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Hinduism is the world's third most popular religion, with
around 750 million followers. The religion of Hinduism
originated in Northern India, near the river Indus, about 4000
years ago and is the world's oldest existing religion.
Hinduism is practiced by more than 80% of India's population.
Place of Origin
India
Founder
Developed out of Brahminism
Sacred Text
Vedas, Upanishads
Sacred Building
Mandir
Major Festivals
Divali
Holy Place
River Ganges is one of many holy places
Who is the founder of Hinduism?
Hinduism has no founder, it developed out of Brahminism.
Hinduism is the oldest religion, it may date to prehistoric times.
What is the symbol of Hinduism?
Aum (pronounced Ohmm) is the main symbol of Hinduism. It is
the sound heard in deepest meditation and is said to be the
name most suited for God.
Where does the name Hindu come from?
The word "Hindu" comes from the name of the river Indus, which
flows 1800 miles from Tibet through Kashmir and Pakistan to the
sea.
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How is Hinduism different from other faiths?
Hinduism has no founder, single teacher nor any prophets.
Hinduism is not a Single Religion. Hinduism is the practices of a
variety of different religious groups, which come out of India.
What do Hindus believe?
For many Hindus, religion is a matter of practice rather than of
beliefs. It's more what you do, than what you believe. Hindus
believe in a universal soul or God called Brahman. Brahman
takes on many forms that some Hindus worship as gods or
goddesses in their own right. Hindus believe that there is a
part of Brahman in everyone and this is called the Atman.
Hindus believe in reincarnation - a belief that the soul is
eternal and lives many lifetimes, in one body after another. The
soul is sometimes born in a human body, sometimes in an animal
body and sometimes in a plant body etc.. Hindus believe that all
forms of life contain a soul, and all souls have the chance to
experience life in different forms.
Samsara means going through the cycle of repeated births and
deaths (reincarnation). Hindus believe that existence of this
cycle is governed by Karma.
What is Karma?
Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of
successive lives and its next incarnation is always
dependent on how the previous life was lived.(Similar
to Buddhist beliefs) Karma is the cause of our particular destiny.
Misfortunes in our present life are the result of acts that we have
committed in the past. In the same way, our actions in our
present lives will determine our fate in the lives that follow.
Hindus therefore aim to live in a way that will cause each of their
lives to be better than the life before.
What is Moksha?
The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with
Brahma. This freedom is referred to as moksha. Until moksha is
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achieved, a Hindu believes that he/she will be
repeatedly reincarnated in order that he/she may work towards
self-realization of the truth (the truth being that only Brahman
exists, nothing else).
What is the Hindu way of life?
For many Hindus there are four goals in human
life (purusharthas);
1 Moksha - the release of the soul (Atman) from the cycle of
rebirth.
The individual soul (Atman) unites with Brahman the universal
soul. There are different ways to Moksha.
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spiritual - involves acquiring spiritual knowledge through
yoga and meditation. devotion to god
working selflessly for the good of society.
How a person is reincarnated is determined by karma.
2 Dharma - the code for leading one's life.
Respect for elders is considered important and many consider
marriage as a son's religious duty.
3 Artha - the pursuit of material gain by lawful means.
4 Karma- through pure acts, knowledge and devotion, you can
reincarnate to a higher level. The opposite achieves the contrary
result.
How do Hindus achieve Moksha?
There are four different paths to achieve Moksha which a Hindu
can take.
The Hindu can choose one or all four of the paths they are:
1 The path of knowledge - Jnana-Yoga
Spiritual knowledge -leading to the knowledge of the relationship
between the soul (atman) and God (Brahman)
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2 The path of meditation - Dhyana-yoga
The idea is to concentrate so you can reach the real self within
you and become one with Brahman
3 The Path of Devotion - Bhakti-yoga
Choosing a particular god or goddess and worshipping them
throughout your life in actions, words and deeds.
4 The path of good works - Karma-yoga
This involves doing all your duties correctly throughout your life.
