The Holy
This is the term used to refer to the One Supreme Being or God, who has no form but who nevertheless pervades the entire universe without exception.
Brahman
This is the most widely consulted scripture of Hinduism. It clearly states the Hindu philosophy and provides a practical guide on how to embody that philosophy in one's daily life.
the Bhagavad Gita
The term "Hindu" is relatively recent, introduced by the ancient Greeks and Persians to indicate the people who lived by the Sindhi River (also known as the Indus River). This is the ancient term for the religion, which means "eternal path of righteousness".
Sanatana Dharma
"namaste" or "namaskar"
This is the most popular Hindu festival, which occurs in October or November (based on a lunar calendar). Known as the "festival of light", it celebrates the victory of good over evil and includes prayer and festivities related to the Divine Mother.
Diwali
For ease of understanding the profound truth of Brahman (undifferentiated Pure Consciousness), the scriptures speak of three faces or dimensions of God.
1. God the creator is referred to with this name.
2. God the sustainer is referred to with this name.
3. God the transformer is referred to with this name.
1.Brahma (not to be confused with Brahman)
2. Vishnu
3. Shiva
The Vedas were written in this language and transmitted orally for many centuries - modern evidence suggests that they existed even earlier than 3500 BCE.
Sanskrit
Many Hindus maintain a strict this kind of diet. Cows are seen as an especially sacred gift from God to humanity, so the strongest religious dietary prohibitions are against eating beef and using leather accessories.
vegetarian
This doctrine is nothing more than the insistence that every action has a consequence; that all our actions will bear their corresponding fruit in this or subsequent lives, and that the only way to assure good outcomes in the future is to do good acts in the present, and pray for divine forgiveness of past misdeeds.
karma
This is a worship ceremony that generally involved a figure representing a favorite form of God, either a simple stone form representing Shiva or an elaborately carved figure representing some other form of God. The figure representing God is ceremonially bathed and richly attired and decorated with flowers. Then offerings of flowers, leaves, rice, fruit, lamps, and incense are made to the accompaniment of mantras.
puja
At death, only the physical body dies. The subtle body (i.e. the energy field and mind of the person) returns to earth in another physical body best suited to exhaust the karmic consequences of its previous deeds. This cycle of death and rebirth continues until the subtle body is purified and liberated through spiritual practice (karma). This term refers to that "freedom from/liberation from the cycle of rebirth" (reincarnation).
moksha
Transmitted orally for many centuries, these are foundational and perhaps the oldest existing scriptures. They include philosophical discourses known as Upanishads. While the date of origin of the Vedas is contested, modern evidence suggests that they existed even earlier than 3500 BCE.
the Vedas
There are major pilgrimage sites all over this country, ranging from Kashmir (north) and Kashi (center) to Rameswaram (south). Pilgrimage is strongly encouraged by the scriptures and is popular even among the not-so-devout and the not-so-rich.
India
Fundamentally, one's obligations are expressed as the need to follow one's this, which is a complex concept derived from a verb root that means "to sustain." One's behavior should always provide the best possible sustenance to society as a whole.
Dharma
'Deities' or more descriptive forms of the Supreme Being are represented in specific forms. For example, Lakshmi, Durga, and Saraswati have this feature in common.
female
As Sustainer of creation, this figure appears on earth from time to time to cleanse the world of evil forces and show the right paths in the practice of Dharma. Rama, Krishna, and Buddha are among the many forms in which He has appeared in more recent history.
Vishnu
This symbol means "well being", signifies the four goals of life (kama, artha, dharma, and moksha), and is used very widely as a sacred symbol to overcome obstacles and invoke prosperity, auspiciousness, and happiness.
swastika
While there is no social ostracism of Hindus who convert to other religions and traditionally there is no formal rite for conversion, anyone who professes faith in these is a Hindu.
the Vedas
Perhaps the most common misconception around Hinduism is that this system comes from scriptures and forms a central part of Hindu religious practice. In the scriptures, the division of society into four groups was no more than a recognition of the variety of functions in society. In India, the law prohibits discrimination according to this system and has put in place extensive affirmative action programs.
the caste system
'Deities' or more descriptive forms of the Supreme Being are represented in specific forms. For example, Rama and Krishna have this feature in common.
male
While Hindus do not engage in proselytizing and have no hesitancy in accepting all religions as legitimate ways to God, Hindus have a close philosophical and cultural affinity to these three other major religions that were born in India.
Buddhism
Jainism
Sikhism
These are two Hindu 'epics' that present moral philosophy in the more accessible form of stories concerning the various manifestations of the Supreme Being.
Ramayana
and
Mahabharata
Hindu society has traditionally been a haven for those persecuted elsewhere. For a thousand years until 1947, India was governed by non-Hindus who sometimes actively discriminated against followers of Hinduism. In 1947, India was partitioned on a religious criterion (Hinduism and Islam) with the creation of these two territories.
Pakistan and Bangladesh
A typical greeting that praises God is this
Hari Om
'Deities' or more descriptive forms of the Supreme Being are represented in specific forms. For example, Hanuman and Ganesha have this feature in common.
animal features