Hinduism is arguably one of the oldest major religions worldwide, dating back more than 3,000 years. It is one of the oldest forms of organized religion and is one of the world’s four major religions, alongside Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.
HInduism is a polytheistic religion, with over 330 million gods. The main practices and beliefs of Hinduism can be categorised into four broad groups. These are Smartism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
Smartism is an umbrella term for five different schools of Hindu philosophies and is accepting of all gods from the Hindu pantheon. This sect is open to everyone with no gender or caste restrictions. It emphasizes the ideal of loving devotion to god, whether that god be Vishnu or Shiva or any other deity in the Hindu pantheon. This sect was popularised in the 19th century by Indian saints and philosophers such as Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and Aurobindo as a way of reviving Hinduism in the face of cultural malaise.
Shaktism is focused on the worship of a feminine energy and is mainly concerned with the reverence of the Hindu goddesses, known as Devi. The Shakti devotional movement is made up of many metaphysical entities like the kaivalya, a state of inert power, and the yogini, celestial female entities. The main goal of Shaktism is the attainment of moksha (liberation) through union with the Supreme Being, and is similar to the Buddhist path of enlightenment.
Vaishnavism is one of the largest branches of Hinduism and is social in its orientation. This tradition believes in the Vishnu as the one god and all other gods are seen as manifestations, or avatars, of Vishnu. People in this tradition offer worship, or puja, to images of Vishnu and his avatars, such as Krishna, Rama, and Narasimha. This tradition is sometimes known as bhakti yoga, or the path of love and devotion.
Shaivism is another major branch of Hinduism based around Shiva, the Supreme Being. This tradition is concerned with the realization of the divine within and regards Shiva as the source of all forms of energy and power. This tradition also focuses on personal aesthetic devotion, through the practice of yoga, meditation and chanting of Mantras.
Vedic Hinduism
Vedic Hinduism is the oldest branch of Hinduism, with its roots in the ancient Sanskrit texts. It is based upon what are known as the Vedas and the Upanishads. This branch of Hinduism dates back to the pre-Buddhist era, when it was practiced in India, and is now practiced in many parts of the world. The Vedas are the oldest Hindu scriptures, which are believed to be divine in origin and reveal the ultimate truth about the nature of life. They offer instructions and advice on how to live a happy, moral life. This branch of Hinduism focuses heavily on rituals such as fire sacrifices and various kinds of symbolic offerings. It also emphasizes the importance of meditation, knowledge, and devotion.
Bhakti Hinduism
Bhakti Hinduism is a devotional form of Hinduism focused on the idea of love for god. This branch of Hinduism has been practiced for centuries and has played a major role in the evolution of Hinduism and its literature. This branch is based on an understanding of the divine as a non-dual reality and emphasizes the importance of devotion and selfless love as the path to enlightenment and liberation. It believes that god can be found in all things and that service to him is the highest form of virtue. It also emphasizes the importance of prayer, worship, and singing of devotional hymns in praise of god.
Tantric Hinduism
Tantric Hinduism is a branch of Hinduism focusing on the use of special spiritual practices, especially mantras and rituals, to attain heightened states of consciousness and spiritual power. Tantric Hinduism is believed to be based on ancient scriptures, such as the Veda and the Tantras. The main idea in this branch of Hinduism is that one can attain spiritual enlightenment through the use of sacred mantras and energy forms. This tradition emphasizes self-realization and the use of physical tools, such as images of deities, to create an environment of spiritual power. The aim is to achieve unity with the divine, and through this union, the practitioner can gain access to divine knowledge and power.
Ascetic Hinduism
Ascetic Hinduism is a branch of Hinduism focused on the ascetic lifestyle and is practiced by those who renounce worldly pleasures in order to attain spiritual liberation. It believes that the physical world is full of suffering, and the only way to be liberated from this suffering is to renounce desire. These practitioners of ascetic Hinduism often practice strict disciplines, such as fasting, which is believed to purify the soul and lead to a higher state of consciousness. This branch is focused on the detachment of the human soul from worldly bonds and it emphasizes the importance of spiritual practices such as meditation, contemplation and scriptural study.
Theistic Hinduism
Theistic Hinduism is a branch of Hinduism focused on the worship of a personal deity. Theistic Hinduism is focused on the worship of a personal form of God, most commonly Vishnu or Shiva. This branch of Hinduism believes in a single God or divine being who is the source of all creation and is believed to be eternal, omniscient and omnipotent. This branch of Hinduism emphasizes the importance of prayer, worship, and selfless service to the divine. Worshippers of this branch of Hinduism commonly practice certain rituals, such as puja, to express their devotion and reverence for their chosen deity.
Non-Theistic Hinduism
Non-theistic Hinduism is a branch of Hinduism which is focused on more spiritual concepts, such as meditation and yoga, as opposed to the worship of a personal deity. This branch of Hinduism emphasizes the path of self-development and inner exploration in order to attain spiritual liberation. It believes that the human soul can be liberated through the practice of spiritual practices, such as yoga, meditation and contemplation of the divine. Non-theistic Hinduism is also focused on the understanding of the divine as a unified, non-dual reality.
Karma Hinduism
Karma Hinduism is a branch of Hinduism focused on the concept of karma and its influence on our lives. This branch of Hinduism believes in the concept of causation, in which all events, good and bad, are a result of the karma we have done in this life or in past lives. As such, this branch believes that our current and future experiences will be determined by the actions we take in this life, as is outlined in the ancient Vedas and Upanishads. This branch of Hinduism emphasizes the importance of living a moral and righteous life and performing good deeds in order to create better karma and experiences in the future.
Jain Dharma
Jain Dharma is an ancient Indian religion believed to be the oldest surviving religion still being practiced today. It is a religion of detachment from material possessions and is focused on the practice of non-violence. Jain Dharma is based on the idea that all life, including human life, is interconnected, and places great emphasis on the idea of ahimsa, or non-violence. It is believed that by following the practice of non-violence and detachment from material possessions, one can attain liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Yoga Hinduism
Yoga Hinduism is a branch of Hinduism focused on the practice of yoga in order to attain spiritual liberation. Yoga Hinduism is based on the ancient scriptures, such as the Upanishads, and emphasizes the importance of meditation, contemplation and contemplation of the divine as the path to liberation. This branch of Hinduism believes that through the practice of yoga the practitioner can attain a heightened state of consciousness, which will allow them to transcend the physical and enter a state of spiritual bliss and union with the divine.
