Hindu Religion 1

Hindu Religion

Shaki Alam

Axia College of University of Phoenix

HUM/130 Religions of the World

Marc Rhoades

June 27, 2010

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In this paper, I will be discussing what makes up the Hindu religion. When comes to Hindu

religion, what are the cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region

where it originated. I will also talk about the desire for liberation from earthly existence.

Based on what I have read so far and understand, Hinduism is an old religion, also known as

Hindu Dharma or Sanatana Dharma. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion and has been

around since 1500 BC. There are several divisions within Hinduism but they all follow the same

ancient scriptures called Vedas. The primary theory of Hinduism is the belief in the ultimate

reality called Brahman (universal soul) and its identification with the Aatman (individual soul).

So the ultimate god is Brahman, which is formless and infinite. When someone practices

Hinduism, it generally means that he or she is in the quest of recognition of god and blessing

from all the gods. The most worshipped Hindu gods are Vishnu, Shakthi (Devi), and Shiva.

Hinduism does not have any known origin and no time frame as to when Hinduism was first

created or formed. Basically Hinduism is a set of beliefs and tradition that includes lot of rituals

and practices. Hindu religion beliefs in worshipping more than one god and rebirth or

reincarnation called Samsara. Reincarnation means that once your soul leaves the dead body and

then takes birth again not only as a human but can also born as an animal or other form of life.

Hinduism is his or her beliefs in multiple manifestations in life, the belief in karma, and the law

of cause and effect. Hindu scholar Karan Sing stated “We, who are children of the past and the

future, of earth and heaven, of light and darkness, of the human and the divine, at once

evanescent and eternal, of the world and beyond it, within time and in eternity, yet have the

capacity to comprehend our condition, to rise above our terrestrial limitations, and, finally, to

transcend the throbbing abyss of space and time itself. This, in essence, is the message of
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Hinduism. The understanding of the ancient Vedas will always make them relevant to the human

condition (Fisher, 2005).

The cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region that has been

thought to have started over thousand years. The people of the Indian subcontinent are

religiously, ethically, racially, and culturally diverse. Everyone thought to believe that Hinduism

was founded in what is now known as India. Though India consist of many different culture from

north to south, they all have some form of similarity, their belief in Hinduism and how Hinduism

is being practiced and followed from generation to generation. The great Mahatma Gandhi

emphasized that “the people’s strength lay in awareness of spiritual truth and in nonviolent

resistance to military- industrial oppression. He claimed that these qualities were the essence of

all religions, including Hinduism, which he considered the universal religion. In addition to

being made a focus for political unity, Hinduism itself was revitalized by a number of spiritual

leaders. One of these was Ramakrishna (1836–1886) who was a devotee of the Divine Mother in

the form of Kali. Eschewing ritual, he communicated with her through intense love. He practiced

Tantric disciplines and the bhavanas (types of loving relationships). These brought him spiritual

powers, spiritual insight, and reportedly a visible brilliance, but he longed only to be a vehicle

for pure devotion” (Fisher, 2005). There are several social groups in India and Hindu religious is

being used as guides for all the people who are believer or follower of Hindu religions.

Liberation or mukti (moksha) means being free from all ignorance and bondage. Hindu

religion does not believe that once you die, you go to heaven or hell. Quote from Hindu religious

book Bhaghavad Gita “Karmanno vadhikaraste maphaleshu kadachana”, which means that you

do your karma and not worry about its prize, for the ultimate prize is moksha. Before someone

can achieve moksha, they must experience desire, worldly success, dharma, and liberation.
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In conclusion, Hinduism is been around since 1500 B.C. and is the third largest religion.

Hinduism is the belief in the ultimate reality called Brahman and its identification with the

Aatman. The most worshipped Hindu gods are Vishnu, Shakthi (Devi), and Shiva. There are

several social groups in India and Hindu religious is being used as guides for all the people who

are believer or follower of Hindu religions.

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References

Schindler, W. (2006, June 27). HIINDUISM. Retrieved June 27, 2010, from

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Hindus-946/HIINDUISM.htm

What Makes up Hindu Religion: Retrieved June 27, 2010 from

http://hinduism.ygoy.com/hinduism/religion.php

Religions of the world: Retrieved June 27, 2010 from

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm