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Home > Contemporary Hindu movements


 

Hinduism is going through a phase or regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements. These movements stress the spiritual science aspects of the Hindu traditions, creating a form that is egalitarian that does not discriminate based on jati, gender, or race. Active Hindu communities are to be found in all parts of the world. In particular, the former Soviet Union countries and Poland have thriving Hindu communities due to the missionary work of the Hare Krishnas.

There are groups in India that are actively engaged in getting women and those from socially disadvantaged jatis to become priests of Vedic ritual.

The new movements look up to Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Ramana Maharshi, Sri Aurobindo (for his Integral Yoga), Swami Ramatirtha, Narayana Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, and Srila Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta for inspiration. More recently, the work of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Sathya Sai Baba, Shirdi Sai Baba who has many Muslim followers, Swami Muktananda, Swami ChinmayanandaSwami Chinmayananda ( (1916-1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam, Kerala in a very devout Hindu family. Graduating from Lucknow University, he entered the field of journalism where he felt he could influence political, economic and social, Dayananda SaraswatiSwami Dayananda Saraswati ( was born in Tamil Nadu. He became a swami as a young man and was the assistant to Swami Chinmayananda when he took the initiative to establish Vishwa Hindu Parishad. In 1986, Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arsha Vidya Gu, Sri Sri Ravi ShankarSri Sri Ravi Shankar ( is a spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living (AOL) movement to spread Vedic knowledge worldwide. Sri Sri Ravi ShankarHe was born on May 13, 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, India. At age 4 Ravi could recite the whole Bhagavad, and AmmachiMata Amritanandamayi ( also known as 'Amma', 'Ammachi' or 'Mother' (born September 27, 1953), was born Sudhamani in the small village of Parayakadavu, near Kollam, Kerala and is a revered saint and humanitarian. She was born to a family of fisher folks. has inspired millions to create new centers of spiritual development. In the intellectual field, the writings of Ananda CoomaraswamyAnanda Kentish Coomaraswamy (born 22 August, 1877 Colombo died 9 Septemeber, 1947 Needham, Mass) was the son of the famous Sri Lankan legislator and philosopher Sir Mutu Coomaraswamy and his English wife Elizabeth Beeby. He became a pioneering historian a, Ram SwarupRam Swarup ( ( 1920 December 26, 1998) was perhaps the most influential Hindu thinker in the second half of the 20th century. He authored many essays and books including The Word as Revelation: Names of God''. He books also include critiques of communism,, Sita Ram GoelSita Ram Goel ( ( 1921 2003), author and publisher, is an important figure amongst late 20th century Hindu thinkers. Together with Ram Swarup he kept the flame of Hindu critique burning during the socialist years of Nehru. Proud of his Vedic heritage, he, Subhash KakSubhash Kak (born March 26, 1947, Srinagar, Kashmir) is Delaune Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Professor in the Asian Studies and Cognitive Science Programs at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. He is best known for his contri and David Frawley have been influential.

In social work, Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Pandurang Shastri Athavale, Baba Amte have been most important. Sundarlal Bahuguna created the chipko movement for the preservation of forestlands according to the Hindu ecological ideas.

The increasing popularity of yoga and meditation has helped Hindus to re-discover their roots. The revival of Indian classical arts like dance and sculpture have been influential in instilling pride.

A socio-cultural organisation called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was formed by Dr.Keshav Baliram Hegdewar in 1925.The motto was to unite Hindus,make them rise over their caste differences and work for the glory of the Hindu Rashtra ( Bharat).

In Indonesia there are several movements in favour of return to Hinduism in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. Balinese Hinduism, known as Agama Hindu Dharma, has witnessed great resurgence in recent years.




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