Hinduism: An Overview
Hinduism is the dominant religion of South Asia. It is believed that Hinduism has no single founder, father it has been formed by the mixing of diverse traditions over time. Some of its oldest roots can be traced back to the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India spanning the years of 1200 - 272 B.C.E. Because of this, Hinduism is often referred to as the "oldest living major religion" in the world. Hinduism includes a wide range of daily morality practices that are based on the notion of karma (discussed at length below) and societal norms such as Hindu marriage customs.
Beliefs
Concept of God
Hinduism is so incredibly diverse that it encompasses many traditional religious distinctions including: monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, monism, and atheism. In other words, even the notion of how many gods one should worship depends entirely upon each particular tradition and philosophy. Overall though, it does seem like most Hindus believe that the spirit or the soul - the true "self" of every person - is eternal. Hindus refer to this "self" or soul as the ātman. In many Hindu traditions, the ātman is indistinct from the Brahman (the Brahman is the supreme spirit). According to the Advaita school of Hinduism, the goal of life is to realize that one's ātman is identical to the Brahman. Many Hindus believe that when one reaches this point he or she gains liberation or freedom.
Devas and Avatars
Hindu scriptures refer to celestial entities called "devas". A "deva" can be roughly translated into English as a "god" or "heavenly body". Devas are a very important part of Hindu culture and are often depicted in art, architecture and through mythologial stories. There is a strong distinction in Hinduism between devas and the Ishvara, which is a supreme personal god.
Through Hindu epic poems - which are lengthy poems detailing important ideas and events - episodes of the decent of God to Earth are detailed. It is stated that this decent occurred to restore dharma (a path of righteousness) to society and to guide humans to moksha (a release from suffering involved in reincarnation). An incarnation of one of these gods to Earth is called an avatar. The three most prominent avatars are Vishnu, Rama, and Krishna.
Through Hindu epic poems - which are lengthy poems detailing important ideas and events - episodes of the decent of God to Earth are detailed. It is stated that this decent occurred to restore dharma (a path of righteousness) to society and to guide humans to moksha (a release from suffering involved in reincarnation). An incarnation of one of these gods to Earth is called an avatar. The three most prominent avatars are Vishnu, Rama, and Krishna.
Karma and Samsara
Karma can be described as the "moral law of cause and effect". The linga sharira - which is a Hindu concept for a body that is more subtle than the physical one but less subtle than the soul - retains impressions of the type of person one is and carries over into the next life. The term "Samsara" refers to the cycle of action, reaction, birth, death and rebirth.
Yoga
Yoga is the method that Hindus use to reach their goal of life. Different Hindu groups use different types of yoga, but the general process is the same. There are many Hindu texts that are dedicated to yoga and their philosophical and historical basis. Paths that one can follow to achieve the spiritual life (known as nirvana) include:
Some Hindu schools believe that people should try a number of different types of yoga to find the combination that works best for them.
- Bhakti Yoga - the path of love and devotion
- Karma Yoga - the path of right action
- Raja Yoga - the path of meditation
- jnâna Yoga - the path of wisdom
Some Hindu schools believe that people should try a number of different types of yoga to find the combination that works best for them.
Temples
Click here to experience a virtual tour of a Hindu Temple: Hindu Temple
Also, watch this short youtube video to learn about art and architecture inside a Hindu temple:
Also, watch this short youtube video to learn about art and architecture inside a Hindu temple:
Denominations
Hinduism has no central doctrines. While many Hindus do not claim to belong to any particular denomination, academics have categorized Hinduism into four major denominations: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Vaishnavas worships Vishnu as the supreme God; Shaivites worship Shiva as the supreme God; Shaktas worship Shakti personified through a female divinity Devi; and Smartas believe in the essential oneness of five or six deites whom they believe to be supreme.
Hindu Practices
A Chaturthi festival
Hindu practices focus on seeking awareness of God. Because of this, Hinduism has developed numerous practices focused on the thinking of divinity during one's every-day life. Hindus can engage in worship at home or at a temple. At home, Hindus often creat a shrine with icons dedicated to their chosen forms of God. These "icons" serve as a link between the worshiper and God. These icons are represented heavily in Hindu art, architecture and literature.
Hindu Rituals
The majority of Hindus participate in religious rituals on a daily basis, and most often at home. More traditional Hindus perform daily chores such as worshiping at dawn and bathing in a family shrine. They also recited religious script and mediate. Many of these rituals focus on the transition from pollution to purity in the body and soul. Purification often involves the use of water. Like many religious and non-religious traditions, occasions such as birth, marriage and death often involved elaborate sets of religious rituals.
