Where did Hinduism originate? Religions of India. Death in Hinduism and the Cycle of Souls in Hinduism
If you wanted to know what Hinduism is and read a brief description of this religion, then this article is for you. Hinduism is now considered the oldest and most complex religion in the world. According to Sanskrit, Hinduism is called the eternal law - Sanatana Dharma.
Origin of Hinduism
Hinduism is a syncretic religion that has evolved over thousands of years and includes both the Neolithic animistic beliefs of ancient people and the religious components of the religions of the ancient Aryans, the Indus civilization, the beliefs of the Dravidians, and also elements of the philosophies of Buddhists and Jains. Considering the large mass of various traditions of Hinduism, it unites followers of this faith in the authority of the Vedas.
It is believed that the interpretation of the very name of the Indian religion is based on the Aryan word Sindhu (river). A clear allusion to the deification of rivers by the pre-Aryan population of India, first the Saraswati River, and later the Ganga. The belief in the sacred nature of rivers was so strong that the Aryan newcomers also had to invoke the special status of rivers. For their part, the Aryans introduced into Hinduism the unique status of the cow as a sacred animal, the murder of which in the old days in India was punished more severely than the murder of a person.
From the 8th-9th centuries, Muslims began to call non-Muslim residents of India Hindus. Subsequently, the British transferred the name Hindus to all residents of Hindustan who were not adherents of world religions and did not profess Sikhism, or. It was only in 1816 that the term Hinduism itself appeared.
Basic principles of religion
All Hindus, regardless of sect, recognize the authority of the Vedas, which are called the word shruti (heard). There are four Vedas in total: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda. Based on the four Vedas, the second part of the sacred canon of Hindus was written, which is called smriti. Smritis include: Dharmashastras, Ichtihasas (including the two most important Mahabharata and Ramayana), Puranas, Vedangas and Agamas. Different sects of Hinduism do not consider all Smriti texts sacred.
However, the vast majority of Hindus believe that all living beings, or at least humans, are endowed with a spiritual essence (jiva) soul, which is associated with a creator god (most Hindus believe that the creator god was Vishnu). After the death of a person, the soul can move into the body of another person, or into the body of an animal, or even into inanimate matter. Thus, the cycle of transmigration of souls from one body to another is called samsara by Hindus.
It is possible to free the soul from the ring of samsara due to spiritual rebirth, enlightenment, which goes by different names (most often moksha, or nirvana). It is possible to achieve a favorable reincarnation, or nirvana, through the purification of karma. Karma is the totality of all human actions: mental, physical and verbal.
Also, the majority of Hindus are united by their adherence to the varna-caste system, although in the 21st century this system has begun to actively disappear in India and various yogic traditions.
It is worth noting that Hinduism is considered the religion with the largest number of gods , there are at least three thousand gods. Three thousand years ago, Indra and Brahma were considered the main gods in India, but from the beginning of the Middle Ages, Vishnu and Shiva seized the status of the leading gods of Hinduism.
Main branches of Hinduism
The main branch of Hinduism is Vaishnavism. Vaishnavites believe that the supreme god is Vishnu, who appears on earth through his avatars (earthly incarnations): Krishna, Rama, and others. Vaishnavism is practiced by up to 68-70% of all Hindus.
The second largest branch of Hinduism is called Shaivism. Supporters of this movement, approximately 26% of the total number of Hindus, worship Shiva; according to some sources, Shiva was the supreme god of the Harappan civilization 3300-1500. before. n. e. If the information is reliable, Shaivism can be considered the oldest movement of Hinduism.
The third branch of the Indian religion is Shaktism (numbering about 3%), the essence of which is the worship of the great mother goddess, who goes by different names: Shakti, Durga, Saraswati, Kali, Lakshmi.
Also popular in India is Smartism, a slightly modified Brahmanism that involves the worship of a number of gods, or one chosen one. The most popular gods of smartism: Vishnu, Ganesh, Shiva, Surya, Skanda, Indra.
Hinduism is an ancient religion that suffers from many misconceptions and misconceptions about itself. And such myths were formed over the centuries. In the West, it was difficult to find relevant literature on this topic, and the existing works, intentionally or unintentionally, could not cover the real essence of Hinduism.
Attempts to interpret the teachings have led to much confusion. You cannot approach Hinduism with your own Western ideas about God, heaven, soul, hell and sins. The existing terms are broader than in ordinary religion. And in order to understand the real meaning of the sacred scriptures, the same Upanishads, you need to read them yourself, and not look for interpretation. Therefore, it is worth debunking the main myths about Hinduism.
Hinduism is a religion. The biggest misconception about Hinduism is that we think of it as a religious faith. But it is more accurate to perceive it as a way of life, dharma. It is not a religion, but rather a law that determines a person's actions. Hinduism was not founded by any one person, there is no core doctrine and no central authority. There is no need to accept any main idea. No one can even say exactly where and when Hinduism appeared. And this word itself is not present in any of the scriptures. It appeared in honor of the inhabitants of the Sindh province who lived near the Indus River. Now this is the territory of Pakistan. The Persians called these people Hindus. Hinduism is a collection of various religious, philosophical and cultural ideas, traditions and beliefs. Characteristic of all of them is belief in reincarnation, the laws of karma, absolute existence, the path of righteousness and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
There are millions of gods in Hinduism. There are believed to be 33 crore deities in Hinduism. One crore in Hindi is 10 million. Thus, according to tradition, there are 330 million deities. Of course, this is hyperbole, but from dictionaries and reference books it was possible to identify more than a thousand supernatural creatures by name or functionality. The Vedas are not included in this set, they make up 33 supreme deities. They are mentioned by the Yajur Vedas, Atharva Veda, Shatapatha Brahmana. Most likely, inaccurate translation and interpretation of words are to blame. So the “supreme deities” turned into “deities of which there are 10 million.”
Hinduism is a flexible religion. Hinduism is a fairly calm and tolerant religion towards other beliefs, but this does not mean freedom. There is a concept of Shruti, which means that no changes are allowed. After initiation into religious practice, one must repeat the mantras exactly as they are. Changing even one syllable will invalidate the prayer.
Hinduism has elements of atheism. There were several nastika schools in ancient India. But this does not mean that they were part of the canonical Hinduism that exists today. Philosophy includes many ideas that originated in India. All major religious texts are theistic, with explicit reference to God. The Vedas speak about him, in Bhavat Gita Krishna does not allow doubts when it comes to God. And in Bhaja Govindam, the main character, the religious leader Shankara, directly speaks about the existence of God. As can be seen, there are no elements of atheism in the main religious texts.
All Hindus are members of Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana Dharma is the name of Hinduism in India itself. This oldest religion on the planet has more than a billion followers. Hindus are considered to be those who live around the Indus River, not far from it and to the southeast. Followers of Hinduism should be considered all those who believe in numerous goddesses and gods. And these are not the ordinary beings with certain characteristics that other religions talk about. Hinduism refers to Devatas, which are the natural elements, human feelings, emotions, actions and desires. But not everyone believes in them. In densely populated India, there are atheists and adherents of other religions.
Hindus are idolaters. No Hindu will say that he worships an idol. Rather, it is not about honoring God, but reminding him. Hindus believe in the physical incarnation of God in the form of an idol. This helps you focus on one aspect of your prayer or meditation. Thus, a person who starts his own business can worship Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity. He is responsible for success and well-being. Images of gods or goddesses are used as a focal point to aid in prayers.
Hindus worship cows. Hindus do not pray to cows at all, but all living beings are perceived as sacred. In Hinduism, every living creature is believed to have a soul. And it is true that cows hold a special place in local society. This is why Hindus abstain from eating beef. Cows are considered gentle creatures, the personification of motherhood, giving milk and life. And Indians appreciate this with their attention.
Hinduism supports a discriminatory caste system. The basis of any caste discrimination is not religion, but culture. In India, this ancient system of division based on professions was defined in sacred texts. But over the years, castes have become a rigid social hierarchy. Members of the lower castes, the untouchables, are marginalized and persecuted. But modern Hindus argue that caste discrimination should not be seen as an integral part of religion and as a punishment for beliefs.
Bhagavad Gita is analogous to the Bible. There is no one central and most authoritative book in Hinduism. Religion is rich in a whole collection of ancient religious scriptures. Hindus believe that God gave the sages the ability to see the truth. And this was passed down through thousands of years, thanks to oral tradition. The sacred scriptures include the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and Bhagavad Gita, or the Song of the Lord. It is the basis of Hindu philosophy, but it is part of the Mahabharata. Consisting of 18 chapters, the Gita is considered the longest poem in the world and defines the main theses of the religion. But not all Hindus read it.
