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| About Hinduism |
| Hinduism
religion is the world's third largest religion.
Hinduism is the world’s oldest organized
religion, existing for 4500 years. Based
on the ancient Vedic journalism, Hinduism
is a belief scheme in constant transition.
Hinduism populated by an almost unlimited
number of gods, the faith is open to adopting
any or all of the gods created by younger
religions. Hinduism claims to have numerous
founders, teachers and prophets who claim
first hand experience of God. When Hindus
encourage the idea of spirituality as a
principle rather than a personality, they
call this Brahman. |
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| Hinduism
Name |
Hinduism
- Sanatana
Dharma - eternal religion
Hinduism - Vaidika
Dharma - religion of the Vedas
Hinduism - It may be resulting from an prehistoric
inscription translated as: "The country
lying between the
Himalayan heap and Bindu Sarovara is known
as Hindusthan by combination of the first
letter
'hi' of 'Himalaya'
and the last compound letter 'ndu' of the
word `Bindu.'" Bindu Sarovara is
called the Cape Comorin sea in modern times.
Hinduism - The predominant
religion of India
Hinduism - A faith structure in which Brahma
is seen as the supreme being and people
have many lives on
earth. |
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| Hinduism
History |
| Hinduism
effectively transformed itself in the face
of communal change in India and competition
from other world-views, especially Buddhism.
By 500 C.E. Hinduism was the dominant world-view
in India. Even though Hinduism was not formally
a missionary religion, its concepts and
rituals spread with Indian merchants into
Southeast Asia where by 500 C.E. Hinduism
became an important part of the world-views
of royal courts in Cambodia, Java, and elsewhere
in the region. |
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| Hinduism
Religion |
The
majority forms of Hinduism are henotheistic
religions. Hinduism peoples recognize a
single divine being, and view other Gods
and Goddesses as manifestations or aspects
of that supreme God. Henotheistic and polytheistic
religions have traditionally been among
the world's most religiously tolerant faiths.
However, until recently, a Hindu nationalistic
political party controlled the government
of India. The linkage of religion, the national
government, and nationalism led to a degeneration
of the separation of church and state in
India. Hinduism, in turn, has decreased
the level of religious tolerance in that
country.
Reincarnation, and being held accountable
for one’s deeds (karma), are fundamental
components of Hinduism. |
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| Hinduism
Beliefs |
Most
Hinduism peoples (Hindus) believe in an
enormous unifying force that governs all
existence and cannot be entirely known by
humanity. Hinduism individual gods and goddesses
are personifications of this cosmic strength.
Even in India today, the most traditional
divisions of Hinduism have changed significantly
over the previous three thousand years.
One of the oldest aspects of Hinduism is
as much communal as religious, and that
is the caste organization. Hinduism is significant
to understand the caste system before delving
into Hindu religious beliefs. According
to Hinduism teaching, there are four basic
castes, or social classes. In Hinduism,
each caste has its own rules and obligation
for living. The elite caste is the Brahman,
or priest caste. Second are the Kshatriyas,
or warriors and rulers. Third are the Vaisyas,
or merchants and farmers. Lastly, the fourth
caste is the Shudras, or laborers. |
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| Hinduism
Symbols |
Hinduism
Symbol 1:
Om
(Aum) – the most imperative
Hinduism symbol, often used as the emblem
of Hinduism (see above).
Hinduism Symbol 2:
Hands
in prayer – a sign of admiration
Hinduism symbol for the sacred, that which
is dear to the
heart (see above).
Hinduism Symbol 3:
Lotus
(padma) – symbol of clarity/transcendence.
Growing out of the mud, it is beautiful,
and though
resting on water, it does not touch it.
Hinduism Symbol 4:
Conchshell
– used during arati: one of the four
symbols of Vishnu. The others are the lotus,
club
and disc.
Hinduism Symbol 5:
Swastika
– an ancient solar Hinduism sign measured
to invoke auspiciousness.
Hinduism Symbol 6:
Cow
– symbol of purity, motherhood and
ahimsa (non-violence).
Hinduism Symbol 7:
Kalasha
– coconut circled by mango leaves
on a pot. Often used in rituals such as
the fire sacrifice.
Hinduism Symbol 8:
Trident
(trishul) – the Hinduism symbol
of Shiva; often agreed by Shaivite sannyasis
(renunciates).
Hinduism Symbol 9:
Lotus
feet (of guru or deity) – touching
the feet of superiors shows an attitude
of submission and
service.
Hinduism Symbol 10:
Dipa
/ lamp – symbol of light. |
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| Hinduism
- Hindu Gods |
Hinduism
- Hindu Goddesses |
Balrama
Brahma
Buddha
Dhanwantari
Ganesha
Garuda
Hanuman
Indra
Kartikay
Krishna
Kurma
Maya
Ram
Shiva
Vamana
Vishnu |
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Annapurna
Bhuvaneshwari
Dhumavati
Durga
Ganga
Kali
Lakshmi
Matangi
Saraswati
Shakti
Sita |
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| Hinduism
Principles |
The
Hinduism three-in-one god known as “Brahma”,
Brahma
- The creator
Vishnu
- The Preserver
Shiva
- The Destroyer
Karma
: Every action, thought, or decision one
makes has penalty in Hinduism beliefs. Good
or bad – that will return to each
person in the present life, or in one yet
to come.
Reincarnation
: Also known as “transmigration of
souls,” or “samsara”.
With superior karma, a person can be reborn
into a higher caste, or even to godhood.
Terrible karma can relegate one to a lower
caste, or even to life as an animal in their
next life.
Nirvana
:This is the objective of the Hindu. Nirvana
is the discharge of the essence from the
seemingly eternal cycle of rebirths. |
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