Hinduism

Hinduism

Diverse in beliefs, the Hindu religion is a very complex system. Believing that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, the Hindu people are very devoted in their religion. This can be determined by understanding (a) the factors that make up the religion, (b) the cultural and social influences that have deemed Hinduism a vital part of the region in which it originated, and (c) the desire for liberation from earthy existence.

Many Hindus believe in Brahman (God) as the impersonal ultimate reality/world soul. Many believe God is both impersonal force and personal savior. There are many, or countless, gods or goddesses (devas) representative of various aspects of the One Supreme God. The Hindu trinity of Brahman is the creator (Brahma), the preserver (Vishnu), and destroyer (Shiva) of the universe. (Beliefnet, 2005) Hindus believe in the divinity of the Vedas, the world's most ancient scripture. They believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution. Another strong belief of the Hindu religion is one that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha, spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth is attained. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this destiny. (Beliefnet, 2005) The Hindu belief is very strong among its masses. Training their youth at a very early age to accept and practice the daily routines, rituals, disciplines, yoga, and religious studies. Teaching them to worship daily in the family shrine room, they learn to be secure through devotion in home and temple, wearing traditional dress, bringing forth love of the Divine and preparing the mind for serene meditation. Young Hindus are taught to live a life of duty and good conduct and selflessness by thinking of others first, being respectful of parents, elders and swamis, following divine law, especially ahimsa, mental, emotional and physical noninjury to all beings. By following these practices they resolve karmas. Participating in Hindu festivals and holy days the Hindu youth learn to be happy through sweet communion with God. Young Hindus are also taught to observe the many sacraments which mark and sanctify their passages through life. (Beliefnet, 2005)

Hinduism is vital to the culture in India. It gives the people something to believe and hold strong too. Being one of the oldest religions in the world, Hinduism is the predominate religion of India. Although tensions between religions exist in many regions of India, what predominates is the spirit of accommodation with which the various communities have lived side by side for years. (Fischer, 2005, p. 107)

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) encouraged grassroots nationalism, emphasizing that the people's strength lay in awareness of spiritual truth and in non violent resistance to military