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Study Notes
Characteristics of Hinduism
- Hinduism is one of the oldest religions still practiced today, and it is the oldest religion that is still practiced today.
- The tradition combines beliefs, cultural practices, and philosophy of ancient and modern India.
- Hinduism is famous for having thousands of deities, both gods and goddesses, but most Hindus believe that all of the deities are manifestations of Brahman.
Origin of Hinduism
- There is no singular founder of Hinduism, making its origins and early history unclear.
- Some scholars believe that Hinduism originated in the Indus Valley region around 10,000 BCE.
- The term "Hindu" was given to the tradition by the Persians who inhabited the area much later.
Scriptures
- Hinduism has a variety of texts that are authoritative for the tradition, including the shruti and smriti.
- The shruti contains many sacred scriptures that monks and other religious leaders have preserved and studied over time, all of which are contained in the Vedas.
- The smriti contains popular religious literature, including the epics the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
Vedas
- The Vedas are the oldest texts of Hinduism and contain knowledge that always existed in the world but was finally written down.
- The Vedas provide Hindu commentary on the earlier Vedas and contain the philosophical discourse of the tradition.
- The Brahmanas are a subset of the Vedas that provide Hindu commentary on the earlier Vedas.
- The Upanishads are the latest written texts in the Vedas and contain the philosophical discourse of the tradition.
Smriti
- The smriti contains two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which tell two of the most important stories in Hinduism.
- The Ramayana tells the story of Prince Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, killing the demon king Ravana to rescue his wife, Sita.
- The Mahabharata is the longest recorded poem in the world and describes a war that takes place between families in India.
Major Beliefs of Hinduism
- Dharma, or duty, is based on one's position in life and is determined by their actions in a previous life.
- Samsara is the cycle of reincarnation, and moksha is the escape or liberation from the endless cycle of birth and rebirth.
- Karma is the concept of right action and is inherently tied to the other concepts of Hinduism.
- Ahimsa, or non-violence, is part of one's dharma for most people.
Deities
- Brahman is the supreme god or spiritual entity who has various incarnations, including the trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva).
- Brahma is the creator god, Vishnu is the restorer or preserver god, and Shiva is the destroyer god.
- Shakti or Devi is the supreme goddess who is worshiped in various incarnations and is as powerful and important as Vishnu and Shiva.
Institutions
- Temples, or mandir, are the primary places of worship for Hindus and are usually dedicated to a specific deity.
- Ashram are Hindu monasteries used primarily for Hindu spiritual leaders to retreat for meditation, instruction, and religious reflection.
Practices
- Bhakti, or devotion to the deities, is one of the most common practices of Hinduism.
- Puja is a communal worship service that involves prayer, bhakti, a sacrifice of foods to the deities, music, and meditation.
- Yoga and sadhana are spiritual practices used to bring about full mindfulness and connect to Brahman.
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Description
Learn about the oldest religion still practiced today, its focus on connecting with Brahman, and its impact on ancient and modern Indian culture.
