An Introduction to Hinduism
An Overview of Hinduism
Hinduism is often referred to as Sanatana Dharma (a Sanskrit phrase meaning “the Eternal Law”) and is the oldest major religion in the world, dating from as early as the eleventh century BCE. It is also the third largest religion in the world with over one billion adherents, most of them residing in India and other South and Southeast Asian countries, especially Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bali. Some scholars say that Hinduism is less a religion than an integrated way of life (or culture) much as Native American Spirituality is. A recent estimate suggests that there are approximately 1.5 million Hindus practicing in the U.S. Hinduism has four key denominations: Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism, each with hundreds of lineages. They represent a broad range of beliefs, practices and mystic goals, but virtually all concur on certain bedrock concepts.
Although Hindus are often considered to be polytheists (because there are thousands of Hindu “gods”) in reality Hindus may also be considered monotheists who simply observe many manifestations of one God. All Hindus worship one Supreme Reality, though they call it by many names. There is no eternal hell, no damnation, in Hinduism. There is no intrinsic evil--no satanic force that opposes the will of God. Hindus believe that the cosmos was created out of God and is permeated by God--a Supreme Being who both is form and pervades form, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe only to recreate it again in unending cycles. Each soul is free to find its own way, whether by devotion, austerity, meditation, yoga or selfless service. Hinduism's three pillars are worship, scripture and the guru-disciple tradition. Prominent themes in Hindu beliefs include (but are not restricted to), Dharma (ethics/duties), Samsara (the continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth), Karma (action and subsequent reaction), Moksha (liberation from samsara), and the various Yogas (paths or practices).
Some Key Beliefs and Practices in Hinduism
Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, monism, atheism, agnosticism, gnosticism among others; and its concept of God is complex and depends upon each particular tradition and philosophy. It is sometimes referred to as henotheistic (i.e., involving devotion to a single god while accepting the existence of others), but any such term is an over-generalization. Most Hindus believe that the spirit or soul — the true "self" of every person, called the Atman— is eternal. According to some forms of Hinduism, this Atman is ultimately indistinct from Brahman, the supreme spirit. The goal of life, according to this view is to realize that one's ātman is identical to Brahman, the supreme soul. The Upanishads state that whoever becomes fully aware of the ātman as the innermost core of one's own self realizes an identity with Brahman and thereby reaches moksha (liberation or freedom). Hindu practices generally involve seeking awareness of God and sometimes also seeking blessings from Devas (celestial beings). Therefore, Hinduism has developed numerous practices meant to help one think of divinity in the midst of everyday life. Hindus can engage in pūjā (worship or veneration) either at home or at a temple. At home, Hindus often create a shrine with icons dedicated to their chosen form(s) of God. Temples are usually dedicated to a primary deity along with associated subordinate deities though some commemorate multiple
holy figures.
Classical Hindu thought accepts the following objectives of human life:
In whatever way a Hindu defines the goal of life, there are several methods (yogas) that sages have taught for reaching that goal. Texts dedicated to Yoga include the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and, as their philosophical and historical basis, the Upanishads. Paths that one can follow to achieve the spiritual goal of life (moksha, samadhi or nirvana) include:
Hindu Scriptures and Sources for Further Information
A large body of texts is classified as Hindu, divided into Śruti ("revealed") and Smriti ("remembered") texts. These texts discuss theology, philosophy and mythology, and provide information on the practice of dharma (religious living). Among these texts, the Vedas are the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. Other major scriptures include the Upanishads, and the epics: Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana. The Bhagavad Gītā, a treatise from the Mahābhārata spoken by Krishna, is of special importance. For further information about Hinduism, visit www.hinduismtoday.com. A good book about Hinduism is The Essentials of Hinduism: A Comprehensive Overview of the World's Oldest Religion by Swami Bhaskarananda.
Selected Hindu Festivals
Hinduism has many festivals throughout the year. The Hindu calendar usually prescribe their dates. The festivals typically celebrate events from Hindu mythology, often coinciding with seasonal changes. There are festivals which are primarily celebrated by specific sects or in certain regions of the Indian subcontinent. Some widely observed Hindu festivals are Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Ram Navami, Krishna Janmastami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussera, Durga Puja and Diwali.