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Hinduism Research Paper
Hinduism: A Realm Outside of My Own
To get from South India to South Florida, normally, a person would need to travel roughly 15,117
km or 9,394 miles. Being that it is hardly just a hop, skip, and a jump away, members of the South
Florida community, who are also a part of the Hindu community, desperately wanted a place where
they could feel close to their motherland and yet remain near their newfound homes. To ensure this
dream would become a reality, devotees gathered funds and support from friends and families to
build what would later be known as the South Florida Hindu Temple. Interestingly, this temple,
dissimilar to many others in the country, was built strictly from love and charity. All of the funds
used to create the holy place...show more content...
While it may be argued that all religions, at their core, are tolerant, I have personally never felt so
welcomed in a community where I expected to be an outsider. With my mind at ease and my
defenses lowered, I could finally completely open myself up to the beliefs of these gentle people.
One of the main truths of Hinduism is that there is one "supreme being", a God, if you will, that is
made up of everything and in turn makes up everything. This truth is the basis for many, if not
all, of the other truths found in Hinduism. For example, another Hindu belief is that all life is to
be preserved, cherished, and valued equally. With that being said, Hindus are expected to practice
ahimsa or nonviolence; that is by action or by word. In a Hindu's mind to be violent or
disrespectful towards anything and anyone would be the equivalent of being violent or
disrespectful to God; considering whoever or whatever you are disrespecting is made from the
essence of the "supreme being". Hinduism is known for its many gods and goddesses or deities
that devotees worship on a daily basis. In fact, it is not uncommon to find that a wife holds
preference to a deity and her husband another. However, there are different sects, such as Shaivism
and Vaishnavism, where one deity is primarily worshiped. The South Florida Hindu Temple falls
under a different sect; Smartism. In the Smartism sect, devotees are allowed to show preference to
whichever deity they
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Individualism : Hinduism And Hinduism
It can be said that a religion of particular cultures reflects the psychology of that culture(Cohen, Wu
and Miller 1236–1249). In other words, the philosophy and opinions of a group when combined
again for to the religion the following. So by studying a particular religion, we can thereby get a
feel for the philosophy and psychology of a culture.
Eastern philosophies and religions have long been against the idea of individualism (Cohen, Wu and
Miller 1236–1249). Hinduism for instance, believes that individualism is an illusion (Cohen, Wu and
Miller 1236–1249). It is the collective that holds the power in such beliefs. The idea that an
individual is any different from the collective is considered to be a naГЇve view. It is not that the
philosophy discounts the existence of the individual, it only goes against the fact that an individual
is somehow different from the collective. In other words an individual is part of the whole, and thus
the feeling and sense of identity is an illusion (Cohen, Wu and Miller 1236–1249).
Hinduism originated in India not through the works of any specific founder but from the various
ways of living that existed in ancient India. Hinduism recognizes many different cultural structures
and authorities, though the highest authorities are recognized as the Vedas. The Ramayana,
Mahabharata and Bhagavad–gita are other recognized authorities that are of lesser impact.
"Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple
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Essay on Hinduism
The Hindu religion and culture is a very complex subject. The Hindu religion combines rich ethnical
and standard beliefs. We will take a closer look and try to understand the Hindu religion and culture.
The Hindu religion is the oldest religion of the five major religions, which are Islam, Christianity,
Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism (Major World Religions, 2006). The Hindu religion began to
develop about 4.000 years ago in India, but it there was no single founder or system of belief
(Major World Religions, 2006). There are many diverse and various Gods in the Hindu religion.
One of the most important beliefs is the theory of karma, which holds that all beings, human or
animal have karma which determines which soul is for which body and...show more content...
Hindus have to be patient in their religion to achieve their peacefulness. Hindus are also known to
be very friendly. Having such characteristics would greatly empower our whole society no matter
what religion someone is from. My interviewee Tony Khanna, a fellow co–worker, took me to his
temple he goes to worship, on a Sunday evening. He took me to the Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam
located in Pearland, Texas. The first thing I noticed upon arrival at the temple is the beautiful
architectural building design outside. I was in amazement of how beautiful the temple was. I
had not seen something so beautiful in quite awhile. The temple is visible from a quite a distance
away and has two stunning white towers. When coming up to the temple from the parking lot
Tony indicated to me that the temple was established in 1977 and was a replica of a famous
temple in India. There was a huge white gate we had to walk through to get to the main temple.
Once inside I was greeted by many Hindu's that were quite pleasant and talkative towards this
outsider that I was. Before the visit one of my questions to Tony was if Hindu's welcomed
outsiders within their temples. He indicated that Hindu's are very open and that I would be
welcomed. I was quite surprised for this to be so true. With in the confines of the temple there were
many different kinds of symbols that I was not quite familiar with. A couple that I noted was a Diya,
Om, and Swastika. There were
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Essay Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions in existence (Srinivasan 66). It ranks as the third
largest religion. Today there are about fifty million Hindus worldwide, majority of them living in
India (Wangu 6). In order to understand the followers of the religion, you must first realize that
Hinduism is more of a way of life than a religion (Srinivasan 66). Hinduism holds together diversity
and not only for its own spiritual tradition, but for the entire subcontinent of
India (Berry 3). All traditions within India are somehow associated with Hinduism. "The diversity
which marks Hinduism begins with the notion of deity" (Boraks 14). "There is a strange kind of
unity in the vast multiplicity of the Hindu pantheon" (14). "One...show more content...
"One of the four Vedascontains hymns, chants and praises to gods" (Wangu 9).
"Another Vedas serves as a guidebook for rituals and priestly behavior" (9). "A third offers
information on magic and charms that can be used as blessings or curses, and the fourth gives
musical notes to be chanted while performing rituals" (9). The latest of the shruti texts are the
Upanishads (Wangu 9). The Upanishads were written around 700– 500 BC (9). Most of the
Upanishads are written in the form of dialogue, possibly between a teacher and a student (9). The
most important concepts explained in the Upanishads are the concepts of karma – the belief that
ones beliefs will later have an affect in this life or another life, samsara – reincarnation, and moksha
– release from the cycles of samsara (9). In the texts of the Upanishads one finds more of the
philosophical outlook of Hinduism, especially concerning the ,meaning of life and the value of
suffering (Boraks 17). These two groups of books are the principal doctrines of the Hindu faith
(Wangu 10). All of the works that come after the Vedas and Upanishads are smriti texts (10). The
smriti texts include epics, Puranas, Sutras, Shastras, and devotional Bhakti songs
(Wangu 10). Two great smriti epics that have had a significant influence on Hinduism are the
Mahabharata and the Ramayana (10). These two epics have undergone numerous changes
throughout the centuries
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Religion: Hinduism and Islam Essay
Hinduism and Islam are two largely practiced religions, specifically in India and the subcontinents.
Both Hinduism and Islam have unique practices and traditions, which can vary depending on the
town, region or people. They share a common belief in a supreme god, that being either Brahma or
Allah respectively. The traditions differ on the central texts used, as well as differences in the
process of reaching the afterlife and basic beliefs. Although, Hinduism might be regarded by some
as a polytheistic religion in its most basic form Hinduism is based around one deity. The Brahma is
the god that all of the other gods are derived from and each god is a manifestation of the one being.
There are four other main deities, aside from Brahma,...show more content...
Allah is the creator of everything and is held in the highest regard for Islamic people. Although
there is one god, there are a multitude of prophets who bring the word of God to the Muslim
people much like the multiple deities who come from Brahma. It is believed that God sent
multiple prophets to tell of the last and most significant prophet, Muhammad. These prophets also
preached the Oneness of God and would tell followers to avoid sin. Muhammad, who is believed
to be a prophet of God, is considered the last prophet sent by god to the Muslim people.
Muhammad is believed to have brought the word of God through the Qur'an. The Prophets' life
started in Mecca where he grew up orphaned. During his life, specifically in the month of Ramadan,
he would spend time in a cave outside Mecca where he originally received revelations about the
sacred text. Originally Muhammad found little success preaching God's word but eventually gained
a following of Muslim people, which would turn into the tradition it is today. Although their belief in
a supreme god aligns in both Islam and Hinduism, the traditions differ on the texts used centrally
in each practice. The Veda, written between 1750 BCE and 600 BCE are ancient scriptures, which
are the sacred texts of Hinduism. One of the forms the Veda is the Shruti, which is "that which was
heard" and the other form is the Vedir seers or Rishis which means "saw". The Veda is split into four
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Essay about Hinduism
What is Hinduism? Sanatana Dharma, otherwise known as Hinduism, means "eternal religion".
Defining Hinduism may be difficult due to multiple variations of religions, such as Buddhism,
Jainism and Sikhism, which have steamed from Sanatana Dharma beliefs. Instead of focusing on a
direct definition of Hinduism, it might be easier to identify Hindu philosophies and key practices
that make up Hindu beliefs. Is it a religion or is it a culture? The truth is – it is both a religion and a
way of life. Hinduism is also known as "Sanatana Dharma" to Hindus. Hinduism was founded and
in India. India gave to the world the original, oldest and most profound philosophy of life. The
brilliant ancestors of present–day Indians explored the Truth behind...show more content...
