There are more than 4000 religions in our contemporary world, and each of them is unique, peculiar in particular regions, and has its own deities, customs, and holy texts. Hinduism is an ancient philosophy developed from Vedic religion that gave rise to many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Also, it is the third-largest religion in the world that makes up more than 15% of the global population. Though originated in Central Asia, most Hinduists are from India. For this particular research paper, I am going to choose textbooks from the class. The World’s Religions (by Huston Smith) and The World’s Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World’s Religions (by Philip Novak) will be my primary sources, but I would also use the basic knowledge I have about the religions. There are myths and stories that I have heard from my friends and family. Being one of the most ancient religions globally, the theologists and religious specialists take particular interest in Hinduism. In this paper, different aspects and characteristics of Hinduism will be discussed and analyzed.
Hinduism emerged as an amalgam of oral histories and lived experiences of central Asian tribes that emigrated to present-day India. Hinduism lacks a historical origin story, but according to the myth, Hinduism is as old as the Universe, maybe a bit older. Hindu texts written in the Vedic period (around 500 BCE) can be considered sacred texts. Two prominent ones are the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana. Hindus worship many gods and goddesses where the supreme God force is often considered to be Brahman. In comparison with other polytheistic religions, the Hindus believe that there is actually one God that created everything and everyone, but because He is all-powerful, God is not limited to one form and thus carries a lot of names and shapes. Hinduism advises not to think of God as some abstraction or supreme power, but instead, to think of God as the archetype of the noblest reality they encounter in the natural world. The identity of the supreme God of Hinduism has been a topic of never-ending debate for various years, and different scholars and scholarly sources claim different Gods as the ultimate creator of the Universe. According to Smith, “It is obtuse to confuse Hinduism’s images with idolatry, and their multiplicity with polytheism” (64). However, for most Hindus, each God carries its significance and exceptional value.
As one of the most or probably the oldest religions globally, Hinduism is abundant with legends and myths that helped ancient people understand life and the Universe. Hindus believe that all living beings go through a continuous four cycles of creation and destruction. With each new epoch, humans’ life expectancy, intellectual potential, and physical abilities are decreasing. The four yugas are Maha Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga, and current Kali Yuga, which is considered an era of avarice and hatred and started when the Krishna left Earth. In Hindu traditions, the animals are also sometimes presented as divine creatures. For example, Shesha Naga, the cosmic serpent who carries planets on thousand heads. Hindus believe that every time He uncoils, the new life is brought to the Earth, and when he will finally coil back, the world will cease to exist, and Shesha will be the only one in the Universe. That explains the name of the divine serpent, which translates as ‘the one who remains,’ and He is often compared to Ananta, the infinity. Due to having many different languages and cultures, Hindus understood God in their own distinct way, which led to the representation of superior forces as different Gods, Goddesses, and divine powers. It led to the creation of various legends, myths, and stories that enriched Hinduism and made it more than just a religion.
Like many other religions, Hinduism has its own Holy book, the Vedas, which contains rituals and spiritual knowledge of Hindu people. According to Novak, “The oldest and most fundamental subdivision of Vedas is Rig-Veda, the collection of hymns in praise of the Gods” (14). The spiritual leaders of Hinduism are referred to as pujari, and their primary duty is to perform puja, the worship services. Though there are many regional flavors of Hinduism, most include rigid social hierarchy. This hierarchy sadly gave rise to the caste system that plagues Hindu society, where priests are at the top of this hierarchy and Shudras (untouchables) are at the bottom of this hierarchy. People are not free to choose their place in the hierarchy if the status is inherited. Some Hindus use the Mahabharata (historical and holy book) to justify social segregation. It refers to varna (commonly known as castes) as an essential and core principle of Hindu society whereas some Hindus come to the view that some castes are superior or inferior to others. However, Hinduism does not possess a specific source of authority; thus, for most Hindus, the most crucial source is holy books and texts which provide Hindus with moral guidance, governing rituals, and pilgrimage. Also, since Hinduism is probably the most ancient religion in the world, it is hard to track its roots, thus it is considered that Hinduism does not have a historical founder.
Hinduism is also abundant with religious ceremonies and traditions. Diwali is the festival of lights celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika. This holiday celebrates the forces of good and light over dark and evil by lighting the candles, shooting fireworks, and bringing colorful décor. Holi festival is dedicated to Radha Krishna and his eternal and divine love for people. Hindus threw colored powder to celebrate happiness, love, and the arrival of spring. Raksha Bandhan is the annual ceremony celebrated in Shravana month during a full moon or Purnima Day. This ceremony solemnizes the special bond between sister and brother by tying a rakhi, a special bracelet made of strings. A beautiful legend lies behind this tradition where Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, tore the bottom of her sari to prevent Krishna’s wrist from bleeding, thus creating a bond. After that, Krishna rewarded her by offering His protection. For this reason, instead of a sari, the thread is tied on the arms to celebrate the bond between brother and sister. There are many more ceremonies and holidays, and each of them is pretty unique and carries its own significance and glory.
In general, there are three central teachings and principles of Hinduism. These teachings are to achieve a moksha (liberation from the rebirth cycle), the eternal nature of the soul, and Karma as a core principle of the faith. The concept of an afterlife in Hinduism is specific as well. Hinduism does not offer any exclusive benefits to its followers. Anyone who lives a righteous life earns their Karma. Earned Karma is the currency that provides benefits in the afterlife. In sacred books, the Naraka (Hell) and Swarge (Heaven) are mentioned, but they are different from the common understanding of these two religious places. The number of good and bad deeds that a person made during life are counted. If the former outweighs the latter, the person is allowed into Swarge, but they cannot stay in either place forever. The amount of time spent in Naraka or Swarge is determined by the magnitude of good and bad deeds. When the time is up, the person returns to Earth. However, if the number of good deeds is significantly higher, the person’s soul attains moksha-liberation.
To conclude, Hinduism is not only about a single religion but rather a set of beliefs and traditions. It focuses on loving devotion and service, which can be proved by the tremendous number of celebrations and cultural ceremonies dedicated to love, light and God. Individual deities have their value, characteristics, and purpose in different aspects of life. However, the pantheon of Hindu Gods is united by Brahman’s most prominent force and power as the creator of Earth. As a religion, it glorifies the principles of non-violence and tolerance, which are the highest dharma, a cosmic law fundamental to social order and righteous behavior.
Works Cited
Novak, Philip. The World’s Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World’s Religions. HarperSanFrancisco, 1994.
Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions. HarperOne, 2009.