faith (viÿväsa, ÿraddhä)

In a general sense ‘faith’ plays a central

role in Hinduism: the acceptance of

ŸRUTIas ‘revealed word’ requires faith.

Faith is also demanded from the disciple

towards his teacher, an acceptance of

the teacher’s authority. Pilgrims travel-

ling to temples to find relief from their

suffering or help in their needs also

exhibit a great amount of faith. The

crowds surrounding living manifesta-

tions of the deity, such as ÄNANDAMAYÏ

MÄor SATHYASAIBABA, exhibit tremen-

dous faith. In a more specific, theologi-

cal sense, faith plays a much smaller

role in Hinduism than in biblical reli-

gions. It is seen important only as an

early stage in one’s spiritual develop-

ment, not as an end in itself. Faith as

such is not the cause of LIBERATION, but

only a preparatory phase, to be super-

seded by direct experience.

Farquhar, J. N. (1861–1929)

Scottish missionary. He worked in India

(mainly in Calcutta) from 1891 to

1923, initiated serious study of

Hinduism among Protestant missionar-

ies, and is the author of such standard

works as A Primer of Hinduism,

Modern Religious Movements in India,

An Outline of the Religious Literature

of India, The Crown of Hinduism,

Hinduism, its Content and Value.

fasting

SeeUPAVÄSA.

female infanticide

The religious need for a male heir, and

the great expense of marrying off a

daughter, led in former times to wide-

spread female infanticide among

Hindus, especially in Bengal. Female

babies were either offered to Goddess

GA¢GÄor exposed in fulfilment of a

VRATA. While not as prevalent today,

there are still cases of female infanticide,

very often following determination of

the female gender of the foetus through

amniocentesis.

festivals

Hinduism is rich in festivals. Besides the

local temple feasts, which often attract

millions of visitors to famous places of

pilgrimage, such as the ratha-yäträ at

JAGANNÄTHAPURÏ, there are some feasts

that are celebrated all over India or in

large areas. Among these the following

stand out:

Kø•æa-jayanti, Kø•æa’s birthday, cel-

ebrated on the eighth KØÆŒA-PAKÆAof

the month Ÿravana (July–August) in

commemoration of Kø•æa’s birth at

midnight in the prison of Mathurä. It is

a national holiday in India.

F

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