pandora Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 more and more we are living in a mixed society. which is fine. but what does hinduism say about interracial marriages/ marrying outside of your race. our parents have taught us to keep up our culture and to marry someone in you culture. but now more and more i see many indians marrying outside of their race. im not talking about caste or anything, im asking about race, and what do the sacred texts say about this. it seem to me that if a race is watered down then the religion will also be watered down also. ive seen interace marriages and when it comes to religion the children either dont know anything about it or they just dont care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sathya Vaidhyanathan Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Hello Genx, Hinduism or rather sanatana dharma does not have any specific position on interracial or inter caste / inter linguistic marriages. Vaishnava philosophies such as the classical Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya (propounded by Ramanuja) have even gone to the extent of doing away with undue importance to the caste system - professing that all vaishnavas are the same irrespective of their birth. Sanatana Dharma actually looks upon the whole world as one big family - Sarvam Vishvam Vasudeva Kutumbakam. It accepts even people from other religions. Geographical, racial or linguistic differences are merely differences conceived by human beings - and do not have any official spiritual sanction. Ultimately it is the way children are exposed to a particular philosophy / belief system, and their upbringing that really makes a difference. Caste,creed, race, language and gender have very limited if not nonexistent bearing on belief. The whole undue importance to the caste system was actually one of the reasons for the diminishing relevance of Sanatana Dharma in the land of its birth. It is basically a deviation and distortion of the original teachings of Hinduism / Sanatana Dharma. Acharyas such as Ramanuja actively countered the inherent structure and practices of the caste system, and came up with reformist ideologies such as the classical Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya (vedic hinduism and also emphasizing equality of men). Finding a proper Acharya can help one maintain and preserve the culture and tradition of Hinduism in the real spirit. A few temples such as the Jagannath of Puri however, do not allow members of another faith to enter - however, even here race has started to become immaterial after they allowed Indonesians, Thais and people of other east Asian nationalities who could prove they were either Hindu – Buddhist - Jain or followed the philosophies of India. Inter racial marriages are not taboo in Hinduism, and if there is a sense of discomfort then adopting / accepting vaishnava sampradayas such as the classical Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya or the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya is the solution. "Akashat Patitam Toyam yata Gachati Sagaram, Sarva Deva Namaskaram Sri Keshavam Pratigachati" Just as water having its origins in the sky finds its way to the sea so too people worshiping various gods / beliefs reach Sri Keshava ultimately ( Krishna ). Regards Sathya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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