aziwa ngokuthi ungumsusi wezithiyo. Kwezinye izindawo uKrishna, uRama, uSiva, uDurga, noma omunye unkulunkulu angase athole indawo yokuqala ekukhulekelweni.”—Tara C., Kathmandu, eNepal.

1. (a) Chaza amasiko athile obuHindu. (b) Yikuphi okunye ukwehluka phakathi kombono wabaseNtshonalanga nombono wamaHindu?

BUYINI ubuHindu? Ingabe bumane nje bungumqondo waseNtshonalanga owenziwe lula ngokweqile wokuhlonipha izilwane, ukugeza eGanges, nokuhlukaniswa ngezigaba zomphakathi? Noma ingabe kukhona okwengeziwe kubo? Impendulo iwukuthi: Kunokwengeziwe. UbuHindu buyindlela ehlukile yokuqonda ukuphila, lapho izindinganiso zaseNtshonalanga zingaziwa khona ngokuphelele. Abantu baseNtshonalanga bathambekele ekubhekeni ukuphila njengohide lwezenzakalo ezilandelana ngokwezikhathi emlandweni. AmaHindu abheka ukuphila njengomjikelezo oziphindaphindayo lapho umlando womuntu ungabalulekile khona.

2, 3. (a) Kungani kunzima ukuchaza ubuHindu? (b) Omunye umlobi ongumNdiya ubuchaza kanjani ubuHindu nokukholelwa konkulunkulu abaningi?

² Akuwona umsebenzi olula ukuchaza ubuHindu, njengoba bungenaso isivumo sokholo esiqondile, isigaba sabapristi, noma inxusa elibusayo. Nokho, bunawo amaswami (abafundisi) namaguru (abaqondisi abangokomoya). Incazelo ebanzi yobuHindu enikezwa enye incwadi yomlando ithi “buyinkimbinkimbi ephelele yezinkolelo nezimiso eziye zabonakala kusukela esikhathini lapho imibhalo yawo yasendulo (nengcwele kakhulu), amaVeda, ilotshwa kuze kube manje.” Enye ithi: “Singase sithi ubuHindu buwukunamathela noma ukukhulekela onkulunkulu uVishnu, noma uShiva [uSiva], noma unkulunkulukazi oyiShakti, noma imizimba yabo emisha yasemhlabeni, ubuso, omkabo, noma abantwana babo.” Lokho kusiza ekuhlanganiseni ukukhulekelwa kukaRama noKrishna (imizimba kaVishnu emisha yasemhlabeni), uDurga (umkaSiva), uSkanda, noGanesa (amadodana kaSiva). Kuthiwa ubuHindu bunawonkulunkulu abayizigidi ezingu-330, nokho kuthiwa ubuHindu abukhona ukukholelwa konkulunkulu abaningi. Kungenzeka kanjani lokho?

³ Umlobi ongumNdiya uA. Parthasarathy uyachaza: “AmaHindu awakholelwa konkulunkulu abaningi. UbuHindu bukhuluma ngoNkulunkulu oyedwa . . . Onkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi abehlukene abamukelekayo kumaHindu bamane nje bamelele amandla nemisebenzi kaNkulunkulu oyedwa ophakeme ezweni elibonakalisiwe.”

4. Igama elithi “ubuHindu” lihlanganisani?

⁴ AmaHindu ngokuvamile abhekisela okholweni lwawo ngokuthi isanatana dharma, okusho umthetho noma ukuhleleka kwaphakade. UbuHindua eqinisweni buyigama elibanzi elichaza izinkolo eziningi namahlelo (sampradayas) okuye kwakhula futhi kwachuma phakathi nezinkulungwane zeminyaka ngaphansi kwesigubuzelo sezinganekwane zamaHindu zasendulo eziyinkimbinkimbi. Lezozinganekwane ziyinkimbinkimbi kangangokuba iNew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology ithi: “Izinganekwane zamaNdiya ziyihlathi elicinene elingudukathole wemithi enamaqabunga aluhlaza. Lapho ungena kulo ulahlekelwa ukukhanya kwemini nawo wonke umqondo ocacile wohlangothi ozohamba ngalo.” Noma kunjalo, lesisahluko sizohlanganisa ezinye zezici nezimfundiso zalolokholo.

Imisuka Yasendulo YobuHindu

5. Busakazeke kangakanani ubuHindu?

⁵ Nakuba ubuHindu bungasakazekile kangako njengezinye izinkolo ezinkulu, noma kunjalo, ngo-1990, babunabalandeli cishe abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-700, noma umuntu oyedwa kwabayisishiyagalombili (13%) ngokwenani labantu abasemhlabeni. Nokho, abaningi balaba batholakala eNdiya. Ngakho kunengqondo ukubuza, Kwenzeka kanjani futhi kungani ubuHindu banda kakhulu eNdiya?

6, 7. (a) Ngokwezazi-mlando ezithile, ubuHindu bafika kanjani eNdiya? (b) UbuHindu buyichaza kanjani inganekwane yabo ngozamcolo? (c) Ngokwesazi semivubukulo uMarshall, yiluphi uhlobo lwenkolo olwaluqhutshwa eSigodini saseIndus engakafiki ama-Aryan?

⁶ Ezinye izazi-mlando zithi ubuHindu bathola imisuka yabo eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-3 500 edlule egagasini lokuthutha elaletha abantu abanesikhumba esimhloshana ngokuphaphathekile, abangama-Aryan bevela enyakatho-ntshonalanga bangena eSigodini saseIndus, manje abatholakala kakhulukazi ePakistan naseNdiya. Kusukela lapho basakazekela emathafeni oMfula iGanges futhi beqela naseNdiya. Ezinye izazi zithi imiqondo engokwenkolo yalabantu ababethutheleka yayisekelwe ezimfundisweni zaseIran yasendulo naseBabiloni. Okunye okuvamile ezimpucukweni eziningi okutholakalayo futhi nasebuHindwini inganekwane ngozamcolo.—Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 120.

⁷ Kodwa luhlobo luni lwenkolo olwaluqhutshwa eSigodini saseIndus engakafiki ama-Aryan? Esinye isazi semivubukulo, uMnumzane John Marshall, sithi kukhona “Unkulunkulukazi Ongumama Omkhulu’, eminye imifanekiso yakhe engabesifazane abanemizimba emincane abakhulelwe, iningi layo liyizithombe zabesifazane abanqunu befake okhololo abaphakeme nemishuqulo. . . . Ngokulandelayo kuza ‘uNkulunkulu Wesilisa’, ‘obonakala ngokushesha njengomfuziselo kaSiva ongokomlando’, ehlezi ethintanise amathe ezinyawo zakhe (isimo seyoga), enesitho sobulili esiqondile (okukhumbuza ngokukhulekelwa kwelingam [umfanekiso wesitho sobulili sabesilisa]), ezungezwe izilwane (okuchaza isiqu sikaShiva esithi, ‘iNkosi Yezilwane’). Kugcwele imifanekiso yamatshe yezitho zobulili zabesilisa nezabesifazane, . . . okubhekisela ekukhulekelweni kwelingam neyoni kukaShiva nomkakhe.” (World Religions—From Ancient History to the Present) Kuze kube namuhla uSiva uhlonishwa njengonkulunkulu wenzalo, unkulunkulu wesitho sobulili sabesilisa, noma ilingam. Inkunzi uNandi ingumthwali wakhe.

8, 9. (a) Esinye isazi esingumHindu siphikisana kanjani nombono kaMarshall? (b) Yiziphi izizathu zokuphikisa ezenziwayo ngezinto ezikhulekelwayo zobuHindu ‘nezobuKristu’? (c) Siyini isisekelo semibhalo engcwele yobuHindu?

⁸ Isazi esingumHindu uSwami Sankarananda akavumelani nencazelo kaMarshall, uthi ekuqaleni lamatshe akhulekelwayo, amanye aziwa ngokuthi Sivalinga, ayeyizimpawu “zomlilo wesibhakabhaka noma ilanga nomlilo welanga, imisebe.” (The Rigvedic Culture of the Pre-Historic Indus) Unombono wokuthi “ukukhulekelwa kobulili . . . akuzange kuqale njengokukhulekela okungokwenkolo. Kuwumkhiqizo wakamuva. Kuwukuwohloka kokukhulekela kokuqala. Ngabantu abehlisela lokhu kukhulekela kokuqala ezingeni labo siqu, ngoba kuphakeme kakhulu kubona ukuba bakuqonde.” Njengephuzu lokuphikisa ukugxeka ubuHindu kwabaseNtshonalanga uthi, ngokusekelwe ekukhulekeleni kwamaKristu isiphambano, esiwuphawu lwamaqaba lwesitho sobulili sabesilisa, “NgamaKristu . . . angabashisekeli bokukhulekelwa kobulili.”

⁹ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, izinkolelo, izinganekwane, nezinsumansumane zaseNdiya zabhalwa phansi, futhi namuhla zakha imibhalo engcwele yobuHindu. Nakuba lezincwadi ezingcwele zizinkulu, azenzi-mzamo wokuhlongoza imfundiso yobuHindu ehlangene.

Imibhalo Engcwele YobuHindu

10. Imiphi eminye yemibhalo yobuHindu emidala kakhulu?

¹⁰ Imibhalo emidala kakhulu amaVeda, iqoqo lemithandazo namaculo elaziwa ngokuthi iRig-Veda, iSama-Veda, iYajur-Veda, neAtharva-Veda. Yalotshwa phakathi namakhulu amaningana eminyaka futhi yaqedwa cishe ngo-900 B.C.E. LamaVeda kamuva athasiselwa ngeminye imibhalo, ehlanganisa amaBrahmana namaUpanishad.

11. (a) Uyini umehluko phakathi kwamaBrahmana namaUpanishad? (b) Yiziphi izimfundiso ezichazwa amaUpanishad?

¹¹ AmaBrahmana achaza indlela imikhuba yenkolo nemihlatshelo, kokubili eyomkhaya neyeningi, okumelwe yenziwe ngayo futhi achaza ngokuningiliziwe ngencazelo yakho ejulile. Abhalwa kusukela ngo-300 B.C.E. noma kamuva. AmaUpanishad (ngokwezwi nezwi, “ukuhlala eduze nomfundisi”), aziwa futhi ngokuthi amaVedanta futhi alotshwa cishe ngo-600-300 B.C.E., ayizincwadi ezichaza isizathu sakho konke ukucabanga nezenzo, ngokwefilosofi yamaHindu. Izimfundiso zesamsara (ukuthutha komphefumulo uye kokunye) neKarma (inkolelo yokuthi imisebenzi yokuphila kwangaphambili iyimbangela yesimo somuntu samanje ekuphileni) zachazwa kulemibhalo.

12. Wayengubani uRama, futhi indaba yakhe itholakala kuphi?

¹² Elinye iqoqo lemibhalo lingamaPurana, noma izindaba ezinde eziqanjiwe eziqukethe izinganekwane eziningi zamaHindu ngonkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi kuhlanganise namaqhawe amaHindu. Lomtapo wamaHindu omkhulu uhlanganisa futhi nemilando esankondlo yeRamayana neMahabharata. Owokuqala uyindaba ‘ngeNkosi uRama . . . edume kakhulu kunabo bonke abalingiswa abatholakalayo ezincwadini ezingokombhalo,’ ngokusho kuka-A. Parthasarathy. IRamayana ingomunye wemibhalo ethandwa kakhulu yamaHindu, ohlehlela kusukela ekhulwini lesine leminyaka B.C.E. Indaba ngeqhawe uRama, noma uRamachandra, obhekwa ngamaHindu njengendodana eyisibonelo, umzalwane oyisibonelo, nomyeni oyisibonelo. Ubhekwa njengeavatar yesikhombisa (ukushintshela emzimbeni omusha wasemhlabeni) kaVishnu, futhi igama lakhe ngokuvamile lisetshenziswa njengendlela yokubingelela.

13, 14. (a) Ngokomunye umthombo wamaHindu, iyini iBhagavad Gita? (b) Amagama athi Sruti nelithi Smriti asho ukuthini, futhi iyini iManu Smriti?

¹³ NgokukaBhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, umsunguli weNhlangano Yezizwe Zonke Eqaphela UKrishna, “iBhagavad-gītā [ingxenye yeMahabharata] iyimfundiso ephakeme yokuziphatha. Izimfundiso zeBhagavad-gītā zakha inqubo ephakeme yenkolo nenqubo ephakeme yokuziphatha. . . . Imfundiso yokugcina yeGītā iyizwi lokugcina lakho konke ukuziphatha nenkolo: zithobe kuKṛṣṇa [Krishna].”—BG.

¹⁴ IBhagavad Gita (INgoma Yasezulwini), ebhekwa ngabathile ngokuthi “itshe eliyigugu lokuhlakanipha okungokomoya kwaseNdiya,” iyinkundla yokulwa ngamazwi “phakathi kweNkosi uŚrī Kṛṣṇa [uKrishna], uBuntu Obuphakeme BukaNkulunkulu Onguziqu-zintathu, noArjuna, umngane waKhe oseduze nozinikele kuye, amfundisa isayensi yokuzazi.” Nokho, iBhagavad Gita imane nje iyingxenye eyodwa yomtapo ongcwele wamaHindu omkhulu. Eminye yalemibhalo (amaVeda, amaBrahmana, namaUpanishad) ibhekwa njengeSruti, noma “eyazwiwa,” futhi ngenxa yalokho icatshangelwa njengemibhalo engcwele eyambulwa ngokuqondile. Eminye, njengemilando esankondlo namaPurana, iyiSmriti, noma “okwakhunjulwa,” futhi kanjalo yalotshwa abalobi abangabantu, nakuba yasuselwa esambulweni. Isibonelo esisodwa salokhu yiManu Smriti, echaza umthetho wamaHindu ongokwenkolo nokuhlalisana kwabantu, ngaphandle kokuchaza isisekelo sesimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba. Yiziphi ezinye zezinkolelo eziye zavela kulemibhalo yamaHindu?

Izimfundiso Nokuziphatha—IAhimsa NeVarna

15. (a) Chaza iahimsa, ubuye uchaze indlela amaJain ayisebenzisa ngayo. (b) UGandhi wayibheka kanjani iahimsa? (c) AmaSikh ahluka kanjani kumaHindu nakumaJain?

¹⁵ EbuHindwini, njengakwezinye izinkolo, kunemiqondo ethile eyisisekelo ethonya ukucabanga nokuziphatha kwansuku zonke. Umqondo ovelele yilowo weahimsa (ngesiSanskrit, iahinsa), noma ukungabi nabudlova, uMohandas Gandhi (1869-1948), owaziwa ngokuthi uMahatma, aduma ngakho. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 113.) Ngesisekelo salefilosofi, amaHindu akumelwe abulale noma enze ubudlova kwezinye izidalwa, okungesinye sezizathu zokuthi kungani ehlonipha izilwane ezithile, njengezinkomazi, izinyoka, nezinkawu. Abashisekeli abakhulu balemfundiso yeahimsa kanye nenhlonipho ngokuphila bangabalandeli bobuJain (obasungulwa ekhulwini lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E.), abahamba bengafake zicathulo futhi abagqoka ngisho nokokufihla ubuso ukuze bangagwinyi nangengozi noma isiphi isinambuzane. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 104, nesithombe, ekhasini 108.) Ngokuphambene, amaSikh aziwa ngesiko lawo lamaqhawe, futhi elithi Singh, okuyisibongo esivamile phakathi kwawo, lisho ibhubesi.—Bheka ibhokisi, emakhasini 100-101.

16. (a) AmaHindu amaningi asibheka kanjani isimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba? (b) UGandhi wathini ngesimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba?

¹⁶ Isici esaziwa endaweni yonke sobuHindu siyivarna, noma isimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba esihlukanisa umphakathi ngezigaba ezingaguquki. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 113.) Umuntu akanakukugwema ukuqaphela ukuthi umphakathi wamaHindu usahlukaniswe yilesimiso, nakuba sinqatshwa amaBuddha namaJain. Nokho, njengoba ubandlululo lwezinhlanga luphikelela eUnited States nakwezinye izindawo, ngokufanayo isimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba sigxile ngokujulile emqondweni wamaNdiya. Ngandlela-thile siyisimo sokuqaphela ukwehlukana kwezigaba, lokho ngendlela efanayo, okungatholakala ngisho nanamuhla ngokwezinga elincane emphakathini waseBrithani nakwamanye amazwe. (Jakobe 2:1-9) Ngakho, eNdiya umuntu uzalelwa esimisweni sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba esingaguquki, futhi cishe ayikho indlela yokuphuma kuso. Ngaphezu kwalokhu, umHindu ovamile akayifuni indlela yokuphuma kuso. Usibheka njengesabelo sokuphila angenakusibalekela, futhi asinqunyelwa kusengaphambili, umphumela wezenzo zakhe zokuphila kwangaphambili, noma iKarma. Kodwa lesimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba sasunguleka kanjani? Nalapha futhi sidinga ukuphendukela ezinganekwaneni zamaHindu.

17, 18. Ngokwenganekwane yamaHindu, isimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba saqala kanjani?

¹⁷ Ngokwezinganekwane zamaHindu, ekuqaleni kwakunezigaba ezine eziyinhloko zokuhlukaniswa kwabantu ezisekelwe ezithweni zomzimba kaPurusha, umuntu onguyise wesintu wokuqala ezingqondweni zabantu. Amaculo eRig-Veda athi:

“Lapho behlukanisa uPurusha zingaki izingxenye abazenza?

Bawubiza ngokuthini umlomo wakhe, izingalo zakhe? Bawabiza ngokuthini amathanga akhe nezinyawo zakhe?

IBrahman [isigaba esiphakeme kakhulu] yayingumlomo wakhe, ngezingalo zakhe zombili kwenziwa iRajanya.

Amathanga akhe aba iVaisya, ezinyaweni zakhe kwavela iSudra.”—The Bible of the World.

¹⁸ Ngakho, amaBrahman obupristi, isigaba esiphakeme kunazo zonke, kwakuthiwa avela emlonyeni kaPurusha, isitho esiphakeme kunazo zonke. Isigaba esibusayo, noma samaqhawe, (iKshatriya noma iRajanya) savela ezingalweni zakhe. Isigaba sabalimi, esibizwa ngokuthi iVaisya, noma iVaishya, savela emathangeni akhe. Isigaba esiphansi, iSudra, noma iShudra, noma isigaba sezisebenzi, savela esithweni somzimba esiphansi kunazo zonke, izinyawo zakhe.