Why are there so many Hindu Gods?
Hindus actually only believe in one God, Brahman, the
eternal origin who is the cause and foundation of all existence.
The gods of the Hindu faith represent different forms of
Brahman. These gods are sent to help people find the universal
God (Brahman).
Most Hindus have a personal god or goddess such as Shiva,
Krishna or Lakshmi to whom they pray regularly.
The three most important Hindu gods (forms of Brahman)
are:
Brahma - known as
the Creator.
Vishnu - Known
as the Preserver
Shiva (Siva)- known
as the Destroyer.
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Other Hindu gods include:
Saraswathi - Goddess of Wisdom - Wife of Lord Brahma.
Saraswathi is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and all the
creative arts.
Lakshmi - Goddess of Wealth - Wife of Lord Vishnu.
Lakshmi is the goddess of light, beauty, good fortune and wealth.
Parvati - regarded as a representation of Shakti. Parvati is the
wife of Lord Shivaand the Goddess of household and
motherhood.
(Shakti is by literal definition sacred force, power, or
energy. Shakti is the personification of Brahman as
feminine)
Ganesha - Son of Shiva and Parvati.
The Hindu god in a human form but with the head of
an elephant.(pictured right)
What is the Hindu place of Worship?
Most Hindus worship (puja) every day at
home and have a shrine there. A shrine can
be anything from a room, a small altar or
simply pictures or statues. Family members
often worship together. At the shrine, Hindus
make offerings to a murti. A murti is a sacred
statue of God, or a god or goddess.
The Hindu building for communal worship is called Mandir
(Hindu Temple). The temples are dedicated to different gods
and are the focus of religious life. Outside India, people mainly
gather at the mandir at the weekend.
Worshippers repeat the names of their favourite gods,
goddesses, and the mantras. Water, fruit, flowers and incense
are offered to the gods.
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What is Hinduism's Holy book?
The most ancient sacred texts of the Hindu religion are written
in Sanskrit and called the Vedas.
Hinduism does not just have one sacred book
but several scriptures. The Vedas scriptures
guide Hindus in their daily life. They also help
to preserve the religious dimensions of family
and society. Hindus have developed their
system of worship and beliefs from the
scriptures.
There are two main categories of the Hindu scriptures:
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Shruti ("that which is heard") consists of the four Vedas and
Upanishads scriptures.
Smriti ("that which is remembered") composed of
traditional texts, including the Dharma Shastras (legal and
ethical texts), the Puranas, and the folk/historical legends
known as the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
The Hindu Holy Scriptures are mainly comprised of the
following works written in the Sanskrit language:
1. The Vedas Rg-Veda (Rigveda), Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda,
Atharva-Veda
2. The Upanisads - These consider the nature of the individual
soul (Atman) and the universal soul (Brahman.) One of the
Upanishads contains the earliest reference to the reincarnation of
the soul in different bodies (transmigration) of the soul.
3. The Smrutis - (‘tradition) are the Laws of Manu (250 BC)
4. Ramayana - Contains the story of Rama and his devoted wife
Sita. She is kidnapped by the demon king Ravana but is later
freed by Rama with the help of the monkey god Hanuman. The
poem is about how good will always triumph over evil and Rama
and Sita are held up as role models for the perfect husband and
wife.
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5. Mahabharata - An epic poem telling the story of a war
between two branches of a family. The Bhagavad-Gita forms part
of this and means "The Song of God."
6. The Puranas - A collection of ancient tales about the different
incarnations and the lives of saints.
What are the Vedas?
The Vedas are the oldest religious texts in Hinduism. The word
Veda means knowledge. It is believed that the Vedas were orally
revealed by Brahma to certain sages, who heard them and
passed them down in an oral tradition. They were not written
down; in fact this was prohibited. Because of this earliest oral
tradition continuing even now when the Vedas are available in
the written form, the Vedas are still known to be Sruti or shruti ' that which is heard '.
