The World’s Third Largest Religion: Hinduism

The classical theory of Hinduism traces the origin of the religion to the Indus Valley civilization in 4000 2200 BCE. Hinduism has been influenced over thousands of years. The Vedas are the primary sacred texts of Hinduism. The Vedas contain rituals and hymns from ancient India. The most important text is the Ramayana. It is a love story about a hero, Rama, who fulfils his dharma. It is a well known and liked text in India.

Hinduism has been seen as polytheistic or monotheistic. It is seen as polytheistic because there are many gods and goddesses.  It can also be seen as monotheistic because it recognizes only one absolute God. The universe is seen as one divine entity.

Most urban Hindus follow one or two major divisions in Hinduism. Shivaism believes that Shiva is the ultimate god. Vaishnavaism believes that Vishnu is the ultimate god. Conversely, many rural Hindus worship an earth goddess. This goddess is believed to rule over fertility and disease, life and death. A priesthood is also less important in villages than it is in cities.

Hindus believe in the transmigration of the soul. This is the belief that after you die your soul is transferred into another body. This creates a continuous cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth over many lifetimes called samsara. The accumulation of your good and bad deeds is called karma. This is what determines how you will live your next life. If you commit pure acts, thoughts and devotion, you can be reborn in a higher level. To get out of the cycle you must achieve enlightenment. You can be born at a lower level or as an animal by doing bad deeds. The consequences of your actions are seen in your next life through wealth and suffering.

Four Aims of Hinduism-

Dharma

Dharma is the virtue, righteousness and duty, especially social and caste duty, in accord with the cosmic order.

Artha

Artha is success in economic life and material prosperity.

Kama

Kama is gratification of the senses, pleasure, sensual, sexual, and mental  enjoyment.

Moska

Moska is the liberation from samsara. It is considered the ultimate goal of mankind.