19. Yiziphi ezinye izigaba zomphakathi ezavela?

¹⁹ Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka kwaba khona ngisho nezinye izigaba ezingaphansi, ababexoshiwe ezigabeni zabo nalabo okuthiwa abaNgcolile, noma njengoba uMahatma Gandhi ebabiza ngendlela enomusa ngokuthi amaHarijan, noma “abantu bakankulunkulu uVishnu.” Nakuba ukungcola kuye kwaba okungemthetho eNdiya kusukela ngo-1948, abaNgcolile basaphila ukuphila okunzima kakhulu.

20. Yiziphi ezinye izici zalesimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba?

²⁰ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, izigaba zokwahlukaniswa komphakathi zandiswa ukuze zifanelane nayo yonke imisebenzi yeziqu neyezandla emphakathini wamaNdiya. Lesimiso sasendulo sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba, esigcina wonke umuntu esendaweni yakhe ngokwezenhlalo, eqinisweni sinobuhlanga futhi “sihilela izinhlobo ezihlukile zezinhlanga ezihlukayo kusukela kulabo abaziwa ngokuthi ama-Aryan [abanebala elikhanyayo] kuya kwabomdabu bamaDravidian [abanebala elimnyama].” Elithi Varna noma ukwahlukaniswa ngezigaba, lisho “ibala.” “Izigaba ezintathu zokuqala zazingama-Aryan, abantu abakhanya kakhulu; isigaba sesine, kwakuyileso esasihlanganisa abomdabu abanebala elimnyama, ababengewona ama-Aryan.” (Myths and Legends Series—India, kaDonald A. Mackenzie) Kuyiqiniso elingenakuphikwa eNdiya ukuthi isimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba, esaqiniswa imfundiso yenkolo ngeKarma, sivalele izigidi zabantu ebumpofwini obuqhubekayo nokungalungi.

Umjikelezo Okhungathekisayo Wokuphila

21. NgokweGaruda Purana, iKarma ilithinta kanjani ikusasa lomuntu?

²¹ Enye inkolelo eyisisekelo ethinta izimiso zamaHindu nokuziphatha, futhi engenye yezibaluleke kakhulu, imfundiso yeKarma. Lesi isimiso sokuthi isenzo ngasinye sinemiphumela yaso, emihle noma emibi; sinquma ukuphila ngakunye komphefumulo othuthele kwezinye izindawo noma oye waphind’ ukuzalwa. Njengoba iGaruda Purana ichaza:

“Umuntu ungumdali wekusasa lakhe, ngisho nasekuphileni kwakhe njengombungu uthintwa amandla emisebenzi yokuphila kwakhe kwangaphambili. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uvaleleke endaweni eyihlane noma uphumule esifubeni solwandle, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ulondekile ethangeni likanina noma ubanjelwe phezulu kwekhanda lakhe, umuntu akanakukwazi ukubalekela imiphumela yezenzo zakhe zangaphambili. . . . Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuyini lokho okumelwe kumehlele ebudaleni noma esikhathini esithile ngokuqinisekile kuzomfica ngalesosikhathi nangalolosuku.”

IGaruda Purana iyaqhubeka:

“Ulwazi umuntu aluzuze ekuzalweni kwakhe kwangaphambili, ingcebo aphana ngayo ngomusa ekuphileni kwakhe kwangaphambili, nemisebenzi ayenza esimweni sangaphambili ayesithathile, kwandulela umphefumulo wakhe ekuphileni kwawo kwesikhashana.”

22. (a) Yimuphi umehluko okhona phakathi kwezindawo okuya kuzo umphefumulo ngemva kokufa ngokwamaHindu nangokweLobukholwa? (b) Iyini imfundiso yeBhayibheli ngomphefumulo?

²² Lenkolelo ixhomeke kuphi? Umphefumulo ongafi usemqoka kulemfundiso yeKarma, futhi iKarma yiyo eyenza umbono wamaHindu ngomphefumulo uhluke kulowo weLobukholwa. AmaHindu akholelwa ukuthi umphefumulo womuntu ngamunye, ijīva noma iprān,b udlula ezimweni eziningi zokuphind’ ukuzalwa futhi ngokunokwenzeka ‘nasesihogweni.’ Kumelwe ulwele ukuhlangana ‘nokungokoQobo Okuphakeme,’ okubizwa futhi ngokuthi uBrahman, noma uBrahm (akumelwe aphambaniswe nonkulunkulu wamaHindu uBrahma). Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izimfundiso zeLobukholwa zinikeza umphefumulo ilungelo lokuzikhethela ukuya ezulwini, esihogweni, esihlanzweni, noma eLimbo, kuxhomeke enkolweni ayiphishekelayo.—UmShumayeli 9:5, 6, 10; IHubo 146:4.

23. IKarma iwuthinta kanjani umbono womHindu ngokuphila? (Qhathanisa nabaseGalathiya 6:7-10.)

²³ Njengomphumela weKarma, amaHindu athambekele ekukholelweni ekudalelweni. Akholelwa ukuthi isikhundla nesimo somuntu samanje siwumphumela wokuphila kwakhe kwangaphambili futhi ngenxa yalokho usifanelekele, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihle noma sibi. UmHindu angase azame ukuzakhela irekhodi elingcono ukuze ukuphila kwakhe okulandelayo kube okungase kubekezeleleke kangcono. Ngakho, usamukela ngaphandle kokungabaza isabelo sakhe ekuphileni kunokuba kwenza umuntu waseNtshonalanga. UmHindu ukubona konke kuwukusebenza komthetho wokuthi yonke into inezimbangela nemiphumela ngokuvumelana nokuphila kwakhe kwangaphambili. Kuyisimiso sokuvuna lokho okuhlwanyelile ekuphileni okuthiwa okwangaphambili. Yebo, konke lokhu kusekelwe ephuzwini lokuthi umuntu unomphefumulo ongafi odlulela kokunye ukuphila, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uyophila njengomuntu, isilwane, noma imifino.

24. Iyini imoksha, futhi amaHindu akholelwa ukuthi ifinyelelwa kanjani?

²⁴ Ngakho, uyini umgomo oyinhloko okholweni lwamaHindu? Ukufinyelela imoksha, okusho inkululeko, noma ukukhululwa esondweni elicindezelayo lokuphind’ ukuzalwa okuningi nokuba khona ngezimo ezihlukahlukene. Ngakho-ke, kuyindlela ‘ngomphefumulo,’ hhayi ngomzimba, yokubalekela ukuphila usemzimbeni othile. “Njengoba imoksha, noma ukukhululwa ochungechungeni olude lokushintsha imizimba, iwumgomo womHindu ngamunye, isenzakalo esikhulu kunazo zonke ekuphileni kwakhe empeleni siwukufa kwakhe,” kusho omunye umhlaziyi. Imoksha ingafinyelelwa ngokulandela amamarga, noma izindlela ezihlukahlukene. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 110.) Oh, yeka ukuthi kunokuningi kangakanani kwalemfundiso yenkolo okusekelwe emqondweni waseBabiloni lasendulo ngomphefumulo ongafi!

25. Umbono wamaHindu ngokuphila uhluka kanjani embonweni weBhayibheli?

²⁵ Nokho, ngokweBhayibheli, lokhu kwedelelwa nokweywa kokuphila ngomzimba wenyama kumelene kakhulu nenjongo yokuqala kaJehova uNkulunkulu ngesintu. Lapho edala abantu ababili bokuqala, wababela ukuba baphile emhlabeni ngenjabulo, nangentokozo. Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuyasitshela:

“UNkulunkulu wamdala umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe; wamdala ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu; wabadala owesilisa nowesifazane. UNkulunkulu wababusisa; uNkulunkulu wathi kubo: Zalani, nande, nigcwalise umhlaba, niwunqobe, nibuse phezu kwezinhlanzi zolwandle, nezinyoni zezulu, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni. . . . UNkulunkulu wabona konke akwenzileyo; bheka, kwakukuhle kakhulu.” (Genesise 1:27-31)

IBhayibheli liprofetha ngenkathi eseduze yokuthula nokulunga ngomhlaba, inkathi umkhaya ngamunye oyoba nendawo yawo yokuhlala efanelekayo, futhi impilo nokuphila okuphelele kuyoba isabelo saphakade sesintu.—Isaya 65:17-25; 2 Petru 3:13; IsAmbulo 21:1-4.

26. Yimuphi umbuzo manje odinga impendulo?

²⁶ Umbuzo olandelayo okumelwe uphendulwe uthi, Bangobani onkulunkulu umHindu okumelwe abajabulise ukuze afinyelele iKarma enhle?

Uhlu Lonkulunkulu Abamukelekayo BamaHindu

27, 28. (a) Yibaphi onkulunkulu abakha iTrimurti yamaHindu? (b) Bangobani abafazi babo noma abangane? (c) Yisho abanye bonkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi bamaHindu ngamagama.

²⁷ Nakuba ubuHindu bungase buthi bunezigidi zonkulunkulu, eqinisweni kunonkulunkulu abathile abayizintandokazi abaye baba semqoka emahlelweni ahlukahlukene obuHindu. Abathathu kulabonkulunkulu abavelele kakhulu bahlanganiswa kulokho amaHindu akubiza ngokuthi iTrimurti, uziqu-zintathu, noma onkulunkulu abathathu koyedwa.—Ukuze uthole abanye onkulunkulu bamaHindu, bheka ibhokisi, emakhasini 116-17.

