Is Hinduism a religion or a common culture of the Indian peninsula.?

Answer 1

Yes :) To both.

Hinduism is a unique religion. It does not have as much of a strict belief system as what we are used to in the West. Hinduism developed by incorporating a lot of different beliefs and customs of the region it grew up in. So it has a lot to do with incorporating the customs and understanding them religiously. It's an interesting mix.

Hinduism is also henotheistic. It is not polytheistic nor monotheistic. Hindus recognize one diety, but see other gods as forms or manifestations of that diety. That is why they can adapt so well.

Matt

Answer 2

Hinduism (known as Hindū Dharma in some modern Indian languages[1]) is a religion that originated in 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 Vedic civilization[3] it has no known founder,[4][5] being itself a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions. It is the world's oldest existent religion, [6][7] and has approximately a billion adherents, of whom about 905 million live in India and Nepal,[8] placing it as the world's third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. Other countries with large Hindu populations include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Hinduism contains 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 consider the Vedas and the Upanishads as being among the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. Other major scriptures include the Tantras, the sectarian Agamas, the Purāṇas and the epics Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa. The Bhagavad Gītā, a treatise excerpted from the Mahābhārata, is sometimes called a summary of the spiritual teachings of the Veda.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm
http://www.hinduismtoday.com/

Answer 3

I second Matt's answer, he's completely correct.

Hinduism is unique in that it encourages those who follow it to find their own path in life. The basic principles of life will always apply universally regardless of religion (ie. ahimsa = the golden rule, etc.), and Hinduism appears to understand better than any other major religion that all the other specifics are basically meaningless.

Unfortunately, even Hindus can get caught up in mythology and specifics, so I don't mean to imply that Hindus are superior to people who practice other religions. I only mean to say that it can be plausibly argued that Hinduism is by far one of the most tolerant (towards its own followers!) of the major religions, when its core philosophies are considered. In that way, I'd say that it's more of a culture than a religion, since it can be woven so thickly into the everyday lives of all those who practice it.

Answer 4

Brother/ sister have posed a nice question.

First of all we should know the meaning of Hindu,What Hindu means.Hindu is a geographical word which means a person who lives below the river Sindhu (who lives in India) .

According to swamy Vivekanand , he says Hinduism is a misnoma, the right word should be Sanaatana Dharma "The Ethernal Religion" or Vedic Dharma " The religion of vedas"

Answer 5

that is via fact the Indian nationwide Congress would not care approximately Hindus. They care approximately Muslims and Christians, and every person else who they are able to apply as a vote banks to stay in political ability. Why else could they attempt to interrupt up the Rama Sethu that runs between India and Sri Lanka? additionally, Hindus have continually been disunited. So whilst Hindus want help, different Hindus at the instant are not waiting to assist them via fact they are disorganized. some communities are attempting to unite Hindus, yet those communities are continually disrupted via politicians like Sonia Gandhi.

Answer 6

Hinduism is referred to the practiceo worship of god of the people who have acommon culture /way of life in the indian penninsula .
The hindus did not have a religion as such .The woeship of "?god was part of the life of the people of this part of the world and the Arab traders reffered to it as hinduism. Soit was known to be a religion only after the arabs came as traders her e.before that it was not known distinctly as a religon ;but a part of the culture tha had developed over many centuries befopre any foreigner could come to this penninsula .

Answer 7

Hinduism is the religion, Hindi is a language, and they have a wonderfully diverse culture. In different parts of India they have slightly different customs and plenty of different kinds of food. One of my friends is from the southern part of India, and another is from the north. It's always interesting to try the different foods, listen to them discuss what you do at weddings, and bicker about what the name of some food is!

Answer 8

It is a Religion but in turn their religion shapes their culture much as it does anywhere in the world.

Answer 9

well I'm sorry,normally i am in the french side ,but as i am here ,why not answered you?
It's a "way of life" a kind of "philosophies ,but as you know ,people needs gods ,so they mostly looked at it "as a religion"
(so sorry for my bad English ,so i go back the other side of the Chanel ) ;-))

Answer 10

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, philosophers, books, scripts, the Ruling Party BJP & Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, the Indian and International strongest Hindu organisations RSS & VHP, each and every Hindu, etc.

Hinduism is a very old culture, tradition, custom and way of lives of Hindus in Hindustan (India) for centuries. The Idols and their worshipping cannot be separated from Hinduism. There are over 330 or 360 millions of Gods and Goddesses in India and millions of temples and shrines with their idols therein. Hundreds of millions of Hindus pray and worship these idols in those temples and shrines.

All, each and every Hindu fights for the IDOL of Lord Rama to be placed in the temple in Ayodhya, to be worshipped and prayed by Hindus. Some modern educated, westernised and over innocent Hindus claim that idol worship is not Hinduism. They are unnecessarily ashamed to face others. They should be proud of their tradition, custom, belief & faith.

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 judgements of the Supreme Court / High Courts always confirmed Hindus' castes are unchangeable and are by birth only. People unware of the Hinduism and influenced by western/other cultures/religions shout & cry that Hindus' castes are changeable; they conceal the true Hinduism, Indian laws, all the Courts' judgements, etc., yet cannot fool the others any more. The CASTE column always appears in all, 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.