THE ORIGINS, CORE TEACHING AND OTHER FUNDAMENTALS IN HINDUISM

Prepared by group 4 (Thursday)

 What is Hinduism?

Hinduism is a major world religion that originated on the

Indian subcontinent, and includes a wide range of
philosophical, religious, and ritual systems.
 When did Hinduism originate?

Hinduism is considered one of the oldest religions in the

world. Its origins date back to the Indus civilization from
the 3rd millennium BCE to the 2nd millennium BCE. This means
that Hinduism could be over 400 decades or 4000 years old. The
name "Hindu" comes from the word "Indus" and refers to the
people who lived near the Indus River in India. It is
important to note that Hinduism is unique in that it is not a
single religion, but a culmination of many traditions and
philosophies².
 Who are the founding fathers of Hinduism?

What is special about Hinduism is that there is no single

known founder. It is an amalgamation of various beliefs that
emerged as a culture in India over many years. Some sources
claim that Hinduism was founded by God himself, or by the
Supreme Lord Narayana, who taught religious matters to the
first living being, Brahma. Some attribute the development of
Hinduism to the arrival of the Indo-Aryans around 1500 BC. He
brought the Vedas, a collection of hymns, to the Indus Valley.
Hinduism has various sects and schools of thought with their
own founders and leaders, such as Ramakrishna, who founded the
Ramakrishna Order.
 What are the fundamental Beliefs and Practices in Hinduism?

Hinduism is a complex and diverse religion with numerous

beliefs and practices. Here are some of the fundamental
beliefs and practices in Hinduism:

a) Belief in the Divinity of the Vedas: The Vedas are the

ancient scriptures of Hinduism, considered divine and
authoritative.

b) Concept of Karma: Karma is the law of cause and effect,

which holds that the actions of an individual determine
their future fate.

c) Belief in Reincarnation (Samsara): Hindus believe in

samsara, the continuous cycle of life, death, and
reincarnation.

d) Atman: One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or

the belief in soul. This philosophy holds that living
creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the
supreme soul.

e) Moksha: The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation,

which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the
absolute soul.

f) Dharma: Hindus strive to achieve dharma, a code of living

that emphasizes good conduct and morality.
 g) Ahimsa: Hindus believe that all life is sacred and
practice ahimsa, noninjury, in thought, word, and deed.

h) Yoga and Meditation: Hinduism teaches three paths to

moksha: bhaktimarga (the path of devotion), jnanamarga
(the path of knowledge or philosophy), and karmamarga
(the path of work and action)3. Yoga and meditation are
important spiritual practices in this regard.

i) Rituals and Worship: Hindu practices might also involve

showing a commitment to the wider community, such as
pilgrimage and charity work. Within the temple there is a
havan, which is a fire sacrifice to the god Agni, with
the fire representing the tongues of the gods.

j) Festivals: Notable celebrations include Diwali or the

Festival of Lights and festivals in honor of Hindu gods
such as Ganesh, Rama Navami, and Navaratri.

It’s important to note that these beliefs can vary among

individuals, communities, and regional areas due to the
diverse nature of Hinduism.
 What are the related issues and conflicts of Hinduism?

Hinduism, like many other religions, faces several issues and

conflicts. Here are some of them:

Caste System: The caste system, or separation of classes, is

probably the largest problem within Hinduism. People are born
into their caste and cannot change it. There are five social
classes defined by the Vedic philosophies: Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas, Shudras, and Dalits. Discrimination is relatively
normal in the Hindu religion and especially in southeast Asia1.

Ahimsa: Ahimsa, or non-violence, is a fundamental principle of

Hinduism1. However, violence of various forms has arisen among
religious faiths in India, pitting Hindu against Muslim, Muslim
against Sikh, Sikh against Hindu, and most recently, Hindu
against Christian.

Samsara: Samsara, or the cycle of birth and death, is another

major issue within Hinduism. The belief in reincarnation can lead
to fatalism and acceptance of one’s lot in life rather than
striving for improvement.

Moksha: Moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death,

is the goal of Hinduism. However, the path to moksha is not clear
and can lead to confusion and conflict.

Marriage Responsibility: Marriage within one’s caste is still a

strong norm within Hindu communities. Inter-caste marriages are
on the rise but still tend to be for the more liberal few..

Political Influence: Caste is also especially relevant in

politics. After economics and education, democracy has been the
third most powerful force transforming Indian society. Example,
nearly 50% of the electors of even a highly educated city like
Bangalore consider caste to be the most important reason to vote
for a candidate