Analysis Of Van Gogh s Starry Night - 1202 Words

Van Gogh painted this piece in 1889 while he was in Saint Rà ©my seeking treatment in a mental asylum. Interestingly enough, he painted this piece from his memory and it was supposed to have been based on a constellation arrangement he had seen earlier on in the night sky of Provence. Starry Night is perhaps one of his most famous and yet most elusive works. The first thing that I noticed was the overwhelming night sky, which takes up most of the background. Its swirling, flowing lines appear to be swishing across the background in this gentle, wavy motion and seem to be merging at the centre to form this spiral-like formation. Eleven fiery yellow stars that look like huge fireballs illuminate this whole piece and contrast with the cool blue, fluid night sky that takes on an amazing variety of shades of blue and grey. There is also the crescent moon at the top right hand corner that radiates a more orange, brighter light from the rest of the stars. The view of the night sky and village is partially blocked by this huge cypress bush in the foreground. It has this writhing quality to it and its black green colouring stands out to the rest of the relatively pastel piece. The houses are tiny and inconspicuously painted in the bottom right corner of the painting and blend in quite well with the forest and mountains. The architecture of the vi llage is quaint and simple and no light illuminates the village, giving the impression that everyone there is probably asleep. In general,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Van Gogh s Starry Night Sky1210 Words   |  5 PagesOne of Vincent Van Gogh’s most world renowned paintings is his landscape oil painting Starry Night. The painting displays a small town underneath an unusual yet still extremely beautiful night sky. In this night sky, Van Gogh utilizes an array of colors that blend well together in order to enhance the sky as a whole. The town is clearly a small one due to the amount of buildings that are present in the painting itself. In this small town most of the buildings have lights on which symbolize life inRead MoreAnalysis Of Vincent Van Gogh s The Starry Night Painting1180 Words   |  5 Pagesbuilding, or a piece of furniture. Do the five canons of rhetoric—invention, organization, style, memory, and delivery—apply? If they do, explain how you see th em manifest in the artifact. - The Starry Night painting by Vincent van Gogh utilizes the five canons of rhetoric in this artifact because van Gogh used the invention of his paintings by suffrage he was facing from mental illness, and he used his paintings as a way to release his pain. The organization of his painting is chaotic and very vibrantRead MoreVisual And Contextual Analysis Of Vincent Van Gogh s The Starry Night961 Words   |  4 PagesA Formal Visual and Contextual Analysis of Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night When I first saw Vincent van Gogh’s painting of The Starry Night, I was immediately drawn to the peaceful luminescent stars emanating outward like vibrant yellow halos into the captivating striking blue sky. I felt a sense of calm and tranquility as the bright orange moon shone intently over the serene village below. The sprawling mountain range, grassy hills and fields of wheat intensified this feeling as a soft windRead MoreAnalysis Of Van Gogh s Agony By Lauren Soth And Under The Starry Night By Denis J. Billy Essay2419 Words   |  10 Pagesmysterious and thought-provoking images to date was painted in 1889 from a mental health institution in St. Remy, France by non-other than Vincent Van Gogh. The opulence of blues and yellows has the ability bring a viewer to its knees, mostly in a subconscious manner that evokes a kind of spiritual quest, perhaps one that Van Gogh was on himself. The Starry Night is still heavily contemplated and its meaning is still relatively unkn own and quite debated, as is the man himself. In an effort to gain anRead MoreVincent Van Gogh Sensitivity1558 Words   |  7 PagesVincent Van Gogh is now one of the most famous and influential artists of all time; however, he spent hard times as a poor and obscure artist during his lifetime. The fact that Vincent Van Gogh sold only one painting during his brief life supports the fact that he struggled in obscurity and with his identity for a long time. Most of all, there is a significant fact that Vincent Van Gogh was prone to reflecting his sensitivity in his works, and to painting places that had personal meaning. His landmarkRead Moreâ€Å"Starry Night† Is One Of The Most Popular Canvasesin Modern-Day1385 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Starry Night† is one of the most popular canvasesin modern-day philosophy along with being one of the most simulated and pursued after images. This painting was done by Vincent van Gogh when he was at an asylum in Saint-Remy in 1889.It is said that this painting is a view out of Van Gogh’s asylum window. The painting shows swirling clouds in a starry night and a bright crescent moon, overlooking perhaps a village. This shows a contrast between the bright night sky and the silence of the villageRead MoreExpressionism Of Vincent Van Goghs The Starrry Night1505 Words   |  7 Pages‘ The Starry Night ’ by painter, and well renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh, remains engrained in the minds of many, as an expression of his tempestuous state of mind. Painted in June of 1899, the painting represe nts the symbolic, and highly personal meanings that proved to be particularly important to Post-Impressionist artists. This deeply distinctive, emotionally evocative style has continued to influence artists residing within twentieth century and up to the present day, promising Van GoghsRead MoreCritical Analysis: Starry Night over the Rhone Essay813 Words   |  4 PagesNorris Freeman Art Appreciation Professor Gadson 20 February 2013 Critical Analysis: Starry Night Over the Rhone Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch artist from the mid 1800’s who was considered to have created approximately 2000 artworks. Growing up, he was classified to be highly emotional and having low self-esteem. Within those depressed emotions, it helped him pioneer the path of expressionism in his art pieces. But as he got more into him artwork he came more mature with his artwork and causedRead MoreVan Gogh Essay1536 Words   |  7 PagesVan Gogh Essay In this essay I am going to discuss Vincent Van Gogh and post-Impressionism. Vincent Willem van Gogh (March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter whose work, notable for its rough beauty, emotional honesty and bold color, had a far-reaching influence on 20th-century art. After years of painful anxiety and frequent bouts of mental illness, he died aged 37 from a gunshot wound, generally accepted to be self-inflicted (although no gun was ever found). His work wasRead MoreVincent Willem Van Gogh And His Life2164 Words   |  9 PagesVincent Willem van Gogh (Dutch, 1853 – 1890) born in Holland, had a unique method of expressing himself on canvas. He was a post impressionist painter whose paintings portrayed emotionally evocative style through the use of bold colors and later swirling brush strokes. Throughout his life van Gogh worked on his art while battling mental instability which lead to his death in 1890 as a result of a fatal, possibly self infl icted gun shot. His most famous and respected paintings were completed in the

Maya Angelou Hope into Art Essay - 1343 Words

Maya Angelou: Hope into Art Before delving into a discussion of celebrated writer Maya Angelou, a fuller understanding of the worldview that shapes her work can be gleaned from a brief review of a few lines from the 1962 Nobel Prize winning speech of another celebrated writer, John Steinbeck: The writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate mans proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit--for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not passionately believe in the perfectability of man has no dedication nor any membership in literature. (Steinbeck 1)†¦show more content†¦Despite the negative events in her life, Angelous works are filled with hope, love and survival. As Angelou says of her life adventures that turn hope into art, There are no natural writers, but there are natural rememberers (Weaver G-10). Angelous last installment in her autobiography series is titled with the first line from her first installment, A song flung up to heaven. By an examination of interviews with Angelou and commentary from critical interpretations, I think I now know the answer of why the caged bird sings. The cage bird sings because of the hope and optimism in its heart that enables it to sing no matter its dour, trapped circumstances. In similar ways, Angelou often used such hope and optimism to survive terrible life experiences, like living through the Watts Riots in Los Angeles and their aftermath. Over the years Angelou had to make tough choices for a female, especially an African-American woman in a racist society. Nevertheless, she exhibited hope, optimism and courage that enabled her to walk the road seldom taken. In one interview Angelou comments about her character in Caged Bird, Annie Johnson, each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the roads which lie ahead, and thos e over which we have traveled, and if the future road looms ominous or uninviting...step off that road into another direction (KizisShow MoreRelatedEssay On Maya Angelou1280 Words   |  6 PagesMaya Angelou, named at birth, Marguerite Johnson was on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her and her family moved from St. Louis to Stamps, Arkansas, where she was raised growing up. Maya Angelou was an American author, dancer, screenwriter, actress, poet and civil rights activist. Angelou gained a majority of her fame with the memoir she wrote in 1969, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This memoir made literary history as being the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American womanRead MoreLiterary And Non Literary Works1721 Words   |  7 PagesTruth By: Maya Angelou Music Keep Holding On By: Avril Lavigne, 2007 Film Patch Adams, 1998 The Brave and Startling Truth This poem was written by Maya Angelou in 1995 Summary In this poem that paints a picture of how it can be when the fight is over. When we lower our weapons and stop reaching for them and look at the outcome of the fight. This poem is telling us to stop looking at war but to look at the peace that we can have and brings us hope. Maya Angelou Maya Angelou wrote