HINDUISM
"He who is one, and who dispenses the inherent needs of all peoples and all times, who is in
the beginning and the end of all things, may He unite us with the bond of Goodwill"
(Upanishads).
NUMBERS
Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam.
It claims about 700 million followers -13% of the world's population.
ORIGINS
Hinduism differs from Christianity and other Western religions in that it does not have a
single founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality or a central religious
organisation. It consists of thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India
since 1500 BCE.
Although the Indian caste system was abolished in 1949, it remains a significant force
throughout India. Each follower of Hinduism traditionally belonged to one of the thousands of
Jats (communities) that existed in India. The Jats were grouped into four Varna (social
castes). The fourth and the lowest Varna included a sub-order that was treated as untouchable,
due to the traditional vocation followed by them.
Originally the Varna or Jats were based on the profession followed by a class of people.
Subsequently the Varna or Jats also determined the profession to be followed by a class of
people. The sub castes represented the family or a group related by blood within the same Jat.
Marriages normally took place within the same Jat. The people belonging to the first three
Varnas felt it beneath their station in society to eat, drink or smoke with the lowest Varna,
namely, the Sudras. People were once able to move from one Varna to another. However, at
some time in the past (estimates range from about 500 BCE to 500 CE), the system became
rigid, so that a person was generally born into the Jat and Varna of their parents, and died in
the same group. There are four defined castes, which are in decreasing status:
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Brahmins (the priests and academics)
Kshatriyas (rulers, military, feudal lords)
Vaishyas (financiers, bankers and merchants)
Sudras (serfs, servants, workers in menial jobs).
The Dalit were outcasts who formed a sub group of the lowest caste. Until the late 1980's they
were called Harijan ( children of God). They worked in what are considered 'polluting' jobs.
They were untouchable by the other castes. In some areas of the country , even a contact with
their shadow was considered polluting. Practicing untouchability or discriminating against a
person because of their caste is now illegal. The caste system has lost much of its power in
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urban areas, however, it is still dominant in some rural districts. The Indian government has
instituted positive discrimination in order to help the Dalit and other lower castes.
SACRED TEXTS
The most important of all Hindu texts are the four Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita. The Gita is
a poem describing a conversation between a warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna, an
incarnation of the God Vishnu. It is an ancient text that has become central to Hinduism and
other belief systems.
Shruti, the spoken Scriptures, are also very important, as they are the words given by
Brahman to the holy people exactly as they are. These are in Sanskrit, read in the place of
worship (mandir). Some of the books that make up the shruti are the Rig Veda, Sama Veda,
Yajour Veda and Atharva Veda. The word Veda means knowledge and these four books are
supposed to teach the truth which leads to God.
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
HINDU BELIEFS INCLUDE
Hinduism is essentially a monotheistic religion believing in one divine power, that is:
Eko Brahma dvitiyanasti. There is only one Brahma or God and no second one. At the
same time, Hinduism believes in the presence of God in all five elements of the
Universe: air, fire, water, earth and heaven, and also that God is present in all forms of
its creation.
Hindus worship God in all his manifestations and Hinduism, to that extent, can be
understood to be pantheistic. The entire universe is one divine entity who is
simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it. The Universe is a
continuum of creation. The God is perceived in its three roles as a trinity of:
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Brahma: the Creator who is continuing to create
Vishnu (Krishna): the Preserver, who preserves these creations. Whenever dharma
(eternal order, righteousness, religion, law and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels
from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations.
Shiva: the Destroyer, is compassionate, but destructive of all that is evil.
PRECEPTS OF HINDUISM
 Dharma -the true duty of a person created by God;
 Karma -the actual acts or duty performed by a person;
 Gyana -the ultimate knowledge, and
 Moksha -the ultimate release.
Humans are perceived as being trapped in samsara, a meaningless cycle of birth, life,
death and rebirth. Karma is the accumulated sum of one's good and bad deeds. Karma
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determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion,
one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve
enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn at a lower level, or even as
an animal. The present status, wealth, prestige, and suffering are thus frequently seen
as natural consequences for ones acts, both in this life and in previous lives.
HINDU PRACTICES
 Meditation- with Yoga being the most common
 Daily devotions
 Public rituals (i.e. celebration of religious festivals like Holi, Dussehra, Deepavali
etc.)
 Pooja -prayer and offering to God.
HINDU SECTS AND DENOMINATIONS
Most Hindus follow one of the two major divisions of Hinduism:
Santana
Santana followers believe in age old rituals and worship all forms and manifestations
of God with followers of Vishnu or Krishna called Vaishnavites, followers of Shiva
called Shaivites, followers of Durga or Kali - the female manifestation of power called
Shakti, and followers of Lord Rama.
Arva Samaj
Arya Samaj followers believe in the four Vedas and monotheistic principle of only one
indivisible God.
About 80% of Hindus are Santanas. Others follow various reform movements or
neo-Hindu sects. Various reformist sects of Hinduism have evolved into separate
religious movements, including Buddhism and Sikhism.
COMMON MYTHS
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MYTH
Hinduism is a very violent religion, with some of the Gods worshiped
promoting violence.
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REALITY
Hinduism focuses on love and respect for all living things as the
highest and deepest form of acceptance. Hinduism has a reputation of
being highly tolerant of other religions. Hindus have a saying: "Ekam
Satya Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti," which may be translated: "The truth
is One", but different Sages present it differently. Hinduism has
traditionally been one of the most tolerant of religions.
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MYTH
Hinduism teaches that there are many Gods
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REALITY
Hinduism does not teach that there are many Gods but that God is not
one 'image' but expressed in all forms of creation, and reflects different
values, practices and local customs.
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MYTH
Hinduism teaches that people with disability are inferior to able-bodied
people.
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REALITY
There is a strong connection between disability and Karma, suggesting
the disability is punishment for actions in a previous life. However,
there is an equally strong link to Dharma, that is the duty of an
individual and a community given that there are people with disability .
<Source: MDAA Ethnicity & Disability Factbook, December, 2000>
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