World Religions: Hinduism

Beliefs

Central to Hinduism is the belief in an ultimate reality Brahman, the ‘universal soul’, which is found in everything. Hindus believe that there is a part of Brahman in everyone and this is called the Atman.

Brahman is represented in many different Hindu gods. The 3 main Hindu Gods are:

1. Brahma - creator

2. Vishnu - preserver

3. Shiva - destroyer

Together they are called the TRIMURTI (Tri = three, Murti = image). They are all different aspects of BRAHMAN and work together in a never ending way.

Brahma - the creator

Brahma is the creator. At his own command he can divide himself into any type of new life. He can populate the world after Shiva has destroyed it ready for new creation.

Brahma has 4 heads and recites the Vedas continually (the primary texts of Hinduism).

Vishnu - the preserver

Vishnu is worshipped under several names. This is because he has different appearances. Hindus believe that when there is a time of danger for the earth, Vishnu comes to protect it. They believe he has come to the earth in 9 bodies. The most famous are Krishna and Rama.

Shiva - the destroyer

Shiva is worshipped by about a quarter of all Hindus. He is the god who destroys so controls death (and even life). Although he can be frightening he is also thought of being kind and easy to please. He has at least 4 hands to show that he holds life and death and good and evil.

Life after death

Hindus believe that life is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.

Hindus believe that every action has an effect and there is a cause for everything. This is called the law of Karma.

Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of lives and that the next life is dependent on how the previous life was lived. This cycle is called Samsara.

Holy Books

The main Hindu scriptures are:

• the Vedas, a collection of hymns praising the Vedic gods. Veda means 'knowledge'

• the Ramayana, long epic poems about Rama and Sita

• the Mahabharata, which includes the Bhagavad Gita

• the Puranas, a collection of stories about the different incarnations and the lives of saints.

Worship

Puja (worship) takes place in the Mandir (temple).

Mandirs vary in size from small village shrines to large buildings, surrounded by walls.

People can also visit the Mandir at any time to pray and participate in the bhajans (religious songs).

Hindus also worship at home and often have a special room with a shrine to particular gods.

Festivals

Hindus celebrate many holy days:

• Diwali (the festival of lights)

• Holi

• Navaratri (celebrating fertility and harvest),

• Raksha Bandhan (celebrating the bond between brother and sister)

• Janmashtami (Krishna's birthday)

Diwali

For many Indians the festival of Diwali honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

People start the new business year at Diwali, and some Hindus will say prayers to the goddess for a successful year.

Some people build a small altar to the goddess and decorate it with money and with pictures of the rewards of wealth, such as cars and houses.

Hindus will leave the windows and doors of their houses open so that Lakshmi can come in. Rangoli are drawn on the floors - rangoli are patterns and the most popular subject is the lotus flower. This because images of Lakshmi traditionally show her either holding a lotus or sitting on one.

There is much feasting and celebration, and the Diwali lamps are regarded as making it easy for Lakshmi to find her way to favoured houses.

Gambling

Many Indians see Diwali as an occasion to gamble. This comes from a legend in which the goddess Parvati played dice with her husband on this day and she said that anyone who gambled on Diwali night would do well.

Gifts

Diwali is very much a time for buying and exchanging gifts. Traditionally sweets and dried fruit were very common gifts to exchange, but the festival has become a time for serious shopping, leading to anxiety that commercialism is eroding the spiritual side of the festival.

In most years shopkeepers expect sales to rise substantially in the weeks before the festival.

Diwali is also traditionally a time to redecorate homes and buy new clothes.

Symbols

The Aum symbol (pronounce ‘ohm’)

• This symbol is very important to Hindus. It represents ‘Brahman’ and the universe.

• Hindus believe that Brahman exists in everything that is alive. As we cannot see Brahman, Hindus use a symbol instead.

• Hindus use the Aum symbol every day. They begin each day and every journey by saying the word ‘Aum’.

• Lots of Hindus wear the Aum symbol on a necklace. They believe it will protect them.

• The Aum symbol is in every Hindu temple.

• When a baby is born, Hindus draw the Aum sign on its tongue in honey. They believe the Aum symbol will then be with the baby for life.

• It is made up of three Sanskrit letters. The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m, which represent several important triads: the three worlds of earth, atmosphere, and heaven; the three major Hindu gods.

The Lotus Flower

Hindus believe that Brahma, the creator god, came from a Lotus flower. Despite growing in muddy waters, the lotus turns into a beautiful flower. It represents purity and beauty.

The Hindu swastika

The word SWASTIKA stems from the Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language and means 'being happy'. It represents wellbeing and happiness. It also represents the sun god Surya.