Hinduism

How important is worship?

Both darsham (viewing the image), and puja (ritual), are of paramount importance in the home and in the temple.

What is dharma?

Dharma means many things, but "appropriateness" is perhaps the best translation. Hinduism is really a map of dharma, of appropriate behavior, and thus of a path to a good rebirth and to moksha.

How to Hindus believe God manifest?

In particular, he or she (the feminine aspect of divinity is extremely important) may take form as avatara, which means "descent." The most important avatars are those of Vishnu - above all as Krishna.

What is the Vedas?

It consists of four collections of texts, and while the later Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and a few Sutras, are known as Shruti, which means "that which is heard." They are considered eternal truth and were transmitted orally until the beginning of the present age - the age of degeneration - when they had to be written down.

What is the Sacred OM?

OM, or AUM, is the most sacred sound for Hindus and is the seed of all mantras, or prayers. In Sanskrit, it is the sound used in mystical contemplation.

What are sampradaya?

Organized traditions of teaching and practice that gradually developed. Some are well known in the West; such as the sampradaya derived from Caitanya (1485 - 1534), a descendent of which is the International Society of Krishna Consciousness.

How many people around the world are Hindus?

Outside of India, about 30 million people consider themselves Hindus.

What do most Hindus believe about Brahman?

That he has the character of God, or uses God to create and sustain the universe, so that moksha is union with God forever. God as Lord is known as Bhagavan and Ishvara, but Hindus may have their own personal devotion to a cult or a specific deity, as well as a sense that God becomes manifest in many ways.

What do Philosophical Hindus believe about Brahman?

That he is the source and pervader of all appearance who is present in humans as atman, or the soul.

What does the Advaita philosophy believe?

The Advaita philosophy is nondualist, and believes that the appearance of diversity in the world is an illusion, and that in essence all reality - the earth, sun, moon, sky, birds, and animals - is one. Therefore, Advaita understands moksha as the realization that the individual and Brahman has always been one, tat tvam asi, "That thou Art."

What is the age of degeneration?

The age called Kali Yuga. It is part of the Hindu cycle of time.

What is an atman?

The eternal soul within every human that is reborn millions of times and in many forms, from the heavens to the hells, according to karma.

What are pancamakra?

The five pollutants: wine, meat, fish, parched grain, and sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman.

What is purushartha?

The four desirable goals of life, which are dharma, artha, the pursuit of legitimate worldly success, kama, the pursuit of legitimate pleasure, and moksha.

What were the four roles of society in the early period?

The four roles (varna), were kshatriyas (warriors), vaishyas (traders and farmers), shudras (menials and servants), and brahmins (priests).

What is karma?

The moral law that prevails in the universe. Karma is not itself reward or punishment; it is a law as impersonal and as certain as gravity.

What is Hinduism?

The name given in the 1800s to describe a broad range of religions in India. It comes from the Persian word Hindu, in Sanskrit sindhu, which means "river" and refers to the people of the Indus valley; it therefore means Indian.

What is maya?

The power of Brahman or God to make things manifest. When people impose wrong views on appearance, the world becomes illusory and ensnaring. Therefore, the basic ill that must be dealt with is ignorance, or avidya.

When did Hinduism originate?

The roots of Hinduism spring from the traditions of the peoples of the Indus valley (2500 BC - 1500 BC).

What is the temple for?

The temple is built to house the image of God and to bring his presence into it through ritual. The temple is built in accordance with the structure of the universe, leading up to the highest point above the image, the pivot of the world. This "entering" into the sacred power of the universe is also achieved through different kinds of cosmic diagrams called yantras and mandalas, and is summed up in mantras, sacred chants that turn random sound into power and order.

Who originated Hinduism?

The traditions Hinduism rose from were of the Dravidian culture (still prevalent among the Tamils in southern India today), and from the Vedic religion of the Aryans. The Aryans invaded northwest India from about 1500 BC on and brought a religion based on oral text known as Vedas, which are, for Hindus, eternal truth.

Which personal devotions to a Hindu God or Goddess are most widespread?

Among the many personal devotions to God or Goddess, those of Vaishnavas, who are devoted to Vishnu, Shaivas, devotees of Shiva, and Shaktas, who worship Shakti, are the most widespread.

What is Vedic religion characterized by?

An elaborate world of elemental gods and goddesses such as Indra and Rudra, and led to the later trinity, or trimurti, or the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. They are approached through rituals and sacrifices. The Rig Veda text consists mainly of hymns and prayers addressed to them.

How many Indian people are Hindus?

80% of India's 1 billion people consider themselves Hindus.

What is another name for Hinduism?

Varnashramadharma

What is moksha?

Release from rebirth. Hinduism is a coalition of ways in which it might be reached. The major paths to moksha are known as margas: jnana-marga, the way of knowledge or insight; karma-marga, the way of action or appropriate works; and bhakti-marga, the way of devotion to God.

What is the Hindu name for Hinduism?

Samatana Dharma, or Everlasting Dharma.

What do texts such as Shmriti do?

Shmirit, or "that which has been remembered," and other texts reinforce Shruti and include the great epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabbaranta, which contains the epic poem the Bhagavad Gita.

What do some sects and cults of Hinduism (such as "left-handed" Tantra) require?

Some forms of Hinduism believe that you cannot attain moksha unless you can show that you are detached from all feeling tying you to the world, including the repulsive and polluting. Because of this, some sects and cults, like "left-handed" Tantra require living in cremation grounds or partaking of the five polluting pancamakra.

What are ashramas?

Stages of live; there are four. Student (brahmacarya), householder (grihastha), one who withdraws for reflection (vanaprastha), and world-renouncer (samnyasin).

What are the most prevalent symbols of Pre-Vedic religion?

Symbols of fertility and the Earth Mother. Natural symbols, such as water, lotuses, and animals were important; trees and pillars were seen as the center of the earth's strength.

How does one practice the margas?

Through practical applications such as yoga, or the way of individual holiness.