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India is a kaleidoscope of religions and cultures. In words it is very difficult to explain how so many distinct and different traditions together form one India. It is to be seen and experienced. Hinduism is the major religion in India practiced by almost 80% of the population in the country. The other religions prevalent in India are Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism. |
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Basically Hinduism revolves around the concept of births and rebirths to dross off the sins and to finally attain
Moksha, or the salvation of the soul. The life, hence, should be full of miseries and pains.
More than 690 million people practice the religion in India and in terms of numbers of adherents it is the largest region in Asia. Its traces roots back beyond 1000 BC and the religion is one of the oldest religions of
the World.
The most fundamental treatises of the Hindu religion are the
Vedas and Upanishads. There are four Vedas namely the
the Rigveda, the Yejurveda the Samaveda and
the Atharvaveda. The Upanishads deal with the abstract themes of life, soul and this universe.
The antique literature of the Hindu religion is the epic verses of the
Ramayana and the Mahabharatha. The Ramayana is an epic poem that deals with the story of Lord Ram, who is considered as one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, The most powerful of the Hindu deity. Hindus revere the Ramayana very highly since the belief so goes that one who recites this would be liberated from all the sins. The Mahabharartha is another epic poem, which contains more than 220,000 lines. It is the story of the battles between the
Kauravas and the Pandavas. The Bhagawad Gita is a compilation of sacred verses, which are the extracts of an episode in Mahabharatha where
Lord Krishna delivers his holy philosophies to Arjuna.
Caste system is a distinct feature of Hinduism. The religion is divided into four major
sections :
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Brahmins
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Kshatriyas
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Vaisyas
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Sudras
According to the basic norm of the Hindu religion the
Pujas are to be conducted only by the Brahmins, since they are the priest caste. The Kshatriyas rule the land and protect it assuming various posts as kings, ministers, statesmen and soldiers. The Vaisyas are the trades people and they are connected with trade and commerce. The Sudras fall in the lowest section of the religion. They are considered for the menial works of the higher sections of the society. Though
untouchability was a minor stigma on the Indian culture in the past the present situation is totally different.
Another unique feature of this religion is that one cannot get converted into it, a Hindu is born a Hindu and not otherwise. Similarly the changing of caste is also not an accepted case.
The westerners are currently getting attracted to the spiritual guides, usually called gurus.
To a great extend such rendezvous is said to have produced satisfactory results in achieving mental peace and serenity.
Hindu Gods
Unlike the 'Big-Bang' Theory reiterated by Stephan Hawking, or
H. G. Wells the origin of earth and the universe holds a totally different concept in the Hindu religion. According to the Hindu belief the genesis of the universe is from the Devine sound
AUM, spelt indistinctly. The three letters refer to the Trinity- the three super divine entities;
VISHNU, BRAHMA, MAHESHWARA; the creator, the sustainer, the terminator. All other deities are related with Trinity directly or indirectly.
There are several stories of several Gods in Hindu religious epics and often they all are interconnected. At many instances they are long episodes, which are having divine justification in the climaxes that are not exactly climaxes but the beginning of next episodes. |