Shiv Mandir of Atlanta Journal

`MantraMantra is the use of Sound to release positive energy and to invoke the blessings of the universalgod.This concept comes out of the immense knowledge and experiences of our forefathers who foundthis power of the sound.Cow as motherA core concept of Hinduism is respecting all the things which enrich us, and Cow is an idealpersonification of this concept. Cow gives us milk, something a mother only shares with itschildren, this extreme love that Cow has shown towards Humans is unparalleled and we areforever indebted to mother cow for this and so cow is revered as Mother in Hinduism.Caste SystemCaste system essentially means "classification based on occupation“. There is mention of this in theVedas, but Vedic Hinduism does not say that Caste is permanent; it only denotes the person’soccupation. Also no caste is more or less important to another.Subsequent socio-political equations changed this original concept of Caste to rigid andexploitative thing it later on became.Hindus who have understood the true concepts of the religion do not give any importance to Casteand for now it only denotes hereditary occupations and for all practical purposes it does not haveany significance.Status of women in HinduismThe status of women in Hinduism is equal to that of men. Our God is worshipped in many femaleforms and "Shakti" or "Strength" form of our god is a female form.There was never a “Parda” system in Hinduism and these concepts are social in origins (as opposedto religious) , and they originated when Islamic armies started taking Hindu women as spoils ofwar.The status of women in Hindu religion is much better than the status of women in manyotherworld religions.FootnoteKnowledge is the Key. If we pack our children with appropriate explanation anddetails about our religion they will never be a subject of criticism and would be ableto stand for their religion.