²⁸ Loziqu-zintathu uhlanganisa uBrahma uMdali, uVishnu uMlondolozi, noSiva uMbhubhisi, futhi ngamunye okungenani unomfazi oyedwa noma umngane. UBrahma ushade noSaraswati, unkulunkulukazi wolwazi. UmkaVishnu nguLakshmi, kuyilapho umfazi kaSiva wokuqala kwakunguSati, owazibulala. Wayengowesifazane wokuqala ukuba angene emlilweni womhlatshelo, kanjalo waba owesifazane wokuqala owazinikela ukuba ashiswe nomyeni wakhe oshonile. Zilandela isibonelo sakhe esisenganekwaneni, izinkulungwane zabafelokazi bamaHindu phakathi namakhulu eminyaka ziye zazinikela emlilweni wokushisa izidumbu zabayeni babo, nakuba lomkhuba manje ungasekho emthethweni. USiva unomunye futhi umfazi owaziwa ngamagama amaningana neziqu. Esimweni sakhe sokulunga unguParvati noUma, futhi unguGauri, oyiGolide. Uma ebizwa ngokuthi uDurga noma uKali, ungunkulunkulukazi owesabekayo.

29. UBrahma ubhekwa kanjani ngamaHindu? (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 17:22-31.)

²⁹ Nakuba uBrahma ewumnyombo wezinganekwane zamaHindu, akekho endaweni ebalulekile ekukhulekeleni kwamaHindu avamile. Eqinisweni ambalwa kakhulu amathempeli anikezelwe kuye, ngisho nakuba ebizwa ngokuthi uBrahma uMdali. Nokho, izinganekwane zamaHindu zithi isabelo sokudalwa kwendawo yonke ebonakalayo safezwa ngumuntu ophakeme, umthombo noma insika—uBrahman, noma uBrahm obizwa futhi ngalezinhlamvu ezingcwele zongwaqa abahlangene uOM noma uAUM. Womathathu amalungu kaziqu-zintathu abhekwa njengengxenye ‘yalowoMuntu,’ futhi bonke abanye onkulunkulu babhekwa njengokuzibonakalisa okuhlukahlukene kwakhe. Ngakho-ke kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yimuphi unkulunkulu okhulekelwa njengophakeme, lowonkulunkulu ucatshangelwa ukuthi uhlanganisa bonke. Ngakho nakuba amaHindu ehlonipha obala izigidi zonkulunkulu, iningi livuma ukuthi kunoNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela weqiniso, ongase athathe izimo eziningi: ongaba owesilisa, owesifazane, noma ngisho nesilwane. Ngakho-ke, izazi zamaHindu ziyashesha ukubhekisela ephuzwini lokuthi ubuHindu eqinisweni bukholelwa kunkulunkulu oyedwa, hhayi abaningi. Nokho, ukucabanga kwamuva kwamaVeda, kuyawulahla umqondo womuntu ophakeme, kubeka esikhundleni sakhe umthombo waphezulu noma okungokoqobo okungeyena umuntu.

30. Yimaphi amanye ama-avatar kaVishnu?

³⁰ UVishnu, ongunkulunkulu onomusa welanga nendawo yonke engabonakali, ungumnyombo wokukhulekela kwabalandeli beVaishnavism. Uzibonakalisa ngama-avatar ayishumi noma imizimba yasemhlabeni, kuhlanganise nokaRama, uKrishna, noBuddha.c Enye iavatar ayithatha inguVishnu Narayana, “ovezwa esesimweni somuntu olele phezu kwenyoka ebuthisile uShesha noma uAnanta, entanta emanzini asemkhathini enomkakhe, unkulunkulukazi uLakshmi, ehlezi ngasezinyaweni zakhe kuyilapho unkulunkulu uBrahma evela ohlotsheni oluthile lwentebe emile enkabeni kaVishnu.”—The Encyclopedia of World Faiths.

31. USiva ungunkulunkulu waluphi uhlobo?

³¹ USiva, obizwa futhi ngokuvamile ngokuthi uMahesha (iNkosi Ephakeme) nangokuthi uMahadeva (Unkulunkulu Omkhulu), ungunkulunkulu wamaHindu owelama omkhulu, futhi ukukhulekelwa okunikezwa kuye kubizwa ngokuthi iSaivism. Uchazwa ngokuthi “umuntu owazincisha izinjabulo omkhulu kakhulu, umenzi weyoga oyingcweti ohlala ematasa ngokuzindla emithambekeni yezintaba iHimalaya, umzimba wakhe ugcotshwe ngomlotha futhi ikhanda lakhe limbozwe isihluthu sezinwele.” Uyaziwa futhi “ngokukhanuka kwakhe ngokobulili, njengomlethi wenzalo nenkosi ephakeme yendalo, uMahadeva.” (The Encyclopedia of World Faiths) USiva ukhulekelwa ngokusebenzisa ilingam, noma umfanekiso wesitho sobulili sabesilisa.—Bheka izithombe, ekhasini 99.

32. (a) Yiziphi izimo unkulunkulukazi uKali azithathayo? (b) Igama lesiNgisi lasuselwa kanjani ekukhulekelweni kwakhe?

³² Njengezinye izinkolo eziningi zomhlaba, ubuHindu bunonkulunkulukazi wabo ophakeme, ongase abe okhangayo noma owesabekayo. Uma esesimweni sakhe esihle kakhulu, waziwa ngelithi uParvati nangelithi u-Uma. Ubuntu bakhe obesabekayo buboniswa lapho enguDurga noma uKali, unkulunkulukazi owomele igazi ojabulela imihlatshelo yegazi. NjengoNkulunkulukazi Ongumama, uKali Ma (UMama Womhlaba Omnyama), ungunkulunkulu oyinhloko wehlelo lamaShakti. Uvezwa enqunu kwesingezansi futhi egqoke imihlobiso yezidumbu, izinyoka, nezingebhezi. Ezikhathini ezidlule, izisulu ezingabantu ezibulewe ngokuklinywa zazinikelwa kuye amakholwa aziwa ngokuthi amathugi, okwavela kuwo igama lesiNgisi elithi “thug” elisho isigebengu.

UbuHindu NoMfula IGanges

33. Kungani iGanges ingcwele kumaHindu?

³³ Asinakukhuluma ngohlu lonkulunkulu bamaHindu abamukelekayo, singakhulumi lutho ngomfula wawo ongcwele kakhulu—iGanges. Izinganekwane eziningi zamaHindu zihlobene ngokuqondile nomfula iGanges, noma uGanga Ma (UMama uGanga), njengoba amaHindu azinikele ewubiza kanjalo. (Bheka ibalazwe, ekhasini 123.) Asho ngekhanda umthandazo ohlanganisa amagama angu-108 ahlukahlukene alomfula. Kungani iGanges ihlonishwa kangaka amaHindu aqotho? Kungoba ihlangene ngokuseduze nokuphila kwawo kwansuku zonke nezinganekwane zawo zasendulo. Akholelwa ukuthi wawukhona ngaphambili emazulwini uyiMilky Way. Khona-ke kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ube umfula?

34. Ngokwenganekwane yamaHindu, iyiphi enye incazelo yendlela umfula iGanges owaba khona ngayo?

³⁴ Nakuba ehluka lapha nalaphaya amaHindu amaningi angakuchaza ngalendlela: UMaharajah Sagara wayenamadodana angu-60 000 abulawa umlilo kaKapila, ukuzibonakalisa kukaVishnu. Imiphefumulo yawo yalahlelwa ukuba iye esihogweni ngaphandle kokuba unkulunkulukazi uGanga ehle ezulwini ukuze ayihlanze futhi ayikhulule kulesiqalekiso. UBhagīratha, indodana yomzukulu kaSagara, wancenga uBrahma ukuba avumele uGanga ongcwele ehlele emhlabeni. Okunye ukulandisa kuyaqhubeka: “UGanga waphendula. ‘Ngingumfula onamandla kakhulu kangangokuba ngingaphahlaza izisekelo zomhlaba.’ Ngakho [uBhagīratha], ngemva kokuzijezisa izinkulungwane zeminyaka, waya kunkulunkulu uShiva, omkhulu kubo bonke abazincisha injabulo, futhi wamncenga ukuba ame endaweni ephakeme phakathi kwedwala neqhwa kwaseHimalaya. UShiva wayenezinwele eziyisihluthu ekhanda lakhe, futhi wavumela uGanga ukuba asuke esibhakabhakeni ehlele ngokuduma ezinweleni zakhe, ezadambisa lokho kundindizela kwawo okwakusongela umhlaba. Khona-ke uGanga waconsa kancane econsela emhlabeni futhi wageleza esuka ezintabeni edlula emathafeni, eletha amanzi kanjalo nokuphila emhlabeni owomile.”—From the Ocean to the Sky, kaMnumzane Edmund Hillary.

35. Abalandeli bakaVishnu bakuchaza kanjani ukuba khona kwalomfula?

³⁵ Abalandeli bakaVishnu banenguqulo ehlukile kancane yendlela iGanges eyaqala ngayo. Ngokombhalo wasendulo, iVishnu Purana, inguqulo yabo ithi:

“Kulesifunda [indawo engcwele kaVishnu] kuvela umfula iGanges, osusa zonke izono . . . Uphuma ozisheni lukaqukulu kaVishnu wonyawo lobunxele.”

