HINDUISM

HINDUISM

Sacred Worship and Beliefs and

Subdivisions
Scriptures Observances Doctrines
What is Hinduism
as a Religion?
Hinduism
It is the world’s oldest and largest religion, with
around 15% of the entire population practicing the
Hindu faith. Hindu followers in India comprise the
major bulk with almost 80% of the country’s
population adhering to the religion.
It was never a missionary religion, unlike
Christianity or Islam, although in some Western cities
there have been proselytizing activities by Hindus.
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
produced and directed
by aamir khan
Historical
Often considered as oldest and most complex of all
Background
world religions, Hinduism has no one identifiable
founder and may have started around the sixth
century B.C.E.
The term Hindu originated from the Persian word
hindu (in Sanskrit Sindhu) which means “river”and it
also refers to the people of the Indus Valley. In fact,
Hinduism was given in the nineteenth century to
describe a wide array of belief systems in India, but it
was originally known as "Arya Dharma" or the
"Aryan Way."
Sacred Scriptures
The sacred texts of Hinduism have been principally
passed down throughout generations by way of
music, recitations, dance, and drama. Sanskrit has
been the language of the earliest writings. And Hindu
sacred writings are categorized into two classes:
Shruti and Shmriti.
Shruti Shmriti
literally means “that literally means “that
which is heard” and which has been
are regarded as eternal remembered” and it
truth that were passed serve to reinforce
orally until the shruti and are
beginning of the interpreted by sages
present age. and scholars alike.
 Shruti
Vedas
The word Veda
means “knowledge”
or “sacred lore”. The
four basic Vedic
books, Rig-veda,
Sama-veda, Yajur-
veda, and Atharva-
veda, are sacrificial
hymns compiled from
Upanisha
ds
The term
Upanishads translates
as “sitting down near”
or “sitting close to”. It
could also mean
“brahma-knowledge”
whereby ignorance is
totally eliminated.
Vedas Upanishads
 Shmriti
Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad
composed of considered as
translated
the “Story of
as around one Gita
one of the holiest
Rama” or hundred books by the
“Rama’s thousand verses Hindus, it is
Journey” is a making it the translated as “the
Sanskrit epic world's longest Lord’s Song” and
poem written by poem written by also written
the poet Valmiki Vyasa around between second
consisting 24,000 500 B.C.E who's century B.C.E
verses in seven considered to be and third century
book and 500 the scribe of the C.E.
Vedas.
Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad
Gita
Beliefs and Doctrines
Hindu faith offer its follower many paths for
salvation and may find liberation from the cycle of
life through devotion to one or more gods. In
temples, devotees can pray and offer sacrifices so
that they can gain favor from deities and assist them
in their struggles for salvation. The soul’s longing
and clinging to god is known as Bhakti.
Devotion to the Trimuti
The Brahman is often seen in there forms
or functions. Called the Trimuti, these are
creation, preservation, and destruction. These
function are expressed in god forms, namely,
Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver;
and Shiva, the destroyer.
Routes to Moksha
From the Upanishads one may find the three
principal and inter-related doctrines within
Indian religion. Firstly, every soul dies and is
reborn anew in new form (this cycle is called
samsara). Second, one’s deeds have an effect in
this or a future life. Lastly, one may escape the
weary round of death and birth.
Worship and Observances
Hindu scriptures state that there are 330 million
gods or devas that include manifestations of natural
phenomena. Hindus worship sacred images and
temples believed to house and represent the deities.
These images can be revered in homes or temples
with a hist of intermediary priests, holy men, and
religious teachers.
However, most Hindu worship individually
involves mantras or vibrating sounds that summon
the deity and the prasad or gift offerings.
 In temples, ceremonies may be in the form of
offering a flame, milk, or honey, and even reciting
chants and music. They also celebrate a number of
festivals that are based on the Hindu calendar and are
often related to seasonal changes. Holi, Diwali, and
Dusserah are the most important.
The “Festival of Lights” or Diwali is India's most
important celebration of the year, occurs in October or
November, and is similar to the Christian Christmas
holiday.
The “Festival of Lights” or Diwali.
The “Festival of Colors” or Holi.
The “Festival of Victory (of Good over Evil)
” or Dusserah.
Subdivisions
Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs
and practices, including reverence for a particular
god. Presently, there are four principal denominations
within the Hindu faith: Shaivism, Shaktism,
Vaishnavism, and Smartism. However, these gods
have different names, and Hindus all worship one
supreme being. Nevertheless, each sect has its own
religious leader, sacred texts, schools, and temples.
Shaivis
m The compassionate
one, Lord Shiva, is
God for the Saivites.
They worship in
temples, practices
yoga (raja) and value
self-discipline and
philosophy.
Shaktis
m The supreme for
Shaktas is Shakti, the
Goddess. The divine
mother, a gentle one
or a fierce deity and
her believers use
chants, magic, and
yoga to summon
cosmic forces.
Vaishnavism
Lord Vishnu is God
for the Vaishnavites,
especially in his
incarnations Krishna
and Rama. Adherents
have multitudes of
saints, temples, and
sacred texts.
Smartism
Ganesha, Shiva,
Shakti, Vishnu, Surya
and Skanda are known
as liberals as they
embrace all major
Hindu gods. Devotees
are left to choose their
own deity in one of six
manifestations, for the
Smartas.
Selected Issues
Hinduism is still the religion of about 80% of the
Indian population. India is a secular state that remains
apolitical when it comes to religious beliefs and
practices of its citizens. As the country with the most
Hindu believers, India is currently confronted with a
number of religious difficulties.
Hinduism and Women
Even though the Manusmriti, or "Laws of Manu,"
state that women should be honored in Hindu society,
women have always been considered inferior to men.
Women are required to perform home chores and to
remain faithful to their husbands, even after their
husbands die. In traditional society, women are
expected to "sati" or "sutte," where widowed women
jump on the funeral pyre of their husbands to prove
their loyalty and help save their souls in the afterlife.
Sati (also known as "suttee")
Caste System
The caste system is one major distinguishing
feature of Indian culture that still affects modern-day
society. This has been a source of particular concern
for caste reformers, and the system has begun to
divide into 3,000 distinct castes, some of which are
based on occupation. However, those that are
disparagingly called "outcasts" or "untouchables" are
also known as "Dalits," who are highly ostracized in
society.  
Dowry System
In India, the marital custom of dowry is widely
practiced. A dowry is a transfer of wealth from the
bride's family to the groom's family. Dowries include
money, property, jewelry, vehicles, furniture,
appliances, clothing, and any sort of gift that can be
given or requested. Dowry serve as a form of
protection for the wife against the very real
possibility of ill treatment by her husband and his
family.
Dowry System