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HINDUISM–Introduction. This class, however, will follow the western use of the word “Hindu” to mean the religion with over 700 million followers in the world today and called Sanatana Dharma. Hinduism (हिन्दू धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma - सनातन धर्म,
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This class, however, will follow the western use of the word “Hindu” to mean the religion with over 700 million followers in the world today and called Sanatana Dharma.
Hinduism (हिन्दू धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma - सनातन धर्म, and Vaidika-Dharma - वैदिक धर्म) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas and is the direct descendant of the Vedic religion.
The Jesus Temple in New Delhi.
All of the Hindu Scriptures, Epics, Codes, and so forth are available in English at http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/
HOW THEY CAME TO BE WRITTEN Krishna first reveals the Vedic knowledge to Brahma (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.5–37) Brahma passes the Vedas to Narada, who passes them to Vyasa (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.44–5) Vyasa compiles the four Vedas (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.4.15–25) First he [Krishna-dvaipayana Vyasa] divided the Vedas into four, then he explained them in the Puranas, and for less capable people he wrote the Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata there is given the Bhagavad-gita. Then all Vedic literature is summarized in the Vedanta-sutra, and for future guidance he gave a natural commentation on the Vedanta-sutra, called Srimad-Bhagavatam” (Bhagavad-gita Intro)
Know the Atman (Self) as the lord of the chariot, and the body as the chariot. Know also the Intellect to be the driver and mind the reins. The senses are called the horses; the sense objects are the roads ("Katha Upanishad")
Hindu theology, at present, depicts four (4) descending levels of deity and divinity:1. The Brahman, the Absolute, the Infinite One, the IT IS.
2. The Trimurti, the supreme trinity of Hinduism. In this association Brahma, the first member, is conceived as being self- created out of the Brahman--infinity. Were it not for close identification with the pantheistic Infinite One, Brahma could constitute the foundation for a concept of the Universal Father. Brahma is also identified with fate.The worship of the second and third members, Siva (Shiva) and Vishnu, arose in the first millennium after Christ. Siva is lord of life and death, god of fertility, and master of destruction. Vishnu is extremely popular due to the belief that he periodically incarnates in human form. In this way, Vishnu becomes real and living in the imaginations of the Indians. Siva and Vishnu are each regarded by some as supreme over all.