How did the Hindo religion start?Who were their gods+goddesses?Who was Boda?Why did he change his life style?

Question

i am doing a project thing and i cant figure out the answers to these last questions. Please help! How did the Hindo religion start?Who were their gods+goddesses?Who was Boda?Why did he change his life style?

Answer 1

Hinduism is not a religion. It is a culture, custom, tradition, way of Hindus' lives in Hindustan (India). It is claimed and insisted as such by all the well known Hindu priests, scholars, intellectuals, books, scripts, the Ruling Party BJP & Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, the Indian & International strongest Hindu organisations RSS & VHP, each and every Hindu, etc.


The word Hindu was given by Persians to people living beyond Sindhu river. It was nowhere mentioned in any holy script. A Hindu is born to Hindu parents in Hindustan (India). No Hindu can be without a caste. Castes cannot be changed by any means; they are by birth. The Constitution of India and the Hindu Code (4 separate Acts) included everybody into Hinduism except Jews, Christians, Muslims & Parsis.

All the Indian Central and State Govts. laws, rules, orders, regulations and all the judgements of the Supreme & High Courts always confirmed that Hindus' castes are unchangeable and are by birth only. People unware of Hinduism and influenced by other cultures/religions shout & cry that Hindus' castes are changeable; they conceal the true Hinduism, Indian laws, Courts' judgements, etc., yet cannot fool the other any more. The CASTE column always appears in each and every application form prescribed by Govt. institutions & offices.

Hinduism consists of four varnas (categories) and thousands of castes therein with innumerable Gods & Goddesses for each such caste. Hindus castes are not equal. Hindus' worship and prayer is the job of their caste, they are born in by nature. Those not included in any of the said four varnas (categories) are untouchables ie worst and dirtiest than dirtiest animals. These Varnas (4 categories) are taught in the Holy Bhagavad Geeta, Verses 40-47, Chapter-18, and are not man made to be eradicated or ignored.

A Hindu may embrace and convert to any religion and remain Hindu by nativity. Hindus have no DOs and DONTs; they are liberal & broad minded. There are no requisites or conditions to remain a Hindu. A Hindu born to Hindu parents in Hindustan (India) will always be a Hindu even if he denies & rejects Hinduism; believes & prays (or not) to a different God every time, etc. The only way to renounce Hinduism is to embraces a religion & to convert as a Jew, Christian, Muslim or Parsi, as per all Indian laws.

Answer 2

"Buddha" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha

"Gautama Buddha" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

Answer 3

Hinduism (known as Hindū Dharma in some modern Indian languages[1]) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. In contemporary usage Hinduism is also referred to as Sanātana Dharma (सनातन धर्म), a Sanskrit phrase meaning "eternal law".[2]

With its origins in the Indus Valley Civilization and Vedic civilization, it has no known founder,[3][4] being itself a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions. It is considered the world's oldest extant religion, [5][6] and has approximately a billion adherents, of whom about 890 million live in India,[7] placing it as the world's third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. Other countries with large Hindu populations include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Hinduism provides a vast body of scriptures. Divided as revealed and remembered and developed over millennia, these scriptures expound on a broad of range of theology, philosophy and mythology, providing spiritual insights and guidance on the practice of dharma (religious living). Among such texts, Hindus revere the Vedas and the Upanishads and consider these as being among the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity.
The Persian term Hindu comes from the Sanskrit Sindhu, i.e. the Indus River.[9] In the Rig Veda, the Indo-Aryans mention their land as Sapta Sindhu (the land of the seven rivers of the northwestern Indian subcontinent, one of them being the Indus). This corresponds to Hapta-Hendu in the Avesta (Vendidad: Fargard 1.18)—the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism of Iran. The term was used for people who lived in the Indian subcontinent beyond the "Sindhu".

Concept of God
Hinduism is sometimes considered to be a polytheistic religion, but such a view tends to oversimplify a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism,[11] pantheism, monism and even atheism. For instance, the Advaita Vedanta school holds that there is only one causal entity (Brahman), which manifests itself to humans in multiple forms[12] while many scholars consider the Samkhya school of thought to have had atheistic leanings.

