--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you really try to know the Hindus you…" description: "\"“If you really try to know the Hindus you will observe that all castes have several very formal ceremonies. Three are most important. Twelve days after..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sam-wellman-14670_hinduism_if-you-really-try-to-know-the-hindus-you_915779.jpg" --- # If you really try to know the Hindus you will observe that… ![“If you really try to know the Hindus you will observe that all castes have several very formal ceremonies. Three are most important. Twelve days after birth the baby is placed in a swinging cot above twelve candles and the priest announces his name. The second ceremony is marriage, which has…” quote by Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sam-wellman-14670_hinduism_if-you-really-try-to-know-the-hindus-you_915779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sam-wellman-14670_hinduism_if-you-really-try-to-know-the-hindus-you_915779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sam-wellman-14670_hinduism_if-you-really-try-to-know-the-hindus-you_915779.jpg) > ““If you really try to know the Hindus you will observe that all castes have several very formal ceremonies. Three are most important. Twelve days after birth the baby is placed in a swinging cot above twelve candles and the priest announces his name. The second ceremony is marriage, which has usually been arranged by the parents. However if a man becomes wealthy he may add wives of his own choice, and as many as he can afford! The last ceremony is for the death. The Hindus believe the soul, trapped in the skull, can only be released by sacred fire. So they burn the dead. They make sure the skull is burned up or is broken open. Three days later they scatter the ashes into a river...” “Why”” [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote outlines three major Hindu ceremonies—birth naming, marriage, and death cremation—highlighting their formal nature and social implications. **In simple terms:** Hindu life marked by three key rites. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural rituals’ roles. Themes rituals social structure death rites Mood respectful analytical Type cultural anthropological When to use this quote - family ceremonies - anthropological study - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts caste system arranged marriage cremation Questions to Reflect On - How do these ceremonies shape identity? - What variations exist across regions? A Different Perspective These rites may vary regionally and personally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ceremony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremony/) [Hinduism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hinduism/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) ## Related quotes > [Ceremonies are important. But our gratitude has to be more than visits to the troops, and once-a-year Memorial Day ceremonies. We honor the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-granholm/ceremonies-are-important-but-our-gratitude-has-to-be-more-than-visits/) [Jennifer Granholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-granholm/) > [When I breath no more I don't want an elaborated ceremony for my death. I just want my families and the poor to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/when-i-breath-no-more-i-don-t-want-an-elaborated-ceremony-for-my/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [“Clan custom and law held that it was the public declaration of intent and then living together that made a handfasting; the ceremonies simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/clan-custom-and-law-held-that-it-was-the-public-declaration-of-intent/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“The Hindus believe that in the beginning was sound, a pure vibrational ohm, and as I surf these wave emanations I feel like I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rak-razam/the-hindus-believe-that-in-the-beginning-was-sound-a-pure-vibrational/) [Rak Razam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rak-razam/) > [I find the whole ceremony of marriage a bit like going to work. Putting on a lovely dress and make-up, learning lines, someone doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/i-find-the-whole-ceremony-of-marriage-a-bit-like-going-to-work/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [Hindus believe Buddha to be an Avatara.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/hindus-believe-buddha-to-be-an-avatara/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Hindus believe in God positively. Buddhism does not try to know whether He is or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/hindus-believe-in-god-positively-buddhism-does-not-try-to-know/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The conduct of a new sedoretu is to some extent, and wisely, prescribed by custom and sanctioned by religion. The first night after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/the-conduct-of-a-new-sedoretu-is-to-some-extent-and-wisely-prescribed/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I am unable to distinguish clearly between your religious ceremonies and apparently identical behavior at the sporting and cultural functions you have transmitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-am-unable-to-distinguish-clearly-between-your-religious-ceremonies/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [The cocktail party - as the name itself indicates - was originally invented by dogs. They are simply bottom-sniffings raised to the rank of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/the-cocktail-party-as-the-name-itself-indicates-was-originally/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [It is merely the egoism of the man, who wants to bury a woman like a treasure. All attempts at using vows, contracts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/it-is-merely-the-egoism-of-the-man-who-wants-to-bury-a-woman-like-a/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## More by Sam Wellman > [“The energetic Thomas soon had William and Ram Ram Basu with him as he began itinerant preaching. They traveled by boat and by foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/the-energetic-thomas-soon-had-william-and-ram-ram-basu-with-him-as-he/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“William and Dolly had still not come to terms with infant baptism. So baby Ann remained unbaptized. It was clear William was leaning toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/william-and-dolly-had-still-not-come-to-terms-with-infant-baptism-so/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“To his amazement Doctor Thomas advanced into the midst of the market and began to preach. People gathered to listen. That was a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/to-his-amazement-doctor-thomas-advanced-into-the-midst-of-the-market/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“In Towcester he listened to Thomas Skinner. Skinner was a Dissenter called a Baptist. One of the ways Baptists differed from