Hinduism vs Zulu: Hindu - Zulu Tradition - Many Similarities

By Edward Malinga

Hindu-Zulu Tradition: Many Similarities

In the past centuries, colonialism threatened local traditions and cultures. There is a similar situation today with increasing globalisation. The trend is towards homogeneity.

So, in a shrinking world, keeping alive ancient traditions and cultures is a daunting task - and this effort is necessary to enable future generations to benefit from the rich, indigenous wisdom of our past.

In birds, only three are active, whereas insects have only agni or fire and vayu or air, while the vegetable kingdom has only jal or water. Human beings and their spiritual dimension points to the probability that we are made in the image of the universal spirit or Creator.

Each of the five elements has signified something in the performance of our cultures and customs. Be it in the performance of rites, rituals, sacraments or sanskaras, one or more of the five elements are used. For whether you are using wood or fire, water or oil, the elements are ever present.

There are some striking similarities between the African and Indian cultures. Hinduism has 16 sanskaras , which guide the human being or soul from conception to birth and from birth to death.

In the journey of life the sanskaras or sacraments could be regarded as signboards indicating the direction that must be taken at each stage. In Sanskrit, sanskara means purifying or refining.

Every person wishes to see his or her child grow up to be a person who is cultured and of good character - free from the five passions of lust, anger, greed, over-attachment to material things, and vanity or egoism.

In the Zulu tradition, each sacrament is referred to as usiko and they vary from family to family. When the child reaches a certain stage in life, an usiko for that stage has to be performed. These rites play a crucial role in the health and wealth of a Zulu family.

In both Hindu and Zulu cultures religion and culture have become inseparable. You cannot talk of culture without implying religion; and you can't talk of religion amongst the Zulus and the Hindus without implying culture.

It is said that the Hindu scriptures, particularly the Vedas, have a holistic approach to life. Ayurvedic healing is an art of alternative medicine that was first documented in the Vedas. In the African community, traditional herbal medicine is similar to ayurveda and unlike allopathy - only homoeopathy is in the same league.

The Hindu reverence for the cow has a striking parallel in Zulu culture. Renowned Zulu poet and writer, the late Dr Wallet B Vilakazi, in his work Noma Nini describes a traditional Zulu wedding. While writing at length about this wedding, he remarks: "There is a mysterious spiritual link between the African and the cow. African generations to come will have to do some research on this."

There are numerous similarities between Hindu and Zulu traditions but I am sure some of them are embodied in most cultures of the world. We are all children of the same earth.

This reminds me of the Sivahili saying which was frequently quoted by the first Tanzanian president, the late Guru or Mualimu Julius Nyerere: Bindamu wote ni ndugu zangu na Africa ni moja - "I believe in the brotherhood of man and in the unity of Africa." The Vedas say: Vasudhaiva kutumbakam - "the world is one family." In Zulu, this spirit of unity of mankind is called Ubuntu.

Dr Shishupal Rambharos and the Arya Samaj movement of South Africa have become the embodiment of this spirit of Ubuntu, towering like Mount Kilimanjaro in the field of social welfare and in the implementation of Vedic values and traditions.

Our bodies are made of the same five elements of water, earth, fire, air and ether. Rishis tell us that all these elements are active in human beings, while only four elements are active in animals.