Hinduism and its beliefs

1. Hinduism and its beliefs By: Sheershika Jayasim 6B

2. How, Where and When did Hinduism originate? • Hinduism is an ancient religion with no founder or known date of origin. • 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.

3. Hinduism • More than a religion, Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, the law that governs all action • Hinduism differs from Christianity and other monotheistic religions in that it does not have: • a single founder, • a specific theological system, • a single concept of deity, • a single holy text, • a single system of morality, • a central religious authority, • the concept of a prophet • Because of the wide variety of Hindu traditions, freedom of belief and practice are features of Hinduism. • Hinduism is world's oldest religion, where its origin occurs before history was ever recorded. • Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion. • Hinduism is widely practiced in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. • The term "Hinduism" simply refers to a wide variety of religious traditions and philosophies that have developed in India over thousands of years. • Shri Adi shankaracharya systamised Hindu Dharma. He established the way of praying in Hinduism not Hinduism itself. • A Hindu is an individual who accepts and lives by the religious guidance of the Vedic scriptures. While the teachings of the Hindu tradition do not require that you have a religious affiliation to Hinduism in order to receive its inner teachings.

4. Hinduism (cont…) • Hinduism believes in Something Bigger which is not a thing at all and is neither big nor small but is beyond all size and shape, beyond definability, beyond name and form (supreme Absolute). To have a way to connect with it, various names and forms (metaphors) are employed, then chanted or contemplated. In the Hindu tradition there's a pretty clear understanding that specific gods such as Krishna and Hanuman are all different aspects or faces of Brahman, the faceless infinite. They recognize a single deity, and view other Gods and Goddesses as manifestations or representations of that supreme God (Brahman). • And the key statement on Brahman is, "I am That, you are That, all this [manifestation of creation] is nothing but That, and That alone is." • As a result, Hindus are generally considered tolerant and easy-going about whether their neighbor connects with the same god that they do. Technically speaking, Hinduism is neither monotheistic, with one limitless god, as in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, nor polytheistic, as in the Greek pantheon, with its many limited gods, but henotheistic, with many limitless gods. • Hindus also worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets (all elements of this universe). Hindus regard all living creatures as sacred. • The Bhagavad Gita ("Song of The Lord"), is a sacred Hindu scripture, considered among the most important texts in the history of literature and philosophy. It comprises roughly 700 verses. The teacher of the Bhagavad Gita is Lord Krishna, who is revered by Hindus as a manifestation of God himself. • Hinduism is still practiced by nearly a billion people. • Hinduism hasn’t changed much since it first began. • Hinduism is found outside India too, as there are millions of Indians living throughout the world.

5. Beliefs in Hinduism • "OM" (“AUM”)- The Sound of the Universe. It is believed that the whole Universe, in its fundamental form, is made up of vibrating, pulsating energy. OM is considered as the humming sound of this cosmic energy. • Hinduism is characterized by the belief in reincarnation, one absolute being of multiple manifestations, the law of cause (Karma) and effect (Karmapala), following the path of righteousness, and the desire for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths. • 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. • Ongoing cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution within the universe is a main belief of this religion. • Hindus believe that the soul can be reincarnated, undergoing a cycle of rebirth. Hindus believe that a soul is able to undergo numerous lifetimes within a physical body. All of the past lives that you have led, contribute to the person you are today. This is also a reason why it is taught not to fear death because you will eventually continue living through another physical body. • Hindus don't worship cows. They respect, honor and adore the cow. By honoring this gentle animal, who gives more than she takes, they honor all creatures.

6. The Great Gods of Trinity Vishnu, the Preserver Shiva, the Destroyer Brahma, the Creator

7. The Great Goddesses Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge Laxmi, the Provider of Family, wealth, and prosperity Parvathi, the goddess of love and devotion