The Vedas are mainly comprised of of hymns or mantras written
in the Sanskrit language. They cover various subjects, from
nature to everyday life and behaviour, and form the basis of all
other religious writings. The books are so special that they are
often kept in glass cases.
The four Vedas are:
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Rg-Veda (Rigveda) - The oldest and holiest Veda.
Yajur-Veda
Sama-Veda
Atharva-Veda
Each Veda is divided into four sections:
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The Samhitas - The oldest portion - Contains the mantras
and hymns The Brahmanas - The ritualistic teachings They are written in prose and explain the hymns. The
Aranyakas - The meditational section
The Upanishads - The mystic and philosophical. They
consider the nature of the individual soul (Atman) and the
universal soul (Brahman.) One of the Upanishads contains
the earliest reference to the reincarnation of the soul in
different bodies (transmigration) of the soul.
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The Vedas are the law. Most beliefs, concepts, and ceremonies
are based on information contained in the Vedas.
What are the practices of Hindus?
The practice of Hinduism consists of rites and ceremonies
centering on birth, marriage, and death.
There are three basic practices:
1 Worship (called Puja)
This is an integral part of the faith. Offerings (puja) are usually
made to representations of the gods.
2 Cremation
The dead are burnt not buried
3 Compliance with the rules of the caste system
The caste system was 'a division of society to preserve society'
similar to the society in ancient Egyptian times. Each group had
rules of conduct to be obeyed.
The caste system divided people by occupation i.e. teachers and
philosophers were brahmins; fighters were kshatriya;
shopkeepers, moneylenders and tradespeople were vaishya; and
servants and cleaners were shudra.
No caste was higher or more important (superior) to another. All
were equal and aknowledged as essential to the society.
Is pilgrimage an important aspect of Hindusim?
Yes, pilgrimage is important to Hindus.
What are the popular pilgrimage places?
Popular pilgrimage places are rivers, temples, mountains, and
other sacred sites in India. As these are sites where the gods
may have appeared or become manifest in the world.
Hinduism Resource Package
http://www.uri.org/kids/world_hind_basi.htm
How did Hinduism begin?
Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma ("eternal spiritual path") began about 4000
years ago in India. It was the religion of an ancient people known as the
Aryans ("noble people") whose philosophy, religion, and customs are
recorded in their sacred texts known as the Vedas. These texts were initially
handed down by word of mouth from teacher to student. It was not until
much later that they were actually written down. Archeological evidence
from the Indus Valley civilization of northwestern India helps to establish
Hinduism as the world's oldest living religion. Today, worldwide, there are
almost one billion people professing some aspect of Hinduism. The
fundamental teachings of Hinduism, which form the foundation of all its
different sects, are contained in the concluding portion of the Vedas, and are
therefore known as the Vedanta (the "end or concluding portion of the
Vedas"). This part of the Vedas is also known as the Upanishads.
What do Hindus believe and practice?
The fundamental teaching of Hinduism, or Vedanta, is that a human being's
basic nature is not confined to the body or the mind. Beyond both of these is
the spirit or the spark of God within the soul. This spirit is within us and also
within everything we see. All beings and all things are really, in their
deepest essence, this pure or divine spirit, full of peace, full of joy and
wisdom, ever united with God. This is not just theory, but it can actually be
experienced. Anyone who takes the trouble to undergo the necessary training
to purify and refine the mind and senses can begin to feel the truth of this.
This training can take various forms and is known as yoga ("union"- union
of the individual self with this inner spirit). There are four main types of
yoga, meant for the four main types of human temperaments:
•Karma Yoga or the discipline of right actions is for those of active
temperament, striving to eliminate selfishness, and to cultivate universal
sympathy by seeing the divine reality in all.
•Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion to God whose presence can be felt in
all things. God can be worshipped as present in an image in a Temple. God
can be worshipped also as present in suffering humanity by service.
•Jnana Yoga, preferred by those of analytical bent of mind, is the discipline
of trying to see the divine reality within all things directly, by mentally
brushing aside all the obstructing physical and mental coverings that hide it.
