The university affirms that truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in every discipline. Although Pepperdine University is a distinctly Christian institution, students, faculty, and staff members of all faith traditions are welcome to become part of the Pepperdine University community. Please tell us a little bit about how faith has influenced your life. (50-300 words)
As a devout Hindu, faith is important to me. My faith is strong in this religion, but it extends beyond to superstitions and has made me an optimistic person.
I engage in several Hindu prayer rituals throughout the year. The most important observance to me is Ganesh Chaturthi in which we worship Lord Ganesha, the God of education. Every year, my brother and I lay all our faith in Him, in hopes that He will guide us to achieve our dreams in the upcoming school year. Furthermore, I do not live through a single day without praying to God. I’ve always believed in the mighty power of our Hindu Gods and trust that whatever decision He makes for me, will lead to my prosperous future.
While I have faith in my Gods, I also believe in many Indian superstitions. On a regular day, any other person may be swinging his legs, dragging his feet, or resting his hand on his head. These actions are not permitted according to Indian taboos. I grew up believing that swinging my legs is bad luck for my uncle, dragging my feet is a bad omen for the house and putting my hands on my head means that my mother will suffer through unfortunate times. On the surface, these may appear as unrealistic taboos, but I actually believe in and abide by them.
Lastly, my faith has made me into an optimistic person. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and trust that God will care for my life. Even during critical situations, I am able to remain calm and hopeful.
At Pepperdine, I plan on bringing hope and trust that everything will be fine while introducing Indian culture to interested peers.
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