e a god reincarnated inside of him. In the19th century, movements to reconcile traditional Hinduism with the socialreforms and political ideas of the day took place. Many people where sent outto Europe and Asia preaching and spreading the religion. Throughout all theseperiods of time, the religion mutated and changed to fit with the times and asit did it just kept gathering more and more followers.Hinduism Today Today there are numerous self proclaimed teachers who havemigrated to Europe and the United States, where they have inspired largefollowings. In India Hinduism thrives despite all the reforms and shortcutsmade in the practicing due to the gradual modernization and urbanization ofHindu life. Hinduism continues to serve vital function by giving passionatemeaning to the Hindus of today.Beliefs and PracticesCaste System The ideal way of life is referred to as the "duties of one's classand station". In the phrase the word class is changed to CASTE. The ancienttexts tell of four great classes, or castes: the Brahmins, or priests; theKsatriyas, or warriors and rulers; the Vaisayas, or merchants and farmers; andthe Sudras, or peasants and laborers. A fifth class, Panchamas, or untouchables,are people whose jobs make them touch unclean or unholy objects. In the newsociety the system is harder to work with but in the past the caste was verystrict and kept different people in different classes very distinctly.Stages of LifeThe sacred texts also outline four ideal stages, or stations of life, each withits own duty. The first stage is studentship (brahmacarya). This stage lastsfrom initiation into the religion at 5 years of age to marriage at 13 years ofage. The second stage, householdership (grihasthya) is during marriage, raisinga family, and taking part in the society. The third stage, forest dwelling(vanaprasthya), is after the kids have grown and gone. The fourth and finalstage is renunciation (samnyasa). It is when one gives...
