Question
Why is the concept of Divine judgement not given much importance in Hinduism?
Answer
"But this concept is conspicuously absent in Hinduism" Nothing is farther from the truth. The Garuda Purana describes in great detail how Yama the god of death judges each soul based on Chitragupta's listing of the person's good deeds and bad deeds:
The sinful man cries when he hears the mingled wails of "Oh, Oh," and having heard his cry, those who walk about in the city of Yama.... He, having gone to Chitragupta, reports the good and evil deeds. Then Chitragupta tells it to [Yama] the King of Justice. The men who are Deniers, O Tārkshya, and always delight in great sin; these are all, as is proper, well-known to the King of Justice. Nevertheless, he asks Chitragupta about their sins. Chitragupta, although he is all-knowing, enquires of the Śravaṇas.... These report to Chitragupta everything that is said and done, openly and secretly, by men. These followers of the King of Justice know accurately all the virtues and vices of mankind, and the karma born of mind, speech and body.
To the man who pleases them by austerity, charity and truthful speech, they become benevolent, granting heaven and liberation. Knowing the wicked actions of the sinful, those truth-speakers, relating them before the King of Justice, become dispensers of misery.... Then, by command of Yama, Chitragupta speaks to all those sinners, who are crying, and bewailing their karmas, "O, you sinners, evil-doers, polluted with egoism, injudicious, why ever did you commit sin?" ... The King of Justice, seeing them standing motionless like thieves, has fitting punishment ordered for the sinful.
Then the cruel messengers, having beaten them, say, "Go along, you sinner, to the very dreadful terrifying hells." ... "Oh, forgive my faults" -- with suppliant hands, those most. sinful people, helpless, implore the messengers.... "Forgiveness of faults is done by the Lord Hari Īśwara. We only punish miscreants, as we are ordered."
So make sure you pray to Lord Hari (Vishnu)!
By the way, this doesn't mean there's no reincarnation; later on the Garuda Purana says "Those who are very sinful, having passed through dreadful hells produced by their great sins, are born here upon the exhaustion of their karma." And similarly concerning good people it says "The righteous man having enjoyed heaven, is born in a stainless family."
You should also know that the goal isn't ultimately to enjoy Devaloka (heaven) or to be reincarnated as something good. Rather, the goal of existence is to escape this Samsara, this cycle of birth, death, reward and punishment in the afterlife, etc. and to attain Moksha, or union with the gods.
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