About Hinduism

What is Hinduism?

Hinduism offers practitioners a variety of ways to transform their minds so that they become aware of the Divine’s presence everywhere, at all times, in themselves, in every other human being, and in the whole of creation. Such a person rises above sorrows, awakens an innate sense of compassion and service towards all, and spreads peace and joy.

What do most Hindus believe in?

Most Hindus believe that their Divine essence, atmaa, is deathless and is reborn with a different body in successive births. Their daily conduct is governed by the tenets of dharma as the foundation for personal morality and social obligations, and the law of karma as defining individual responsibility and tendencies through rebirth. Hindus believe in worshipping One Supreme Being that can appear in many forms. They believe in the need for spiritual practice, as individuals and in community with others, to enjoy the world sensibly, purify their own mind, and overcome the obstacles to spiritual liberation, moksha. Hindus respect other religions and do not believe that Hinduism is the exclusive path to the Truth.

What is Sanatana Dharma?

The phrase Sanatana Dharma means eternal dharma. Many Hindus use this phrase to refer to the Hindu religion. However, Hindus belonging to one group known as Arya Samaj associate the term Sanatana Dharma with the post-Vedic practice of worshipping murtis or images of the Divine, to which they are opposed. Treating dharma as synonymous with religion is incorrect as Hindu philosophy and practice is a broader concept than the term dharma which refers mainly to the ethical foundations of Hinduism and of life itself.

What are the main Hindu scriptures?

Scripture in Hinduism refers to a large body of literature rather than a single text. Since spiritual seekers have varying levels of understanding, scriptural messages are presented in a variety of ways to provide direct access to all seekers. Hindu scriptures are classified broadly into four categories: Shruti, Smriti, Purana, and Itihasa. The word shruti literally means ‘heard,’ and consists of truths that ancient sages realized in their advanced states of meditation and complete detachment. Shruti includes the Vedas and Upanishads, that were transmitted orally for many centuries. Texts and laws that are man-made are loosely classified as Smriti (‘remembered’). Teachings in smriti texts are meant to be read and interpreted in the light of changing circumstances over time. The specific statements in smriti texts do not carry the same weight as shruti. Puranas contain stories that are intended to convey deep spiritual teachings. The Mahabharata and Ramayana are itihasas (histories) of the Indic people. The most commonly used Hindu scriptures are the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana.

How old are the Vedas? In what language are Hindu scriptures written?

While impossible to date accurately, the Vedas are the most ancient of texts known to us. All agree that the Vedas are over three thousand years old, but there is little agreement on just how old they are. Evidence is scarce and estimates of their age vary widely, from 1200 BCE to some thousands of years earlier. Similar disagreements are found on dating other ancient scriptures, which were preserved orally for a long time before they were written. The Vedas and Upanishads are composed in an ancient form of Sanskrit. Other scriptures are in classical Sanskrit, that is widely taught today. Texts composed in the last millennium are often in the various regional languages of India.

What is the brief outline of the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata?

The Bhagavad Gita is a primary scripture for most Hindus in modern times. Although it is a tiny part of the Mahabharata and encapsulates rules of conduct (a smriti), it is traditionally accorded the rank of an Upanishad. It presents Lord Krishna’s teachings to the warrior Arjuna and is a profound guide to living a spiritual life while being fully engaged in the world. Lord Krishna is an avatar of Lord Vishnu who appears on earth to restore dharma. The text describes the various paths of yoga, summarizes Upanishadic teachings on spiritual topics, and offers succinct practical advice on how to lead a spiritually fulfilling life.

The Ramayana is the most popular scripture in all of Hinduism, with versions in regional languages as well as the original Sanskrit. It has had an enormous impact on many dimensions of life in India and parts of Southeast Asia. It is traditionally classed as an itihasa and tells the life story of a noble prince, Lord Rama, who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu who appears on earth to destroy powerful demons. This epic story portrays several characters that embody ideal qualities and conduct. Among them are Rama himself as the ideal in every way: as prince, as king, as son, as husband, as brother, as friend and as enemy; Sita as the ideal emblem of strong womanhood; Hanuman as the ideal friend who serves Rama; Lakshmana and Bharata as devoted brothers. The Ramayana is recited by devoted Hindus, is consulted for guidance on life, and forms the basis for popular dances and dramatic presentations.

The Mahabharata is also a historical epic or itihasa. It is the longest text the world has known, seven times the combined length of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Against the background of an extended conflict between two branches of the Kaurava family, the Mahabharata is a treasure trove of stories and discourses on the practice of dharma. As a scripture, its primary messages are the importance of always upholding dharma, the need for complete devotion to God, and the utter futility of war. The leading characters in this epic are highly complex and their roles in a wide variety of dramatic situations convey rich lessons in dharma. The Mahabharata illustrates human nature at its best and at its worst.

What are the forms in which God is worshipped? Explain their symbolic meaning.

A consecrated image of God, known as murti is used in worship to help concentrate the mind and focus on aspects of divinity symbolized by the particular form of the murti.

Ganesha: Lord of all functioning forces in the universe. He symbolizes wisdom and is worshipped at the start of any new enterprise to overcome all obstacles to success. He is shown with the head and trunk of an elephant that signifies wisdom, intelligence, and strength; and a large belly that contains the whole universe.

Vishnu: The “Preserver”, who manifests as an avatar when needed to destroy evil forces that overwhelm dharma and restore righteousness and justice in the world. Vishnu is known by numerous names and is depicted in a variety of forms: reclining on the divine serpent Shesha in an ocean of milk, with the Goddess Lakshmi at his feet; as Krishna, the blue-hued boy of Vrindavan wearing a peacock feather on his crown; as Rama, the prince who killed the demon Ravana; as Venkateshwara with four arms carrying a discus, a mace, a conch shell and a lotus; as Narasimha, with the head and claws of a lion; and many more. His blue color represents infinity and He is dressed in yellow, the color of the earth.

Shiva: The “Destroyer” or “Transformer,” whose unique dance sets the whole universe ablaze and brings to an end a cycle of creation. As Nataraja, he is shown as dancing and trampling on ego; as Prajapati he is worshiped as the lingam, a formless stone that depicts infinity and the source of life; and as Shiva clad in tiger-skin, with matted locks, and with skulls and serpents draped on his body. The serpents indicate sensory temptations which Shiva wears casually as a decoration without being distracted. When ignorance and desire are destroyed and eliminated from the human heart, what remains is only pure goodness, which is Shiva. He is depicted in deep meditation on Mount Kailash, the very embodiment of peace, compassion, and all things auspicious.

Brahma: The “Creator.” Generally depicted with a beard, holding the Vedas and riding a swan. Brahma is rarely worshiped. Most Hindus see Brahma as being subsidiary to Vishnu, being born out of Vishnu’s navel and needing Vishnu’s guidance on how to proceed with creating the world. Note the difference between Brahma, the Creator, and Brahman which signifies Pure Consciousness.

Devi/Shakti: The feminine forms of Divinity that represent creative energy as a necessary complement to the pure Consciousness that is the basis for the create universe. Depicted in a wide variety of names and forms: Parvati, the shakti of Shiva also appears as Durga and Kali; Lakshmi, the shakti of Vishnu; Sarasvati, the shakti of Brahma; Sita the shakti of Rama; Radha, the shakti of Krishna. Parvati, Durga and Kali are worshiped for their power and compassion; Lakshmi for wealth; and Sarasvati for learning.

Nataraja: Shiva, appearing as the Lord of dance. He is surrounded by fire signifying the end of a cycle of creation and stands on a human figure signifying the demonic ego. His upper hands hold a damaru (drum), signifying creation, and fire, signifying creative destruction. His lower hands give the blessing of fearlessness and the importance of submitting to God.

Shesha: The snake on whom Vishnu reclines represents the mind that is turned toward the Lord. The worlds are depicted as supported by his multiple heads.

How is God worshipped? What is puja?

The Hindu worship ceremony is known as puja. There are many different versions of the puja ritual, some simple, and some very complex and lengthy. In all cases, the ritual is designed to engage all the senses so that the worshipper’s mind is made one-pointed and not easily distracted from contemplation on God. In essence, the puja is like welcoming a revered guest to our home: first offer water to wash hands and feet, a seat to sit on, some refreshments, entertainment, praise, and celebration. In the end, we wish the guest goodbye. The mantras and activities in the puja are just that. The practices in the puja engage all the five senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and tasting. In a typical puja, the murti is beautifully decorated, bells are rung, and mantra are chanted as worshippers make several offerings to the Deity such as fragrant flowers, special leaves [tulsi and bilva], rice, water, fruit and sweets. Finally, a lighted lamp is waved as an aarati. At the end of the puja the worshipper reverentially accepts the offerings made to God as representing God’s grace and blessing. This is known as prasad. Applying this attitude to life as a whole, all actions are a form of worship and one should accept everything as an expression of God’s grace and compassion towards creation. Prana Pratishtha: When a murti is installed in a temple, a special ritual is undertaken to inhere in this murti the energy of the transcendent Pure Consciousness before engaging in worship. Once the murti is so consecrated, the murti in the temple is treated as an embodiment of Divine presence, a living being, and is cared for as such. As part of daily worship, the murti is bathed, decorated, offered food, and rest. In worship, the devotee offers the best of everything to the Divine.

Some articles and practices of puja and their symbolism:

Coconut	broken and offered in worship as sign of surrendering ego
Flowers	used to decorate murti; only fragrant flowers used
Fruit	sweet fruit offered in worship, such as bananas, apples, or raisins
Incense	offering fragrance in worship
Sandalwood	applied to body of murti as perfume
Water	offered in worship to bathe m urti
Food	milk, yogurt, ghee, honey and cooked food are offered in worship and returned as sign of divine grace
Bathing	in addition to bathing in water, the murti may be ceremonially bathed in milk, yogurt, and honey as part of ritual worship
Parikrama	Worshippers may walk around the m urti or the shrine, keeping it always to one’s right as a mark of respect.
Joining palms	namaste to offer respect and pray to divinity
Prostration	to show humility and surrender by touching forehead to ground
Prasad	as part of the puja, fruit or food is offered to the Deity. These offerings are returned at the end of the puja and distributed to worshippers as a token of Divine grace, or prasad. Token amounts are eaten immediately and sometimes taken away for distribution to devotees who were not present at the puja. Most often, the prasad consists of sweet fruit such as bananas or raisins.
Bindi/Tilak	Many Hindus wear a coloured dot on their forehead, known as tilak or bindi. Originally part of the daily ritual worship, it is also used as an ornament by Hindu women. The spot between the eyebrows has special significance in yoga as an energy centre and as the ‘third eye’. Worshippers of Shiva apply ash to the forehead and body as a reminder of how Divine power destroys evil and as a symbol of renunciation of desire.

What is the role of temples in Hindu worship? How often are Hindus required to visit temples?

Temples create an especially sacred space for Hindu worship because they house consecrated murti of God that have been ritually installed and are worshipped daily following strict rituals. When the freshly sculpted image is first brought to the temple, there is an elaborate ritual that invokes the life-force of that form of Divinity to reside in this image. This ritual is known as Prana-Pratishtha. Once this is done, the image becomes and is treated like a living being. The priest in the temple is then required to care for this living being on a daily basis in every way—that is why temples are open all days in the year. And every image is bathed, clothed, fed, and worshipped on a strict routine every single day, even when no other worshippers are present. Hindus consider it very auspicious to witness these rituals and visit the temples for darshan at times designated for the main puja. Temples are believed to further enhance their spiritual energy from the fact that numerous devotees have engaged in intensive worship for a long time. However, visiting temples is not mandatory. A Hindu may visit a temple occasionally, regularly, frequently, or never. The primary obligation of a Hindu is to worship God daily at home, perhaps at a simple altar.

What are the main pilgrimage sites for Hindus? Are all Hindus required to go to them?

India is dotted with innumerable sacred sites and most Hindus will go on a pilgrimage at some point in their lives. Visiting a pilgrimage site is not mandated, but is strongly encouraged as a spiritual practice. Visiting Varanasi is traditionally seen as the most important pilgrimage. Hardwar in the north, Gaya in the east, and Rameshwaram in the south are designated sites for rites associated with funerals. Some sites, like Mount Kailash in Tibet are hard to reach. Others, such as Varanasi, are well connected and visited by very large numbers of Hindus from all parts of the country, including many who are quite poor. Some sacred sites have annual mela or gatherings that attract large numbers, such as the up to 100 million people who attend the Kumbha Mela in Prayag.

What is the role of fasting in Hinduism?

In common with many religions, Hinduism recommends fasting as a form of spiritually purificatory practice. Traditional Hindus fast during the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight and are expected to devote their time to prayer and contemplation on God. Many Hindus fast once a week on days dedicated to their Ishta Deva, or favorite deity. Certain festivals, such as Maha Shivaratri, are preceded by a day of fasting. While recognizing that fasting builds spiritual discipline, scriptures also warn against excessive fasting and torturing the body.

What is the role of fasting in Hinduism?

What is a mantra?

Mantra are sacred sounds that have been revealed to sages since ancient times and have great potency. In the spiritual realm, the repetition of mantras is a powerful practice that purifies the mind and connects the spiritual seeker with the Divine force embodied in the mantra.

What is a yantra?

Yantra are esoteric physical objects corresponding to mantras that are sounds. Generally two-dimensional diagrams with geometric patterns, they can also be three dimensional. They are ritually worshipped to invoke the forces they represent. They constitute an important feature of the practice of tantra.

What is the role of meditation?

Meditation is a central practice in Hindu spirituality as a means of calming the mind and connecting with the Divine. It is practiced in a variety of ways. Most meditative practices involve focusing the mind on an object of meditation that may be a physical object such as a murti, image of God, or a subtle object such as a mantra. More advanced meditative practices involve stopping the flow of thoughts and becoming aware of Pure Consciousness that is the substratum of the mind. In Hinduism, ‘meditation’ is distinct from the practice of ‘contemplation,’ which involves dwelling on a stream of thoughts about God, and from the practice of ‘enquiry’ which involves probing for answers to a deep spiritual question.

What is the significance of Navagraha Puja?

Navagraha Puja is a ritual to propitiate nine celestial planets in the belief that they have a significant influence of what happens in the world. Seven of the nine planets are deities who preside over the days of the week: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. The remaining two, Rahu and Ketu, are not strictly planets, and represent the ascending and descending nodes of the moon. A story in the Puranas relates how they used subterfuge to consume some of the nectar reserved for the Gods and thus became immortal. In the Puranas they are said to cause the solar and lunar eclipses. Hindu temples have a special space dedicated to images of deities representing these nine planets and visitors to the temple pay their respects to them as they enter the temple.