Karma is a philosophy. Every person has the opportunity to make choices in their life. Karma is based on the theory that every human action sets into motion certain forces that respond with a reaction. Hindus believe that they have to face the consequences of past actions in their lives. Each person is connected by his destiny with previous deeds. The ultimate goal is to obtain karma that will have a pure soul or to be freed from the cycle of rebirth.
Hindu texts are full of spirituality. By studying the ancient texts of Hinduism, you can see that there are not only books about spirituality, but also about secular pursuits, science, medicine and engineering. And this is another reason why Hinduism is difficult to classify as a religion. Nor can it be considered a metaphysical school. Basically, you just have to accept it as a different world. In fact, Hinduism can be compared to the civilization that currently exists on Earth.
The philosophy of Moksha is dedicated to salvation. The very concept of salvation is not synonymous with the liberation that Moksha speaks of. After all, this applies to a large number of phenomena. The philosophy of Hinduism not only considers the possibility of salvation, but also what actually needs to be saved from and what to achieve in doing so. In Hinduism, salvation must be perceived precisely as liberation. We are saved not only from sin, but from our entire existence. Moksha believes that a person must free himself from the cycle of reincarnation.
In Hinduism it is forbidden to eat meat. Hinduism does not require its followers to be vegetarians. Many adherents quite successfully consume meat. A simple vegetarian diet is recommended according to certain principles. One of them is ahimsa, non-violence against animals.
In Hinduism, a woman is not equal to a man. In ancient society, people who were engaged in professional activities, be they men or women, were attentive and respectful. People were believed to be free to make choices to change their careers or skills if the opportunity existed. Vedic prayers also show that women had considerable power in choosing marriage partners. While engaged, the couple lived in a monogamous relationship. At the same time, women had the same rights as husbands. There is little evidence in the Vedas about child marriage, the bridewealth system and the ritual tradition of Sati. In it, a widow is burned alive along with her late husband. The sacred texts say nothing about the self-abasement of a widow or about prohibiting her from re-marrying. There are also no religious restrictions regarding the cremation of a woman or participation in the blessing of the funeral pyre of a deceased relative. It is worth noting that in India there have always been well-educated, charismatic women who were not afraid to enter into philosophical discussions with men. For example, Gargi was a great preacher. Hinduism allows that a woman's mind can be higher than a man's, but it is worth observing the norms of social etiquette.
The Manusmirti is an important social and religious text in Hinduism. It is absurd to consider the Laws of Manu as an important part of the Hindu Varna Ashram dharma. There is confusion despite the fact that Manusmirti often contradicts the Vedas, at least on important points of caste and women's rights. And these texts themselves are not particularly popular among Hindus. Moreover, they were never used as a religious or social teaching.
Hinduism preaches anti-materialism. Hinduism says that materialistic pursuits or pursuit of sensual pleasures cannot bring eternal happiness. Religion teaches that the unbridled search for the joys of life always gives rise to suffering that is initially invisible. Hinduism advises practicing moderation, being vigilant and not overindulging. The ultimate goal of life is liberation, moksha. On the path to this, most will require dharma (righteousness), artha (materialism) and kama (sensual pleasures).
one of the largest religions in the world in terms of the number of followers. It developed as a result of the evolution of the ideas of Vedism and Brahmanism in the middle of the 1st millennium AD. e. From the 8th century, when Islam spread in India, “Hindu”, that is, those who did not accept it began to be called Hindus. I. has retained many elements of primitive beliefs: the worship of sacred animals, natural phenomena, the cult of ancestors, etc. It does not have a single church organization, its creation is not attributed to any specific founder. Allows for the existence of sects and different interpretations of religious provisions. Represents a complex set of philosophical views. The basis of I. is the doctrine of the reincarnation of souls, which occurs in accordance with the law of karma, and is associated with the observance of caste household rules. It exists in the form of two main movements: Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
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HINDUISM