bookRead MoreStill I Rise1036 Words   |  5 PagesStill I rise Favorite Poem Essay Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise is an astonishing piece of art. The reason I chose this poem is because it’s not only a poem, it’s a story. The poem is about Maya Angelou’s beliefs being a women of color about discrimination. It’s not just her personal story but a universal experience for those with an African American background. Throughout the poem, Maya Angelou uses many poetic devices to give us more in-depth meaning behind what is in the poem. These poeticRead MoreAnalysis Of Angelou s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings984 Words   |  4 Pagesgreat female poets: Maya Angelou and Emily Dickinson. Even thought both of these women we’re outstanding poets, they had quite different styles of writing due to the difference in time periods, experiences, and culture. As time goes by, society is influenced in different ways due to human evolution. This was true for both Maya Angelou and Emily Dickinson. Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928. This means she was born right in the middle of segregation. This influenced Angelou because she was an AfricanRead MoreMaya Angelou Research Paper1336 Words   |  6 PagesMaya Angelou is a phenomenal woman. She rises through all things that come her way and she refuses to back down. Angelou chose at a very young age to be a writer and a role model for many people. She believes that everyone should be treated equally and that the world should come together as a unity. Angelou had many careers but is known mostly for her poetic creations. She has come a long way from where she started and I think anyone can agree with me when I say, she has made us all proud with herRead MoreOn the Pulse of Morning, by Maya Angelou Essay787 Words   |  4 Pages1997). That very brilliant quote relates to a very strong woman by the name of Maya Angelou. Angelou is â€Å"America’s most visible black female autobiographer and speakers† (scholar Joanne M. Braxton). She is known for her speeches, poems, and books, but what stood out to me the most was her 1993 inauguration speech when Bill Clinton was sworn into the White House. Ironically, in her poem â€Å"On the Pulse of Morning† Maya Angelou uses clear rhetoric, prehistoric metaphoric images, and inspirational conceptsRead MoreEssay about Poetry: Emotions in Words 1027 Words   |  5 PagesPoetry is an art form of expression and emotions through words. It encompasses the writer’s mood and point of view about a certain idea. Two poems that demonstrate the use of emotions in words are â€Å"Phenomenal Woman† by Maya Angelou, and â€Å"A Dream within a Dream†, by Edgar Allan Poe. Both of these poets are very important in the literary field even though their ways of writing contrast each other. Angelou is a revolutio nist who is known around the world for her astounding stories of racism, familyRead MoreAn Analysis Of Maya Angelou And Alice Walker927 Words   |  4 PagesMaya Angelou and Alice Walker are two well-known contemporary African- American writers. Although both women are from different generations they share some of the same qualities and experiences. Both women used their past experiences of tragedy and hardship as a stepping stool for growth by turning that pain into what now are famous stories and poems. For most writers, majority of their work stem from their own experiences, and for both Alice and Maya a great deal of their works regarded the dilemmasRead MoreMaya Angelou : An Influential Voices Of Modern Society Essay1386 Words   |  6 PagesMaya Angelou, born Marguerite Ann Johnson on the 4th of April 1928, was born in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up in Stamps, Arkansas. Maya Angelou is regarded as one of the most noteworthy, influential voices of modern society with over 50 doctorate degrees. She became a distinguished poet, educator, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, memoirist, and civil rights activist throughout her life. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, Stamps, Arkansas was the embodiment of brutality and racial discriminationRead More Maya Angelou as a Caged Bird Essay1153 Words   |  5 PagesMaya Angelou as a Caged Bird    The graduation scene from I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings illustrates how, living in the midst of racism and unequal access to opportunity, Maya Angelou was able to surmount the obstacles that stood in her way of intellectual develop and find higher ground.   One of the largest factors responsible for Angelous academic success was her dedication to and capacity for hard work, My work alone has awarded me a top place...No absences, no tardinesses, and my academic

Celebrity Privacy free essay sample

