With the Easter weekend here upon us, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I would like to share with you the Hindu religion. About 80 percent of India's population regards themselves as Hindus. There is a total of 900 million Hindus worldwide, making Hinduism the third largest religion (after Christianity and Islam). Hinduism got its name from the Persian word Hindu, meaning "river.”
Hindus respect the authority of the Vedas (a collection of ancient sacred texts) and the Brahmans (the priestly class). Hindu religious life takes the form of devotion to God or gods, the duties of family life, and concentrated meditation.
What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism?
There is no “one Hinduism,” Hinduism
is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, which include:
- Dharma (ethics and duties)
- Samsara (rebirth)
- Karma (right action)
- Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara)
Hindus believe in truth, honesty,
non-violence, celibacy, cleanliness, contentment, prayers, austerity,
perseverance, penance, and pious company.
Who are the major Hindu gods?
Hinduism teaches that there is only one supreme Absolute God called "Brahman.”It does not support the worship of any one particular god.
The gods and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions.
This faith is characterized by the multiple gods.
The most fundamental Hindu god is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva - creator, preserver, and destroyer respectively.
http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/p/hinduismbasics.htm
Thus, Hindus have a multitude of
gods and goddesses called deities. Deities are represented by a complexity of
images and idols symbolizing divine powers. Idols of these gods are housed
within ornate temples of unparalleled beauty and grandeur. Hindus also worship
spirits, trees, animals, and even planets. Other popular gods include Ganesha,
Krishna, and Hanuman.
Brahma is the creator of the universe and of all beings.Brahma is commonly represented as having four heads, four arms, and red skin.
Unlike all the other Hindu gods, Brahma carries no weapon in his hands.
Instead he holds a water-pot, a spoon, a book of prayers or the Vedas, a rosary, and sometimes a lotus.
He sits in a lotus pose and moves around on a white swan, possessing the magical ability to separate milk from a mixture of water and milk.
Brahma is often depicted as having a long white beard.
The deity of peace-loving Vishnu is the preserver or sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness, and truth.
When these values are under threat, Vishnu emerges out of his transcendence to restore peace and order on Earth.
Shiva is the destroyer and is the most powerful and fascinating god of the Hindu pantheon and one of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity.
Known by many names which include - Mahadeva, Mahayogi, Pashupati, Nataraja, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhava, and Bhole Nath.
Lord Shiva is the most complex of Hindu gods. He represents death and dissolution.
Other gods include Parvati, daughter of the mountain king Himavan and the wife of Lord Shiva.
She is called Skakti, the mother of the universe, and her popular names include: Amba, Ambika, Gauri, Durga, Kali, Rajeshwari, Sati, and Tripurasundari.
All life is sacred according to the Hindu religion,
therefor India is one of the most vegetarian-friendly countries in the world. Happy
Easter!
