Hinduism founder and origin
Hinduism founder and origin
According to several researchers, the world’s oldest religion is Hinduism which was started around 4,000 years ago. Nowadays, after Christianity and Islam, Hinduism is the third-largest religion with over 900 million members. Over 95% of the Hindus in the world live in India. Since religion doesn’t have a particular founder, its beginnings and its history are challenging to identify.
Hinduism is unusual because it’s a collection of various cultures and concepts rather than a single religion. The primary origin of Hinduism between 2300 B.C-1500 B.C is in Indus valley, current Pakistan. It is believed that Hinduism was started by the Indo-Aryans people which were came in the subcontinent from Central Asia. It was developed with time. Therefore it is no specific Hinduism founder and origin.
Hinduism beliefs and Practices
Hinduism beliefs and Practices
The following are some basic Hinduism beliefs and practices.
- Mostly Hindu people are henotheistic. It means they worship “Brahma” as their deity and also worship other gods and goddesses. Hindu believe that there are many ways to reach their God.
- Hindu people believe in samsara, which means life is a cycle of death and rebirth.
- They also believe in karma, which means it is a universal law of cause and effect.
- Hindu believe in “Atma,” or soul, and it’s one of Hinduism’s central beliefs. According to it, all living things have a soul.
- Hindus also believe that people’s current and future lives are the result of their acts and thoughts.
- All living animals are essential, but cows are sacred animals.
- Hindus do not eat beef or pork, so they are primarily vegetarian.
Hinduism Symbol
Hinduism Symbol name “OM”
There are different Hinduism Symbol name but Swastika and Om are two of Hinduism’s most important symbols. Swastika means “excellent luck” or “being delighted,” and the sign represents good fortune.
The om sign comprises three Sanskrit letters that symbolize three sacred sounds (a, u, and m). In Hindu temples and family memorials, the om sign is commonly seen.
Hinduism holy book
There are many holy book for hinduism. Among those holy books the Vedas is main holy book for Hinduism. It was written approximately 1500 B.C. These Vedas books are main scriptures. Hindus believe that these books were obtained by gurus and philosophers directly from Gods. Vedas (Main holy book for Hinduism) are basically four writings
- The Samaveda
- The Rig Veda
- Atharvaveda
- Yajurveda
Some other name of holy book for Hinduism are Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, Mahabharata, the 18 Puranas and the Ramayana which considered crucial.
Is Hinduism Monotheistic or Polytheistic
There are many Gods in Hinduism. Hindu worship various gods and goddesses. Brahma is considered the highest God. Hinduism believe it’s present in everything in the universe.
Mostly known gods are following.
1 – Brahma
(Brahama )
Hindus believe Brahma is the first God. In Hinduism, the God Brahma is credited with the creation of the earth and all living creatures. Bu Brahma is currently the least worshipped deity in Hinduism. There are only two temples in India of Brahma compared to the other gods, which have thousands of temples in India.
Brahma has four heads, and it is thought that the four Vedas (religious book of Hindus) originated from these four heads. Some people believe that the caste system, or four varnas, arose from various parts of Brahma’s body.
Brahma has four arms and also has a beard. Brahma’s wife name Sarasvati who is the goddess of knowledge.
Why is Brahama least worshipped?
It is thought that Brahma’s job as the creator has ended. Therefore, it is up to other gods like Vishnu to keep the world safe and Shiva to continue cosmic rebirth.
2 – Vishnu
Vishnu is the second Hindu God responsible for the world’s formation, maintenance, and destruction. His purpose is to return to earth during difficult times to maintain the balance of right and wrong. Vishnu is cited multiple times in the Rig Veda, the holiest of the four Vedas, alongside other gods such as Indra.
He is primarily associated with light, particularly the Sun. His wife is Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and purity). Vaishnavas are those Hindus who worship Vishnu as their primary God
3 – Shiva
Shiva is the third Hindu god. It is charged for the world’s creation, maintenance, and destruction. The role of Shiva is to destroy the universe and rebuild it. Shiva is well known for being wild and angry. He’s an ascetic sometimes (quit all pleasures of the world), and sometimes he becomes a hedonist (pleasure seeker).
Parvati is the wife of Shiva, and she keeps him in control. His relationship with his wife makes him a lover and an ascetic in married conditions. Shaivism are those Hindus who worship Shiva as their primary deity. In India, Dance is considered a religious act, and Shiva is regarded as its master. Therefore, Shiva is called Lord of Dance.
Devi, the mother-goddess, is Shiva’s consort. Hindu believes that Devi has previously taken numerous shapes, including Kali, the goddess of death, and Sati, married life. However, her most well-known shape is Parvati. Hindus believe Shiva and Parvati reside in the Himalayan Kailash mountains.
4 – Krishna
Krishna is considered the God of love, compassion, and tenderness.
Hinduism Caste system
There are four significant castes (in descending order of importance)::
- Brahmin: These are considered the highest level of people who are spiritual leaders
- Kshatriyas: These people are protectors of society and society’s guardians
- Vaisyas: These are highly skilled people and producers who feed society.
- Shudras: They are considered as low-skilled laborers
There is another category also which is not part of the caste system. They are called “Untouchables.” These are believed to be at the bottom of the social order.
Hinduism Festivals
Hindus observe a variety of festivals and holidays.
Most commonly and well-known are:
-
Diwali
Diwali (A Festival of Lights)
- Navaratri: a harvesting and fertility festival
- Holi is a springtime event.
- Krishna Janmashtami: a celebration of Krishna’s birthday
- Raksha Bandhan: a festival commemorating the tie between a brother and a sister.
- Maha Shivaratri: Shiva’s big feast
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