How do you feel about celebrities and their privacy? Can you imagine being watched by reporters everyday of your life? Once celebrities reach a certain level of fame, their private lives become the topic of discussion among their fans and foes. Privacy is not guaranteed among famous people due to them constantly being stalked by the paparazzi and their fans. I feel reporters and the paparazzi should respect celebrities right to privacy because at the end of the day they are normal people who are just known by the world that come with the fame and fortune. Celebrities are always being watched because of their fame and fortune. Everything they do from what they eat, what they wear, even their exercise routine is criticized by reporters and foes. According to the Huffington Post, their are two types of reporters. There are red carpet event reporters who are invited to the event and allowed to photograph the celebrities. We will write a custom essay sample on Celebrity Privacy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Then you have the paparazzi, which are the reporters who stalk celebrities and photograph them without their consent. Britney Spears is a good example of why reporters need to back off of celebrities. Back in 2009, she attacked a reporter’s car with a umbrella. At the time of the incident, Britney was in the middle of going to rehab to get her life together. This reporter was very lucky because Britney could have hit him with umbrella instead of his car. Sometimes reporters go too far, when in contact with celebrities. A more recent incident is with Kanye West. Kanye West attacked the same reporter who was in a similar accident with Britney Spears. West was walking through the airport minding his own business, until these one reporter constantly asks him questions. There is a video of the incident, where you can hear the reporter asking Kanye questions. He didn’t respond to the reporter tactics until the end when he pushed he that the reporter was just trying to get a law suit then he pushed the camera and the fight began. As a writer, I can understand what reporters go through when they want to deliver a great story or article. Some reporters take it to the extremes in order to catch celebrities in compromising positions. For example, New York Daily News reporters have captured celebrities at their worst moments. Fans and viewers want to see their idols and favorite people looking good and doing normal things. Reporters have been known to go to some major extremes to capture photographs. Christina Aguilera was photographed doing a singing engagement while her menstrual cycle was on. She is pictured with blood running down her leg. Even when celebrities think the cameras are not on them, they are. Amanda Bynes was seen to be taking drugs while sitting in her car. Can you imagine how much criticism and disrespect she may have endured from people seeing that photo? Reporters catch celebrities some of the simplest things such as getting a wedgie out, picking their nose or even a wardrobe malfunction. Adam Sandler was captured getting boogers out of his nose while Zac Efron was photographed with his hand down his pants. In my opinion, reporters make a big deal about the smallest things when a celebrity does it due to their status and fame. There are very few magazines out there that actually show and embrace celebrities doing normal things without criticizing them. Glamour Magazine has captured celebrities buying groceries, shopping and having lunch,, normal activities. Celebrities have families and loved ones just like we do. There are times when reporters catch them spending time with their families. I feel there should be a boundary when it comes to celebrities’ family members. Talking about the celebrities its one thing but when reporters start talking about their children, spouse and parents, its gone too far. A perfect example of when reporters should have not been in celebrities â€Å"more† personal lives is when they questioned Beyonce actually being pregnant. There were stories that she had a surrogate mother and faked her pregnancy. I feel the reporters crossed the line when publishing those articles because it hurts when people talk about you, but when they bring in your loved ones, it hurts even more. Reporters should not have the right to write articles about celebrities that focus on their personal lives such as pregnancies, deaths, illnesses, even debt. Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown was a prime example of how reporters should have not be allowed to write and photograph some parts of their lives. For example, they should not have been allowed to write articles about Whitney and Bobby’s frequent drug use. That should have been something that was kept out of the public eye and only to those in their inner circles. There are many new television shows that focus on celebrities and their lives. Some of these reality shows show fans that their favorite people are not always sweet and innocent but can be disrespectful and uncaring. The top reality television shows include Jersey Shore, Love and Hip Hop, Real Housewives of Atlanta and many more. Fans get to see their favorite people in a comfortable environment and interacting with other people. Housewives of Atlanta, is a show based in Atlanta following six woman lives. Kandi Burruss is one of my favorite celebrities on the show. She is a very independent woman who takes care of her family by making her own music and she’s also an entrepreneur. On the show, she has been battling with the media concerning her mother and her fiance relationships. Kandi is one of the few celebrities who strays away from always been in the spotlight. She loves her privacy and doesn’t do anything to cause reporters to want to stalk or plaster her business over magazine covers. Celebrities should be granted privacy because at