Hinduism

Wiley International Encyclopedia of Anthropology, edited by Hillary Calany, 2018

The Sanskrit term for Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma, meaning "the original, or eternal, way of life." Dharma, the term commonly used to designate religion, actually means an appropriate code of conduct. As an ancient way of life and deriving its name "Hindu" from its location either along the Sindhu River or beyond the Hindu Kush mountains, it is an identity that designates a people rather than a religion, as the term is commonly understood. It is also not a self-designation. The rites, rituals, beliefs, and practices subsumed under Hinduism display a range that would be enough to describe almost any other system of beliefs in the world. This immense internal differentiation is one of the reasons that Hindus, so designated, do not have a concept of proselytization and have historically been tolerant of other faiths. Over centuries this vast and complex system of beliefs has consolidated some key elements that today may be used to describe, if not define, what Hinduism stands for (see Biardeau 1994). Some of these are an outcome of writings and texts prepared by outsiders, according to how they have understood the ways of the people they came across in this part of the world. Such outsiders include ancient travelers, invaders, and later Western colonizers. Translations of key texts and codification by print media have served to consolidate oral texts and to fix such fluidity, yet scholarly works like that of Ramanujan (1999) clearly indicate the multidimensionality of Hinduism. The Hindu concept of divinity is diffuse, referring to an omnipresence of power or spirit that permeates every being and every part of an ever-expanding universe, but it is also expressed in numerous representations of the sacred in almost every form, human and nonhuman. This seeming duality is dissolved when one understands that these forms are nothing but substantive manifestations of the same, all-pervading divinity that includes the self of every human. Thus, while the practice of Hinduism involves the performance of numerous rituals, none of these are strictly mandatory or essential to the definition of being a Hindu. The most established and recognized Hindu pantheon is headed by the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh: the creator, the preserver, and the destroyer. Brahma is not an object of worship but the other two are worshiped in many forms and known by many names. Vishnu, or Narayana, takes a living form to descend to the earth every time there is a danger of the creation dissolving as a result of increases in adharma (bad deeds). Vishnu is supposed to have ten such incarnations, nine of which have already become manifest, while the tenth, Kalki, is yet to appear. With the advent of Kalki, the cycle of creation and destruction will complete one round and the stage will be set for the next. The Hindu concept of time is always cyclical.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), 2019

Religion plays a significant role in structuring and maintaining a society by enforcing certain morals and norms. Like any other religion, Hinduism has guided the Hindus to live in a particular way since time immemorial. India is predominantly a Hindu society and Hinduism has had a huge impact on the structure, function and culture of Indian societies. Ancient Hindu scriptures like the Vedas and Upanishads show profound respect for the feminine principle. It is the Supreme Being, from who all emanate. A woman is a Goddess to be worshipped. During ancient times, the condition of women was in conformity with the religion and they enjoyed freedom, equality and liberty in all spheres of life. However, subsequently, the emergence of texts like the Epics, Smritis, Sastras, vernacular writings and oral traditions, redefined an ideal woman and led to the practices where women were subservient to men. This dissonance and conflict between religious beliefs and practices has strengthened in present times, and has witnessed a steep rise in the number of crimes against women. Increasing domestic violence, sexual violation, female feticide, dowry deaths, declining ratio of women and men and the taboos (arising from having a female body, such as, menstruation) are causing not only distress but also widespread criticism and revolt among women and society at large. Despite the Indian Constitution rejecting any kind of discrimination against women and deeming it unlawful, these inhuman atrocities against women are on the rise. More than ever, there is a need to take refuge in the religion (early Vedic period), not to be too staunch, but to be flexible, democratic and liberal in our outlook with dynamic times and ever shifting contexts. This paper proposes to study (with particular reference to India), the religious beliefs in Hinduism concerning women, and the gradual discord between the beliefs and practices leading to discrimination against women in many spheres today.

Introduction to Hinduism PPT by COHHE, 2022

This PowerPoint document has over 30 pages with short quotes about Hindu Heritage, along with an image. Also included are a few suggested activities for teachers and students and a some videos, reading and research references to further explore the topic.

The previous paper on "Hinduism", discussed, in four chapters, the beginnings of Hinduism, its spirit and structure, Terrestrial Gods worshipped by majority of the populace regardless of locational variations, and, finally, the Celestial Gods of the Vedas. The theme of the concluding chapter on Celestial Gods was about how the Sun God, Surya grew by absorbing into himself almost all the other Vedic Gods. Yet, because of his passive,

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics, 2019

With over one billion adherents worldwide and 15% of the world’s population, Hinduism is the fourth largest, and among the oldest, of the major world religions, with important political aspects that reverberate well beyond South Asia. Yet it is perhaps the least studied of the major world religions. Hinduism is also one of the most geographically concentrated religions of the world. The majority of Hindus are concentrated in two South Asian countries, Nepal and India, where Hindus constitute 80% or more of the population. Small but politically influential diasporic communities of Hindus are found throughout Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada. Key characteristics of Hinduism that set it apart from Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), especially politically, include its polytheistic nature and lack of one single authoritative text; the tremendous variation in its practice across locality and caste; and its frequently informal practice beyon...

ResearchGate, 2025

Hindu customs, traditions and festivals were considered as superstitions, but with the advent of science, it is becoming evident that these are based on some scientific knowledge. Though, the common people did not know science is behind them, they were following it very faithfully over the years. Among the rich array of traditions, Hinduism stands as a beacon of ancient wisdom. Beyond the surface of these Hindu traditions lies scientific reasons that have guided the lives of countless individuals through the ages. Many Hindu practices have deep scientific reasoning that aligns with our understanding of the natural world, human psychology, and even health. Yoga, a cornerstone of Hinduism, offers numerous scientifically proven benefits. It enhances flexibility, strength, and mental well-being. Through controlled breathing and postures, yoga positively impacts the nervous system, reducing stress, anxiety, and improving overall physical health. Many Hindu rituals are rooted in astronomical and natural phenomena. Celebrations like Diwali, the festival of lights, coincide with seasonal changes and solar events, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. As one of the oldest living religions, Hinduism is characterized by its multifarious spiritual practices and highly symbolic rituals. Even though many rituals in Hinduism are considered religious or spiritual, they often have scientifically corroborative rationales. By understanding the scientific justification of Hindu traditions, we can see how these practices have been formulated to benefit human beings in the body, mind and spirit. Currently, the longevity and effects of these practices on human physiology have a good resonance with modern science. The observance of Hindu traditions can become more encouraging and relevant to individuals if the rationale is put forward within the backdrop of contemporary society. *Head & Professor (Associate) of Economics (Retd.), KGC (A), Hanamkonda, Ex-Member Board of Studies, Kakatiya University, Warangal.

2023

The core of Hindu wisdom and belief system is ‘Sanathana Dharma’ meaning ‘Sacred Righteousness’ for the Wellbeing of All Living Beings. The two main scriptural works of Hinduism, the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, explain the methodology of ‘Self-Growth’ with ‘Intelligent Will’ and practicing ‘Sanathana Dharma’.