The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around B. This collection of verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations received by ancient saints and sages. Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between B. But many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always existed.
Around B. Rituals, such as sacrifices and chanting, were common in the Vedic Period. Hindus began to emphasize the worship of deities, especially Vishnu, Shiva and Devi. The concept of dharma was introduced in new texts, and other faiths, such as Buddhism and Jainism, spread rapidly.
Hinduism and Buddhism have many similarities. Buddhism, in fact, arose out of Hinduism, and both believe in reincarnation, karma and that a life of devotion and honor is a path to salvation and enlightenment.
But some key differences exist between the two religions: Buddhism rejects the caste system of Hinduism, and does away with the rituals, the priesthood and the gods that are integral to the Hindu faith.
The Medieval Period of Hinduism lasted from about to A. New texts emerged, and poet-saints recorded their spiritual sentiments during this time. In the 7th century, Muslim Arabs began invading areas in India. During parts of the Muslim Period, which lasted from about to , Islamic rulers prevented Hindus from worshipping their deities, and some temples were destroyed. Indian statesman and activist Mahatma Gandhi, Between and , the British controlled India. At first, the new rulers allowed Hindus to practice their religion without interference.
But later, Christian missionaries sought to convert and westernize the people. Many reformers emerged during the British Period. The partition of India occurred in , and Gandhi was assassinated in British India was split into what are now the independent nations of India and Pakistan , and Hinduism became the major religion of India. Starting in the s, many Hindus migrated to North America and Britain, spreading their faith and philosophies to the western world.
An early 18th century depiction of Devi revered by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in addition to Brahman, who is believed to be the supreme God force present in all things. Followers of Hinduism can visit the Mandir any time they please. Hindus can also worship at home, and many have a special shrine dedicated to certain gods and goddesses.
The merchants, traders and farmers are like the strong legs. The manual workers and labourers are like the feet. Stage in life Meaning Duties dharmas Brahmacharya The student stage Go to school and learn the scriptures and duties. Grihastha The householder stage Marry and have children. Work and earn money to support the family.
Vanaprastha The retirement stage Concentrate on reading the scriptures, meditating, worship, visiting the temple and going on pilgrimages. Sannyasa The sacred pilgrim stage Move away from material possessions and be a wandering holy person who teaches others about the scriptures and spends time in prayer. The duty a Hindu should perform in their life. If a Hindu is in the final stage of their life, they should give up their possessions and travel to temples to learn the scriptures.
Enjoying the pleasures of life. Enjoying food, music, arts and sexuality. Gaining wealth in a lawful way. Having a job that is legal and not working in a job that is illegal. Freedom from samsara so that the atman joins up with Brahman. Gaining good karma by being morally good so as to try to break free from the cycle of rebirth. The student stage. Go to school and learn the scriptures and duties.
The householder stage. Marry and have children. The retirement stage. Concentrate on reading the scriptures, meditating, worship, visiting the temple and going on pilgrimages. Brahman is the power which upholds and supports everything. According to some Hindus this power is identified with the self atman while others regard it as distinct from the self.
Most Hindus agree that Brahman pervades everything although they do not worship Brahman. Some Hindus regard a particular deity or deities as manifestations of Brahman. Most Hindus believe in God but what this means varies in different traditions.
The Sanskrit words Bhagavan and Ishvara mean 'Lord' or 'God' and indicate an absolute reality who creates, sustains and destroys the universe over and over again.
It is too simplistic to define Hinduism as belief in many gods or 'polytheism'. Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented by the multitude of deities which emanate from him.
God, being unlimited, can have unlimited forms and expressions. God can be approached in a number of ways and a devoted person can relate to God as a majestic king, as a parent figure, as a friend, as a child, as a beautiful woman, or even as a ferocious Goddess. Each person can relate to God in a particular form, the ishta devata or desired form of God. Thus, one person might be drawn towards Shiva, another towards Krishna, and another towards Kali.
Many Hindus believe that all the different deities are aspects of a single, transcendent power. In the history of Hinduism, God is conceptualised in different ways, as an all knowing and all pervading spirit, as the creator and force within all beings, their 'inner controller' antaryamin and as wholly transcendent.
There are two main ideas about Bhagavan or Ishvara:. For convenience Hindus are often classified into the three most popular Hindu denominations, called paramparas in Sanskrit. These paramparas are defined by their attraction to a particular form of God called ishta or devata :.
The terms guru and acharya refer to a teacher or master of a tradition. The basic meaning is of a teacher who teaches through example and conveys knowledge and wisdom to his disciples. The disciple in turn might become a teacher and so the lineage continues through the generations. One story that captures the spirit of the teacher is that a mother asks the teacher to stop her son eating sugar for he eats too much of it.
The master tells her to come back in a week. She returns and he tells the child to do as his mother says and the child obeys. Asked by the mother why he delayed for a week, he replied 'a week ago I had not stopped eating sugar!
Gurus are generally very highly revered and can become the focus of devotion bhakti in some traditions. A fundamentally important teaching is that spiritual understanding is conveyed from teacher to disciple through a lineage and when one guru passes away he or she is usually replaced by a successor.
One guru could have more than one successor which leads to a multiplication of traditions. Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets CSS if you are able to do so.
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Atman Atman Atman means 'eternal self'. Dharma Dharma Dharma is an important term in Indian religions. Now exhibited in the Horniman Museum, London. The four classes are: Brahmans or Brahmins - the intellectuals and the priestly class who perform religious rituals Kshatriya nobles or warriors - who traditionally had power Vaishyas commoners or merchants - ordinary people who produce, farm, trade and earn a living Shudras workers - who traditionally served the higher classes, including labourers, artists, musicians, and clerks People in the top three classes are known as 'twice born' because they have been born from the womb and secondly through initiation in which boys receive a sacred thread as a symbol of their high status.
The ashrama system is as follows: Brahmacarya - 'celibate student' stage in which males learned the Veda grihastha - 'householder' in which the twice born male can experience the human purposes purushartha of responsibility, wealth, and sexual pleasure Vanaprastha - 'hermit' or 'wilderness dweller' in which the twice born male retires from life in the world to take up pilgrimage and religious observances along with his wife Samnyasa - 'renunciation' in which the twice born gives up the world, takes on a saffron robe or, in some sects, goes naked, with a bowl and a staff to seek moksha liberation or develop devotion Correct action in accordance with dharma is also understood as service to humanity and to God.
Purushartha Purushartha Hinduism developed a doctrine that life has different goals according to a person's stage of life and position. Brahman and God Brahman Brahman is a Sanskrit word which refers to a transcendent power beyond the universe. God Most Hindus believe in God but what this means varies in different traditions.
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