Hinduism beliefs and practices

Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 per cent of the world’s Hindus live in India. Because Hinduism has no specific founder, it’s difficult to trace its origins and history. Hinduism is unique in that it is not a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and philosophies.

Hinduism Beliefs

The original name of Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma means “religions duty” or a “way of life” as opposed to a single, organized religion.

Most forms of Hinduism worship a single deity, known as “Brahman,” but still recognize other Gods and Goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple paths to reaching their god.

Hindus believe in the doctrines of Samsara (cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma (cause and effect).

Hinduism belief in “atman,” or soul. Every living creature has a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul. The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.

There are four paths to Moksha(Salvation). These paths are Karma Yoga(performing one’s duties selflessly), Bhakti Yoga (loving God through devotion and service), Jnana Yoga (study and contemplating sacred texts), and Raja Yoga (physically preparing the body and mind to allow deep meditation and introspection, so as to overcome suffering caused by material attachments).

One fundamental principle of Hinduism is the idea that people’s actions(karma) and thoughts directly determine their current life and future lives.

Dharma (righteousness), Artha (means of money), Kama (right desire), and Moksha (salvation), make up the 4 main life-goals of Hinduism.

Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.

Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or pork, and many are vegetarians.
Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions, including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.

Hinduism Symbols

There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism, the Om and the Swastika. The word swastika means “good fortune” or “being happy” in Sanskrit, and the symbol represents good luck. (Later Nazi they made it their symbol in 1920.)

The Om symbol is composed of three Sanskrit letters (a, u and m), which when combined are considered a sacred sound. The Om symbol is often found at family shrines and in Hindu temples.

Hinduism Holy Books

Hindus have many sacred books as opposed to one holy book. The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around 1500 B.C. This collection of verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations received by ancient saints and sages. Hindus believe that the Vedas transcend all time and don’t have a beginning or an end. There are four Vedas:

The Rig Veda
The Samaveda
Yajurveda
Atharvaveda

The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, 18 Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata are also considered important texts in Hinduism.

Origins of Hinduism

Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan. But many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always existed.

Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs.

Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the Indus Valley, and their language and culture blended with that of the indigenous people living in the region. There’s some debate over who influenced who more during this time.

The period when the Vedas were composed became known as the “Vedic Period” and lasted from about 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. Rituals, such as sacrifices and chanting, were common in the Vedic Period.

The Epic, Puranic and Classic Periods took place between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. Hindus began to emphasize the worship of deities, especially Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.

The concept of dharma was introduced in new texts, and other faiths, such as Buddhism and Jainism, spread rapidly.

Hinduism vs. Buddhism

Hinduism and Buddhism have many similarities. Buddhism, in fact, arose out of Hinduism, and both belief in reincarnation, karma and that a life of devotion and honour is a path to salvation and enlightenment.

But some key differences exist between the two religions: Buddhism rejects the caste system of Hinduism and does away with the rituals, the priesthood and the gods that are integral to the Hindu faith.

Hindu Gods

Hindus worship many Gods and Goddesses in addition to Brahman, who is believed to be the supreme God force present in all things.

Some of the most prominent deities include:

Brahma: The God responsible for the creation of the world and all living things
Vishnu: The God that preserves and protects the universe
Shiva: The God that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
Devi: The Goddess that fights to restore dharma
Krishna: The God of compassion, tenderness and love
Lakshmi: The Goddess of wealth and purity
Saraswati: The Goddess of learning

Hindu Places of Worship

Hindu worship, which is known as “puja,” typically takes place in the Mandir (temple). Followers of Hinduism can visit the Mandir any time they please.

Hindus can also worship at home, and many have a special shrine dedicated to certain gods and goddesses.

The giving of offerings is an important part of Hindu worship. It’s a common practice to present gifts, such as flowers or oils, to a god or goddess.

Additionally, many Hindus take pilgrimages to temples and other sacred sites in India.

Sects of Hinduism

Hinduism has many sects, and is sometimes divided into the following:

Shaivism (followers of Shiva)
Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu)
Shaktism (followers of Devi)

Some Hindus elevate the Hindu trinity, which consists of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Others believe that all the deities are a manifestation of one.

Hindu Caste System

The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on their karma and dharma. Many scholars believe the system dates back more than 3,000 years.

The four main castes include:

Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders
Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
Vaisyas: the skillful producers
Shudras: the unskilled labourers

Many subcategories also exist within each caste. The “Untouchables” are a class of citizens that are outside the caste system and considered to be in the lowest level of the social hierarchy.

For centuries, the caste system determined every aspect of a person’s social, professional and religious status in India.

When India became an independent nation, its constitution banned discrimination based on caste.

Today, the caste system still exists in India but is loosely followed. Many of the old customs are overlooked, but some traditions, such as only marrying within a specific caste, are still embraced.

Hindu Holidays

Hindus observe numerous sacred days, holidays and festivals. Some of the most well-known include:

Diwali: the festival of lights
Navaratri: a celebration of fertility and harvest
Holi: a spring festival
Janmashtami: a tribute to Krishna’s birthday
Raksha Bandhan: a celebration of the bond between brother and sister
Maha Shivaratri: the great festival of Shiva

Source: History