Hinduism.Sidd

= HINDUISM =


 * Oldest main religion in the world
 * Predominant religion in India
 * More than just a single religion, an encompassing way of life
 * Different from other religions - no single founder, no single scripture, no commonly agreed set of teachings


 * Major Figure **
 * Brahmin - a triad, one God with three persons:
 * Brahma the Creator who is continuing to create new realities
 * Vishnu (Krishna) the Preserver, who preserves these new creations. Whenever dharma (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations.
 * Shiva, the Destroyer, is at times compassionate, erotic and destructive. He makes change possible by destroying the old elements and people in the world so they can be reincarnated.


 * Central Beliefs **
 * The authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts) and the Brahmans (priests)
 * The existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation)
 * Karma ("actions" in Sanskirt word) refers to fundamental Hindu principle that one's moral actions have unavoidable and automatic effects on one's fortunes in this life and condition of rebirth in the next


 * Goals (Purpose of Life) **
 * Dharma - fulfilling one's purpose
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Artha - prosperity
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Kama - desire, sexuality, enjoyment
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Moksha - enlightenment
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">the ultimate goal is the release (//moksha//) from the cycle of rebirth (//samsara)//, which means being in God's presence

An ancient Hindu system of medicine and healing that has found new popularity in the west today.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Methods/practices **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Four stages (ashramas) over the course of their life which traditional Hindus are expected to pass through:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">//Brahmacharga,// which takes place during the school years, is focused on acquiring knowledge and developing character;
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">//Grastha//, the middle years, is focused on worldly pursuits and pleasures such as marriage, family and career;
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">//Vanaprastha//, when one's children reach adulthood, is a time of increased focus on spiritual things; and
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">//Sanngasu,// in the last years of life, one may abandon the world entirely for a life of contemplation.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some major Hindu Practices:

Outside of Hindu culture, the word "yoga" is usually understood to refer to the practice of meditative movement, or Hatha Yoga. However, Hatha Yoga is only one part of the Hindu traditions of Yoga and Tantra. It is one of the paths leading to the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, or contemplation of the One Reality. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">



A tantric form of yoga focused on awakening the kundalini, the latent psychic energy that lies at the base of the spine, and making it rise through the seven chakras to the top of the spine. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The gesture (or mudra) of namaste is a simple act made by bringing together both palms of the hands before the heart, and lightly bowing the head. In the simplest of terms it is accepted as a humble greeting straight from the heart and reciprocated accordingly. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> A religious ritual which some Hindus perform every morning after bathing and dressing but prior to taking any food or drink. Puja is seen as a way of relating humans to the domain and actions of the divine, and can be performed for anything considered divine, from Vishnu to a holy tree. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Some Hindus choose to leave their homes and dedicate their lives to spiritual disciplines. They renounce their possessions and devote themselves to a particular god and/or meditation, yoga and spiritual discussion. These are called sadhus, or holy men. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Beginning **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">No human founder
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">No known date of origin
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Gradually developed in India for four thousand years

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif;"><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 2px;"> <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif;"> "Hindu Gods and Goddesses." // Asian Artmall //. Asian Artmall, n.d. Web. 3 Apr 2011. <http://www.asianartmall.com/hindugodarticle.htm>
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sources Cited: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Hinduism - ReligionFacts." //Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the Facts on the World's Religions.// Web. 03 Apr. 2011. [].

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Hinduism and Mythology - Myth Encyclopedia - God, Story, Names, Ancient, Snake, War, Hindu, World, Flower, Creation, Represent, Life, Demon, Hero, King, People, Culture, Fire, Warrior, Major Figures." //Encyclopedia of Myths//. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. [].

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">"HINDUISM: The World's Third Largest Religion." //ReligiousTolerance.org by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance//. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. [].