one of the world religions; counts St. 350 million followers (1950). I. is localized almost exclusively in India (about 95% of I.'s followers - Hindus - live in India). In addition to India, India has followers in Pakistan (approx. 8-9 million people), as well as on the island. Bali (Indonesia, approx. 1 million hours), on the Fiji Islands, in South Africa, in Britain. Guinea, where it was brought at different times by immigrants from India. It is a complex complex of religions. beliefs, views, ideas and rituals and has its roots in the ancient culture of the aborigines (Dravidians and Mundas), in the Vedic religion and the religion of Brahmanism. The origin of plural Most Indologists attribute the essential elements of I. to the middle. 1st millennium BC e. Their occurrence is associated with internal the transformation that Brahmanism underwent under the influence of the changed social situation (the decomposition of the primitive communal system, the development of class relations, the death of tribal democracy, the increased exploitation of the working masses), which gave rise to a mass of sectarian teachings that opposed the privileged position of the priesthood, ritualism, and expensive sacrifices . During the transformation, Brahmanism managed not only to survive, but also to adapt to the then dominant Buddhism, and then assimilated it. The transformation of Brahmanism, which gave it a new form, which is usually called. I., was that the leading role in it began to be played not by the external, cult side, as it was before, but by the internal, moral and ethical side, although rituals continue to retain extremely important importance here too. More or less clearly established by the beginning. 1st millennium AD e. I. after a long struggle with Buddhism and Jainism with the establishment of feud. relations in India (during the reign of the Gupta dynasty) rises to the position of dominance. religions of India. Basic The reason for I.'s rise was, apparently, that the Brahman priesthood was recognized as a more reliable support of feudal power than the Buddhist clergy, confined to monastic orders and monasteries. The dogma and ritual side of Hinduism as a religion, which was finally formed in this era, did not subsequently undergo any significant changes. Unlike other world religions, Islam does not have strictly canonized sources. The Vedis are considered especially sacred books of India. However, the epic ones are practically the most important. the poems "Mahabharata" (especially "Bhagavad Gita") and "Ramayana", "Puranas", religious and legal codes of shastra (the most famous are the "Laws of Manu") and sutras. All these works are a kind of syncretism of folklore, mythological. , apocryphal, historical and philosopher literature Mn. I. sects have their own. "sacred" literature. I. is amorphous and vague, which means. the role of primitive communities and clans. relations preserved in class. society of India. In I. there are: simple people. beliefs representing his actual practice, and the theory of I. Prostonar. Beliefs vary greatly depending on local ethnicities. and national conditions. Witchcraft, magic, fetishism, idolatry and animism are widespread among them. Nar. Beliefs are characterized by polytheism and veneration of local idols and gods. The presence of many gods and the need for some kind of “reconciliation” of them in the general pantheon of I. led to the development of the doctrine of avatars, according to which different gods are proclaimed to be the embodiment of ch. gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the last two became ch. gods of two main currents or interpretations of I. - Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Its most complete theoretical I. finds justification in idealism. Vedanta philosophy. Justifying only monotheistic religion and bullying people. beliefs as primitive, Vedanta at the same time recognizes them in one form or another as “lower truth” (the theory of “dual truth”). I.'s theory proclaims the highest spiritual substance (Brahman) as the final and unchangeable basis of being, and the concrete empiric. the world, due to its variability, declares it to be only a temporary, untrue, illusory reflection of Brahman and asserts that true happiness and the highest goal of life are found only in the “introduction of man to God,” his “comprehension” by man. According to I.’s theory, “comprehension of God” is carried out in three ways (marga): the path of action (karma) - observance of religions. rituals, fulfillment of caste duties; the path of emotional devotion and love for God (bhakti); the path of deep reflection, knowledge (jnana); A large place in the “comprehension of God” is given to the mystic. practice of yoga. Despite the large gap between the theory of I. and people. beliefs, as well as the great differences between religions. sects, in India there are also generally accepted dogmas: belief in the rebirth of souls depending on actions and deeds in previous births, observance of certain general norms in everyday life, in family life, observance of caste differences, recognition of the cow as sacred. animals and the prohibition of eating its meat, etc. I., being dominant. form of ideology, has widely penetrated into all spheres of society. consciousness (philosophy, art, science, etc.) and had a great influence on them. Like any religion, Islam justifies and consolidates the existence of an exploitative system and a caste system. He announces the castes of the deities. establishment. The fulfillment by each person of his caste duties is proclaimed in India as one of the highest virtues; I. teaches obedience to those in power. I. fettered the development of rationalism. philosophy and natural sciences knowledge. Biruni reports, for example, that ind. mathematicians and astronomers of the early Middle Ages Brahmagupta and Varahamihira, in order to protect themselves from the reprisals of the priesthood, were forced to give mythological. explanation of natural phenomena, while they knew them scientifically. interpretation. At the same time, various sectarian and heretical events took place under the flag of I. movements, in their essence, directed against feudalism and the domination of officialdom. I. Most significant. of these was the bhakti movement. Religious form. reformism, called Neo-Hinduism, as a rule, was adopted in modern and recent times by the ideology of national liberation. movements. Reformism gave birth to the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj and others. Its largest representatives (Ramakrishna, S. Vivekananda, D. Saraswati, Gandhi, etc.) sought to “cleanse” India from dogmas, rituals, primitive “layers” and make this "purified" religion is the basis of the spiritual life of the country, in accordance with the changed socio-economic. conditions. Attempts to reform I. continue in modern times. I. Along with this, reactionary ideologists intensified their activities. militant Hindu chauvinism, setting, in particular, the goal of proclaiming I. state. religion. With the achievement of political independence, the growth of the democratic movement and the proclamation of India as a secular state, India's social base was weakened, although it continues to exert a deep influence on the broad masses of the people, especially the peasantry. * * * I.'s research in Europe begins at the end. 18 - beginning 19th centuries Indologists from England played a major role in the study of Hinduism: H. H. Wilson, Religious sects of the Hindus, L., 1958, M. Muller (Six Systems of Indian Philosophy, translated from English, Moscow, 1901 ), M. Monier-Williams, Buddhism in its connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism..., L., 1889, Ch. Elliot, Hinduism and Buddhism, v. 1-3, L., 1921), A. Gough (The philosophy of the Upanishads..., L., 1882), A. B. Keith, The religion and philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads , half 1-2, Camb., 1925); Germany: P. Deussen (The philosophy of the Upanishads, Edin., 1906), M. Weber (The religion of India..., Glencoe, 1960, translated from German), G H. Oldenberg, Verwissenschaftliche Wissenschaft. Die Weltanschauung der Brahmana-texte, G?tt., 1919), H. Glasenapp (Der Hinduismus..., M?nch., 1922); France: L. Renou (L. Renou, Religions of ancient India, L., 1953; L. Renou et J. Filliozat, L´Inde classique. Manuel des ?tudes indiennes, t. 1-2, P., 1947- 53), A. Danielou (A. Dani?lou, Le polyt?isme hindou, P., 1960). In Russian pre-revolutionary Indology was dominated by interest in Buddhism, but the works of Russian. Buddhologists V. P. Vasiliev ("Buddhism, its dogmas, history and literature", parts 1-3, 1857-69), I. P. Minaev ("Buddhism. Research and materials", volume 1 , v. 1-2, St. Petersburg, 1887) and others also covered important aspects of history. A prominent role in the study of history in the 20th century. start playing ind. scientists: R. G. Bhandarkar, Vaisnavism, saivism and minor religious systems, Stras., 1913, S. N. Dasgupta, A history of Indian philosophy, v. 1-5, Camb., 1922 -25), S. Radhakrishnan ("Indian philosophy", vol. 2, translated from English, M., 1957), S. Chatterjee (The fundamentals of Hinduism, Calcutta, 1950) and Dr. Burzh. Indologists did it means. work on identifying, publishing and translating sources of information, analyzing many others. its aspects, definition of chronological. the framework of its development, etc. However, they, as a rule, proceed from the premise that I. represents the entire way of life of an individual. people, its basis. Some (M. Muller, P. Deisen, S. Ch. Chatterjee and others) proclaim religion. mysticism I. the highest achievement of ind. people and their heads contribution to world culture; its assimilation by the whole world will supposedly help save modernity. Western civilization from that crisis in which it found itself because of its “material” “pragmatic.” character. Others (M. Monier-Williams, G. Oldenberg, A. Gough) believe that I. makes ind. people are passively contemplative, ignoring as a result practical. demands of real worldly life, but at the same time they emphasize that only the assimilation of the “dynamic spirit of Western civilization” can awaken Hindus from such a state. Some modern Indologists (Renu, Danielou, J. Fillioz and others) are trying to conduct research on India from the “neutral” position of “pure factology”, guided by neo-positivist methodology. Recently, the works of Marxist researchers have become increasingly important: W. Ruben (GDR) (W. Ruben, Geschichte der indischen Philosophie, V., 1954); in India by S. A. Dange ("India from primitive communism to the disintegration of the slave system", translated from English, M., 1950). They are trying to study India from a Marxist position. scientists: D. D. Kosambi (An introduction to the study of Indian history, Bombay, 1956), D. P. Chattopadhyaya ("Lokayata Darshana. History of Indian Materialism", translated from English, Moscow, 1961), K. Damodarana ("The Spirit of India", Ernakulam, 1957, in Malayalam), etc. In Sov. Union I. and its department. aspects were illuminated in the works of M. A. Reisner ("Ideologies of the East", M.-L., 1927), A. P. Barannikov (preface to the translation of "Ramayana", M.-L., 1948), M. I. Tubyansky ("Hinduism, religion and society in modern India", in the collection: Selected works of Russian Indologists-philologists, M., 1962), A. M. Dyakov ("National question and English imperialism in of India", M., 1948), V. E. Krasnodembsky ("Hinduism", in the collection: Yearbook of the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism, (vol.) 1, M.-L., 1957), G. F. Ilyin ("Religions of Ancient India", M., 1959), etc. B. L. Smirnov did a lot of work on the study of India. articles and commentaries on his translation of the Mahabharata. Lit.: (except for the index in the article): Barth A., Religions of India, trans. from French, M., 1897; Chanteppie de la Saussey P. D., Illustrated history of religion, trans. from German, vol. 1, M., 1899; Farquhar J. N., An outline of the religious literature of India, L. - N. Y. - Oxf., 1920; Catalog of books on philosophy and religion: Hinduism, Jainism... etc., Bombay, (1955). N. P. Anikeev. Moscow.
main religion of India, which has a very rich history and traditions. Hinduism is believed to be over 4,000 years old. It is often called not just a single religion, but a collection of various Indian beliefs and traditions. Since all the traditions and philosophical teachings that have come together under the common name “Hinduism” originated in India, they are all very similar and related, having one common ancestral basis. This basis refers to the most ancient ideas of people about the universe and, perhaps, is one of the very first beliefs on earth.
In Sanskrit, Hinduism sounds like Sanatana Dharma. Literally translated it means “Eternal Religion”, “Eternal Path”, “Eternal Law”. As the name implies, Indians honor their religion as the only true, eternal, strongest and indestructible. The very term “Hinduism” arose from the Sanskrit word “Hindu” - this is how people living across the Indus River were called in Persian. Hinduism also includes such religious movements as Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.
Most likely, Hinduism, unlike many other religions that we can observe today, there was no founder. By analogy with the paganism of many other peoples, Hinduism is an ancient belief that originated in folk wisdom for natural reasons. There are no ancestors or bright prophets here, with whom the countdown of religion begins. However, it has its own Gods, its own saints, sacred books, scriptures and teachings. Also in Hinduism, unlike many other religions, there is no organized central authority to govern all communities and organizations.
Hinduism is practiced more than 1 billion people in the world, making it the third-largest religion in terms of followers, just behind Christianity and Islam. Most Hindus live in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, many eastern countries, as well as the UK, USA, and some European countries. A very small share of followers, but still present, belongs to Russia.
Hinduism, as a religion, faith, philosophy, worldview, became international only in the second half of the 20th century. Before this, few people had any idea about Hinduism outside of India and some nearby countries. After Hinduism became popular, the world was simply absorbed by the ideas, concepts and perceptions of the world characteristic of India. Things like karma, yoga, vegetarianism and other aspects have become very popular and are now taken for granted by us, as always present in our lives, but until the middle of the 20th century they were simply unknown to people outside of India.
As stated above, Hinduism is a family of teachings and traditions. Despite this, it amazingly retains its integrity, general features and forms. For a better understanding of this phenomenon, religionists offer an allegory banyan tree, which constantly puts out new roots and branches. Each branch, each root has its own distinctive features, but at their core there is still a banyan tree and in their structure, in their nature, they are all related.
Indologists divide the history of Hinduism into three important eras: Vedism, Brahmanism and Hinduism. Vedism appeared, according to some researchers, in 5500 BC. and ended 2600 BC. Vedism is the era of the formation of Hinduism, the period of writing the main Vedas. The Rig Veda is considered the oldest Veda. In addition, the Mahabharata and are considered the oldest scriptures. It is also believed that these Vedas existed long before they were written and were passed down from generation to generation orally for many centuries.
Researchers of Hinduism consider six types of this religion: the oldest form (pagan, polytheistic), Vedic (based on the Vedas), Vedantic (based on the Upanishads), yoga, dharmic (following certain moral principles and Hindu ideas, the most widespread type among the general population of India ) and Bhakti (devotional service to God, most often found as Vaishnavism). Hinduism is also divided into four main directions: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism.
The four branches of Hinduism differ in which God or Gods the followers of each movement serve.
Vaishnavism- worship of Vishnu and his avatars (incarnations of God on earth) - Krishna and Rama. Vaishnavism, as the most ancient form of all, has also received the greatest spread. Vaishnavism Hinduism has more followers than other sects. It is also believed that the concept of Hinduism in Western countries and countries where Hinduism is not so widespread comes mostly from Vaishnavism. Many followers of Vaishnavism or Vaishnavism, equal to Vishna, also give preference to Lakshmi - the female hypostasis of the supreme God.
Shaivism- worship of Shiva. Along with Vaishnavism, there is also the worship of the female form of the supreme God - Parvati. According to research, the history of Shaivism dates back more than 3,500 years.
Shaktism- worship of Shakti or Devi (primordial Mother Goddess).
Smartism- The name comes from the “smriti” of the sacred Hindu scriptures. Worship of many Gods. The main school of smartism is Advaita Vedanta.
In addition to these directions, which are considered the main ones, there are also less popular forms of Hinduism: Ganapatya (worship of Ganesha), Saura (worship of Surya - the Sun God), “Arya Samaj” of Dayananda Saraswati, Advaita, Krishnaism, Bhakti, Sikhism and others.
Despite some differences in the forms, types and directions of Hinduism, as mentioned above, a clear basis can always be traced in their structure. Most often this the basis rests on certain concepts, which are known to many people nowadays. Among such fundamental concepts: Dharma (moral duty, life obligations), Samsara (the cycle of reincarnations of souls), Karma (the dependence of the quality of life, the quality of new reincarnations on actions performed or committed in past lives), Moksha (liberation from Samsara), Yoga and others.
Hinduism is a faith that is very diverse and multifaceted. There is both polytheism and monotheism, and this combination often goes hand in hand in Hindu concepts. This is explained by the special worldview of Indians and can be explained by the fact that Hindus believe in one God, who manifests himself in different forms, in different Gods, avatars, manifestations and even things. Moreover, every Hindu has the right to choose the manifestation of God that is closest and most understandable to him. Having made a choice, he should not conflict or be reprehensible with other forms of Hinduism, since in other directions people believe in the same God as himself, only in a different manifestation. This explains why, for many, many centuries, Hinduism has maintained various forms of worship of different Deities, and at the same time they coexist peacefully and almost never quarrel.
In addition to the main Gods, a significant role in the religions of Hinduism is occupied by Gods of “rank” below the main ones - demigods, creatures, demons, spirits, and so on. Statues of Deities in Hinduism are called Mruti. Mruti is a way or mediator of communication between Gods and people. These are manifestations of God on earth, although some Hindus and even entire movements reject mruti, believing that God cannot be represented in a visual humanoid or bestial image. In addition to mruti statues, Hindus use “icons” - images of Deities and numerous symbols.
As for the scriptures sacred to Hinduism, there are a very large number of them in India. The texts are divided into Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and Agamas. The most important texts for India are the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita and some others. Disputes still rage regarding what is described there and who wrote them. The Hindus themselves, the bearers of the ancient faith, call the Vedas and other ancient texts real revelations.
The main achievement of any soul, according to Hindus, is complete self-awareness and liberation from Samsara and endless reincarnation. At the same time, Hinduism also has the concepts of hell and heaven, although they do not look the same as in some other religions. Often such places are described as heavenly or hellish planets, or subtle realms of existence where the soul is either rewarded or punished. Achieving self-awareness is achieved in various ways characteristic of Hinduism, but still the main ones are service to God, traditional rituals, ascetic existence, meditation, yoga.
Hindus regularly, and sometimes even several times a day, commit rituals turning to the Gods for the purpose of self-improvement and honoring higher beings and ancestors: Puja (sacrifice in the form of a lit lamp, incense or food at sunrise), reading scriptures, Kirtan and Bhajan (prayers, mantras, songs), meditation and much more. In addition, in Hinduism there are many holidays dedicated to deities, and which are becoming popular all over the world as large-scale festivals: Holi, Kumbh Mela, Maha Shivaratri, Navratri, Diwali, Krishna Janmashtami, Rama Navami. Pilgrimages to holy places are also typical for Hindus: Kirtan, Puri, Tirupati, Katra, Rameshwaram, Dwarka, Badrinath and others.
One of the most famous, and for some even shocking, rituals is the cremation of the dead. Cremation, or burning of a body, is not carried out in a crematorium (although this is also present in modern India), but right in the open air and in full view of everyone. To do this, the body of the deceased is wrapped in a shroud and burned on a large bonfire. This method of saying goodbye to the body of the deceased existed in almost all traditions of ancient peoples. In Hinduism, as in other beliefs of the past, the cult of ancestors is very developed.
It is worth talking about the concept of ashrams in Hinduism. In India, human life is divided into four ashrams. The first ashram is Brahmacharya, that is, the period of training. Second, Grisatha - family and work life. Vanaprastha is a departure from everyday and worldly affairs, the time when a person begins to devote himself to spiritual quests, pilgrimages to holy places, rituals, and so on. Sannyasa is complete dedication to spiritual practices, renunciation of the material world.
Characteristic of Hinduism is division into classes. Thus, all people, according to Hindus, are divided into four “varnas”: Brahmans (priests, teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers, high-ranking people), Vaishyas (merchants, farmers, merchants) and Shudras (servants, workers, low-ranking people). class). A person’s belonging from birth to one class or another is considered a legacy of karma, that is, merits in past lives.
In the modern world, Hindu forms of belief are accepted not only by the indigenous people of India, but also by people from other countries. Hindus are not at all against this and willingly accept into their ranks foreign citizens who want to join the ancient faith in Indian Gods, follow the teachings of the Vedas, and follow the path of self-improvement.
The religion Hinduism is a synthesis of religious teachings and philosophical ideas that developed in India in the 16th-18th centuries. God in Hinduism is both the God of the universe and the God who dwells in each of us. Hindu goddesses also have different guises and names. For example, the formidable appearance of the mother goddess is the appearance of Devi, who is also the goddess Durga, the wife of Shiva (death and destruction). Hinduism and Buddhism: How is Hinduism different from Buddhism? Buddhism preaches monotheism, and also offers spiritual practices for awakening to true life, and Hinduism is a polytheistic religion (the presence of many gods). The Hindu religion also offers spiritual practices to introduce a person to higher spirituality. Krishnaism is one of the central directions of Hinduism. This is faith in God Krishna.
Hindu deities
The highest deity is the god Brahma. He is the creator of the Universe. The Guardian of the Universe is the god Vishnu. The god of evil in Hinduism is Shiva. It symbolizes destruction. Hinduism recognizes the god Ganesh as the angels who protect goodness, he is the god of wisdom and protector. God Rama is also a warrior with evil. He performs the function of a guardian angel. Krishna on earth personifies the god Vishnu. This is a god who brings love and mercy. Hinduism also features a number of female goddesses: Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati, Durgak, Kali. Some of them protect peace and order in the Universe, others (for example, Kali) personify illness and death. The goddess Sita plays a special role - she is a perfect woman.Hinduism and Wikipedia
it is a synthesis of religious teachings and philosophical ideas that originated in India and have common features.The essence of Hinduism
: there is no founder and no prevailing common teaching. It includes the mutually exclusive concepts of monotheism, polytheism, atheism, etc. Hinduism is based on the categories - dharma, karma, samsara, maya, moksha and yoga.Hinduism books
The main source of Hinduism is the Vedas. In second place in importance are the sacred texts “Upanishads” (they explain the Vedas). There are also practical manuals on performing spiritual practices, for example, yoga (“Yoga Sutras”). The sacred books of Hinduism are classified into shrutis (complex scriptures) and smritis (simplified texts). There are also samhitas - these are sacred mantras for each of the Vedas. In addition to the Vedas, the book culture of Hinduism includes the epic poems “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”.Hinduism symbols
Hinduism includes a huge number of symbols. Here are some of them: 1. The symbol of the sound “Om” - is used during meditation sessions, all prayers begin with it. It denotes the Universe. 2.Swastika - an emblem of good luck and happiness, honesty, truth, purity. 3.Lotus - a symbol of the universe.Soul in Hinduism
Atma, it is a particle of Paramatma (Supersoul). Each living being contains both of these souls. The Lord is realized in the Supersoul. Therefore, every creature on earth is a carrier of a part of the Supreme God.Love in Hinduism
The deities of love in Hinduism are Kama and Rati. Kama is the son of the goddess of happiness Lakshmi and the god Vishnu. He has two wives: Priti - love, Rati - passion. Rati is the goddess of sexual desire, she drove Shiva crazy, who killed Rati's husband Kama. But Rati stood up for her husband and begged Shiva to resurrect him.An important place in the Hindu system is played by spiritual mentors - gurus (from Sanskrit - teacher). The guru's task is to guide people on the path of spiritual self-realization. The head of a religious community can act as a guru.