Overview
Hinduism is a major world religion with more than 1 billion adherents. It is one of the oldest living religions in the world and has its roots in India. As a monotheistic faith, Hinduism teaches that there is only one God, a single Supreme Being who is worshipped in different forms and manifestations such as Shiva, Vishnu, and Lakshmi. The Upanishads offer a variety of ways for humans to search for and achieve moksha, or union with God. There are many paths to enlightenment, including meditation, devotion and yoga, as well as spiritual practices such as japa and mantra that seek to reduce desires and lead the believer to a closeness with God.
Exploring Hinduism Practices
Hinduism is composed of many traditional practices which help the believer reach moksha. Worship is the foundation of Hindu practice and an important way to reach God. Rituals such as puja and yajna are performed to bring the worshipper closer to God and promote spiritual growth. Prayers and hymns are also traditionally offered in worship, although there is not a single, unified Hindu scriptural tradition. Hindus often visit temples to meditate on the forms and symbols of God, to be present with higher energies and to purify the soul.
Devotion, or bhakti, is also a cornerstone of Hindu spiritual practice. Devotional practice involves offering love and respect to a chosen form of God and can include offerings, prayers and chanting the Lord’s names. This type of devotion is considered to be a passionate outpouring of emotion, which creates a powerful bond between the practitioner and the divine.
Yoga and meditation are other important practices in Hinduism that help to clear the mind and bring the practitioner closer to God. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras provide guidance for the path of yogic practice, which can include physical postures, breathwork, and mental focus. Meditation is a key tool for achieving silence and increased awareness of the divine, and there are a variety of traditional Hindu meditative practices such as Transcendental Meditation and Vipassana.
Exploring Hindu Scriptures
The Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita are three important Hindu scriptures that provide guidance on the path of moksha, or enlightenment. The Vedas are the oldest scriptures in Hinduism and offer insight into spiritual wisdom, as well as laws and rituals. The Upanishads provide a thorough exploration of the Godhead, often in the form of stories and philosophical inquiry. The Bhagavad Gita is a portion of the Mahabharata and is an example of philosophical literature that explores the nature of reality and the idea of divine unity.
The Puranas are another important collection of Hindu scriptures that detail cosmology, worship, and philosophical inquiry. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are two lengthy epics that tell stories about spiritual and moral themes, as well as providing cosmological history. The Puranas also include many stories about various manifestations of God, such as Vishnu and Shiva, and contain a wealth of spiritual knowledge.
Exploring Ancient Texts
In addition to these scriptures, ancient texts such as the Sankhya and Patanjali Sutras provide insight into Hindu thought. The Sankhya is a system of Hindu philosophy which explores the nature of the universe and the divine. The Patanjali Sutras are the foundational text of yoga and detail the eight limbs of yoga practice, which are intended to guide the practitioner to spiritual liberation.
The writings of specific Hindu mystics have also been influential in Hindu thought. Adi Shankara, a 9th-century philosopher, is responsible for the dominance of Advaita Vedanta in Hinduism, which is the idea that Brahman is the ultimate reality. Through his writings and teachings, he sought to reconcile what he believed was a dualistic interpretation of scripture with the notion that there is ultimately one unified reality that lies beyond all personal perception.
Exploring Modern Hinduism
Modern Hinduism has been influenced by a variety of religious figures, ranging from Hindu gurus to Swami Vivekananda, who sought to simplify and clarify Hindu thought for a wider audience. Swami Vivekananda synthesized various aspects of Hinduism and wrote extensively about forms of practice such as karma yoga and jnana yoga. Other modern Hindu thinkers, such as Paramahansa Yogananda, have added to the popular discourse on Hinduism by writing about Eastern philosophy from a Western perspective.
Today, Hinduism continues to evolve, with new trends and interpretations steadily becoming part of the mainstream. With more access to Hindu scriptures and teachers, seekers may choose any of the variety of paths available to explore and understand the divine.
Exploring Rituals & Traditions
Hinduism also has a rich tradition of rituals and festivals which play an important part in connecting believers to God. These rituals help to bring the worshipper closer to the divine, while also providing structure and joy to the spiritual life. the Purnima and Ekadashi festivals are two popular Hindu events, each of which is associated with fasting, prayer and celebration. The Hindu wedding is another important religious ritual which emphasizes the importance of devotion, honoring the divine and welcomes new family members.
Exploring Ethics & Morals
Ethics and morals also plays an important role in Hinduism, since morality is fundamental to the attainment of moksha. The Vedas outline duties that apply to every stage of life, from student-hood to householder life and beyond. Ethics such as nonviolence, truthfulness, and charity also have a long tradition in Hinduism and are seen as necessary for any spiritual aspirant.
Exploring Symbolism
Symbolism and myth are also important aspects of Hindu worship and practice. Symbols, stories and objects are important for understanding and internalizing principles of the divine. These include archetypes, such as Shiva, Vishnu and Kali, which embody various aspects of the divine and help to represent and explain many enigmatic aspects of God.
Exploring Religious Syncretism
Hinduism has also been influenced by other religious traditions. Over the centuries, Hinduism has absorbed aspects from various Indic religions and Tibetan Buddhism, creating a complex set of beliefs and practices. Today, Hinduism is practiced in different forms throughout the world, suggesting that religious syncretism has helped to shape the faith.
