Birth- Hindu preferences

•Noting the exact time of a child’s birth is very important to Hindus in order to generate an accurate horoscope for the child

•Traditionally, Hindu children are named on the 10th day, although in America, they are named at birth

•Most Hindus do not approve of abortion, but approve and often use birth control

Post-Partum PracticesPost-Partum Practices

Some traditions require the new mother to have a religious bathSome traditions require the new mother to have a religious bath

The new baby may be welcomed with a ceremony where Om may be The new baby may be welcomed with a ceremony where Om may be written with ghee (honey, though often used, is not recommended) written with ghee (honey, though often used, is not recommended)

Law of KarmaLaw of Karma

• Each individual creates her or his own Each individual creates her or his own destiny by thought words or deeds – Law of destiny by thought words or deeds – Law of KarmaKarma

• Illness accident and injury result from the Illness accident and injury result from the karma one creates and are seen as a means karma one creates and are seen as a means of purification.of purification.

Hospital Care

• The Hindu tradition does not approve of mercy killing, assisted suicide or suicide

•Prolonging life artificially is up to the individual; however, letting nature take its course is common in Hindu tradition

• Hindu families are traditionally close-knit and a Hindu patient in a hospital would want his relatives to visit him or her.

Dietary Practices

• While vegetarianism is recommended in Hindu scriptures, Hindus are free to choose their own diet

• Those who eat meat do not eat beef and pork

•Many do not eat meat on certain days of the week

• Indian food is often hot, spicy and fairly salty

• Yogurt and sweets are often eaten with meals

• Indian food often contains ghee (clarified butter)

•Hindu vegetarianism is of the lacto vegetarian

•NOT VEGAN

•When in doubt, serve vegetarian

Type of DressType of Dress

Hindu men & women often prefer to wear modest clothing, as Hindu men & women often prefer to wear modest clothing, as such they may want to wear long hospital gownssuch they may want to wear long hospital gowns

Many women wear bindis (tilak) on their foreheadsMany women wear bindis (tilak) on their foreheads

Married women wear necklaces that should not be removed Married women wear necklaces that should not be removed unnecessarily unnecessarily

Men often wear a sacred thread that should not be removed if Men often wear a sacred thread that should not be removed if possible possible

Personal HygienePersonal Hygiene

Will wish to shower every day Will wish to shower every day

Will want to wash hands before and after every meal and to rinse Will want to wash hands before and after every meal and to rinse mouth after eatingmouth after eating

Right hand used for clean tasks, left hand for unclean tasks Right hand used for clean tasks, left hand for unclean tasks

Daily PrayersDaily Prayers

Hindus often pray at sunrise and sunset (recite a mantra) Hindus often pray at sunrise and sunset (recite a mantra)

Prayers should not be disturbed by staff. Prayers should not be disturbed by staff.

They usually have religious icons or food (prasad) at their They usually have religious icons or food (prasad) at their bedsidebedside

MedicationsMedications

Patients may want to use Ayurvedic or other homeopathic Patients may want to use Ayurvedic or other homeopathic treatments treatments

May avoid animal products May avoid animal products

Hospital visits•If the patient is older than the visiting relative, the visitor would be expected to stand unless invited to sit by the patient since respect for elders is engraved in Hindu culture

•Hindu patients may want to have a image of a Deity or a religious object in their room; they may also want to recite a prayer

•One of the family members is likely to request permission to stay with the patient all the time.

At the end of life… • A Hindu would prefer to die at home

• If the patient has to die in the hospital, the patient may wish to be alone with relatives or a priest or Guru

• When death is imminent close relatives would give Ganga jal (holy water from the river Ganga).

• Both cremation and burial are common depending on local custom

• Mourning for the dead is natural, but public display of grief is not the norm

After the deathAfter the deathDo not remove scared items from the bodyDo not remove scared items from the body

Do not cut nails or hair without consent Do not cut nails or hair without consent

Cleansing the body is done by close relatives and should not be done Cleansing the body is done by close relatives and should not be done by hospital staff by hospital staff

If autopsy is performed, family may request all organs to be returned to If autopsy is performed, family may request all organs to be returned to the body for cremation the body for cremation

There is generally no religious objection to organ donations There is generally no religious objection to organ donations

If body is left in the room overnight, a light or candle should be lit in the If body is left in the room overnight, a light or candle should be lit in the room. room.

““Those who have faith in God should Those who have faith in God should welcome death as a deliverance. It is a welcome death as a deliverance. It is a change as certain as youth and old age change as certain as youth and old age and no more to be deplored than the and no more to be deplored than the latter.”latter.”

Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi