Hinduism primarily is not a religion... it is a way of life! It is Hinduism which explains to the world that our mortal world is ephemeral in nature. Our soul atman within the body is the real essence of life. Our soul atman within has taken the body to work out its karma. The moment the complete dross within removes... the soul atman regains its prime pure pristine original form and goes back to the kingdom of God (aka Baikuntha in Hinduism).
Gaining release from the cycle of birth and death is the ultimate goal of every soul atman. The moment human being gains enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and salvation (moksha)... the soul atman reaches the last leg of cosmic life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation! The form of a human being is the highest manifest stage in life! Only as a human being can one gain enlightenment and salvation... never from heaven or hell can a soul atman directly go to the kingdom of God!
Even before Lord Krishna was born (about 3600 years ago)... no religion practically existed on Mother Earth. In the circumstances... how did humanity survive? The essence of life is all explained in Hinduism which consists of many sacred scriptures... the revered Vedas and the Upanishads. The primary Vedas... the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda are very voluminous documents. When Lord Krishna came into the scene... the gist of all the Vedas was reduced into the Sacred Bhagavad Gita that contains the essence of Hinduism!
Bhagavad Gita is one sacred document... the knower of which becomes the knower of all! For living the practical manifest life of 70 to 80 years, one must follow the dictates of Ramayana. For a serious seeker of spirituality who desires gaining enlightenment and salvation in this life... following the dictates and teachings of Bhagavad Gita is of foremost importance! Bhagavad Gita... the doctrine given to mankind by Lord Krishna in Mahabharata contains those pearls of wisdom... knowing which one easily steps into the kingdom of God!
Hinduism practically exists from times immemorial... it has no beginning! In other words it can also be stated as Sanatana Dharma. Before any religion came into existence... mankind survived the rigors of day-to-day life by following the tenets of Dharma. And what is Dharma? Dharma can be best defined as, "Your right to do what is just and right and not what was destined". It is Dharma that governed the destiny of mankind before any religion came into existence. Every religion primarily is a following of the teachings of enlightened masters.
India is the spiritual masters of the world... for knowing Hinduism... one need not convert to Hindu religion! Every human being can follow the tenets of Hinduism to the last! One may be a Christian... still follow the teachings of Hinduism at large! Hinduism never criticizes any other religion whatsoever. What can be more sacrosanct for Hinduism other than the fact Mahavira, Gautama Buddha and to some extent even Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed... all belonged to India. Lord Krishna... an Avatar of the era (God manifest in human form) also belonged to India. Hinduism is the beginning and also an end unto itself! More on hinduism - http://www.godrealized.com/Hinduism.html
2007-07-04 20:45:33
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answer #1
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answered by godrealized 6
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Oldest of the world's major religions. It evolved from the Vedic religion of ancient India. The major branches of Hinduism are Vaishnavism and Shaivism, each of which includes many different sects. Though the various sects each rely on their own set of scriptures, they all revere the ancient Vedas, which were brought to India by Aryan invaders after 1200 BCE. The philosophical Vedic texts called the Upanishads explored the search for knowledge that would allow mankind to escape the cycle of reincarnation. Fundamental to Hinduism is the belief in a cosmic principle of ultimate reality called Brahman and its identity with the individual soul, or atman. All creatures go through a cycle of rebirth, or samsara, which can be broken only by spiritual self-realization, after which liberation, or moksha, is attained. The principle of karma determines a being's status within the cycle of rebirth. The greatest Hindu deities are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The numerous other Hindu gods are mostly viewed as incarnations or epiphanies of the main deities, though some are survivors of the pre-Aryan era. The major sources of classical mythology are the Mahabharata (which includes the Bhagavadgita, the most important religious text of Hinduism), the Ramayana, and the Puranas. The hierarchical social structure of the caste system is also important in Hinduism; it is supported by the principle of dharma. In the 20th century Hinduism blended with Indian nationalism to become a powerful political force in Indian politics. In the early 21st century there were more than 850 million Hindus worldwide.-
2007-07-03 01:17:05
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answer #2
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answered by Jayaraman 7
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Hinduism is a very philosophically thought out religion that essentially gives an answer for any question that you might have about your life. With each answer Hinduism gives a reason and a possibility of strengthening your understanding of the answer. So, it can be considered true life, not a way of life.
2007-07-02 02:51:38
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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I am a Hindu by means of option. I simplest cross to temples as a social exercise and a few rituals are comforting, many of the prayer I do is inside. Your dad is proper. Many Hindu's get caught within the ritual elements, in actual fact honestly within the instructing and the self progress that's prompted in Hinduism. The Vedas are NOT prescriptive, there's such a lot option given within the Vedas that many simply dont appreciate. God isn't this, or this or this, God is that. The idea is deep. There is nobody direction, And all people CAN be right. There is a purpose why the oldest faith on the planet remains to be a dwelling faith at present, its no longer considering of the temples, its considering of the philosophy. Casts; There is just one solid the solid of Humanity. Casts are probably the most misused and misrepresented concept in Indian historical past. In scripture the approach is used to exhibit how all exercise of guy is principal for existence, individuals and politicians twisted giving extra value to their special locations. In the vedas and Gita caste is situated at the WORK of an man or woman, their movement on this existence and NOT their beginning. Every precise upholder of Sadhana Dharma from Rama to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was once in opposition to the solid approach. Krishna was once a cowherder, Rama for God's sake had a monkey and a fisherman for his brother, the record is going on and on. It is the best misuse of faith to base human evolution and the progress of the soul on caste. The best instructing of Hinduism is Aham Bhramasmi. "I am God" and if all people is god what's caste? On the perception of untouchables, that I suppose got here approximately considering of wellness. The corporations who made up the so referred to as untouchables have been those who labored with sanitary, feces and cleansing. Due to publicity their immune tactics have been bigger. I suspect folks spotted that after my children play together with your children, mine die and yours dont (This is very similar to the Gypsy kids within the 1500s). So the institution grew to be 'untouchable' and considering dependancy outweighs natural experience and humanity it grew to be twisted to be facet of society. And I dont consider it has ANY position in Hinduism. God consents, there are legends or statues turning and developing openings in order that precise devotees deemed 'untouchable' by means of boastful and egoistic clergymen bought darshan. Hinduism is approximately acts, NOT beginning. Ummmm.... what tendency to be peaceable? If you're speakme approximately Ghandi's peace, that was once a grasp genius stroke, to get independence is an aggressively peaceable system. Is this an oxymoron - no. If Gandhi's non-violence was once peaceable, why no longer simply sit down at residence and meditate, he didnt. He organized the salt march, wherein the sheer change among how the indians and the britishers acted stuck on digicam confirmed the western global for the primary time who the "Barbarians' real have been. This was once wanted at the moment. When negotiations fail, Hinduism has room for violence, that is why Krishna recommended Arjuna to battle within the Mahabaratha. Hinduism isn't approximately utilizing violence to battle, it's approximately responding in probably the most right system - with out anger. The purpose to select up fingers isn't in vengeance or anger however to protect and to uphold rightousness.
2016-09-05 12:21:30
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answer #4
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answered by ? 4
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A vast, peaceful, loving, non-violent, most respectful & meaningful religion on earth. The best I found since I studied many religions. People will say that we are polytheists, but in fact we are not. We see God's multiple forms/names as One.
2007-07-02 11:47:21
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answer #5
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answered by Maheswari 2
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check out http://www.gitananda.org/hinduism/index.php for the view of saints like gandhi, vivekananda and otheres on hinduism.
2007-07-02 05:04:02
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answer #6
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answered by anon 2
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