Hinduism

Hinduism

The first thing one should know about Hinduism is that it is not only a religion, but also a way of life. The word ‘Hinduism’ has its origin from the river ‘Indus’ then known as ‘Sindhu’ and pronounced as ‘Hindu’ around which the religion of Sanathana Dharma was thriving. The Hindu way of life has evolved from several interpretations, commentaries and discourses ancient literature, known as the Vedas and other religious scriptures like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, and the Puranas which are all fables and stories built around the activities attributed to various historic and non-historic personalities who are sometimes depicted as Hindu Gods. Hence in the course of time, the Hindu way of life has become adaptable and adjusted to various geographic, climatic. socio-economic conditions that existed with people at different places and times.

• Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both the Creator and the Unmanifest Reality.
• Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas, the world's most ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God's word and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion.
• Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution.Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.
• Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas has been resolved, and moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny.
• Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments and personal devotionals create a communion with these Devas and Gods.
• Hindus believe that an enlightened master, or satguru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, selfinquiry, meditation and surrender in God.
• Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, non-injury, in thought, word and deed.
• Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine paths are facets of God's Light, deserving tolerance and understanding

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