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Idea of Hinduism
Hinduism is a vast and complex system of beliefs and traditions which enable one to follow the correct path of life. A simple summery of the idea of Hinduism is given below:
What is Hinduism?:
Hinduism is the world's oldest extant religion, with a billion followers,
which makes it the world's third largest religion. Hinduism is a conglomeration
of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices that originated in
India, characterized by the belief in reincarnation, one absolute being of
multiple manifestations, the law of cause and effect, following the path of
righteousness, and the desire for liberation from the cycle of births and
deaths.
How is Hinduism unique from other
religions?:
Hinduism cannot be neatly slotted into any particular belief system. Unlike
other religions, Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, the law that
governs all action. It has its own beliefs, traditions, advanced system of
ethics, meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology. The religious tradition of
Hinduism is solely responsible for the creation of such original concepts and
practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta,
Karma, etc.
How and when did Hinduism originate?:
Hinduism has its origins in such remote past that it cannot be traced to any one
individual. Some scholars believe that Hinduism must have existed even in circa
10000 B.C. and that the earliest of the Hindu scriptures – The Rig Veda – was
composed well before 6500 B.C. The word "Hinduism" is not to be found anywhere
in the scriptures, and the term "Hindu" was introduced by foreigners who
referred to people living across the River Indus or Sindhu, in the north of
India, around which the Vedic religion is believed to have originated.
What are the basic tenets of Hinduism?:
There is no “one Hinduism”, and so it lacks any unified system of beliefs
and ideas. Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, in
which the prominent themes include:
* Dharma (ethics and duties)
* Samsara (rebirth)
* Karma (right action)
* Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara)
It also believes in truth, honesty, non-violence, celibacy, cleanliness,
contentment, prayers, austerity, perseverance, penance, and pious company.
What are the key Hindu scriptures?:
The basic scriptures of Hinduism, which is collectively referred to as "Shastras",
are essentially a collection of spiritual laws discovered by different saints
and sages at different points in its long history. The Two types of sacred
writings comprise the Hindu scriptures: "Shruti" (heard) and "Smriti"
(memorized). They were passed on from generation to generation orally for
centuries before they were written down mostly in the Sanskrit language. The
major and most popular Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads,
and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
What are the major Hindu deities?:
Hinduism believes that there is only one supreme Absolute called "Brahman".
However, it does not advocate the worship of any one particular deity. The gods
and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all representing
the many aspects of Brahman. Therefore, this faith is characterized by the
multiplicity of deities. The most fundamental of Hindu deities is the Trinity of
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. Hindus
also worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets.