Faith at a glance:

Hinduism

Background

Hinduism has its origins in the Indian subcontinent. The Hindu way of life is often referred to by Hindus as the Sanatana Dharma, the eternal teaching or law. 

Hindu origins are very ancient, and Hindu philosophy and practice are rich in diversity.

The Divine

Hindus understand ‘the Divine’ in various ways. Adviata vedanta rejects all forms of dualism and teaches that all is one, all is Brahman. Other schools and philosophical teachers have accepted some differentiation of beings, and many Hindus practice devotion to a personal deity or Supreme Being, but always understood as a facet or expression of the All. 

Among the many deities to whom Hindus may offer devotion are:

• Indra , the God of Rain
• Surya , the Sun God
• Chandra , the Moon God
• Ganesha , the Remover of Obstacles
• Yama , God of Death
• Sarasvati, Goddess of Learning and the Arts
• Lakshmi Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity
• Hanuman, the devotee of Rama, hero of the Ramayana.

Basic Concepts

Underlying the diversity and variety of Hindu philosophies, devotions and practices are some core concepts which all Hindus share.  Brahman is the All, and Atman the expression of the All in beings. Shiva is the Aspect of the All that brings beings into being and destroys them; Vishnu is the Preserver, who holds all beings in being.  Vishnu takes on various forms, avatars, at different times in order to maintain the balance, including Krishna, and Ram, an avatar of Krishna.

Hindus also share the concepts of:

Moksha, liberation, which is the ultimate goal of all beings;

Dharma, the law which governs all beings; sometimes duty, or teaching;

Karma, the succession of cause and consequence, the law of cause and effect;

Maya, life passed in ignorance of the Sanatana Dharma, the eternal truth.

The Four pathways

Hinduism teaches that human life has four proper aims,  purusharthas :

• dharma, which is concerned with duty
• artha, which is concerned with wealth and prosperity
• kama, which is concerned with gratification of the senses
• moksha, which is liberation from the cycle of birth and death

Hinduism also traditionally teaches that the spiritual life has four main pathways:

• karma yoga, which is the way of action
• jnana yoga, which is the way of knowledge
• raja yoga, which is the way of self-discipline or ascesis
• bhakti yoga, which is the way of devotion

The Scriptures

Hindu scriptures are collections of very ancient songs, incantations and teachings concerned with right relationship between human beings and human communities and the reality around them, including the gods, nature, and demons.

Rig Veda, containing mantras for use in worship

Sama Veda, containing sung mantras

Yajur Veda, also containing mantras, and instructions concerning worship

the Atharva Veda, containing mantras to be used in various other ways

Each of the Vedas has four parts:

the Samhitas, concerned with recitation

the Brahmanas, concerned with ritual and sacrifice

the Aranyakas, concerned with the role of Vedic rituals in the cosmos

the Upanishads, concerned with the knowledge necessary for self-realisation.

The Epics

The Hindu understanding of life and liberation is also captured in the two great Hindu epics, the Maharabata which tells the story of the ancient kingdom of the Bharatas, and which includes the Bhagavad Gita or Teaching of the Lord; and the Ramayana, which recounts the tale of Ram and his beloved Sita, and how Sita was kidnapped and rescued by Ram with the help of Haruman, an event celebrated each year at Diwali.