1. 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 10 th day, although in America, they are named at birth Most Hindus do not approve of abortion, but approve and often use birth control

2. Post-Partum Practices Some traditions require the new mother to have a religious bath The new baby may be welcomed with a ceremony where Om may be written with ghee (honey, though often used, is not recommended)

3. Law of Karma Each individual creates her or his own destiny by thought words or deeds – Law of Karma Each individual creates her or his own destiny by thought words or deeds – Law of Karma Illness accident and injury result from the karma one creates and are seen as a means of purification. Illness accident and injury result from the karma one creates and are seen as a means of purification.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. Type of Dress Hindu men & women often prefer to wear modest clothing, as such they may want to wear long hospital gowns Many women wear bindis (tilak) on their foreheads Married women wear necklaces that should not be removed unnecessarily Men often wear a sacred thread that should not be removed if possible

7. Personal Hygiene Will wish to shower every day Will want to wash hands before and after every meal and to rinse mouth after eating Right hand used for clean tasks, left hand for unclean tasks

8. Daily Prayers Hindus often pray at sunrise and sunset (recite a mantra) Prayers should not be disturbed by staff. They usually have religious icons or food (prasad) at their bedside

9. Medications Patients may want to use Ayurvedic or other homeopathic treatments May avoid animal products

10. 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.

11. 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

12. After the death Do not remove scared items from the body Do not cut nails or hair without consent Cleansing the body is done by close relatives and should not be done by hospital staff If autopsy is performed, family may request all organs to be returned to the body for cremation 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 room.

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