other denominations was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/in-towcester-he-listened-to-thomas-skinner-skinner-was-a-dissenter/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“That October twelve of the ministers finally committed their congregations to the society they defined in a resolution: Humbly desirous of making an effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/that-october-twelve-of-the-ministers-finally-committed-their/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“The ‘pamphlet’ urged by Thomas Potts he now titled An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/the-pamphlet-urged-by-thomas-potts-he-now-titled-an-enquiry-into-the/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“And praise God, William recovered his health again, if not his hair. He began tutoring students in his shop in the evenings to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/and-praise-god-william-recovered-his-health-again-if-not-his-hair-he/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“By the beginning of May he was so disturbed by Dolly’s constant unhappiness, often goaded into great outbursts of complaining by unthinking Kitty, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/by-the-beginning-of-may-he-was-so-disturbed-by-dolly-s-constant/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“As he learned more from his father in school he was led to reading every book he could find as long as it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/as-he-learned-more-from-his-father-in-school-he-was-led-to-reading/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“His conclusions were staggering to those complacent souls who considered themselves safely ensconced in a Christian world: The inhabitants of the world, according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/his-conclusions-were-staggering-to-those-complacent-souls-who/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“So Newton introduced the two travelers to William Wilberforce., About the same age as William, Wilberforce was said to be a force in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/so-newton-introduced-the-two-travelers-to-william-wilberforce-about/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“In October of 1774 he sneaked away from Paulerspury with one of his old friends to hear John Wesley preach. Willy had heard about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/in-october-of-1774-he-sneaked-away-from-paulerspury-with-one-of-his/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“Only when Clark Nichols was not in the shop did the boys argue religion. Or at night up in the attic where they bunked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/only-when-clark-nichols-was-not-in-the-shop-did-the-boys-argue/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“Later that year he was invited to the Northampton Association of pastors. At the first meeting the elder Ryland suggested William Carey propose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/later-that-year-he-was-invited-to-the-northampton-association-of/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [“Finally, William would wait no longer. He was baptized on October 5 in the Nene River at Northampton by John Ryland. Ryland and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/finally-william-would-wait-no-longer-he-was-baptized-on-october-5-in/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) [Explore all 45 Sam Wellman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) ## More Ceremony quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [It is merely the egoism of the man, who wants to bury a woman like a treasure. All attempts at using vows, contracts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/it-is-merely-the-egoism-of-the-man-who-wants-to-bury-a-woman-like-a/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [The cocktail party - as the name itself indicates - was originally invented by dogs. They are simply bottom-sniffings raised to the rank of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/the-cocktail-party-as-the-name-itself-indicates-was-originally/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [I am unable to distinguish clearly between your religious ceremonies and apparently identical behavior at the sporting and cultural functions you have transmitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-am-unable-to-distinguish-clearly-between-your-religious-ceremonies/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Singing at the Opening Ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics in 2000 was amazing and, probably the highlight of this decade is the opening of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/singing-at-the-opening-ceremonies-of-the-sydney-olympics-in-2000-was/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Nostalgia is also a trait of the organizations that I call lodges - everything from corporate cultures to religious sects. Their bonding power often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-james/nostalgia-is-also-a-trait-of-the-organizations-that-i-call-lodges/) [Jennifer James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-james/) > [Over the weekend, former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Rebecca Carter married each other during a huge ceremony in Houston. The happy couple is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/over-the-weekend-former-enron-executives-jeffrey-skilling-and-rebecca/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“Japanese tea ceremony,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-berk/japanese-tea-ceremony/) Sheryl Berk > [Truth and ceremony are two things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/truth-and-ceremony-are-two-things/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The trappings of a religious cult tend to fall into candlelit ceremonies and robes and group chanting and singing and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-trappings-of-a-religious-cult-tend-to-fall-into-candlelit/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [No known human group... simply throw out its dead without any ritual or ceremony. In stark contrast, no animal practices burial of dead individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodosius-dobzhansky/no-known-human-group-simply-throw-out-its-dead-without-any-ritual-or/) [Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodosius-dobzhansky/) [Browse all 534 Ceremony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you really try to know the Hindus you will observe that all castes have several very formal ceremonies. Three are most important. Twelve days after birth the baby is placed in a swinging cot above twelve candles and the priest announces his name. The second ceremony is marriage, which has usually been arranged by the parents. However if a man becomes wealthy he may add wives of his own choice, and as many as he can afford! The last ceremony is for the death. The Hindus believe the soul, trapped in the skull, can only be released by sacred fire. 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