Sacred People, Places, and Objects
In this topic we are going to select several relics, individuals or locations which are viewed as sacred for two different religious affiliations (Cunningham, et, al, 2012).
I have decided to select the following items to discuss.
The Sacred Cow in the Hindu Religion The Kaaba from the Muslim Religion The Sacred Cow In these few paragraphs, I will briefly attempt to explain why the Cow is considered sacred in the study of the Hindu religion.
In the Hindu religion a cow is viewed as a reverent object representing the source of life.
Although the Hindu's never worship the cow it may never be killed (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2007).
It would be more accurate to state that the cows are more of a taboo rather than sacred in the strictest sense of the word.
Of interest is the oddity of how a common practice in ancient India was to sacrifice oxen as well as bulls however it was forbidden to harm or eat a cow.
Tradition had it that after the bull was sacrificed it could be eaten by the people.
One must keep in mind that even during those periods of time when meat eating was acceptable in India the Vedic scriptures frequently encouraged the people to lead a life of vegetarianism.
It was later in the history of Hinduism when people were discouraged from eating meat.
One would have to be pretty naive to believe that this practice was initiated merely out of a spiritual need.
The fact of the matter was that it was costly to slaughter the animals merely to participate in a religious sacrifice and on top of all that the cow provided multiple products for the people.
These benefits included brown butter for lamps, milk for children and fuel derived from the dried dung (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2007).
Even today the cow remains as a protected creature within the Hindu society and it is still forbidden to devour one.
The five products derived from the cow such as curds, dung, glee, milk, and urine are used in the practice of the Hindu's religious ceremonies.
The milk from the cow is used for nourishment of the children in India.
Cow dung is a popular source of replaceable energy throughout most of India.
It is also frequently employed as one of the raw materials used for the ritual mark appearing upon the Hindu's forehead.
Kaaba The Kaaba, known as the Sacred House, is a cubed building located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
It is considered to be one of the most sacred sites within the Islamic community.
This building is analogous to the Jewish Temple Mount.
The Masjid al-Haram which is viewed as the most sacred mosque in all of Islam is constructed around the Kaaba.
Regardless of where in the world a Muslim may be located when they are praying they are expected to face in the direction of the Kaaba.
During the Muslims prayer they must face in the direction of the Kaaba.
So revered is this cubic shaped building that the construction has become the focal point for many Islamic pilgrimages.
These pilgrimages are viewed as one of the "Pillars of Islam" which is required of all Muslims who can possibly make the trip.
Six million Muslims complete this pilgrimage annually.
These pilgrimages have a long and traditional history dating back thousands of years to the day of Abraham.
Even today the pilgrimages to Mecca continue with thousands making the visit each year.
Not only has the Kaaba served as a religious location but it has also contributed to the economy of Mecca.
In order to maintain a state of peace between warring tribes it was decided that Mecca should be declared a sanctuary.
No violence was permitted within a 20 mile radius of the Kaaba.
It was this combat free zone which permitted Ancient Mecca to not merely survive as a religious place for pilgrimages but as a thriving trade center as well.
I have slowly been seeing a dual nature in many religious beliefs and locations.
In the Hindu practice of not eating cows we find that the meat was expensive and the traditional means of discouraging its consumption was to make the cow sacred.
The process encouraged the people to consume the less expensive vegetables.
In the Kaaba we find that the economy of Mecca was improved drastically by initiating the violence free zone.
Here we discover a city which has grown rich on trade.
I am certain that we can find other similar situations with other sacred items.
Reference Cunningham, L.
, Kelsay, J.
(2012).
The Sacred Quest (6th Edition).
Pearson.
E- book Edition.
Encyclopedia Britannica (2007).
Sanctity of the cow.
Retrieved fromhttp://www.
britannica.
com/EBchecked/topic/141206/sanctity-of-the-cow
I have decided to select the following items to discuss.
The Sacred Cow in the Hindu Religion The Kaaba from the Muslim Religion The Sacred Cow In these few paragraphs, I will briefly attempt to explain why the Cow is considered sacred in the study of the Hindu religion.
In the Hindu religion a cow is viewed as a reverent object representing the source of life.
Although the Hindu's never worship the cow it may never be killed (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2007).
It would be more accurate to state that the cows are more of a taboo rather than sacred in the strictest sense of the word.
Of interest is the oddity of how a common practice in ancient India was to sacrifice oxen as well as bulls however it was forbidden to harm or eat a cow.
Tradition had it that after the bull was sacrificed it could be eaten by the people.
One must keep in mind that even during those periods of time when meat eating was acceptable in India the Vedic scriptures frequently encouraged the people to lead a life of vegetarianism.
It was later in the history of Hinduism when people were discouraged from eating meat.
One would have to be pretty naive to believe that this practice was initiated merely out of a spiritual need.
The fact of the matter was that it was costly to slaughter the animals merely to participate in a religious sacrifice and on top of all that the cow provided multiple products for the people.
These benefits included brown butter for lamps, milk for children and fuel derived from the dried dung (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2007).
Even today the cow remains as a protected creature within the Hindu society and it is still forbidden to devour one.
The five products derived from the cow such as curds, dung, glee, milk, and urine are used in the practice of the Hindu's religious ceremonies.
The milk from the cow is used for nourishment of the children in India.
Cow dung is a popular source of replaceable energy throughout most of India.
It is also frequently employed as one of the raw materials used for the ritual mark appearing upon the Hindu's forehead.
Kaaba The Kaaba, known as the Sacred House, is a cubed building located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
It is considered to be one of the most sacred sites within the Islamic community.
This building is analogous to the Jewish Temple Mount.
The Masjid al-Haram which is viewed as the most sacred mosque in all of Islam is constructed around the Kaaba.
Regardless of where in the world a Muslim may be located when they are praying they are expected to face in the direction of the Kaaba.
During the Muslims prayer they must face in the direction of the Kaaba.
So revered is this cubic shaped building that the construction has become the focal point for many Islamic pilgrimages.
These pilgrimages are viewed as one of the "Pillars of Islam" which is required of all Muslims who can possibly make the trip.
Six million Muslims complete this pilgrimage annually.
These pilgrimages have a long and traditional history dating back thousands of years to the day of Abraham.
Even today the pilgrimages to Mecca continue with thousands making the visit each year.
Not only has the Kaaba served as a religious location but it has also contributed to the economy of Mecca.
In order to maintain a state of peace between warring tribes it was decided that Mecca should be declared a sanctuary.
No violence was permitted within a 20 mile radius of the Kaaba.
It was this combat free zone which permitted Ancient Mecca to not merely survive as a religious place for pilgrimages but as a thriving trade center as well.
I have slowly been seeing a dual nature in many religious beliefs and locations.
In the Hindu practice of not eating cows we find that the meat was expensive and the traditional means of discouraging its consumption was to make the cow sacred.
The process encouraged the people to consume the less expensive vegetables.
In the Kaaba we find that the economy of Mecca was improved drastically by initiating the violence free zone.
Here we discover a city which has grown rich on trade.
I am certain that we can find other similar situations with other sacred items.
Reference Cunningham, L.
, Kelsay, J.
(2012).
The Sacred Quest (6th Edition).
Pearson.
E- book Edition.
Encyclopedia Britannica (2007).
Sanctity of the cow.
Retrieved fromhttp://www.
britannica.
com/EBchecked/topic/141206/sanctity-of-the-cow
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