Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, and commonly regarded as hte wolrd’s oldest. Unlike many other world religions, Hinduism does not have one particular founding figure, one set of morals, one set of beliefs, etc, but is a n umbrella term for thousands of smaller religions
Otherwise known as Sanatand Dharma/ Vaidki Dharma
It’s holy scriptures are the Vedas: the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. Another important text is the the Ramayana, “a moving love story with moral and spiritual themes that has deep appeal in India to this day” 6 concerning the exploits of the hero Rama who is viewed as an avatar of Vishnu, and as ”...a principal deity in his own right.”
Hindu religions are henotheistic; they recognize a single deity, and recognise other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or aspects of that God.
There are two main branches of hinduism,according to which deity the regard as being supreme, Vaishnavaism: which regards Vishnu as the ultimate deity
- Shivaism: which regards Shiva as the ultimate deity.
Karma and transmigration of the soul are Hindu beliefs, the latter being referred to as Samsara. The liberation from samsara is perceived to be the ultimate goal for mankind.
Hinduism proposes a caste system, whereby each person the member of a community or Jat, and this is divided nto four Varna, or castes, and fifth, the untouchables. Their positions in life were dictated by their varna, and it was believed you could be born into a higher or lower varna in the next life, depending on the kind of life you lead in the former. This system was abolished by law in 1949.
The displayed symbol is the symbol of Hinduism and is called the Aum,consisting of three components and having three syllables a-u-m which represents many triads-the three worlds, earth, atmosphere and heaven, the three major hindu gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and the three sacred Vedic scriptures, Rg, Yajur, and Sama
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