Noma njengoba abalandeli bakaVishnu besho ngesiSanskrit: “Visnu-padabja-sambhuta,” okusho ukuthi “ozelwe onyaweni lukaVishnu olunjengentebe yamanzi.”

36. Yini amaHindu ayikholelwayo ngamandla amanzi eGanges?

³⁶ AmaHindu akholelwa ukuthi iGanges inamandla okukhulula, okuhlambulula, okuhlanza, nokuphulukisa amakholwa. IVishnu Purana ithi:

“Osanta, abahlanzwa ngokugeza emanzini alomfula, nalabo abazingqondo zabo zinikelwe kuKesava [uVishnu], bathola ukukhululwa kokugcina. Lomfula ongcwele, uma abantu bezwa ngawo, bewufisa, bewubona, bewuthinta, begeza kuwo, noma becula ngawo, usuku nosuku uyabahlambulula bonke. Futhi labo abahlala kude . . . bababaza ngokuthi ‘Ganga noGanga’ bese bekhululeka ezonweni zabo abazenze ekuphileni kwabo okuthathu kwangaphambili.”

IBrahmandapurana ithi:

“Labo abageza ngokuzinikela kanye emisingeni ehlanzekile yeGanga, uvikela izizwe zabo ezingozini ezingamakhulu ezinkulungwane. Ububi obunqwatshelaniswe phakathi nezizukulwane buyachithwa. Ngokugeza nje eGanga umuntu uhlanjululwa ngokushesha.”

37, 38. Kungani izigidi zamaHindu zithutheleka eGanges?

³⁷ AmaNdiya athutheleka kulomfula ukuze enze ipuja, noma ukukhulekela, ngokunikela izimbali, ukucula imithandazo, nangokugcotshwa umpristi ngetilak, icashazi likapende obomvu noma ophuzi ebunzini. Khona-ke abe esengena emanzini ukuze ageze. Amaningi ayawaphuza futhi lamanzi, ngisho nakuba engcoliswe kakhulu yindle, amakhemikhali, nezidumbu. Nokho ukukhanga kweGanges okungokomoya kukhulu kangangokuba kuyisifiso sezigidi zamaNdiya ukugeza okungenani kanye ‘emfuleni wawo ongcwele,’ kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ungcolile noma cha.

³⁸ Abanye baletha izidumbu zabathandekayo babo ukuba zishiswe emlilweni obaswe osebeni lomfula, khona-ke umlotha ungase ufafazwe emfuleni. Bakholelwa ukuthi lokhu kuqinisekisa injabulo yaphakade ngomphefumulo ongasekho. Labo abampofu kakhulu ukuba bakhokhele lowomlilo bamane nje basunduzele isidumbu esisongiwe emfuleni, lapho sidliwa khona izinyoni ezidla izidumbu noma sibole. Lokhu kusiletha kulombuzo, Ngaphezu kwalokho esesikucabangele kakade, ubuHindu bufundisani ngokuphila kwangemva kokufa?

UbuHindu Nomphefumulo

39, 40. Omunye umhlaziyi ongumHindu uthini ngomphefumulo?

³⁹ IBhagavad Gita inikeza impendulo lapho ithi:

“Njengoba umphefumulo osemzimbeni othile uqhubeka udlula, kulomzimba, kusukela ebufaneni kuya ebunsizweni, bese udlulela ekugugeni, ngokufanayo umphefumulo udlulela komunye umzimba ngemva kokufa.”—Isahluko 2, indinyana 13.

⁴⁰ Okunye ukukhulumela kwamaHindu ngalombhalo kuthi: “Njengoba zonke izidalwa eziphilayo zingumphefumulo womuntu ngamunye, umuntu ngamunye ushintsha umzimba wakhe ngaso sonke isikhathi, ngezinye izikhathi ezibonakalisa engumntwana, ngezinye izikhathi esekhulakhulile, noma ngezinye izikhathi njengekhehla—nakuba umphefumulo ofanayo ongumoya ukhona futhi ungashintshi. Lomphefumulo womuntu ekugcineni ushintsha umzimba ngokwawo, ngokuthutha usuka komunye uye komunye, futhi njengoba uqiniseka ukuthi uyothola omunye umzimba ekuzalweni okulandelayo—ongaba ongokwenyama noma ongokomoya—sasingekho isizathu sokuba uArjuna akhale ngenxa yokufa.”

41. NgokweBhayibheli, yimuphi umehluko okudingeka wenziwe ngokuphathelene nomphefumulo?

⁴¹ Phawula ukuthi lokhu kukhulumela kuthi “zonke izidalwa eziphilayo zingumphefumulo womuntu ngamunye.” Manje lawomazwi avumelana nalokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo kuGenesise 2:7:

“UJehova uNkulunkulu wambumba umuntu ngomhlabathi, waphefumulela emakhaleni akhe umoya wokuphila; umuntu waba-kanjalo umphefumulo ophilayo.”

Kodwa kumelwe kwenziwe umehluko obalulekile: Ingabe umuntu wenziwe waba umphefumulo ophilayo nayo yonke imisebenzi yakhe namakhono, noma ingabe unomphefumulo ngaphandle kwemisebenzi yomzimba wakhe? Ingabe umuntu ungumphefumulo, noma unomphefumulo? Lengcaphuno elandelayo icacisa umqondo wamaHindu.

42. UbuHindu neBhayibheli kwehluka kanjani ekuqondeni umphefumulo?

⁴² Isahluko 2, indinyana 17, yeBhagavad Gita ithi:

“Lokho okukuwo wonke umzimba akunakubhujiswa. Akekho ongabhubhisa umphefumulo ongenakubhubha.”

Lendinyana ibe isichazwa kanje:

“Yilowo nalowo-mzimba uqukethe umphefumulo womuntu ngamunye, futhi uphawu lokuba khona komphefumulo lubonakala ngokuphila komuntu.”

Ngakho-ke, nakuba iBhayibheli lithi umuntu ungumphefumulo, imfundiso yamaHindu ithi unomphefumulo. Futhi kunomehluko omkhulu lapha ozithinta ngokujulile izimfundiso eziwumphumela walemibono.—Levitikusi 24:17, 18, NW.

43. (a) Uyini umsuka wemfundiso yomphefumulo ongafi? (b) Iyini imiphumela yayo?

⁴³ Imfundiso yomphefumulo ongafi eqinisweni ikhiwe emthonjeni ongcolile waseBabiloni lasendulo wolwazi olungokwenkolo. Ngokunengqondo iholela emiphumeleni ‘yokuphila kwangemva kokufa’ eqokonyiswa ezimfundisweni zezinkolo eziningi kangaka—ukuphind’ ukuzalwa, izulu, isihogo, isihlanzo, iLimbo, nokunye. KumaHindu, izulu nesihogo kuyizindawo eziphakathi naphakathi zokulinda ngaphambi kokuba umphefumulo uthole ukuphind’ ukuzalwa kwawo okulandelayo. Okuthakazelisa ngokukhethekile umqondo wamaHindu ngesihogo.

Imfundiso YamaHindu Ngesihogo

44. Sazi kanjani ukuthi ubuHindu bufundisa ukuthi kunesihogo sokuhlushwa uzwa?

⁴⁴ Enye indinyana evela kuyiBhagavad Gita ithi:

“Lapho imithetho yomkhaya ichithwa, khona-ke umphumela ngokuqinisekile uba iJanārdana kubantu abahlala esihogweni.”—I. 44, Harvard Oriental Series, Umq. 38, 1952.

Ukukhulumela kuthi: “Labo abanesono kakhulu ekuphileni kwabo kwasemhlabeni kumelwe babhekane nezinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zokujeziswa kumaplanethi anjengesihogo.” Nokho, kunomehluko owodwa omncane ekuhlushweni umlilo waphakade wesihogo seLobukholwa: “Lesijeziso . . . akusona esaphakade.” Khona-ke, siyini isihogo samaHindu ngokuthe ngqó?

45. Izinhlupheko zesihogo sobuHindu zichazwa kanjani?

⁴⁵ Okulandelayo kuyincazelo yomphumela wesoni, ethathwe kuyiMarkandeya Purana:

“Khona-ke izithunywa zikaYama [unkulunkulu wabafileyo] ziyasibopha ngokushesha ngamatomu asabekayo futhi zisihudulele eningizimu, sithuthumela ngemivimbo yenduku. Khona-ke sihudulwa izithunywa zikaYama, siklabalasa ngokwesabekayo nangokudabukisayo sidlule endaweni embi [enesithombo] iKusa, ameva, iziduli, izinaliti namatshe, elanguka amalangabi kwezinye izindawo, egcwele izigodi, evuthayo ngokushisa kwelanga nemisebe yalo. Ehudulwa izithunywa ezisabekayo futhi edliwa amakhulu ezimpungushe, lomuntu oyisoni uya endlini kaYama ngendlela esabekayo. . . .

“Lapho umzimba waso ushiswa sizwa ubuhlungu obukhulu obunkenkethayo; futhi uma umzimba waso ushaywa noma usikwa sizwa ubuhlungu obukhulu.

“Njengoba umzimba waso ubhujiswa kanjalo, lesidalwa, nakuba sidlulela komunye umzimba, sizwa ubuhlungu baphakade ngenxa yezenzo zaso ezimbi. . . .

“Khona-ke ukuze izono zaso zihlanzwe siyiswa kwesinye isihogo esinjalo. Ngemva kokuba sesidlule kuzo zonke izihogo isoni sithatha ukuphila kwesilwane. Bese sidlula ekuphileni kwezibungu, izinambuzane, izimpukane, izilwane ezidla inyama, omiyane, izindlovu, imithi, amahhashi, izinkomazi, nakokunye ukuphila okuhlukahlukene kokona nokudabukisayo, sidlulela ohlangeni lwabantu, sizalwa njengesifumbu, noma njengomuntu omubi, noma njengesichwe noma uChandala Pukkasa.”

46, 47. IBhayibheli lithini ngesimo sabafileyo, futhi yiziphi iziphetho esingafinyelela kuzo?

⁴⁶ Qhathanisa lokhu nalokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo ngabafileyo:

“Ngokuba abaphilayo bayazi ukuthi bayakufa, kepha abafileyo abazi-lutho, futhi abasenawo umvuzo, ngokuba ukukhunjulwa kwabo sekukhohlakele. Uthando lwabo, nokuzonda kwabo, nomhawu wabo sekuphelile; futhi abasenaso isabelo nanini kukho konke okwenziwa phansi kwelanga. Konke isandla sakho esikufumanayo ukukwenza, kwenze ngamandla akho, ngokuba akukho-msebenzi, namcabango, nakwazi, nakuhlakanipha endaweni yabafileyo, lapho uya khona.”—UmShumayeli 9:5, 6, 10.

⁴⁷ Yebo, uma njengoba iBhayibheli lisho, umuntu engenawo umphefumulo kodwa engumphefumulo, khona-ke akukho ukuphila ngemva kokufa. Ayikho injabulo, akukho nokuhlupheka. Zonke lezinkimbinkimbi ezingenangqondo ‘zokuphila kwangemva kokufa’ ziyanyamalala.d

Imbangi YobuHindu

48, 49. (a) Ekubukezeni, yiziphi ezinye zezimfundiso zamaHindu? (b) Kungani abanye beye bangabaza ubuqiniso bobuHindu? (c) Ubani owathatha isinyathelo sokubekela umqondo wobuHindu inselele?

⁴⁸ Lokhu kubukezwa okufushane kobuHindu kuye kwabonisa ukuthi buyinkolo yokukholelwa konkulunkulu abaningi esekelwe ekukholelweni kunkulunkulu oyedwa—ukukholelwa kuBrahman, uMuntu Ophakeme, umthombo noma insika, ofanekiswa ngezinhlamvu ezihambisanayo uOM noma AUM, futhi onezici eziningi noma izindlela zokuzibonakalisa. Futhi buyinkolo efundisa ukuba uvumazonke futhi ekhuthaza ukuba nomusa ezilwaneni.

⁴⁹ Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ezinye zezici zemfundiso yobuHindu, njengeKarma nokungalungi kwesimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba, kuhlanganise nokukhulekela izithombe nokungqubuzana okusezinganekwaneni, kuye kwenza abantu abaningi abacabangayo bangabaze ubuqiniso balolokholo. Omunye umngabazi onjalo wavela enyakatho-mpumalanga yeNdiya cishe ngonyaka ka-560 B.C.E. WayenguSiddhārtha Gautama. Wamisa ukholo olusha olwehluleka ukuchuma eNdiya kodwa olwachuma kwenye indawo, njengoba isahluko sethu esilandelayo sizochaza. Lolokholo olusha kwakuwubuBuddha.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 100, 101]

UbuSikh—Inkolo Eguquliwe

UbuSikh, obufanekiswa ngezinkemba ezintathu nesiyingi, buyinkolo yabantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-17. Abaningi babo bahlala ePunjab. IThempeli Legolide lamaSikh, elakhiwe phakathi kwechibi lokuzenzela, liseAmritsar, idolobha elingcwele lamaSikh. Amadoda angamaSikh abonakala kalula ngemishuqulo yawo eluhlaza, emhlophe, noma emnyama, ekugqokwa kwayo kuyisici esingenakushiywa somkhuba wawo ongokwenkolo, njengoba kunjalo nangokuyeka izinwele zawo zibe zinde.

Igama lesiHindi elithi sikh lisho “umfundi.” AmaSikh angabafundi bomsunguli wawo, uGuru Nānak, futhi angabalandeli bezimfundiso zamaguru ayishumi (uNānak nabalandeli bakhe abayisishiyagalolunye) abamibhalo yabo isencwadini engcwele yamaSikh, iGuru Granth Sahib. Lenkolo yaqala ekuqaleni kwekhulu le-16 leminyaka lapho uGuru Nānak efuna ukuthatha ikhethelo lobuHindu nelobuIslām futhi akhe ngalo inkolo ehlangene.

Umsebenzi kaNānak ungachazwa ngomusho owodwa: “Njengoba kunoNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela, futhi enguBaba wethu; ngakho-ke, kumelwe sonke sibe abazalwane.” NjengamaMuslim, amaSikh akholelwa kuNkulunkulu oyedwa futhi ayakwenqabela ukusetshenziswa kwezithombe. (IHubo 115:4-9; Mathewu 23:8, 9) Alandela isiko lobuHindu lokukholelwa emphefumulweni ongafi, ukuphind’ ukuzalwa, neKarma. Indawo yamaSikh yokukhulekela ibizwa ngokuthi igurdwara.—Qhathanisa neHubo 103:12, 13; IzEnzo 24:15.

Omunye wemithetho emikhulu kaGuru Nānak wawuthi: “Khumbula njalo uNkulunkulu, phindaphinda igama laKhe.” Kukhulunywa ngoNkulunkulu ngokuthi “oweQiniso,” kodwa akunikezwa gama. (IHubo 83:16-18) Omunye umyalo wawuthi “Hlanganyela lokho okuzuzayo nabampofu.” Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, kunelangar, noma ikhishi likawonk’ uwonke kulelo nalelothempeli lamaSikh, lapho abantu bazo zonke izinhlobo bengase badle khona mahhala. Futhi kunamakamelo amahhala lapho izihambi zingase zingenise khona ebusuku.—Jakobe 2:14-17.

IGuru yokugcina, uGobind Singh (1666-1708), wamisa ubuzalwane bamaSikh obubizwa ngokuthi amaKhalsa, alandela lokho okwaziwa ngokuthi o-K abayisihlanu, okuyilaba: kesh, ukungagundi izinwele, okufanekisela isimo esingokomoya; kangha, ikamu ezinweleni, okufanekisela ukuhleleka nokuzikhuza; kirpan, inkemba, efanekisela isithunzi, isibindi, nokuzidela; kara, umhlobiso wensimbi wasengalweni, okufanekisela ubunye noNkulunkulu; kachh, ukugqoka izikhindi njengezingubo zangaphansi, okusikisela isizotha futhi ezigqokwa njengophawu lokuzithiba ngokokuziphatha.—Bheka iEncyclopedia of World Faiths, ikhasi 269.

[Isithombe]

IThempeli leGolide lamaSikh, eAmritsar, ePunjab, eNdiya

[Izithombe]

Umshuqulo oluhlaza ufanekisela umqondo obanzi njengesibhakabhaka, ongenandawo yobandlululo

Umshuqulo omhlophe usho umuntu onjengosanta ophila ukuphila okuyisibonelo

Umshuqulo omnyama uyisikhumbuzo sokushushiswa kwamaSikh yiBrithani ngo-1919

Eminye imibala iyindaba nje yokuzikhethela

[Isithombe]

Embukisweni owenziwa ngemikhosi ethile umpristi ongumSikh ulandisa umlando wezikhali ezingcwele

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 104]

UbuJain—Ukuzidela Nokungabi Nabudlova

Lenkolo, enomfanekiso wayo wasendulo weswastika yamaNdiya, yasungulwa ekhulwini lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E. yisikhulu saseNdiya esicebile uNataputta Vardhamāna, owaziwa kakhulu ngelithi uVardhamana Mahāvīra (okuyisiqu esisho “uMuntu Omkhulu” noma “iQhawe Elikhulu”). Waphendukela ekuphileni kokuzidela nokokuzincisha izinjabulo. Wahamba enqunu efuna ulwazi “emadolobhaneni nasemathafeni aseNdiya ephakathi efuna ukukhululwa emjikelezweni wokuzalwa, ukufa, nokuzalwa kabusha.” (Man’s Religions, kaJohn B. Noss) Wayekholelwa ukuthi ukusindiswa komphefumulo kungafinyelelwa kuphela ngokuzidela ngokweqile nokuzikhuza kuhlanganise nokusebenzisa ngokuqinile iahimsa, ukungabi nabudlova kuzo zonke izidalwa. Wasebenzisa iahimsa ngendlela eyeqile kangangokuba wayephatha umshanelo othambile ayengashanela kahle ngawo zonke izinambuzane okwakungenzeka zibe sendleleni yakhe. Ukuhlonipha kwakhe ukuphila futhi kwakuwukuvikela ubumsulwa nobuqotho bomphefumulo wakhe siqu.

