Hinduism

A Hindu priest making offerings in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

A sadhu (wandering holy man) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The four Hindu stages of life consist of student, householder, forest dweller, and wandering dependant. The sadhu depends on gifts of food or money to support himself in the final stage of his life.

A sadhu in Nepal. In Hinduism, a sadhu (or saddhu) is an itinerant holy man. He survives by begging for food and money.

Dawn on the sacred river Ganges at Varanasi, India. The river is regarded as holy by several religions but especially by Hindus, who make pilgrimages to bathe in its waters. The banks are lined with temples and sites for funeral pyres. After cremation, the ashes are scattered in the river.

The remains of funeral pyres on the banks of the sacred River Ganges at Varanasi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Varanasi is one of Hinduism's seven holy cities. Hindus cremated here have their ashes scattered in the river.

Hindus believe that cows are sacred and must not be killed. This animal is historically associated with certain Hindu deities, and is also symbolic of the sanctity of all life. In modern Indian society, the slaughter of cattle is frequently raised as a political issue.

The Trimurti or Hindu triad of gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma has four heads, carries the sacred Vedas, and holds beads and other objects used in worship. Vishnu holds a discus and a club to destroy evil, and a lotus to bless his followers. Shiva carries a trident, representing his three aspects as creator, preserver, and destroyer, and holds a snake, depicting his power over deadly animals.

Religion originating in northern India about 4,000 years ago, which is superficially and in some of its forms polytheistic, but has a concept of the supreme spirit, Brahman, above the many divine manifestations. These include the triad of chief gods (the Trimurti): Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (creator, preserver, and destroyer). Central to Hinduism are the beliefs in reincarnation and karma; the oldest scriptures are the Vedas. Temple worship is almost universally observed and there are many festivals. There are over 805 million Hindus worldwide. Women are not regarded as the equals of men but should be treated with kindness and respect. Muslim influence in northern India led to the veiling of women and the restriction of their movements from about the end of the 12th century.

Roots

Hindu beliefs originated in the Indus Valley civilization about 4,500 years ago, which passed on a rich assortment of myths and legends to the Dravidians. Following the invasion of northern India by the Aryans, about 3,000 years ago, these myths were absorbed into Aryan ritual and religion, which now forms much of the tradition of Hindu religion. Ancient Babylonian and Egyptian influences are also discernible.

Scriptures

The Veda collection of hymns, compiled by the Aryans, was followed by the philosophical Upanishads, centring on the doctrine of Brahman; and the epics, containing both Aryan and pre-Aryan material, Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata (which includes the Bhagavad-Gītā). All were in existence before the Christian era. The Puranas, sacred historical texts dating from the 4th century AD, reflect the many cultural streams of India.

Beliefs

Hindu belief and ritual can vary greatly even between villages. Some deities achieve widespread popularity such as Krishna, Hanuman, Lakshmi, and Mahādevī; others, more localized and specialized, are referred to particularly in times of sickness or need. Some deities manifest themselves in different incarnations or avatars such as Rama or Krishna, both avatars of the god Vishnu.

Underlying this multifaceted worship is the creative strength of Brahman, the supreme being. Hindus believe that all living things are part of Brahman: they are sparks of atman, or divine life, that transmute from one body to another, sometimes descending into the form of a plant or an insect, sometimes the body of a human. This is all according to its karma or past actions, which are the cause of its sufferings or joy as it rises and falls in samsara (the endless cycle of birth and death). Humans have the opportunity, through knowledge and devotion, to break the karmic chain and achieve final liberation, or moksha. The atman is then free to return to Brahman.

The creative force of the universe is recognized in the god Brahma. Once he has brought the cosmos into being, it is sustained by Vishnu and then annihilated by the god Shiva, only to be created once more by Brahma. Vishnu and Shiva are, respectively, the forces of light and darkness, preservation and destruction, with Brahma as the balancing force that enables the existence and interaction of life. The cosmos is seen as both real and an illusion maya, since its reality is not lasting; the cosmos is itself personified as the goddess Maya.

Practice

Hinduism has a complex of rites and ceremonies performed within the framework of the jati, or caste system, under the supervision of the Brahman priests and teachers. In India, caste is traditionally derived from the four classes of early Hindu society: Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (nobles and warriors), Vaisyas (traders and cultivators), and Sudras (servants). A fifth class, the untouchables, regarded as polluting in its origins, remained (and still largely remains) on the edge of Hindu society. The Indian Constituent Assembly (1947) made discrimination against the scheduled castes or depressed classes illegal, but strong prejudice continues.

Western influence

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON), the Western organization of the Hare Krishna movement, was introduced to the West from India in 1965 by Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977). Members are expected to lead ascetic lives. It is based on devotion to Krishna which includes study of the Bhagavad-Gītā, temple and home ritual, and the chanting of the name Hare (saviour) Krishna. Members are expected to avoid meat, eggs, alcohol, tea, coffee, drugs, and gambling. Sexual relationships should be only for procreation within the bonds of marriage.