Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion with around 15% of the
entire population practicing the Hindu faith. Hindu followers in India
comprise the major bulk with almost 80% of the country’s population
adhering to the religion. Other Asian countries with considerable
Hindu faithful include Nepal (23 million), Bangladesh. (15 million),
and Indonesia (3.9 million in Balij. There are also substantial number
of Hindus in Mauritius, Guyana, Fiji, Bhutan, Trinidad and Tobago,
Suriname, and Sri Lanka (Jose and Ong, 2016).
Hinduism was never a missionary religion unlike Christianity or
Islam. With the changing times, however, there have been
proselytizing activities by Hindu missionaries in some Western
cities.
Historical Background
The four collections of texts of the Vedas form the shruti and are
considered primary sources and the most authoritative texts of the
Hindu faith. Other writings that form part of shruti include the
Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and a few Sutras.
Vedas
The four basic Vedic books, which are sacrificial hymns
compiled from an earlier oral tradition, are composed of Rig-
veda, Sama-veda, Yajurveda, and
Atharva-veda. The word Veda means “knowledge” or
“sacred love.”
The Vedas are the earliest known Sanskrit literature from the
Brahmanic period and oldest scriptures of Hinduism
Gods and goddesses Personification or Attributes
Scholars disagree as to when the Vedas were first
written. The earliest hymns may have been written
around 2000 B.C.E. or before the arrival of the Aryans in
the Indus Valley area. They may also have been written
down between 1500 B.C.E. to 400 B.C.E. Ascertaining
the exact period is difficult because these books may
have been composed and passed orally for so many
generations before they were first written down and
eventually completed. In the great epic Mahabharata,
Brahma was said to have Created the Vedas.
Among the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda is the most
important and oldest book that dates back to around
1500 B.C.E. to 1200 B.O.E. Apart from being the oldest
work of literature in an Indo-European language, it is
also the oldest living religious literature of the world. The
book is a collection of over a thousand hymns and more
than thousand verses dedicated to the Aryan pantheon
of gods. The table below lists some of the names of
these deities (Jose and Ong. 2016).
Yajur Veda or the knowledge of rites is the second book.
Composed between 1200 B.C.E. to 1000 B.C.E., this book
is a compilation of materials recited during rituals and
sacrifices to deities.
The third book is Sama-Veda or the “knowledge of
chants.” Dating back almost the same time as the Yajur
Veda, this book is a collection of verses from the basic
hymna recited by priests during sacrifices.
Lastly, the fourth book is Atharva Veda or “knowledge
given by the Atharva that date back around 1500 B.CE.
To 1000 B.C.E. This book contains rituals used in homes
and popular prayers to gods. Seldom used in solemn
Forming the fourth part of the Vedas, the term Upanishad literally
translates as “sitting down near” or “sitting close to as it implies
listening intently to the mystic teachings of a spiritual teacher who
has fully understood the universal truths. It could also mean
“brahma-knowledge whereby ignorance is totally eliminated.
Both Vishnu and Lakshmi ride the eagle mount or kite Garuda,
the symbol of the sky and the sun. The snake in Garuda’s claws
represents water.
As the destroyer and the god of death,
destruction, and disease, Shiva is the
third in the Trimurti. His functions are
many. He is also god of dance,
vegetable, animal, and human
reproduction (Hopfe 1983). In Hindu
belief, death is but a prelude to birth,
hence, the god of death is also the god
often revered through
The lingam, the male energy surrounded by the yoni, the
female source of energy (Bowker 1997).
Routes to Moksha
The word yoga is derived from the root word yug which
translates as “to yoke” or “to join.
Table below lists down the four yogas with
their corresponding practices.
For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals or areas of life of
purushartha.
These are:
The terminal stage involves the liberation from the bonds of flesh
and the limitations of death-bound life.
Worship and Observance of Hinduism
1. Subdivisions
Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs and
practices, including reverence to a particular god.
B. Shaktism
Shaktism emphasizes the goddess Shakti as the supreme
divine mother, taking on various forms. Followers use
chants, magic, and yoga to connect with cosmic forces.
C. Vaishnavism
Vaishnavites worship Lord Vishnu, especially in his
incarnations as Krishna and Rama, with a rich tradition of
saints, temples, and sacred texts.
D. Smartism
Smartas are inclusive, allowing devotees to choose
among six major deities: Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti,
Surya, and Skanda.
2. Selected Issues
Hinduism accounts for almost 80% of India’s population, yet
India remains a secular state, allowing diverse beliefs.