Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is made up of different traditions and beliefs. Hinduism is thought to be one of the worlds oldest religions. Followers of the Hindu religion acknowledge a single god and view other deities as variations of that God. Although there are several traditions in Hinduism, they all observe scriptures called Vedas. The Vedas are a collection of hymns and ceremonial rituals that are broken down into four sections. The Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Atharva-Veda are collectively known as the Samhitas.

The definitive deity in Hinduism is Brahman and is regarded as the absolute reality.

There are four primary denominations to the Hinduism religion. The Shaktas worship the deity named Shakti. The Shaivites worship the deity Shiva. Vaishnavites prefer to worship the deity Vishnu. The Smarta denomination of Hinduism is more liberal and believes in the sameness of all the deities.

Symbolism is a large part in the Hindu religion. Tilaks are long lines that are drawn on the foreheads of male Hindus. These lines can be worn daily or for special occasions and religious ceremonies. A priest may also apply these markings as showing of a deities blessing.

The swastika is a symbol in Hinduism that is used to bring about good fortune. There are two types of swastikas that are used. The right handed swastika is used to represent Vishnu and the sun God Surya. The left handed swastika is used to represent the Goddess Kali.

A yantra is geometrical diagram that is used to represent the universe. Yantras are used in worship and also used in meditation. A yantra is made during a complex ritual in a purified holy location.

Hindu women wear dots on their foreheads called a bindi. Bindis are traditionally worn by married Hindu women and its energy is supposed to protect them. Today unmarried women and non Hindu women wear bindis as decorative accessories.

The Aum is a sacred sound used in Hinduism to represent the root of the universe and in everything that exist. The three major gods that this sound represents are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

The cultural and societal influences of Hinduism are very important to its region of origin. One major influence of Hinduism is its ability to unite the diverse beliefs and practices of the people. Other religions that have specific sets of beliefs and practices would be detrimental to the historic traditions that make up Hinduism.

Hinduism had at one point adopted a caste system which structured the class of the Hindu people. The caste systems were introduced by the invading Aryans and were used to govern their society. The Aryans prohibited any marriages between their own society and the cultures that were conquered. Each of these castes married, worshiped, and socialized within their own groups. A persons caste was decided by birth and there was no way to change it.

There were four main castes that people were categorized into. The first caste was known as Brahmins. The Brahmin castes consisted of the priests, scholars, and intellectual people.

The second caste was known as the Kshatriyas. This caste consisted of government rulers, warriors, and people who were involved with the administration and defense of the village or town.

The third caste was called the Vaisyas. The Vaisyas caste included merchants, traders, and the farmers of the village or town.