Hinduism

Hinduism

Introduction

Hinduism is a religion that originated in India and is still practiced by most of the Natives as well as the people who have migrated from India to other parts of the world. Statistically there are over seven hundred million Hindus, mainly in Bharat, India and Nepal. Eighty five percent of the population in India is Hindu.

The word Hindu comes from an ancient Sanskrit term meaning 'dwellers by the Indus River,' referring to the location of India's earliest know civilization, the Pakistan. There is not much organization and hierarchy is nonexistent. The religion suggests commitment to or respect for an ideal way of life know as Dharma. Hinduism absorbs foreign ideas and beliefs making it have a wide variety of beliefs and practices. This has given it a character of social and doctrinal system that extends to every aspect of life. The Hindus own definition of their community is 'those who believe in Vedas.'

Map of the distribution of Hindus in the world - c...

Holy places #2: Hinduism

Holy places #2: Hinduism

History/Origin

The practices and beliefs of Hinduism cannot be understood without knowing the background. Hinduism is the worlds oldest religion, it dates back more than 3,000 years. Hinduism is unique in the fact that it has no founder. Its origins are lost in a very distant past.

In 1500 BC the Indo-Aryan tribes invaded India and took over the Mahenjo-daro. From the combination of these two tribes came the worship of goddesses. The Hindus started practices such as bathing in temple tanks and the postures of yoga. Soon gods of war started being created and worshipped. Sakas then began invading the Hindus and made a large impact on the religion. The sacred temples started to be built and the sacred laws were codified and myths and legends were preserved in the Puranas. Soon great devotional movements began and ways of religion practice evolved...