Hinduism Overview
Hinduism is the oldest and the world’s third largest religion which has a billion followers. It is a major religious and cultural tradition of the Indian subcontinent which is developed from Vedic religion and said to be even existed around 10000 BC. It contains philosophical beliefs and cultural practices based on caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are features of one everlasting truth, and by a desire for liberation (moksha) from earthly devils. Hinduism has its origins in such remote past that it cannot be traced to any single individual. Some scholars believe that Hinduism must have existed even in circa 10000 B.C. and that the earliest of the Hindu scriptures – The Rig Veda – was composed well before 6500 B.C. The word "Hinduism" is not to be found anywhere in the scriptures, and the term "Hindu" was established by foreigners who referred to people living across the River Indus or Sindhu, in the north of India, around which the Vedic religion is assumed to have originated. A Hindu is an individual who believes and lives by the religious guidance of the Vedic scriptures. Hinduism has diverse beliefs and ideas and lacks unified traditions which prove that it was an open religion and accepted many other religions’ ideas.
The major themes of Hinduism include Karma (actions and deeds), dharma (duties), samsara (reincarnation), and moksha (liberation from the births and deaths). Their main gods are Shiva (the destroyer), Vishnu (the preserver), and Brahma (the creator). The Hindu conception of social order is that different people will fit into different roles in the society to keep society stable. Therefore, they introduced themselves to caste system which stays as one of their foremost beliefs throughout its history and still today. The upper most place in caste system is Brahmins (the most sacred ones) followed by Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and untouchables. The Brahmins made religious laws and set rituals that everyone followed and must abide by. As we can see, one of the things that made Hinduism unique and different from other religions was that the Brahmin was seen as a king or the ruler. Hindus believed that fulfilling their own duty is a must and it will bring themselves to their ultimate goal, moksha. Their shastras, basic scriptures, were written in Sanskrit language. The major and most popular Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The major themes of Hinduism include Karma (actions and deeds), dharma (duties), samsara (reincarnation), and moksha (liberation from the births and deaths). Their main gods are Shiva (the destroyer), Vishnu (the preserver), and Brahma (the creator). The Hindu conception of social order is that different people will fit into different roles in the society to keep society stable. Therefore, they introduced themselves to caste system which stays as one of their foremost beliefs throughout its history and still today. The upper most place in caste system is Brahmins (the most sacred ones) followed by Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and untouchables. The Brahmins made religious laws and set rituals that everyone followed and must abide by. As we can see, one of the things that made Hinduism unique and different from other religions was that the Brahmin was seen as a king or the ruler. Hindus believed that fulfilling their own duty is a must and it will bring themselves to their ultimate goal, moksha. Their shastras, basic scriptures, were written in Sanskrit language. The major and most popular Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.