Summary: Floating Through The Religion Of Hinduism

Hinduism is the third largest and the oldest religion in the world. Because it is so popular, there are many stereotypes of this religion that have come about over the years. Some of these might include things like all Hindu women have red dots on their foreheads or that all Indians are Hindu. These are both untrue, of course. However, Hinduism is the leading religion in India, dominating around 80 percent of the country’s population (“Hinduism”. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.). Within each religion are a number of beliefs, sacred texts, laws, and guidelines to live by. Hinduism is definitely an extremely complex religion compared to other religions, with several beliefs, multiple gods, goddesses and deities, and many laws and rules to be

Originated and practiced primarily by the majorities in India, hinduism is the third largest religion with more than 900 million followers around the world. Hinduism is very diverse because it is a polytheistic religion with about 330 million gods and goddesses. Many people believe that they believe and pray all their gods and goddesses but that is just of of the stereotype. Hinduism is also labeled as a very catioc religion because of the fact that the religion has so many gods, therefore they think that it is not organized very well. Although Hinduism consist of many gods, they don’t necessarily follow all of them, hence they follow only the ones that are followed by the people in a particular area. It is also very organised as certain gods are grouped into certain temples and. The rules are also changed a little across different temples around the world. Prothero describes some of the stereotypes for Hinduism in the western

First, let it be known that Hinduism is highly diverse. It has monotheistic aspects and polytheistic aspects, depending on the fundamentals and worshipper themselves. Monotheism is defined as the worship of God as a unity (M.H.D.). Polytheism is defined as the worship of God as a multiplicity (M.H.D.). Hinduism is said to be both things. Hindus believe that there is a Supreme God, which multiple other deities are derived from (BBC, 2009). This is a main link to most indigenous religions.

Exploring the Hindu Religion is an extremely broad one that is open to much interpretation which pulled me to choose this religion for my project and I finally explored it at the Durga Temple in Fairfax, Va. on 27th October, 2015 at 10 am during Aarti Puja. Aarti is one of the most important worship in Hindu faith. My own religion is Islam which is the second largest religion. Islam means total submission to God almighty and so Islam is a monotheistic religion. Although Islam is completely different than Hinduism, both of the religion practiced in the same continent of South Asia (India, Pakistan And Bangladesh) and which can be one reason why I have chosen Hinduism. Particularly I had interest to select Hinduism for this assignment because,

The Hindu religion has been around for thousands of years and is one of the worlds oldest and largest religions. The Hindu faithful celebrate their Gods in many forms. According to Fisher (2014), “there are actually 330 million deities in India"(page 71). Hindus treat their Idols as living Kings and queens. Hindus also worship the Gods and try to reach total enlightenment, in different ways as there is no one set way to reach enlightenment. They meditate, practice yoga and leave offerings for the Deity’s. Hindus believe in a constant

Despite India’s diverse cultural landscape, both ethnically and religiously, Hinduism often serves as the predominant summation of the country’s culture—and justly, albeit incorrectly, so—as over 80% of the nation’s population practices the ancient tradition (“Religious Composition” n.p.). Hinduism’s history begins several thousands of years ago, as the nomadic Aryan peoples, sweeping in from the northern Hindu Kush Mountains, alternately clashed and mingled with the local Dravidian people with their downward migration; this Indo-Aryan synthesis, centered on the sacred Vedas scriptures of the Aryans, led to the development of a new religious tradition that would prevail for thousands of years: Hinduism (Lockard 50).

Hinduism in itself is a vast denomination especially for a religion that pretty much confines itself within India. This religious institution, by shear numbers and diversity of the communities, varies with the beliefs and practices of each individual, who will profess to be Hindu. In fact the term "Hinduism", originated in the west, and is not the name of one whole tradition. Instead it is a diverse group of Indian religions that collectively have a respect for the early Vedic scriptures. Like many religions, Hinduism has a rich and profound history. It has progressed over approximately four to five thousand years (some authorities say longer), and again like many religions has gone through numerous changes, traditionally, philosophically, ritually and so forth. This religion is so old and diverse

Hinduism is the religion of the majority of population in India and Nepal. It is prevalent among other populations outside of this area and has over 900 million followers worldwide (BBC). Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. Hinduism is not easily defined because of its many different practices and different beliefs within it. It can be compared conceptually and historically with the other Indian religions such as Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism (BBC). Throughout its history, many of the key figures within the religion have taught different philosophies and wrote a numerous amount of holy books. Because of these reasons, writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a

While researching Hinduism beliefs and practices, I found that Hinduism is one of the oldest and most widely practices religions in South Asia. It is also the third largest religion in the world with 16 percent of the world’s population. Hinduism is also known as a polytheistic religion because they believe in more than one god. There are many gods and goddesses in Hinduism, but the main and the highest gods are Lord Brahma, the creator; Lord Vishnu, the protector; and Lord Shiva, the destroyer. Hinduism is a religion with a variety of beliefs and practices. The four major beliefs of Hinduism are the caste system, multiple Gods, karma, and reincarnation.

Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion, which is now manifested all around the world by millions of people. Especially this religion is popular with the crowds in South Asia. Such an ancient and vast religion has been developing through the centuries, influenced by nations, religions and other circumstances. Hinduism contains a wide variety of philosophies, concepts, schools and sacred texts and, therefore, can be a bit complicated at first sight. “Hinduism has not been made, but has grown. It is a jungle, not a building” (Eliot, Charles, Hinduism and Buddhism). Although Hinduism differs a lot depending on traditions, deities, subschools and other factors, it is connected throughout all followers by shared concepts, values and fundamental goals. The ultimate salvation, which means the complete release from the things of the material world, is a paramount value in Hinduism. There are four paths to salvation: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga.

Hinduism is considered as the world’s third largest religion, it contains thousands of different sects and groups evolving in India since 1500 BCE because of their Indian traditions, beliefs, tolerant philosophies and weird point views. By Cristian Violatti: “the Hindu insight claims that the Oneness expresses itself in many different forms”. Hinduism is the dominant religion in India and nearby countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka…It’s not a religion as the word it seems but a socio-religious body shape of Indian society with its specific meanings and reflects.

While researching Hinduism beliefs and practices, I found that Hinduism is one of the oldest and most widely practices religions in South Asia. It is also the third largest religion in the world with 16 percent of the world’s population. Hinduism is also known as a polytheistic religion because they believe in more than one god. There are many gods and goddesses in Hinduism, but the main and the highest gods are Lord Brahma, the creator; Lord Vishnu, the protector; and lord Shiva, the destroyer. Hinduism is a religion’s with a variety of beliefs and practices. The four major beliefs of Hinduism are the caste system, multiple Gods, karma, and reincarnation.

One of the two main religions in India is Hinduism. It is also the world’s third largest religion with its followers being in the billions. Hinduism however was not founded by an entity or person, time, or book. There are many different beliefs and viewpoints that do not always line up with one another but it only those who practice Hinduism can understand and partake in these discussions. An article written by Christian Violatti explains that it is why such practices such as yoga or meditation is in many displays of Hinduism. These rituals do not exclaim that one practice is better than the other but it does include the gods of this religion however (Violatti 1).

Hinduism being very vast with its philosophies and emitting the light that stood time tested, glares many times the eyes of one who seeks to find what is inside it. Often one gets confused with the availability of multiple answers to the same question and the presence of numerous ways that it suggests to one who seeks it for upliftment. Because of this glare one may see only the darkness and may tend to think Hinduism is a religion of rituals and old fashioned. But when one comes beyond this initial confusion and gets to taste its real essence, he/she would realize these qualities of Hinduism are in fact its assets. It is an open-minded discipline. It is a discipline that does not use force on its follower. That is, it does not dictate the follower to act by one step by step recipe it gives, condemning all other recipes. In fact Hinduism is a discipline that allows many religions like shaivam, vaishnavam and many others to coexist sharing the dharma (discipline), permitting many philosophies - at times mutually exclusive - to be propounded. It is not a religion of mere postulations. The religion is a free but disciplined system, which has the concepts that could be proved by logic or by experience. To be a Hindu is to belong to one of the greatest philosophies in the world. It is based on a belief in a Universal being which permeates the whole universe, and any other universes which we do not know about. The central concepts are Dharma (do unto others as you would like

    Culturally diffused into India by the Aryans during the Aryan Invasion, Hinduism is a polytheistic faith that believes in reincarnation and the all encompassing Caste System. The history of Hinduism begins with Purusha; the thousand headed, eyed, and footed, primordial god who who was like an ocean who sacrificed himself to create the world, and the Caste System. From his mouth came the Brahmin, the ¨head¨ of the Caste System.  Then from his arms came Rajanya. His thighs the Vaishya and from his feet came the Shudra. Along with that, the moon, sun, wind, all animals, sacred texts and all of existence came from his body as well.