It is the third largest and the oldest
religion of the World. No one is actually certain how old is Hinduism but
it can be said with certainity that Indus valley civilisation contributed
some ideas to Hindu religion. The earliest known Hindu scriptures are the
"Vedas". Vedas describe the religion of Aryans, who
invaded India around 1500 B.C. The Vedic religion was not Hinduism
although hindus consider Vedas as their scriptures. Of the Hindu
"Trinity"
Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Mahesh (Shiva) the destroyer
only Vishnu's name appears in the oldest Vedas. The concept of Trinity
dates back to 500 A.D. Around the same time, the importance of goddess
began which appears in many forms of Shakti (Shiva's consort). However,
Upanishads which were written several hundreds years later have
characteristic Hindu ideas of unity of soul with Brahman, karma,
reincarnation, and salvation (Moksha- escape from reincarnation). The
notion of class and caste which was absent in Vedas starting appearing
during this period. Hindus are mainly divided into three groups i)
Shivites, who are devoted to Shiva, whom they consider as their creator
and preserver of the universe ii) Vaishnavas, who assign the above roles
to Vishnu and iii) Shaktas, who worship Shakti. These divisions of
Hinduism are not very rigid as in other faiths and it is not strange for
people of one belief to mix with others. The Hindus do not form
congergations and mostly worship at home. They worship other God and
Goddesses as well as these are considered as another reincarnation of main
Hindu Gods. As a result, the major Gods and Goddesses are worshiped in
many names and forms. Hindus have little missionary feeling because they
believe that the proper way to become a Hindu is to born one. Hindu
rituals cover all areas of a person's life. Hindu society has a high
standard of conduct, with little immorality, crime, or violence.
UNIQUENESS OF HINDUISM
- There are many definitions of the word 'Hindu' based on geography,
religion, or politics etc. but none of them is perfect. It is a way of
life, therefore, there is no need to define Hinduism. We should simply
recognise the fact that Hindu society exists.
- Hinduism is universal and contains different schools of philosophy
and religion.
- Hinduism is the oldest religion of the world but it reforms and
changes with the demands of the time, thus it is ancient but remains
moderm.
- Every Hindu keeps these four objectives in view and tries to
achieve them: 1) Duty (Dharma) 2) Material prosperity (artha) 3)
Enjoyment (kama) 4) Salvation (moksha)
- Theory of Action (karma): we reap what we sow. We must take
responsibility for all actions we do in this life.
- To achieve the above objectives life is divided into four segments:
1) Celibacy (bramacharya)- student life i.e. acquiring knowledge. 2)
Family life (grihastha)- enjoyment and prosperity and participation in
running of society and the nation. 3) Retirement (vanaprastha)-
delegate responsibility to younger generation to perform selfless
social service. 4) Renunciation (sanyas)- complete renunciation of the
world for union with God.
IMPORTANT HINDU PLACES
- Char Math
- Jyotirmath (Garhwal-Himalaya)
- Goverdhan (Jagannath puri)
- Shengari (Karnataka)
- Sharda (Dawarika-Gujarat)
Char Kumbhasthal
- Haridwar (Uttar Pradesh)
- Prayag (Allahbad-U.P.)
- Avantika (Ujjain-Madhya Pradesh)
- Nasik (Maharashtra)
Char dham
- Badrinath (Himalaya)
- Jagannathpuri (Orissa)
- Rameshwar (Tamilnadu)
- Dwarika (Gujarat)
GAYATREE MANTRA
AUM BHOOR BHAVAH SWAH
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT
Meaning of Gayatree Mantra AUM= the protector; BHOOR=
who is the basis of the whole universe and who is self existent and;
BHUVAH= who is free from all pains and whose contact frees the soul from
all troubles; SWAH= exists in different forms in this universe and
sustains all. Savitur= He is the creator and energizer of the whole
universe; Devasya= the giver of all happiness; Varenyam= worthy of
acceptance, the most excellent; Bhargo= pure and purifier. Tat= that very
God; Dheemahi= let us embrace, so that; Yo= God may; Prachodayat= direct;
Nah= our; Dhiyo= mind and thoughts.
