Sitting Shiva Essays - 1311 Words

Sitting Shiva When a loved one dies, it is common for the mourners to immerse themselves in their particular religious traditions. From Buddhism to Christianity to Hinduism, dealing with death and the existence or nonexistence of an afterlife is a fundamental issue that ties people to their faiths. Often the rituals and traditions surrounding death offer insight into other parts of the religion. Blu Greenberg writes in How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household, No matter what, each one of us will die, and just as there is a way to live as a Jew, there is a way to die and be buried as a Jew. (287) The custom of sitting Shiva is one part of dying and being buried as a Jew. Judaism considers two basic principles when the laws†¦show more content†¦After the funeral service, it is customary for friends of the mourners to prepare the seudat havraah, the meal that begins the process of healing and repair (Greenberg 293). This meal usually consists of bread, hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas and bagels (Robinson 190). The hard-boiled egg symbolizes fertility and reminds the mourners that death is a continuation of the natural cycle (Robinson 190). The other foods are also circular, showing the cycle of life and death (Robinson 190). The seudat havraah begins the formal mourning process, called Shiva, which takes its name from the Hebrew word for the length it lasts, seven days (Robinson 190). As with most Jewish customs, sitting Shiva has its roots in the Hebrew Scriptures. Establishing the first seven days as the most intense stage of mourning is based on an interpretation of a verse in Amos (8:10): And I will turn your feasts [which usually lasted seven days] into mourning, and all your songs into lamentations; and I will bring sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son; and the end thereof is a bitter day. (Kolatch 63) Since feasts were celebrated for seven days, this scripture passage suggests that Shiva must last seven days as well (Kolatch 63). Jews also sight Genesis 50:10 which tells of Joseph mourning for his father, Jacob, for seven days (Kolatch 63). Jews follow very specificShow MoreRelatedHumanities Event: Kinetic Art movement Essay525 Words   |  3 Pagesutensils, tiffin and several other pieces and joined it all together creating a huge semi-circle shaped art. Also in the area I saw several sculptures of God, Goddess, Jewelry and Wedding Jewelry. To mention a few were the sculptures of the Buddha, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Sarasvati and Siddhi. Finally, I made my way on the second floor where the museum displayed arts and sculptures for Africa. I did not spend much time reading history, rather I slowly walked across the display. I saw linguist staffsRead MoreComparing the Iconography and Mythology of Two Major Hindu Deities1589 Words   |  7 Pagescreated the universe, Vishnu maintained it and Shiva destroyed it. These three gods comprise the Hindu trinity (the trimurti) and are considered to be the leading gods of the religion, especially Brahma, who is the oldest of all the gods. This point is questionable though as the Visnu Purana talks of Brahma emerging from Vishnus navel to maintain the world after Vishnu has created it and then he returns to the navel after Shiva has destroyed it. If this is the case then VishnusRead MoreKumar Sambhav2921 Words   |  12 PagesShivas son, however, Shiva had won over Kama-deva (the god of love). Parvati performed great tapasya (or spiritual penance) to win the love of Lord Shiva. Consequently, Shiva and Parvatis son Kartikeya is born and kills Tarakasur to restore the glory of Indra, the king of Gods. BRIEF SUMMURY One of Kalidasas greatest works is Kumarasambhava. 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This is often used as an oppo rtunity to allow the family to draw closer together and set any differencesRead MoreReflection Of Hinduism991 Words   |  4 Pagesgoddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even million, all representing the many aspects of Brahman. Therefore, this faith is characterized by the multiplicity of deities. The most fundamental of Hindu deities is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. I personally know that Hindus worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets. I have been to Hindu temples before and, I have been to the Hindu temple we went last week before. From my experienceRead MoreMovie Analysis: The Attic by Satyajit Ray1128 Words   |  5 Pagesnankhatai biscuits , sitting on tin chairs at Nagen’s tea stall, next to a grocery shop and opposite to a temple of Lord Shiva. Nagen babu was in mid-sixties with a typical Bengal- village look. Clean-shaven and neatly combed white hair, he was wearing a dhoti, and a blue-stripped shirt , peeping through his green shawl. They met a stranger there, referred to as Mr. Sanyal by Nagen babu. He was a peculiar man. He was neither eating, nor drinking tea, instead was sitting with head bent over theRead MoreMovie Analysis: The Attic by Satyajit Ray1113 Words   |  5 Pagestwo nankhatai biscuits , sitting on tin chairs at Nagen’s tea stall, next to a grocery shop and opposite to a temple of Lord Shiva. Nagen babu was in mid-sixties with a typical Bengal- village look. Clean-shaven and neatly combed white hair, he was wearing a dhoti, and a blue-stripped shirt , peeping through his green shawl. They met a stranger there, referred to as Mr. Sanyal by Nagen babu. He was a peculiar man. He was neither eating, nor drinking tea, instead was sitting with head bent over theRead MoreThe Ultimate Goal of Hinduism Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pagessame as Brahman, the supreme being and reality. This is learned through the cycles of life, death, and reincarnation (Berkely Center for Peace, Religion, and World Affairs, n.d.). Hinduism has 4 main gods, called deities that are worshipped: Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, and Lakshmi. Brahma is part of the trimurti, or group of three gods responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the earth. Brahma is said to have created the world and all the creatures found within it. Out of the four gods listed