Hinduism

Hinduism (Sanskrit - Hindū Dharma, also known as Sanātana (eternal) Dharma and Vaidika (Vedic) Dharma) is the religion based on the Vedas as well as the traditions and beliefs of other peoples and tribes of India. It is the oldest existent religion in the world[1][2]. The term Hinduism is heterogeneous, as Hinduism consists of several schools of thought. It encompasses many religious rituals that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies. Many Hindus, influenced by Advaita philosophy, venerate an array of deities, considering them manifestations of the one supreme monistic Cosmic Spirit, Brahman, while many others focus on a singular concept of God, as in Vaishnavism, Saivism and Shaktism.[3]

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with approximately 900 million adherents (2005 figure)[4], of whom approximately 890 million live in India.[5]

1 Etymology

2 Core concepts

2.1 The Eternal Way

2.2 Basic beliefs

2.3 Nature of God

2.4 The many deities

2.5 Practice (Yoga Dharma)

2.6 The four pursuits of life

2.7 The four stages of life

2.8 The four classes of society

3 Denominations

4 Hindu sacred texts

4.1 Shruti

4.2 Bhagavad Gita

4.3 Smriti

5 Origins and society

5.1 Origins of Hinduism

5.2 Vedic religion

5.3 Temples

5.4 Current geographic distribution

6 Hindu philosophy: the six Vedic schools of thought

6.1 Yoga

6.2 Purva Mimamsa

6.3 Uttara Mimamsa: The Three Schools of Vedanta

6.3.1 Pure Monism: Advaita Vedanta

6.3.2 Qualified monism: Vishistadvaita Bhakti-Vedanta

6.3.3 Dualism: Dvaita Vedanta

7 Important themes and symbols in Hinduism

7.1 Tilaka (symbol on forehead or between eyebrows)

7.2 Ahimsa (non-violence), vegetarian diet and the cow

7.3 Hindu symbolism

7.4 Murtis (icons)

7.5 Mantra

8 Criticism

9 Notes

10 References

11 See also

11.1 Hinduism

11.2 Related systems and religions

12 External links

Etymology

The term Hindu is derived from Sindhu (सिन्धु, i.e. the Indus River in particular, or any river in general).[6] In the Rig Veda, the Indo-Aryans mention their land as Sapta Sindhu (the land of the seven rivers of the northwestern Indian subcontinent, one of them being the Indus). This corresponds to Hapta-Hendu in the Avesta (Vendidad: Fargard 1.18)--the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism of Iran. The term was used for people who lived in the Indian subcontinent around or beyond the Sindhu.

The Persian term was borrowed by the Ancient Greeks as Indos, Indikos "Indian", from which was derived the name India, Indianus in Latin.[7] The term hindu was also loaned into Sanskrit, as hindu (हिन्दु), appearing in some early medieval texts (e.g. Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, Kālikā Purāṇa, Rāmakośa, Hemantakavikośa and Adbhutarūpakośa).

According to Historical linguistics, Proto-Indo-Iranian / *s / is preserved in the Indo-Aryan languages (including Sanskrit as / s /) but was changed to / h / in prevocalic position in the Iranian branch (including Avestan and Old Persian); see also Indo-European sound laws.

Core concepts

The Hindu faiths, practices and philosophies have evolved from the Vedic tradition (Vaidika paramparā) and from the beliefs of the other Indian peoples. Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism all share common philosophical and spiritual traits with Hinduism in varying degrees. Some Hindus would argue that while the aforementioned philosophies have gained recognition as independent world religions, the great diversity within Hinduism itself is even greater and therefore it is best to refer to all Indic religions under one umbrella.

The Eternal Way

Sanātana Dharma--"The Eternal Dharma (Ethos, Law, Values)"--the traditional name of Hinduism, alludes to the idea that certain spiritual principles hold true forever, transcending man-made constructs, representing a pure science of consciousness. This consciousness is not merely that of the body or mind and intellect, but of a transcendental state that exists within and beyond our somatic existence, the unsullied 'Soul' of all. Religion to the Hindu is the eternal search for the divine Brahman (wordstem: / brəhmən /; nominative singular: brahma / brəhmə /), translated as the "Supreme Immanent and Transcendent Truth" or the Cosmic Spirit.

Hinduism is highly tolerant of other religions. As expressed in the Rig Veda verse:

ekam sat viprā bahudhā vadanti

Truth is One, but sages call it by many names

Rig Veda 1:164:46.

Hinduism's aspiration is best expressed in the following mantra from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad:[8]

OM Asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso