2006-08-31 23:13:21 · 14 answers · asked by amala a 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
India. It is the oldest religion on the planet. Where are they coming from? They are about 1/6 of the population of the planet. Mostly India, with large contingents in nearby areas, and a surprising number in South Africa.
If you have a bit of time you might want to start with the Mahabharata.
Or at least the Bhagavad-Gita.
2006-08-31 23:20:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Hinduism originated in INDIA. According to historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to 5000 or more years. The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of River Indus, which flows through northern India. In ancient times the river was called the 'Sindhu', but the Persians who migrated to India called the river 'Hindu', the land 'Hindustan' and its inhabitants 'Hindus'. Thus the religion followed by the Hindus came to be known as 'Hinduism'.
2006-08-31 23:23:07 · answer #2 · answered by shrinjaykhandel 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hinduism is not a religion, its a WAY OF LIFE. Most people are unaware of this fact and so they get confused about it. You can be a hindu if you live like a hindu....that is why there is no conversion into hinduism. Think about it and have a great day!
2006-09-04 18:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by The Sorceress 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hinduism is the oldest religion by far that is actually being practiced to any real extent today.
Hindu scripture was teaching a form of thinking that is very close to modern quantum physics over 4000 years ago.
How they knew the things that they knew is any ones guess.
Hindus believe each of us to be a part of God. Much like the leaves on a tree, each is a leaf, but still each leaf is undeniably the tree. Much like Christianity teaches that we are all a part of God.
Love and blessings
don
2006-08-31 23:22:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
actually hinduism according to the history was brought by the aryanswho came from afghanistan side, they used to believe in different things and happenings and along with the local people of india. gave birth to hindu ism
2006-09-01 00:52:43 · answer #5 · answered by ajju 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no one can trace the origin of hinduism because it is a living tradition a mode of life handed down to us from generations it is a living tradition.
2006-08-31 23:19:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
According to Bible...many people did not obey The only God and started worshiping idols Hindus are one of them.
according to Wikipedia a Hindu is one who follows his or her own religion of Sva-Dharma, practices Bhakti (devotion) on any form of God (who is Brahman or creator of the universe), practices virtuous path of life believing in the concept of Karma for the purpose of Moksha. Sva - is the "self". Karma is the law of eternal onus of one's actions leading to balanced effects for all times to come. Moksha is the ultimate resolution of life
2006-09-01 01:28:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well hinduism is a comparitively newer concept...we actually first believed in sanatan dharma like sum hav told u b4....it basially preached that whatever religion u follow , follow it with truth....be true to whicheva religion u follow...so if u r a muslim be a gud muslim, if a christian then be a gud and true christian and so on....we din believe in conversion or anythin of thta sort....it originated frm india....
2006-09-01 21:39:06 · answer #8 · answered by maggie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The name "Hinduism" was actually coined by Muslim Rulers who attacked India. They coined this name to differentiate Vedic Culture from Islam. They used to call people living on other side of "Indus" river as "Indu" and they called their practices as Induism or Hinduism..
In Vedic Culture, the Word for Religion is "Sanatan Dharma" or Eternal Occupational Duty of the Soul..
That Occupational Duty is to render service to God as per the instruction of God..
Unlike some religion that holds their origin to a Particular Spiritual Leader, Sanatana Dharma is based on teaching directly given by God himself..
In Vedic Culture, since no one can tell origin of God as he has no beginning, hence his teachings have no beginning. It eternally exists as God Himself does.. This knowledge was passed by many spiritual masters without any alteration to the disciples and those disciples passed on to their disciples, the original Spiritual master being God himself.. In olden days people practiced strict celibacy, had very good Memory..
But Sage Veda-Vyasa (also known as Vyasa Deva) foreseeing the degraded age of today, decided to compile these teaching into Books known as Vedas(which means Knowledge).. He compiled 4 Vedas, more that 100 Upanishads(Commentary on Vedas), 18 Puranas(History of Sages and God's Activities), Vedanta Sutra(synopsis of Vedas), Mahabharat (History of Greater India).
According to astronomical records, these where compiled near around 3500 BC.
All of which has been accepted by all great sages after him as perfect truth.
So followers of Sanatan Dharma currently consult to these books for understanding and learning.
The essences and basics of Spiritual Life are again mentioned in Bhagavad-Gita which is part of Mahabharat. Bhagavad-Gita consists of teachings given by God himself. God said that long long back he had given this knowledge in Heaven to the controller of Sun Planet. But that knowledge eventually got lost and hence he is giving again the same knowledge.
Hope this answers your question ..
To read more about how this knowledge was given please read Bhagavad Gita As It Is, 4th Chapter.
You can read it online at http://www.bhagavadgitaasitis.com/en
Please read it with open mind, as it does not support Darwin Theory or Big bang Theory.
2006-08-31 23:48:55 · answer #9 · answered by Parsu 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The personal experience of wise man ( men).
2006-09-01 19:04:24 · answer #10 · answered by socratus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