Rini, Hinduism

On Family

Rini is the first portrait sitter to insist on feeding me, making vegan Indian food tailored just for me (no spices!) 

I’m graciously greeted at the door by her 31-year-old American-raised son, a digital marketer. 

When Rini asks if I want tea and I request caffeine free, she sends out her son to buy it for me.

In the age-old Hindu tradition, he’s helping to take care of his mother after her husband, passed away from cancer 5 years ago. 

“My husband was expected to only live 2 months,” Rini tells me, “But I had him for 13 more years.”

When I ask if she wants her son to marry a Hindu, Rini shakes her head. “I believe he can marry whoever he chooses,” she says. “In Hindu, we are all one.” She explains to me that you can believe in one God, many Gods or no God and be Hindu. 

As she explains different concepts, I’m reminded that the Americanized versions of “yoga”, “karma”, and “namaste” originated with Hinduism. When she mentions that the Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion at over 5000 years old, I think about how the Jewish calendar places the current year at 5782.  

Rini moved here from India more than 40 Years ago for the prospect of marketing their factory manufactured goods in the U.S.A and she continues to work internationally with her Indian factory still. 

At the end of our time together, Rini takes me to her prayer room, with large portraits of great Hindu leaders she admires, incense, and even an image of Mother Mary (“We believe in all of the prophets from other religions as well” she explains. ) I take off my shoes before we enter, because the holy dust of my feet is to be absorbed by those praying.

On the wall in the corner of the prayer room is a framed handwritten letter from her son when he was a small boy. He was so distraught after his grandfather passed away, that she encouraged him to write a letter. In the letter, he begs for his grandfather to be reincarnated as a human again, the highest level of reincarnation. 

Rini leads me out, packing me with Indian food to give to my husband. For the first few miles on the drive home before my phone starts ringing, I’m floating on the cozy feeling that only the best hospitality can give. 

It was the first Hindu concept Rini taught me when we sat down to eat; “Hosting in Hinduism,” she said,” is next to holiness.