Abstract
Hinduism is regarded as a religion and a way of life. Not conforming to praying and following teachings of one God or adherence to a particular doctrine, Hinduism portrays multiple facets of traditions, beliefs and practices, a large and rich culture enveloping a Hindu follower’s life from before birth to after death. In this paper, I intend to explore the complexities of Hinduism as a religion and philosophical conceptions in the context of fertility and abortion. The multiplicities of beliefs, traditions and moral values within Hindu culture pose a difficult challenge and yet an invaluable opportunity to explore conceptions and meanings of birth, life and death.
Traditionally, the Hindu religious moral guidance regards foeticide done forcefully, especially female foeticide, as a sin, however subjected to condition. Hinduism as a religion does not interfere with progression in science and technology if used for larger public good. The questions on beginning of life remain debated among the religious scholars given that human life is regarded as part of eternal life cycle of the universe. This paper aims to encapsulate and disentangle some of these beliefs and practices, use and effect of these beliefs in the contemporary society and culture and law in fertility decision-making.
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Bhardwaj, M. (2021). The Ambivalence and Complexities in Hinduism in Portrayal of Abortion and Fertility. In: Bagheri, A. (eds) Abortion. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63023-2_17
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