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HINDUISM
Early History of Hinduism Hinduism is derived from the Persian word for Indian. It differs from Christianity and other Western religions in that it does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality, or religious organization. Its roots are traceable to the Indus valley civilization circa 4000 to 2200 BCE. Its development was influenced by many invasions over thousands of years. One of the major influences occurred when Indo-Europeans invaded Northern India (circa 1500 to 500 BCE) from the steppes of Russia and Central Asia. They brought with them their religion of Vedism. These beliefs became mixed with the indigenous Indian native beliefs.
During the first few centuries CE, many sects were created, each dedicated to a specific deity. Typical among these were the Goddesses Shakti and Lakshmi, and the Gods Skanda and Surya.
Hinduism grew to become the world's third largest religion, claiming about 13% of the world's population. It is the dominant religion in India, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Hindus totaled 157,015 in Canada's 1991 census.
Sacred Texts The most important of all Hindu texts is the Bhagavad Gita which is a poem describing a conversation between a warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna. Vedism survives in the Rigveda, a collection of over a thousand hymns. Other texts include the Brahmanas, the Sutras, and the Aranyakas.
Shiva
Hindu Beliefs and Practices At the heart of Hinduism is the panentheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as well. Deity is simultaneously visualized as a triad:
Brahma the Creator who is continuing to create new realities Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver, who preserves these new creations. Whenever dharma (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations. Siva, the Destroyer, is at times compassionate, erotic and destructive.
Most Hindus follow one of two major divisions within Hinduism:
Vaishnavaism: generally regard Vishnu as the ultimate deity Shivaism: generally regard Shiva as the ultimate deity.
Simultaneously, many hundreds of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are worshipped as various aspects of that unity. Depending upon ones view, Hinduism can be looked upon as a monotheistic, or polytheistic religion.
The Rigveda defined five social castes. Ones caste determined the range of jobs or professions from which one could choose. Marriages normally took place within the same caste. One normally was of the same caste as one's parents. In decreasing status, the five castes are:
Brahmins (the priests and academics) Kshatriyas (the military), Vaishyas (farmers and merchants) and Sudras (peasants and servants). The exact ranking of these three castes varied among villages. Harijan (the outcasts, commonly known as the untouchables)
Although the caste system was abolished by law in 1949, it remains a significant force throughout India, particularly in the south.
Humans are perceived as being trapped in samsara, a cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural consequences for ones previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives.
Meditation is often practiced, with Yoga being the most common. Other activities include daily devotions, public rituals, and puja a ceremonial dinner for a God.
Hinduism has a deserved reputation of being highly tolerant of other religions. Hindus have a saying: "Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti," which may be translated: "The truth is One, but different Sages call it by Different Names"
Brahma
Hindu Sects and Denominations About 80% of Hindus are Vaishnavites, who worship Lord Vishnu. Others follow various reform movements or neo-Hindu sects.
Various sects of Hinduism have evolved into separate religious movements, including Hare Krishna, Sikhism and Theosophy. Transcendental Meditation was derived from a Hindu technique of meditation. The New Age movement has taken many of its concepts from Hinduism.
Sanskrit is the language of mantra, of spiritually empowered sounds. Its usage is to bring our minds back to the consciousness and power of mantra. Mantra is not just concerned with sound but with meaning. According to the view of the Yoga of sound, there is only one meaning in life, which is the Divine or our own Self. Each thing ultimately means all things. Each object is a symbol for the universe itself. Words represent this universal meaning broken down, fragmented and compartmentalized. To cognize any individual object we must first recognize its ground of being, which is the Divine. Yet we fail to notice this as it is immediate and before the activity of our thought and choice. If we hold to this primacy of being as the meaning of all objects, all things become doorways to the infinite. Sloka us a verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise, usually composed in a specified meter. Especially a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables. Sloka is the primary verse form of the Sanskrit epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana
"The Nectar of Self Awareness"
I honor the God and the Goddess The eternal parents of the universe. The lover, out of boundless love, takes the form of the Beloved. What Beauty! Both are made of the same nectar and share the same food. Out of supreme love they swallow each other up. But separate again for the joy of being two.
They are not completely the same but neither are they different. None can tell exactly what they are. How intense is their longing to be with each other. This is their greatest bliss. Never, even in jest, Do they allow their unity to be disturbed.
They are so averse to separation That even though they have become this entire world, Never, for a moment, do they let a difference come between them.
Even though they see all that is animate and inanimate, as arising from within themselves, Never do they recognize a third
They sit together in the same place, both wearing a garment of light. From the beginning of time they have been together, Reveling in their own Supreme love.
The difference they created to enjoy this world Had one glimpse of their intimacy And could not help but merge back into the bliss found in their union.
Without God , there is no Goddess Without Goddess, there is no God. How sweet is their love! The entire universe is too small to contain them Yet they live happily in the tiniest particle...
Embracing each other they merge into One, As darkness merges with the light, At the breaking of dawn.
When we discover their Unity All words and all thoughts dissolve into silence Just a when the Universal deluge comes. the waters of the ocean, and of the Ganges, will merge into one...
A reflected image disappears When the mirror is removed, Ripples merge back into the water when the wind becomes still. When sleep comes to an end a man returns to his own senses. Now my individuality has come to an end, and I have returned to Shiva and Shakti.
Salt gives up it's salty taste to become one with the ocean; I gave up my individual self and became Shiva and Shakti
When the covering is removed the air inside a plantain tree merges with the air outside. and this is how I honor Shiva and Shakti--- By removing all separation and Becoming one with them.
-----Jnaneshwar
Hindu Art
The cowherd boys and girls are playing the game of hide-and-seek, on the outskirts of the village. Radha has hidden herself in a clump of bushes. Krishna discovers her, and makes use of the opportunity for love-making.
dou chora milichani khelu na kheli aghata durata hiyain laptai kai chhuvata hiyain laptata
"Playing the game of hide-and-seek, the two are not satisfied with its pleasures. When one seeks the other, they cling to each other in a warm embrace." (Click here for more paintings and anecdotes like the above)
India Entertainment: The latest music and film
Lingam with Shiva, Mathura, 1st
C. Paintings on Paper and Silk of Goddesses From Shambala- Sacred Hindu Art Images Links to WWW Sites Relating to the Mahabharata Other Interesting Information related to India and Hinduism
Hindu Religious Information Intro to Religion: Hinduism The Quiz (and answers)
An Intro to
Hinduism Another Quiz: Test Your Hinduism IQ On Hinduism from The Mining Company
and it is really Iranian music, but I liked the flavor.... One more link: American Greetings Hindu cards
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![[IMAGE]](shiva.gif)
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