the end of the day, they are still normal people just like we are. Reporters and paparazzi should respect celebrities wishes when they voice their concern about respecting their families. Photographing and criticizing celebrities is one thing but doing it to their children and families has crossed the line. Celebrities are normal people at the end of the day. Just like normal people they make mistakes that can deter their life for a moment but always learn from it. The paparazzi and celebrities have secrets just like normal people do. According to the AskMen. com, celebrities sometimes release their daily schedule in order for them to be photographed by reporters. Celebrities release their schedules to reporters in order for them to photographed and kept in the public eye. To viewers it seems like they are being stalked by reporters but that is not always the case. For example, Paris Hilton is one of the few celebrities who has given her schedule to reporters because she wanted to be photographed in order to stay in magazines and on viewers minds. Some celebrities have acknowledged the fact that their private lives isnt always a guarantee. It is possible for celebrities to keep their private lives a secret and still remain famous. For example, the singer Adele is a very private person who enjoys the limelight but also loves spending time with her family. She stays hidden from the paparazzi and magazines so well that her son’s name has never been revealed to the public.

Evaluate Company Q’s current attitude free essay sample

With reviewing company Q’s current attitude towards social responsibility, I feel it is very poor requires immediate attention. There a few areas of which the company can work on to be more socially responsible. The company just recently closed down two stores due to high crime rates rather than giving it a chance to succeed and help the community in the time of need. Yes the store may have lost some profits, but using the crime rate as an excuse to close down is not very professional. This shows me that the attitude is all about not losing an extra buck rather than fighting to keep your store open. I also see as poor attitude is not allowing old food to be given to the food bank. Due to â€Å"risk† of possible fraud and theft, they rather dispose of the food than give it up for a good reason. When a company does not have set rules applied for these types of instances, it means that the company is not prepared and well handled from top to bottom. We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluate Company Q’s current attitude or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There will always be theft, it just depends on how the company will contain it. They can create guide lines on both areas, internally and externally for employees and clients to see. The last area I noticed was the high demand of organic products from their clients. For clients to request a product for years and just receive a limited amount, it shows the company is not listening and or taking into account what the client wants. Part B: Recommend 3 actions Company Q can take to improve its attitude to social responsibility. 1. Provide more ethical training to its employees, and understand that there will always be theft in any industry. When I was employed by a local restaurant company, I witness many instances where an employee stole something. At times it was food, condiments and even cash. What company Q needs to do is set up an ethical training program for new and current clients. This way everyone is aware that these actions will not be tolerated. The company may also want to apply additional security features in each location, such as cameras security guards etc. Company Q can also give out rewards for employees reporting co workers that are stealing from the firm. It allows everyone to know that they are being watched for inappropriate actions. There are many ideas that company Q can take, but first it must establish an ethical training program. 2. Company Q needs to give back to the community and one primary example would be by donating day old food items. The firm loses nothing if old food is being given to the food bank. Yes, stealing may occur if the company Q sets rules and procedures you can minimize the theft and fraud that can occur. One good example would be to have a checklist created for both the employee giving the items and the food bank representative that receives the food. If each one can submit the check list to the appropriate supervisor, it can locate where the theft is taking place. It may require more work internally, but as a firm it will be viewed as socially responsible to giving back to the community. 3. Company Q can also lower the prices on the higher end products. Yes, the company may lose money or may break even but it is worth gaining something than not selling anything. Trail and error will need to take place with any new item that is being offered. Allow your clients to continue to provide feedback on what they like and do not like. This can help market the products which can cause higher revenue. Also you always want to show you are listening to your clients, this way they can spread the word of your company. With more people talking positively about the company, more clients will be happy to shop in your store.

