The name “Hinduism” originally had a geographical connotation. The Aryans who invaded India through the northwestern passage of the Himalayas gave the river that flows through the sub-continent the name Shindu . Hindu is only a corrupt form of Sindhu given to the Aryans by the Greeks. A way of life that is all things to Hindus, the religion encompasses a vast, uncoordinated complex of sects, doctrines, beliefs and practices set in a social framework. It has the unique distinction of having no single founder, no centralized organized hierarchy and no fixed dogmas. It represents instead countless sages and the truths revealed to them over thousands

of years in the Vedas. The sanctity of the four Vedas-Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda-is the ultimate authority for all Hindus. While the Vedas is a very important aspect of Sanatan Dharma, the Bhagavad Gita is Hinduism’s most widely read literary work. It is basically a dialogue between Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) and the charioteer of Arjuna who refused to kill his own relatives in battle. According to my source, the Bhagavad Gita contains the same principles as the Vedas. However, the Bhagavad Gita is more easily understood. Unlike the major religions of the world Islam, Judaism and Christianity, Hinduism does not advocate the worship of a single divinity. Hindus believe in one all-pervasive Supreme Being. This Supreme Being came to be revered as the Supreme Triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is manifested in three forms to carry out the three main tasks of creation, preservation and destruction respectively.

3) Provides cohesiveness-brings people together, reaffirms their

In conclusion, Hinduism is perhaps the only religion that is so diversified in its theoretical premises and practical expressions as to be called a “museum of religions.” Hinduism is indeed a fascinating religion.

Hindus argue that devas should not be confused with God. There is only one Supreme Being. The fact that Hindus give their God many different name confuses outsiders. God has many aspects and each one is given a different name. It cannot be stressed enough that to appreciate this religion one must believe in an single omnipresence. Truth for the Hindu has many names, but that does not make for many truths. No where else does the idea of unity within the multitude of diversities find a more articulate expression than from an excerpt in the Rig Veda “Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanthi” which means “Truth is one, the wise call it by many names. Some images used by Hindus to worship God have several arms or eyes, even more than one head. The images are also very colorful. Why is this the case? Well, Hinduism is a very visual culture. Symbolism is everywhere and most prevalent in visual religious iconography. The extra body parts symbolize a different aspect of the Supreme Being. A great story behind the justification of several heads on an image is best explained in a popular story: In Classical Hindu mythology, Brahma, the Creator, was born in a lotus that emerged from the milky cosmic ocean. He became eager to find the source of his origin. He searched in all four directions, and in the attempt he developed four heads as well as four arms, but nowhere did he find his progenitor. Similiarly, different colors signify a quality of God. Westerners view such symbolic imagery as grotesque while to Hindus it is beautiful, a fine work of art. Religion is an expression of human desire to communicate with God and Hinduism is no exception. Which brings us to the question are Hindus idol worshippers? Christians have Jesus on a cross, Muslims have the Kabaa in Mecca, Jews have the Arc and Torah and indigenous faiths have totems. All of these items are viewed as holy to the followers. Yet, those faiths are not labeled idol worshipping. The purpose of graven images is to help the worshipper’s spiritual consciousness by developing an environment free of worldly matters and thus making room for God. Just as the cross is symbolic to Christians, the idols worshipped by Hindus are symbolic. The symbol

Some topics in this essay:
Typical Hindu, Religious Life, Satya Narayana, God Worship, Hindus Hindu, Arc Torah, Hinduism Hinduism, Rig Veda, Aryans Greeks, Eternal Faith, worship god, hindus believe, sacred profane, bhagavad gita, hinduism religion, life hindus, ritualistic worship, mental worship, set activities involves, durkheim’s theory, sanatan dharma,