Abalandeli bakhe namuhla, ngomzamo wokuthuthukisa iKarma yabo, baphila ukuphila okufanayo kokuzidela nenhlonipho ngazo zonke ezinye izidalwa. Nalapha futhi sibona umphumela onamandla ekuphileni kwabantu wenkolelo yokungafi komphefumulo womuntu.

Namuhla kunamakholwa angaphansi kwezigidi ezine alolukholo, futhi iningi lawo lisezindaweni zaseBombay naseGujarat eNdiya.

[Isithombe]

UmJain uyakhuleka ngasezinyaweni zesithombe esiphakeme ngamamitha angu-17 sikasanta uGomateswara eKarnataka, eNdiya

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 106, 107]

Isiqondiso Esilula Samagama ObuHindu

ahimsa (ngesiSanskrit, ahinsa)—ukungabi nabudlova; ukungalimazi noma ukungabulali lutho. Isisekelo sokungadli inyama kwamaHindu nesokuhlonipha izilwane

ashram—ithempeli noma indawo lapho iguru (umqondisi ongokomoya) efundisa khona

ātman—umoya; ohlanganiswa nalokho okungenakufa. Ngokuvamile uhunyushwa ngokungeyikho ngokuthi umphefumulo. Bheka ijīva

avatar—ukuzibonakalisa noma umzimba wasemhlabeni othathwe unkulunkulu wamaHindu

bhakti—ukuzinikela kunkulunkulu okuholela ensindisweni

bindi—icashazi elibomvu abesifazane abashadile abaligcoba ebunzini

Brahman—izinga eliphakeme kakhulu nelobupristi lesimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba; lisho futhi okungokoQobo Okuphakeme. Bheka ekhasini 116

dharma—umthetho oyisisekelo wazo zonke izinto; onquma izenzo ezilungile nezimbi

ghat—indlela yezitebhisi noma indawo esasiteji ngasemfuleni

guru—umfundisi noma umqondisi ongokomoya

Harijan—ilungu lesigaba somphakathi sabaNgcolile; lisho “abantu bakaNkulunkulu,” igama lozwela abalinikezwa uMahatma Gandhi

japa—ukukhulekela uNkulunkulu ngokuphindaphinda elinye lamagama akhe; kusetshenziswa imala, noma irosali enobuhlalu obungu-108 ekubaleni

jīva (noma prān, prāni)—umphefumulo womuntu siqu noma umuntu

Karma—isimiso sokuthi isenzo ngasinye sinemiphumela emihle noma emibi ekuphileni okulandelayo komphefumulo othuthile

Kshatriya—isigaba sezifundiswa, sababusayo, nesamaqhawe futhi okuyizinga lesibili lesimiso sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba

mahant—umuntu ongcwele noma umfundisi

mahatma—usanta wamaHindu, lisuselwa egameni elithi maha, ophakeme noma omkhulu, nelithi ātman, elisho umoya

mantra—amazwi angcwele, okukholelwa ukuthi anamandla omlingo, asetshenziswa lapho kwamukelwa ilungu elisha ehlelweni elithile futhi aphindaphindwayo emithandazweni nasemithendelekweni

maya—ukubheka umhlaba njengongewona ongokoqobo

moksha, noma mukti—ukukhululwa emjikelezweni wokuphind’ ukuzalwa; ukuphela kohambo lomphefumulo. Yaziwa futhi ngelithi Nirvana, ukuhlangana komuntu noPhakeme, uBrahman

OM, AUM—uphawu lwamagama amelele uBrahman olusetshenziselwa ukuzindla; umsindo wawo ucatshangelwa ngokuthi uwukuhlihliza okuyimfihlakalo; asetshenziswa njengemantra engcwele

paramatman—uMoya Wezwe, iātman yendawo yonke, noma uBrahman

puja—ukukhulekela

sadhu—umuntu ongcwele; umuntu ozincisha izinjabulo noma iyogi

samsara—ukuthutha komphefumulo ophakade, ongenakubhubha uye kwenye indawo

Shakti—amandla esifazane noma umfazi kankulunkulu othile, ikakhulukazi umngane kaSiva

sraddha—amasiko abalulekile aqhutshwayo ekuhlonipheni okhokho nasekusizeni imimoya engasekho ukuba izuze imoksha

Sudra—isisebenzi, isigaba esiphansi kakhulu ezigabeni ezine ezisemqoka

swami—umfundisi noma izinga eliphakeme lomqondisi ongokomoya

tilak—uphawu ebunzini olufanekisela ukulondoloza inkumbulo yeNkosi kuyo yonke imisebenzi yakhe

Trimurti—uziqu-zintathu wamaHindu kaBrahma, uVishnu, noSiva

AmaUpanishad—imibhalo engcwele yobuHindu yokuqala esankondlo. Yaziwa futhi ngokuthi iVedanta, isiphetho samaVeda

Vaisya—isigaba sabahwebi nabalimi; iqembu lesithathu esimisweni sokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba

AmaVeda—imibhalo engcwele yobuHindu esankondlo yokuqala kunayo yonke

Yoga—lisuselwa emsukeni othi yuj, osho ukuhlanganisa noma ukubophela ejokeni; ihilela ukuhlanganiswa komuntu nomuntu waphezulu osendaweni yonke. Yaziwa ngokuvamile njengesifundiso sokuzindla okuhilela isimo somzimba nokulawula indlela yokuphefumula. UbuHindu buqaphela okungenani amaYoga noma izindlela ezine ezisemqoka. Bheka ikhasi 110

[Izithombe]

Kusukela ngakwesobunxele, imahant engumHindu; isadhu, imi ngendlela yokuzindla; iguru evela eNepal

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 110]

Izindlela Ezine Zokufinyelela ‘IMoksha’

Ukholo lwamaHindu lunikeza okungenani izindlela ezine zokufinyelela imoksha, noma ukukhululwa komphefumulo. Lezi zaziwa ngokuthi amayoga noma amamarga, izindlela zokufinyelela imoksha.

1. IKarma Yoga—“Indlela yokwenza, noma ikarma yoga, isifundo sokwenza. Ngokuyisisekelo, ikarma marga isho ukufeza idharma yomuntu ngokuvumelana nendawo yomuntu ekuphileni. Imisebenzi ethile iyadingeka kubo bonke abantu, njengeahimsa nokuyeka uphuzo oludakayo nenyama, kodwa idharma eqondile yomuntu ngamunye ixhomeke esigabeni umuntu ahlukaniswa ngaso nebanga lokuphila.”—Great Asian Religions.

LeKarma yenziwa kuphela phakathi kwemingcele yokwahlukaniswa ngezigaba. Ubumsulwa besigaba ngasinye bulondolozwa ngokungashadi noma ngokungadli nomuntu wesinye isigaba, esanqunywa iKarma yakhe ekuphileni kwangaphambili. Ngakho-ke isigaba somuntu asibhekwa njengokungalungi kodwa njengefa elivela emzimbeni ayewuthathile ngaphambili. Ngokwefilosofi yamaHindu amadoda nabesifazane abalingani bonke. Bahlukaniswe izigaba nobulili futhi eqinisweni nangebala. Ngokuvamile uma ibala likhanya, nesigaba siba esiphakeme.

2. IJnana Yoga—“Indlela yolwazi, noma ijnana yoga, imfundiso yolwazi. Ngokuphambene nendlela yokwenza, ikarma marga, nemisebenzi yayo elotshwe kusengaphambili yenkathi ngayinye yokuphila, ijnana marga inikeza indlela engokwefilosofi nokusebenza kwengqondo yokuzazi nokwazi indawo yonke. Ubuntu, hhayi ukwenza, kuyisihluthulelo sejnana marga. [Omalukeke sizenzele.] Okubaluleke kakhulu, lendlela yenza kube nokwenzeka ngabaqhubi bayo ukuba bafinyelele imoksha kulokhu kuphila.” (Great Asian Religions) Ihilela iyoga yokuhlola umqondo wakho siqu nokuhoxa ezweni nokuphila ngokuzincisha injabulo. Iyisibonakaliso sokuzithiba nokuzidela.

3. IBhakti Yoga—“Isimo esithandwa kakhulu sesiko lamaHindu namuhla. Lena indlela yokuzinikela, ibhakti marga. Ngokuphambene nekarma marga, . . . lendlela ilula, cishe iyazenzekela, futhi ingase ilandelwe abantu banoma yisiphi isigaba, ubulili, noma ubudala. . . . [I]vumela imizwelo yobuntu nezifiso ukuba zisebenze ngokukhululekile kunokuba zicindezelwe ngokuzincisha izinjabulo kweyoga . . . [I]hlanganisa ukuzinikela kubantu baphezulu kuphela.” Futhi ngokwesiko kunabayizigidi ezingu-330 okumelwe bakhulekelwe. Ngokwalelisiko, ukwazi kuwukuthanda. Eqinisweni, igama elithi bhakti lisho “ukunamathela ngokomzwelo kunkulunkulu wakho omkhethile.”—Great Asian Religions.

4. IRaja Yoga—Indlela “yezimo zomzimba ezikhethekile, izindlela zokuphefumula, nokuphindaphindwa okunesigqi kwemithetho efingqiwe yokucabanga ngokufanele.” (Man’s Religions) Inezinyathelo eziyisishiyagalombili.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 113]

UMahatma Gandhi Nesimiso Sokwahlukaniswa Ngezigaba

“Ukungabi nabudlova kungumthetho wokuqala wokholo lwami. Futhi kuwumthetho wokugcina wesivumo sami sokholo.”—Mahatma Gandhi, March 23, 1922.

UMahatma Gandhi, odumile ngobuholi bakhe obungenabudlova ekusizeni ukuzuzela iNdiya ukuzibusa kuyiBrithani (okwanikezwa ngo-1947), wathatha futhi umkhankaso wokuthuthukisa izigidi zamaHindu akanye naye. Njengoba uProfesa ongumNdiya uM. P. Rege achaza: “Wamemezela iahimsa (ukungabi nabudlova) njengesimiso sokuziphatha esiyisisekelo, asichaza njengokukhathalela isithunzi nenhlala-kahle yabantu bonke. Wenqaba igunya lemibhalo yamaHindu lapho imfundiso yawo yayiphikisana neahimsa, walwela ngesibindi ukuqedwa kokungcola nesimiso sokwahlukaniswa kwabantu ngezigaba, futhi wathuthukisa ukubhekwa ngokulinganayo kwabesifazane kuzo zonke izici zokuphila.”

Wawuyini umbono kaGandhi ngesabelo sabaNgcolile? Encwadini ayibhalela uJawaharlal Nehru, yomhla kaMay 2, 1933, wabhala: “Inhlangano yamaHarijan inkulu kakhulu ukuba kungabhekanwa nayo ngomzamo ongokwengqondo kuphela. Akukho okubi kangako kulo lonke izwe. Nokho angikwazi ukushiya inkolo kanjalo ngishiye ubuHindu. Ukuphila kwami kuyoba umthwalo kimi uma ngihlulwa ubuHindu. Ngiyabuthanda ubuKristu, ubuIslam nezinye izinkolo eziningi ngobuHindu. . . . Kodwa angikwazi ukububekezelela ngokuphathelene nokungcola.”—The Essential Gandhi.

[Isithombe]

UMahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), umholi wamaHindu ohlonishwayo nomfundisi weahimsa

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 116, 117]

UbuHindu—Abanye Bonkulunkulu Nonkulunkulukazi

UAditi—unina wonkulunkulu; unkulunkulukazi wesibhakabhaka; oNgenasiphelo

UAgni—unkulunkulu womlilo

UBrahma—uNkulunkulu onguMdali, umthombo wendalo endaweni yonke. Omunye wonkulunkulu beTrimurti (uziqu-zintathu)

UBrahman, noma uBrahm—oPhakeme, okuyo yonke indawo, ofanekiswa ngomsindo wezinhlamvu ezithi OM noma AUM. (Bheka uphawu olungenhla.) Kubhekiselwa kuye futhi ngokuthi uAtman. Amanye amaHindu abheka uBrahman njengoMthombo Waphezulu ongeyena umuntu noma njengokungokoQobo Okuphakeme

UBuddha—uGautama, umsunguli wobuBuddha; amaHindu ambheka njengomzimba wasemhlabeni (iavatar) kaVishnu

UDurga—IShakti noma umkaSiva futhi ubizwa ngokuthi uKali

UGanesa (uGanesha)—unkulunkulu oyindodana kaSiva onekhanda lendlovu, iNkosi Yezithiyo, unkulunkulu wenhlanhla. Ubizwa futhi ngokuthi uGanapati nangokuthi uGajanana

UGanga—unkulunkulukazi, omunye wabafazi bakaSiva nokwenziwa samuntu komfula iGanges

UHanuman—unkulunkulu oyinkawu nongumlandeli ozinikele kaRama

IHimalaya—indawo yokuhlala yeqhwa, uyise kaParvati

UKali—umngane kaSiva omnyama (iShakti) nonkulunkulukazi wembubhiso owomele igazi. Ngokuvamile uvezwa ekhiphe ulimi olukhulu olubomvu

UKrishna—umzimba wasemhlabeni wesishiyagalombili wokudlala kaVishnu nonkulunkulu weBhagavad Gita. Izithandwa zakhe zazingamagopi, noma amantombazane asebenza ezindaweni zobisi

ULakshmi—unkulunkulukazi wobuhle nenhlanhla; umngane kaVishnu

UManasa—unkulunkulukazi wezinyoka

UManu—ukhokho wohlanga lwabantu; owasindiswa inhlanzi enkulu ekubhujisweni uzamcolo

UMitra—unkulunkulu wokukhanya. AmaRoma amazi ngelithi uMithras

UNandi—inkunzi, imoto noma indlela yokuhamba kaSiva

UNataraja—uSiva esesimweni somzimba sokusina ehaqwe isiyingi samalangabi

UParvati noma u-Uma—unkulunkulukazi ongumngane kaSiva. Uthatha futhi isimo sikankulunkulukazi uDurga noma uKali

UPrajapati—uMdali wendawo yonke, iNkosi Yokudaliweyo, uyise wonkulunkulu, amademoni, nazo zonke ezinye izidalwa. Kamuva waziwa ngokuthi uBrahma

UPurusha—umuntu osendaweni yonke engabonakali. Izigaba ezine zokwahlukaniswa kwabantu ezisemqoka zenziwa ngomzimba wakhe

URadha—umngane kaKrishna

URama, uRamachandra—umzimba wasemhlabeni wesikhombisa owathathwa unkulunkulu uVishnu. Ukulandisa okusankondlo kweRamayana kulandisa indaba ngoRama nomkakhe uSita

USaraswati—unkulunkulukazi wolwazi nomngane kaBrahma uMdali

UShashti—unkulunkulukazi ovikela abesifazane nabantwana ngesikhathi sokuzala

USiva—unkulunkulu wenzalo, ukufa, nembubhiso; ilungu leTrimurti. Ufanekiswa ngenkemba esika nxantathu nesitho sobulili sabesilisa

USoma—kokubili unkulunkulu nomlaliso; umuthi wokungafi

UVishnu—unkulunkulu ongumlondolozi wokuphila; ilungu lesithathu leTrimurti

[Umthombo]

(Luthathwé ohlwini lonkulunkulu encwadini iMythology—An Illustrated Encyclopedia)

[Izithombe]

Kusukela phezulu ngakwesobunxele, kuya ngakwesokudla, uNataraja (uSiva osinayo), uSaraswati, uKrishna, uDurga (uKali)

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 120]

Inganekwane YamaHindu Ngozamcolo

“Ekuseni balethela uManu [ukhokho wesintu nomniki-mthetho wokuqala] amanzi okugeza . . . Lapho esageza, kwahlala inhlanzi [uVishnu esemzimbeni wasemhlabeni awuthathile njengoMatsya] ezandleni zakhe.

“Yakhuluma kuye lelizwi, ‘Ngondle, ngizokusindisa!’ ‘Uzongisindisa kukuphi?’ ‘Uzamcolo uzokhukhula zonke lezidalwa: ngizokusindisa kulokho!’ ‘Ngizokondla kanjani?’”

Lenhlanzi yayaleza uManu indlela yokuyinakekela. “Ngemva kwalokho yathi, ‘Ngonyaka wokuthi nokuthi uzofika lowozamcolo. Ngalesosikhathi uzonginaka (iseluleko sami) ngokulungiselela umkhumbi; futhi lapho uzamcolo esenyukile uzongena emkhunjini, futhi ngizokusindisa kuwo.’”

UManu walandela iziyalezo zenhlanzi, futhi ngenkathi kazamcolo lenhlanzi yadonsela umkhumbi “entabeni esenyakatho. Yase ithi, ‘Ngikusindisile. Bophela lomkhumbi emthini; kodwa ungavumeli amanzi akukhukhule, lapho usahlala entabeni. Lapho amanzi ebohla, ungase wehle kancane kancane!’”—Satapatha-Brahmana; qhathanisa noGenesise 6:9–8:22.

[Ibalazwe/Izithombe ekhasini 123]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Umfula iGanges ugeleza amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-2 400 ukusuka eHimalaya kuya eCalcutta nasesizalweni sawo eBangladesh

INDIYA

ICalcutta

UMfula iGanges

[Izithombe]

UGanga Ma, phezu kwekhanda likaSiva, wehla ngezinwele zakhe

AmaHindu azinikele akuyighat, ayageza eGanges eVaranasi, noma eBenares

[Isithombe ekhasini 96]

UGanesa, unkulunkulu wamaHindu wenhlanhla onekhanda lendlovu, indodana kaSiva noParvati

[Isithombe ekhasini 99]

Amalingam (izifanekiselo zezitho zobulili zabesilisa) ezihlonishwa amaHindu. USiva (unkulunkulu wenzalo) uphakathi kwelinye ilingam futhi unamakhanda amane elinye eceleni kwelinye

[Isithombe ekhasini 108]

Izindelakazi zamaJain zigqoke imukha-vastrika, noma okokumboza umlomo, okuvimbela izinambuzane ukuba zingangeni futhi zife

[Isithombe ekhasini 115]

Ukukhulekelwa kwenyoka, okuqhutshwa ikakhulukazi eBengal. UManasa ungunkulunkulukazi wezinyoka

[Isithombe ekhasini 118]

UVishnu, enomkakhe uLakshmi, bephezu kwenyoka ebuthisile uAnanta noBrahma onamakhanda amane osentebeni emila enkabeni kaVishnu