Dharmic Religions Overview

Dharmic Religions

• Dharmic religions originated in India, a diverse land
• These religions include Hinduism and two branches of Buddhism (Theravada and Mahayana)
• The concept of dharma is central to their teachings, though it has no exact translation in Western languages
• Hinduism is the world's third largest religion, primarily practiced in India, followed by other Asian countries.
• Buddhism has a strong following in Asian countries, especially East and Southeast Asia.

Hinduism

• Hinduism is the world's third largest religion.
• A large portion of Hindus live in India, as well as Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia (especially Bali), Mauritius, Guyana, Fiji, Bhutan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Sri Lanka.
• It differed from other religions, in that it wasn't a missionary religion like Christianity
• Hinduism has many beliefs and practices.
• It originated possibly around the third millennium BCE.
• It does not have one specific founder.
• It has many deities and goddesses
• The central teaching of Hinduism is the attainment of liberation through the identification of Atman and Brahman through the Four Yoga.
• The word Hindu originated from the Persian word sindhu, which means "river" referring to those coming from the Indus River valley.
• The Om or Aum is the most universal of Hindu symbols and it is used in meditation.
• The Rig Veda, the oldest and most important of the Vedas, is over 3,000 years old.
• It's one of the oldest living religious and literary works.
• There are four major classes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Untouchables are also a group.

Sacred Scriptures

• The sacred texts of Hinduism are categorized into Shruti and Smriti.
• The Vedas are the primary source, divided into four collections in the form of sacrificial hymns (Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Atharva-Veda)
• There are four basic Vedic books: Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda, and Atharva-veda.
• These books are regarded as eternal truths.
• Smriti includes the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• The Ramayana is about the story of Rama, including his consort Sita and their struggle with the demon-king Ravana.
• The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world, concerning a struggle between two families.

Beliefs and Doctrines

• Hinduism believes in one Supreme God who created the universe, with many gods who are helpers.
• They do not consider the cow to be a god, but instead, a sacred symbol of life, protected and revered.
• Dharma is the principle of appropriate behavior in Hinduism, and important to Hindu life.
• Karma is the universal principle of cause and effect, influencing future lives.
• Reincarnation is the belief that the soul is immortal and reborn multiple times.
• The word yoga is used to represent a system of practices aimed at spiritual enlightenment. There are four main types: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga.
• Worship and observances in Hinduism vary with different practices and deities, but all include the presence of God through various rituals.

Subdivisions

• Four principal denominations: Shaivism (Lord Shiva), Shaktism (goddess Shakti), Vaishnavism (Lord Vishnu), and Smartism.
• Hindus believe in one supreme entity regardless of the deity.

Hinduism and Women

• Despite the concept that women are important, women in Hinduism have faced and continue to face discrimination in some parts of India
• There are varying schools of thought, some of which hold women in reverence and some which hold them in a subordinate position.

Important Dates and Traditions

• Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year to mark religious events or harvest seasons.
• Diwali is a major festival, symbolizing the inner light of safety and protection.