Brahman

Main article: Brahman
According to the monistic/panentheistic theologies of Hinduism, Brahman (the greater Self or God) is in the highest sense One and nondifferentiated from the world and its beings (hence 'nondualist'). In connoting Brahman's absolutely unparalleled nature, it is also called Parambrahman, where the Sanskrit prefix param- denotes "ultimate". Brahman is also sometimes seen as synonymous with the concept of Paramatma (Supreme Spirit). Beyond time and space, both immanent and transcendent,[13][14] Brahman is often described succinctly as sacchidananda, meaning 'Truth-Consciousness-Bliss', not only possessing the qualities but also being their very essence. Advaita philosophy declares that ultimately Brahman (the impersonal God) is beyond mere intellectual description and can be understood only through direct spiritual experience, where the 'knower' and the 'known' are subsumed into the act of 'knowing'. The goal is to "wake up" and realize that one's atman, or soul, is really identical to Brahman, the uber-soul.[15][16]

On the other hand, monotheistic (typically Dvaita Vedanta) and related devotional (bhakti) schools, understand Brahman as a Supreme Being who possesses personality. In these conceptions, Brahman is associated with Vishnu, Shiva or Shakti depending on the sect. Brahman is seen as fundamentally separate from its reliant souls (humanity) so, in achieving liberation, individual beings experience God as an independent being, a living personality, and retain their individual identities.


Temple carving at Hoysaleswara temple representing the Hindu Trimurti: Brahma, Siva and Vishnu.Ishvara

Main article: Ishvara
When God is viewed as the supreme personal being (rather than as the infinite principle) God is called Ishvara ("The Lord";[17]), Bhagavan ("The Auspicious One";[17]), or Parameshwara ("The Supreme Lord"[17]). Ishvara thus refers to the personal aspect of God in general; it is not specific to a particular deity. Ishvara transcends gender, yet can be looked upon as father, mother, friend, child, or even as sweetheart.[12] Some schools of Hindu philosophy do not believe in Ishvara, while others interpret Ishvara in different ways.[18][12] Some schools do not distinguish between Ishvara and Brahman. The Dvaita school holds that Ishvara is not incorporeal,[18] but is infinite and a personal being.

Devas and devis

Main article: Deva (Hinduism)
The Hindu scriptures also speak about many celestial entities, called Devas ("The shining ones",[17] also called devatās). The word Devas may be translated into English as gods,[17] demigods,[19] deities,[17] celestial spirits[20] or angels.[21] The feminine of deva is devī.

The Vedas and Purānas depict traditional stories about individual devas. The latter lauds the Trimurti of Mahādevas ("Great Gods"), which are the three aspects of God, Brahmā, Vishnu and Shiva.[22] Numerous other Devas have been worshipped throughout Hinduism's history. The devas are an integral part of Hindu culture and are depicted in art, architecture and through icons. In their personal religious practices, Hindus worship primarily one or another of these deities, known as their iṣṭa devatā, or chosen ideal.[23][24] The particular form of God worshipped as one's chosen ideal is a matter of individual preference and needs,[25] influenced by regional and family traditions.[26]

Worship of God through icons

Main article: Murti
Hindus may worship God through icons (murti), such as statues or paintings symbolic of God's power and glory. The icon serves as a tangible link between the worshipper and God.[92] Another view is that the image is a manifestation of God, since God is immanent. The Padma Purana states that the mūrti is not to be thought of as mere stone or wood but as a manifest form of the Divinity.[93] A few Hindu sects, such as the Arya Samaj, do not believe in worshiping God through icons.


Temples
Main article: Mandir
Hindu temples are a place of worship for Hindus. They are usually dedicated to a primary deity along with associated subordinate deities. However, some temples are dedicated to multiple deities. Most major temples are constructed as per the āgama shāstras and many are sites of pilgrimage. An important element of temple architecture and many Hindu households in general is Vaastu Shastra, the science of aesthetic and auspicious design.

Visiting temples is not obligatory for Hindus.[94] Many Hindus go to temples only during religious festivals, though others do so more regularly. Temples are not used for funerals, or as social hubs but some are used for weddings(e.g. temple of Dnyaneshwar at Alandi, Maharashtra). Many Hindus view the four Shankaracharyas (the abbots of the monasteries of Joshimath, Puri, Shringeri and Dwarka — four of the holiest pilgrimage centers — sometimes to which a fifth at Kanchi is also added) as the Patriarchs of Hinduism.


Hindu iconography
Main article: Hindu iconography

SwastikaHinduism has a developed system of symbolism and iconography to represent the sacred in art, architecture, literature and worship. These symbols gain their meaning from the scriptures, mythology, or cultural traditions. The symbols Om (which represents the Parabrahman), Swastika (which symbolizes auspiciousness) have grown to represent Hinduism itself, while other markings such as tilaka identify a follower of the faith. Hinduism associates many symbols, which include the lotus, chakra and veena, with particular devas. These associations distinguish the physical representations of the deities in sculptural or printed form and are based upon allegorical references in Hindu mythology. While most representations of deities are largely anthropomorphic there are exceptions. For instance the deity Shiva is worshipped in the form of a pillar-like stone called a lingam


and i belive u mean buddha who is the "god" for the buddhists