The Idea of Sacrifice in the Early Vedas

Introduction Sacrifice is an act of offering to a deity as a form of worship with some desired results expected. It usually imply ritual killing where blood is involved although other forms of offerings are also sacrifices. It is regarded as a means of obtaining power from one world over the other, over visible and invisible and also inmate and inanimate creatures.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Idea of Sacrifice in the Early Vedas specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is considered to exist from eternity and proceed from the Supreme Being. It is a practice that has been performed for ages by different societies. This paper will examine aspects regarding sacrifice especially among the Hindus. It looks at the origin and classification of Vedas, forms of offerings and sacrifices, sacrificial practices, and importance attached to sacrifice and different arguments on the idea, sacrifice. Background Inform ation of the Vedas Vedas are ancient scriptures that are considered to be the earliest and most sacred books of India. It is nonetheless difficult to trace exactly when they were first written since initially the teachings were passed by word of mouth. They have teachings on all aspects of life concerning mankind and have acted as a religious authority especially for the Hindus. The Hindus uses the Vedic teachings in their day to day activities e.g. during marriages or even death, cremation for example is seen as a form of sacrifice since fire is used. The ideas of the Vedas were passed from one generation to the other through word of mouth but later they were written. The Vedas are classified into four (. i.e. the Sama, the Atharva, the Rig-Veda, and the Yajur). Each Veda consist of four parts; the hymns, rituals, theologies and philosophies (Kishore 15). Kinds of Sacrifices and Offerings According to Benson and Cook (67), Sacrifices included sheep, cows, buffaloes, men and horses. Men and horses were considered to have the greatest value. Offerings comprised of cow products like milk and butter and grains which were boiled, fried or made into flour balls. Human sacrifice has also been practiced in many parts of the world. In ancient times it was viewed as a building – dedication rite. There were cases of decapitation of human heads to act as trophies; the heart was also used as a part of human sacrifice. The use of the most essential parts of the body without which a person cannot live signifies the importance attached to the sacrifice. Blood sacrifice is viewed to be the most influential way to soothe the gods and the supposition behind it is that life ought to pass through death, although the notion appears primitive. Although Human sacrifice has been practiced most people view it as a practice that is practiced by the uncivilized societies that don’t value human life (Marvin, Ingle 248). Sacrifices can also be classified according to the bi ble (Leviticus 1-7) as; 1) Peace sacrifice where there is a burnt offering shared between the person offering it and God and sometimes other worshippers. It involved male or female oxen and aimed at establishing a peaceful relationship between the person offering it and God. It showed the worshippers’ desire to praise God or give thanks.2) Burnt offerings; the sacrifice was wholly burnt and the fire consumed it all.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The animal had to be male and without blemish, the worshippers blessed the animal and then it was killed and burnt. Burning symbolized the desire to get rid of sinful acts against God.3) Cereal offering; offered along the burnt sacrifices or independently. The offerings were made of oil and salt, no honey was used, apart from freeing the worshipers from sins, the cereal offering of the first fruits was used to sancti fy the entire crop.4) Sin offering; was offered when one sinned unintentionally or out of ignorance. High priests offered a bull, leaders a male goat and other individuals offered female animals. 5) Trespass (offering); was offered in form of currency and was presented for transgressions of ignorance linked with fraud. All these offerings revolve on forgiveness and God’s favor (Baumgarten 3). Sacrificial Process and Practices The central part of a house was used for sacrificial practices and was therefore dedicated for God. Fire was first kindled by rubbing pieces of wood together and then it was kept burning. The master of the house made the offering while hymns were sung and children joined in the chorus till the roof reverberated. The house was decorated during the full and new moons since these were considered as seasons of sacrifice. Sacrifices were also made at the beginning of the spring, rainy and autumn seasons. A he goat was sacrificed at the beginning of the rainy season. There were different categories of priest all with different duties; There were those entrusted to prepare the sacrifice in terms of what was needed like measuring the grounds to build the altar, preparing sacrificial vessels, collecting wood to light the fire, water and the animal to be sacrificed, these priests were not educated. However the person to slay the animal needed not be a priest. Hymns were very important during the sacrificial process. Performance of sacrifice included chanting of Rigvedic verses, mumbling of Yajus and singing of Samnas was the mode of worship. The main deities were Indra, Agni- the sacrificial fire, Soma, Mitra-Varuna, Bhaga, Amsa and Aryaman. Deities were not perceived as supreme beings. Agni, the sacrificial fire, was the mediator between the humans and the deities. Emergence of agriculture as the main economic activity as opposed to cattle rearing brought about the transition from early to later Vedic periods (Tice 168). Importance of Sacri fice The essence of sacrifice to the Hindus was to enter into a relationship with the divine so as to get a certain desired result. The rituals performed gave the people a sense of connection with the deity. A sacrifice is taken to have a mutual obligation where the deity is expected to reciprocate for the sacrifice offered for example people would offer sacrifices to get a child, healing or even to get wealth. If the desired results are not attained, the worshippers assumed that there were mistakes in carrying out the rituals and had to do it correctly after which expected results were attained.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Idea of Sacrifice in the Early Vedas specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sacrifice is considered the most important of all Hindus duties; it is the principal doctrine of the Vedas, it is the base of the world as creation of the universe is taken to be a sacrifice of God, it is t he only means through which gods got to heaven, it is a means through which all things can be obtained, it is a way through which one can get saved and deliverance and above all a way by which sins are forgiven (Thompson 365). Vedas have proved to be useful to people in various fields for example the linguistics, poets, philosophers and musicians because of the diversity of Vedic tradition and the nature of giving right details. Vedic culture has also been recognized for its contribution to science. Criticism Witzel (72) argues that though the Vedas provide good religious basis, a modern intelligent person cannot go back to the sacrificial practices there in and may even not offer the prayers of the Vedas since needs keep on changing as years pass by and the rituals performed to attain some items in the earlier days may not work for today’s needs. For example people offered sacrifices mainly to be granted with sons, rain, cattle and long life. People should therefore move to a religion that best suit their soul needs. People have also developed ways of satisfying their needs and coping with the environment and hence sacrifice for the sake of having their needs settled is not a necessity. The Vedic texts are written in philosophical words and parables and are therefore hard to be understood by a lay person. There is need for interpretation by those people who are well versed with the Vedic tradition. The Vedic tradition had poetic information and syntax used in the liturgy and needed translation to understand the inner meaning rather than taking the words literally. For example there are three types of mantras; anirukta mantras, which are unarticulated, upamsu mantras, which are articulated but inaudible, and tusnim mantras, which are chanted silently but with their sounds in mind. One needs teachings in order to understand the mantras. The Vedic teachings have not been able to meet most modern people mainly because of the difficulty in the Vedic texts a nd the need for translation making it impossible for a person to acquire the materials and learn the teachings by him/ herself. Another reason is the failure of the Vedicists to establish the most essential features of the Vedic tradition that can be of help in the modern society and bring them to the attention of people, a good example being the mosaic sculptures used to preserve the collective memory of the sacrifices.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An example of sacrificial ritual done by the Hindus is Yagna/ Yajna. This is a type of worship where Vedic sacrifices are made to various deities in a systematic manner through qualified priests in order to get specific results. Hymns are very essential in the sacrificing process as they enhance fulfillment of the worshippers’ desires. The duration of sacrifice is dependant on the result expected and also the number of priest to perform the ritual depends on the purpose for which the sacrifice is made. A sacrifice can be made because of a need of one person or for the sake of the community’s welfare for example to ask for rain or peace among the members of the community. Vedic priests used Yajna to seek favor and blessings from the gods. Different forms of Yajna were performed for different purposes at different times of the year for example during planting and harvest time or before going to war (Singh 1184). Vedas like any other information materials have their impor tance in the early and modern societies. Being the first known texts they act as a basis where ideas are drawn from and developed. Though they have been viewed as being archaic, they have helped in building up history and have been resourceful in various aspects of life. Philosophers, musicians and linguistics have also drawn ideas and based their arguments on the Vedic texts. Sacrifice and Christianity Some Vedic forms of belief have been carried on to modern practices. Various aspects of traditions are passed from one generation to the other and the Vedas acts as a point where culture or history is drawn. Although the Vedas were mainly used by the Hindus, certain aspects like sacrifice have been adopted by other denominations and are being practiced today. The difference occurs on the way the rituals are carried out. For example in the Catholic church, the sacrifice issue is regarded with high importance in the Eucharistic celebrations where the body of Christ is used to signify t he sacrifice God made to give his only Son to the world so as people would bee saved and their sins washed away. Sacrifice is therefore seen as a means through which sins can be cleansed. The offering of other items like cereals and personal effects is also a form of sacrifice made by worshippers to help the needy and in so doing, serving God. Worshippers expect God’s favor and forgiveness to come their way after they offer their sacrifice. Sacrifice in the modern world is also done through submission of money to the church with the main aim of supporting the work of God or ensuring that God’s word is ministered to people effectively. The money is used to buy facilities like electronics and musical instruments or even build churches to enhance spreading of the word of God and also assisting priests and other men of God in their day to day procedures including feeding them and catering for their other needs. The act of giving is viewed as a sacrifice and is encouraged i n churches today. People give the offerings in the form of tithe, collection during Holy mass or sermons or other ways like through church groups e.g. bible study groups. The offerings are presented, prayed for and blessing expected to be received. The aspect of offering and sacrifice has however been misused by most people today who take the advantage of exploiting Christians and making themselves rich. The church has become like a business venture where anyone who is capable of reading and teaching the Bible can start his/her own church. They demand heavy offerings in terms of money and insist that to receive God’s favor one has to contribute money and the more you offer the higher the blessings. Other societies however take the sacrifice issue very seriously and even offer animal sacrifices and pray for God’s forgiveness of sins or ask Him for blessings like rain and peace among communities. Conclusion Sacrifice like any other ritual is part of life and have develop ed lots of criticism from different schools of thoughts as many argue that there is a lot of materialism and emptiness associated with the ritual. Some rituals are also being overtaken by modern practices due to civilization and also by the fact that those that were well versed with the Vedic teachings are few. This however does not overrule the fact that Vedic texts are used by people for various reasons and their teachings are practiced up to date though not widely. Works Cited Baumgarten I. Albert. Sacrifice in religious experience. Netherlands: Brill Publishers, 2002. Benson P. Elizabeth., Cook G. Anita. Ritual Sacrifice in Ancient Peru: New Discoveries and Interpretations. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2001. Kishore B. Raj. Essence of Vedas. New Delhi: Diamond pocket books ltd, 2004. Marvin, Carolyn., Ingle W. David. Blood Sacrifice and the Nation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. Singh K. Nand. Hinduism. New Delhi: J.L Kumar for Anmol Publications ltd, 2002, volume 46-60 pp 1184- 1186. Thompson, George. ‘‘Discovering the Vedas: Origins, Mantras, Rituals, Insights’’ Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 129, 2009, pp. 365- 367. Tice, Paul. The Vedas: with Illustrative Extracts. San Diego: The Book Tree, 2003. Witzel, Michael. ‘‘Autochthonous Aryans? The Evidence from Old Indian and Iranian Texts,’’ Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies, Vol. 7, 2001, pp. 72-75. This research paper on The Idea of Sacrifice in the Early Vedas was written and submitted by user Houston Hendricks to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

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