•Raja Yoga is the process of mental control, purity, and meditation to make
the mind very calm and quiet. In that profound quiet, the inner divine light
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reveals itself.
What are the manifestation(s) God in Hinduism? What are the different
sects of Hinduism?
The general name for God in Hinduism is Brahman. The name of the divine
essence within us is Atman. They are one and the same, infinite and eternal.
However, God is also present in all creation. God's manifestation in creation
goes by many names. It is the one infinite, eternal, Divine Being that is
manifesting in countless ways. It is like a person at the same time being
called "father" by his son, "friend" by his friend, "son" by his own father,
"husband" by his wife, etc. A special relationship goes with each name. So
the same Divine Lord has been addressed as Shiva, Vishnu, etc and as
Divine Mother, Kali, Durga, etc. God can also manifest as an extraordinary
being in human form, who is then known as an incarnation of God, such as
Krishna, Rama, etc. Since it is the one infinite God alone that is being
looked at in different ways, all these manifestations can be prayed to for help
and protection. This is the underlying principle behind all the different sects
of Hinduism. Those who prefer a particular manifestation of the divinity will
form a sect devoted to the contemplation and worship of that manifestation.
All the sects, however, will accept the ancient teachings of the Vedas and the
Vedanta as the foundation of their practice
What is reincarnation?
In this world every cause must have its effect. We are responsible for the
results of our actions. Long ages ago, human beings first asked themselves,
why are some people born in happy circumstances, whereas others are born
to suffer all their lives? The events of this present life are not enough to
account for such suffering. To reasonably explain an excess of suffering or
of enjoyment in this life, it was assumed that we all have had previous
existences, and that we are now reaping the results of those previous actions.
It must also be true then that we can take charge of our destiny right now.
We can create a better tomorrow by resolving do better actions today.
However, as long as desires remain in the mind, the tendency toward rebirth
will exist.
What is Maya?
In this life we do not see things very clearly. We are constantly faced with
contradictions. Though we know what is right, we have trouble doing it. Our
thoughts soar high, but our actions cannot rise to the level of our thoughts.
The world is full of misery and injustice; as quickly as we remove some,
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more seems to rush in to take its place. We are told by the saints, and we
also feel, that a loving God is at work in this creation, but we cannot
reconcile this with what we see around us. This complex situation in which
we find ourselves is called maya.
The way out of this, according to Hinduism or Vedanta, is that we are not
really seeing the world properly. If we saw it properly, we would see that it
is God alone before us. Instead, we superimpose all this complex world on
that divine reality. The illustration given is that of a rope, mistaken in semidarkness for a snake. The snake of this world frightens us. What is the
solution? Bring a light and you will see its real nature. It is only a rope.
Likewise, the real nature or essence of this world is divinity alone. Bring the
light of spiritual wisdom through yoga, and you will see God alone
everywhere. This is what constitutes spiritual freedom or liberation, Moksha.
When this knowledge dawns, there is complete satisfaction; no desire
remains in the mind, and no further impulse for rebirth remains.
What code of behavior do Hindus follow?
The code of behavior is one's dharma. This is determined by the place in
society and the duties associated with it. There are four main social positions
or varna; Brahmins (priests and teachers) Kshatriyas (rulers and soldiers),
Vaishyas (merchants) and Shudras (workers).
There are four ideal stages of life described in Hindu scriptures: the student,
the family man, the recluse, and the wandering holy man. For most Hindu
people these represent a metaphorical path, not an actual path.
What are the Hindu sacred texts?
Hindu ancient, sacred texts were written in Sanskrit, the language of ancient
India.
•The Vedas are the oldest - about 3000 years old. They are a collection of
hymns, prayers, and magic spells.
•The Upanishads are stories and parables told by gurus (teachers) to their
students
•The Mahabharata is a story of a war between two royal families. The
Bhagavad Gita is a very popular part of this text.
•The Ramayana is a story of the god Rama and the rescue of his wife Sita
from Ravana, the evil demon king