Language English
CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION OF THE SURVEY RESULTS
6.2. Discussion of Objective One: The types of information services offered by reformed Hindu organisations
6.2.1. Types of Information services offered Each sub-question has been discussed separately
6.2.1.1. Review of Question 1.1
The libraries that belonged to the reformed Hindu organisations and their collections were the focus of this question.
Libraries and their collections
This is a general discussion of the libraries and the collections housed at the reformed Hindu organisations. A more elaborate discussion of the collection follows in chapter seven where different types of formats are examined.
Generally, all library collections were housed in a special room dedicated for library/library services. There were two libraries that needed special mention because they only housed literature that was published by the international headquarters of the reformed Hindu organisation concerned. The 11 reformed Hindu organisations that had libraries/ library services had a wide selection of books, CDs, booklets and other information formats.
Newspapers as an information format were widely used among the reformed Hindu organisations. Only five organisations received newspapers regularly. Four organisations received regional newspapers, such as the Daily news. One of these four organisations received Indian newspapers, but not regularly. One organisation received only community newspapers, such as Rising sun and Chatsworth tabloid, which was then redistributed in the local housing project.
Another popular format was the brochure which was a part of 17 collections. A brochure may be seen to be "a small booklet containing promotional material or product information"
{American heritage dictionary of the English Language, 2006). Many brochures were published by the reformed Hindu organisations concerned, or by other Hindu organisations, both Sanatanist and reformed. Brochures were published on special occasions, to celebrate anniversaries and new buildings for example, The 80" anniversary brochure of the Arya
Pratinidhi Sabha of South Africa and the brochure that was published by the Sarva Dharma Ashram on the opening of the new dining hall.
The books included titles about the lives of saints, great leaders and prominent individuals and like brochures were published locally. An example of this genre is Glory of guru 's grace by Sri Swami Sivananda and published by the Divine Life Society of South Africa.
The magazines that were held in the collections generally dealt with religious, philosophical, spiritual and cultural information. One such magazine was The Hindu, which is published in India. Twelve organisations had access to magazines that were published either here in South Africa or that which came from the international headquarters in India. Most magazines carried a wide range of topics, current news, religious information and other related subjects.
Jyoti, published by the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa is an example of a magazine that carries a wide range of topics which includes articles on prominent Indians from the past, medical achievements of the Indians and other such articles.
Similarly, leaflets which are printed locally were found in the collections of 16 organisations.
A leaflet may be seen to be "a small flat or folded sheet of printed matter, as an advertisement or notice, usually intended for free distribution" (Random House unabridged dictionary, 2006). The information in the leaflets often informed devotees of the religious significance of special religious days, special prayers that were held, and of special functions that were organised by the organisations. Examples of such leaflets are: The power of prayer published by the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, and the Daily family prayer published by the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of South Africa.
Photographs were popular with eighteen organisations. Special events, religious observances, and guests delivering key note addresses had been photographed and kept by the organisations.
Other local or Southern African publications such as special editions of books have been published by reformed Hindu organisations. The publication of special editions marked milestones of the organisation, either locally or internationally. Hinduism: towards a better understanding published by the Swaminarayan Temple of Gaborone, Botswana is a good
example of a special edition that is a part of the collection of the Swaminaraya Temple in Durban.
Museums and archives
Whilst printed formats are important in the provision of religious and cultural information, there are other ways of providing information like the establishing of museums for Hindu religious and cultural objects, art and related items.
Where museums offer three dimensional mediums of information, archives offer information by way of old documentation. Archives were generally lacking among the reformed Hindu organisations surveyed for this research. However, many of the organisations were in the process of collecting old documents, minutes of meetings, brochures, leaflets and other printed matter and video tapes for the purpose of building up an archive. Generally archival material was stored in boxes, files or on shelves and marked with dates, occasions and names of people.
Museums and archives offer an older perspective of the Hindu religion and in a bid to make the religion more accessible to the Hindu community religious classes and study classes were offered by thirteen organisations. These included Bhagavad-Gita classes and special classes at appropriate times of the year on the Ramayan and other religious texts. It was during these periods that intensive provision of religious information took place by way of reading the religious texts and giving oral discussions based on the readings.
Other methods of information dissemination
Such is the demand for special services that reformed Hindu organisations have held special services requested by devotees, most times at the homes of devotees to celebrate special occasions or to remember the dead. Storytelling was undertaken by two organisations, although many more organisations held balvikar/Balvihar (children's) classes on the days when sathsang was held. Nine organisations held youth programmes. During these programmes religious and spiritual information was disseminated to the children. Some organisations even had special programmes for the different age groups. Aside from the weekly children's classes, the youth camps were the only other time that children were offered any kind of religious or cultural information.
Language/s
The provision of religious and cultural information must be in a language that can be accessed by devotees attending the sathsangs of the reformed Hindu organisations. All Indian languages, spoken in the greater Ethekwini area, were used during sathsang. However, the main language spoken throughout the service was English. The reason for this was that not all Indian devotees were familiar with the Indian languages and the congregations consisted of devotees who spoke a variety of languages. Sanskrit was frequently used during the sathsangs of many of the organisations.
The use of English during the sathsang combined with the use of printed English transliterations of bhajans and kirtans sung at the sathsangs implies that many Hindus no longer read, speak and perhaps, understand the Indian vernacular languages. Although songs were written in all Indian languages spoken in the greater Ethekwini area, devotees showed a preference to read the transliterations.
English transliterations of songs and the English language were used by all 19 organisations to provide religious literature to devotees and members. Ten organisations provided religious literature in the Indian languages spoken by South African Indians. Organisations offered religious and organisational information through brochures and leaflets.
Religious scriptures
However, the key method of providing religious and cultural information is through scripture. A total of 21 different scriptures were used by the reformed Hindu organisations.
The Bhagavad-Gita, Ramayan and the Vedas were the most popular choices. Organisations generally chose texts that were relevant to the teachings propagated by a specific organisation. A few organisations used other Hindu religious texts when the need arose. The religious texts that were used were written in English (transliteration), or in an Indian vernacular spoken by local Indians. Most interviewees reiterated that many local Indians preferred to read transliterations of the religious texts.
Understanding the religious scriptures is critical to understanding the religion. It was noted that 15 group leaders read from the scriptures, and 13 of these group leaders gave explanations of the scriptures, mostly in English. Explanations were necessary as many
devotees did not understand Sanskrit, the language used in many of the religious texts.
Although English was the preferred language of use for the provision of explanations, Hindi, Tamil and Gujarati were also used. Telugu was not used by any of the reformed Hindu organisations. The reason for this is that the Telugu community has a strong Sanathanist following and the Andra Maha Sabha (the parent body for all Telugu organisations) has many branches and offers many activities for the Telugu people. This does not mean that there are no Telugu devotees amongst the devotees of the reformed Hindu organisations.
The Hindu religion is followed by people who speak many languages and who have accepted one or more of the numerous religious texts that are available. The rather large number of religious texts and commentaries, as well as the related texts, which were being used, could be seen as a representation of the vast teachings and religious philosophies that Hindus could choose from. It is a known fact that there was no founder of the Hindu religion but the many saints, sages and rishis have made contributions to the Hindu religion.