Hinduism Essay -- Hindu Religion

Hindooism is one of the worlds oldest religious beliefs in existence (Srinivasan 66). It ranks asthe third largest religion. like a shot at that place be about fifty million Hindus worldwide, majority of themliving in India (Wangu 6). In order to understand the followers of the religion, you must first micturate that Hinduism is more than of a way of life than a religion (Srinivasan 66). Hinduism holdstogether diversity and not only for its own spiritual customs duty, but for the entire subcontinent ofIndia (Berry 3). any traditions at heart India ar almosthow associated with Hinduism. Thediversity which marks Hinduism begins with the notion of deity (Boraks 14). There is a strangekind of unity in the vast numerousness of the Hindu pantheon (14). One never really is certainwhether the Hindu religion is polytheistic or dualistic or even monotheistic there are indicationsthat are all of these and none of these (14)The Hindus define sanctifiedness as brahmann (Boraks 14). T o Hindus, Brahman is external,is changeless, has no equal, and is infinite (14). Brahman expresses itself through creation,brought itself existence by Brahma, the creator (14). Brahma is the sacred one and is creditedwith creation, but Brahma creates and then abandons his creation to lesser gods (14). Hinduism was not founded by one individual, and it was not always the complex religion itis straight off (Wangu 14). Indians call it Sanatana Dharma - the faith with no beginning and no end(Srinivasan 66). It developed gradually, as a merging of beliefs and practices of two main groups- the people of the Indus valley in India and the Aryans of Persia (Wangu 14).Like other religions, the Hindu religion has its own sacred literature. Hindu literature isnot considered sacred because it has a Sacred Author, like in some western religions, but becausethey have sacred subject matter (Boraks 15).There are two main categories of Hindu Scripture - shruti, that which is heard andsmriti, tradit ion or that which is to be remembered (Wangu 9). The Vedas and the Upanishads are shruti texts (9). These sacred writings are considered to be inspired by God andto have been revealed to human kind by old-fashioned sages called rishis (9). for each one of the shruti texts provides a foundation for Hinduism. The four Vedas are theoldest of the texts and are primary script... ...elp the deceased reach the homes of the ancestorsafely (115). The prenatal, childhood, marriage, and death rituals are also performed forwomen belong to the twice- innate(p) castes (115). During these times, Vedic formulas are notrecited, since women are not allowed to read or hear the Vedas (115).Hinduism is made up of several practices and rites. Hindus have the ability to discern their course because of the diversity of Hinduism. Hinduism has many faces (Boraks 14). It is like an umbrella which shelters beneath its cover a whole panoply of religions ideas and expressions(14). Hinduism may have originated in India, but its practices have open up throughout the worldand it has had a profound influence on many other world religions. Work CitedBerry, Thomas. Religions of India. untried York Bruce Publishing Company, 1971.Boraks, Lucius. Religions of the East. Kansas City, MO Sheed & Ward, 1988.Srinivasan, Radhika. Cultures of the World - India. New York marshall Cavendish Corporation,1993.Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Hinduism World Religions. New York Facts on File Incorporated, 1991. Hinduism Essay -- Hindu ReligionHinduism is one of the worlds oldest religions in existence (Srinivasan 66). It ranks asthe third largest religion. Today there are about fifty million Hindus worldwide, majority of themliving in India (Wangu 6). In order to understand the followers of the religion, you must firstrealize that Hinduism is more of a way of life than a religion (Srinivasan 66). Hinduism holdstogether diversity and not only for its own spiritual tradition, but for the entire subcont inent ofIndia (Berry 3). All traditions within India are somehow associated with Hinduism. Thediversity which marks Hinduism begins with the notion of deity (Boraks 14). There is a strangekind of unity in the vast multiplicity of the Hindu pantheon (14). One never really is certainwhether the Hindu religion is polytheistic or dualistic or even monotheistic there are indicationsthat are all of these and none of these (14)The Hindus define sacredness as Brahman (Boraks 14). To Hindus, Brahman is external,is changeless, has no equal, and is infinite (14). Brahman expresses itself through creation,brought itself existence by Brahma, the creator (14). Brahma is the sacred one and is creditedwith creation, but Brahma creates and then abandons his creation to lesser gods (14). Hinduism was not founded by one individual, and it was not always the complex religion itis today (Wangu 14). Indians call it Sanatana Dharma - the faith with no beginning and no end(Srinivasan 66). It developed grad ually, as a merging of beliefs and practices of two main groups- the people of the Indus Valley in India and the Aryans of Persia (Wangu 14).Like other religions, the Hindu religion has its own sacred literature. Hindu literature isnot considered sacred because it has a Sacred Author, like in some western religions, but becausethey have sacred subject matter (Boraks 15).There are two main categories of Hindu Scripture - shruti, that which is heard andsmriti, tradition or that which is to be remembered (Wangu 9). The Vedas and the Upanishads are shruti texts (9). These sacred writings are considered to be inspired by God andto have been revealed to human kind by ancient sages called rishis (9).Each of the shruti texts provides a foundation for Hinduism. The four Vedas are theoldest of the texts and are primary script... ...elp the deceased reach the homes of the ancestorsafely (115). The prenatal, childhood, marriage, and death rituals are also performed forwomen belonging to the tw ice- born castes (115). During these times, Vedic formulas are notrecited, since women are not allowed to read or hear the Vedas (115).Hinduism is made up of several practices and rites. Hindus have the ability to choose theirpath because of the diversity of Hinduism. Hinduism has many faces (Boraks 14). It is like an umbrella which shelters beneath its cover a whole panoply of religions ideas and expressions(14). Hinduism may have originated in India, but its practices have spread throughout the worldand it has had a profound influence on many other world religions. Work CitedBerry, Thomas. Religions of India. New York Bruce Publishing Company, 1971.Boraks, Lucius. Religions of the East. Kansas City, MO Sheed & Ward, 1988.Srinivasan, Radhika. Cultures of the World - India. New York Marshall Cavendish Corporation,1993.Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Hinduism World Religions. New York Facts on File Incorporated, 1991.