Since Hindu beliefs are based on Vedic literature, Hinduism is vital to the preservation of early
Indian history and beliefs. The four main parts of the Veda are the Rig–veda, Yajur–veda,
Sama–veda, and Atharva–veda. Hinduism is influenced by all four parts of the Veda and the Veda is
held sacred in Hindu religion.
The Veda is what would be comparable to the Christian Bible or the Muslim Quran but is Hindu
belief. All four parts of the Veda include separate, but related, philosophies. Since Vedic literature is
vast it is important to know what the focus of the Veda is, Absolute Reality. Absolute Reality is
liberation from the material world with the understanding of one's Self and what cannot be
experienced through the five senses. Liberation is obtained through numerous reincarnations of the
soul into other life forms until the soul is liberated from rebirths due to achieving moksha, or
realization of the immortal Absolute. Desire for liberation of earthly existence is the desire to be
freed of earthly despair.
The caste system, originally described in the Vedas, but much abused and maligned over the years, is
nothing but a representation of an efficient human society. The four castes described in the scriptures
are – the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. According to the Vedas, an
efficient human society is based on the strength of its educational/knowledge–pursuit system
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Hinduism Essay
Hinduism Hinduism, known today as Sanatana Dharma, originated primarily in India and is the
oldest religion in history. Unlike Christianity, Hinduism cannot be dated back so it is unknown
exactly when this religion came about. Hinduism is often broken down into three different groups
which express Brahman in different forms. Hindus recognize one God known to them as Brahman.
Brahman is the creator of everything and is present in everything. Brahman represents many
different gods. There are three gods that have a major influence over the religion, they are Vishnu,
who is the preserver along with his three incarnations Rama, Krishna and Narasimha; Shiva, the
destroyer; and Sakti, the Mother of Goddesses, also known as Parvati,...show more content...
On thing that has remained relatively the same is the organized functioning of India's society
which includes a clear division of labor among four major occupational groups; this later became
known as the caste system. The purpose of the caste system is to uplift people from worldly
concerns and to encourage them to behave according to the higher laws. This division of labor
that is represented by the caste system is a strong part of Sanatana Dharma's emphasis on social
duties and the sacrifice of an individuals desires for the sake of the social structure. This religion
consists of many other things that influence the culture as well. Such as arranged marriages
which are different than a forced marriage. In an arranged marriage both parents of each the bride
and the groom believe that there son and daughter are compatible and could form a lifelong
partnership. The bride and the groom both must agree to the ceremony before it occurs. Hindu
scriptures prohibit any use of physical punishment or blackmail should either party disagree to the
marriage. Hindu's believe in a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth also known as samsara. This cycle
they believe is controlled by what they call karma. They believe that each time they are reborn they
are born again as a hire being than there last form on earth. This is because of karma. If in a person's
life they perform, think, and desire only good things than when death comes they
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Hinduism Essay
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November 19, 1997 By Jordan Bruins Buddhism/Hinduism Comparison Report Hinduism is the
oldest known religion and is very rich with literally hundreds of gods, symbolistic rituals and
beliefs. It is believed to have been established around 1500 B.C. but no one person founded
Hinduism as it evolved over a long period of time. Buddhism on the other hand has a definite
founder, Siddhartha Gautama who is otherwise known as the Buddha or Enlightened One who lived
from 565 to 483 B.C. Both these religions originated in India. Siddhartha Gautama was a Hindu who
found Hindu theology lacking and after years of searching for truth created a religion now known as
...show more content...
The ultimate goal is to achieve Nirvana. There are numerous rudimentary similarities and
differences between Hinduism and Buddhism. In Buddhism the place of women is an inferior
one which stems from traditional, cultural, and social values of Asia. Although females can
accumulate good karma, they can rarely attain Nirvana and therefore must wait until they are
born as men. In Hinduism the role of women is downgraded as well and no act is to be done
according to her own will. A woman must always be cheerful and clever in the household
business and keep the furniture well cleaned. She must always have a free hand. She must have
only one husband, even if he dies. If a woman commits adultery, she must be burned to death and
all property a couple may acquire belongs to the male. Buddhists preach compassion, charity and
nonviolence and while Hindus profess pacifism and ahimsa which is the avoidance of harm to
people and animals they still believe war is justifiable in certain cases. They see it as their duty to
fight in a just war. Harming others is wrong but if refusing go to war will cause undue suffering to
others, then violent acts are justifiable. "There is no greater good for a warrior than to fight
in a righteous war" (Bhagavad Gita 2:31) Many Buddhist beliefs and goals are similar if not
the same as Hindu beliefs and goals. The concept that life
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Hinduism Essay
Hinduism
In India there are six orthodox schools of philosophy which recognize the authority of the Vedas as
divine revelation, and they generally function as pairs – Nyaya and Vaishesika, Mimamsa and
Vedanta, and Samkhya and Yoga. Those who did not recognize this authority were the Jains,
Buddhists, and materialists. Even in India where spiritual ideas dominate the culture there were
some who were skeptical of those ideals and held to a materialist view of the world; they were called
Carvaka, and their doctrine that this world is all that exists is called Lokayata.
The materialists did not believe in an afterlife and found sense perception to be the only source of
knowledge, denying the validity of inference or general concepts. They...show more content...
How can fasting, begging, penance, and exposure to the elements be compared to the ravishing
embraces of women with large eyes and prominent breasts? The pleasures of life are no more to be
avoided because they are mixed with pain than a prudent person would throw away unpeeled rice
because it has a husk. Sacrifices, reciting the Vedas, and penance are merely ways thatignorant and
weak men contrive to support themselves.
Yet upon analysis it was often found that the materialists' theory that no general inferences can be
made contradicted their own views about the nature of the world. Nevertheless their hedonistic
philosophy at times gave a humanistic criticism of the ethical contradictions of others. In the great
epic Mahabharata a Carvaka is burned to death for preaching against the bloodshed of the great
war and condemning Yudhishthira for killing thousands to regain his kingdom. They did criticize
sacrifices and valued the arts as a means of pleasure. Hell they believed to be the pain experienced
in this world, but all this ended in death. Like Epicureans they found that pleasure could be
maximized and pain minimized by detachment (vairagya). Immortality was only found in the fame
one leaves behind for noble deeds performed.
Nyaya and Vaishesika
The Nyaya and Vaishesika schools are primarily analytic and are therefore more concerned with
logic and epistemology than ethics. The word nyaya means that by which the
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Research Paper On Hinduism
Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world. It is also the 3rd most popular religion. Originating in
Northern India by a group of people known as Brahmins. Hinduism is a very complex culture that
has been around for thousands of years. Teachings are based on ancient Aryon practices. Hindus are
born into a caste and remain in those castes there whole lives. Hinduism is a culture that believes in 4
goals. They worship many gods but believe in one powerful god. Worshiping takes place in a Hindu
Temple, where people gather to worship. Hindus bring offerings to the gods when worshiping.
Offerings include water, fruit, flowers, and incense.
Hinduism follows a caste system also known as a social order. They believe people are different
and fit in different aspects of society. Hindus are born into a caste and remain there...show more
content...
Dharma means righteousness and is the first goal in human life. Dharma is a very challenging
task to achieve and exists in all levels of creation. Austerity, cleanliness, mercy, and truthfulness
are all parts of dharma. Artha means wealth and is the second most important adjective. Artha is
wealth in all forms and householder needs wealth to fulfill the needs of family and society.
Hinduism recognizes the importance of wealth for overall happiness and well being to each
individual. Kama is pleasure mainly in a sensual sense. Kama is considered to be the root cause of
human suffering. Not a single thing goes unnoticed and should be done not expecting a reward or
gift. According to Hinduism sexual activity is prohibited. Sexual desire is fulfilled for procreation,
continuation of family, and social order. Moksha means absence of delusion. This is the most
important goal for living. Moksha can begin at any time of a person's life, and becomes important
the older someone gets. By understanding Moksha we can understand why dharma is important. In
Hinduism everything is governed by
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Hinduism
To begin, my part of the project focused on the gods Krishna, Parvati and Shiva and these three
gods play a significant role in Hinduism. Hinduism has many deities within this religion and it is
most commonly practiced in South Asia in countries such as India. Hinduism currently has over 900
million followers. The first topic, in my essay, I am going to compare and contrastHinduism from
the Abrahamic religions to Hinduism. Most religions like Christianity, Islam and Judaism have a
founder and a main religious text but Hinduism on the other hand is unique in its own way. In the
second topic I am going to talk about the gods that I chose for my part in the project. The god
Krishna in Hinduism is one of the most popular gods of the religion....show more content...
Because Hinduism was started in India, some are offshoots of it, one is considered to be a direct
link of it and the others are movements of it based on a certain guru they follow. Here are some of
the religions that are similar to Hinduism, Buddhism and the movements are Hare–Krishna's and
followers of both the Sai Baba gurus. Here are some of things that make Buddhism and Hinduism
similar, both believe in reincarnation and practice different kinds of yoga. Another thing that is
common between the two is that Ashoka Gautama was a Hindu and he is the founder of Buddhism
and his religion still incorporates some of the practices that are from Hinduism. Hare–Krishna is a
movement that was founded in the U.S. in recent times and they focus their belief on Krishna.
The founder of this movement was A.C. Bhaktivedanta and he was told to bring the teachings he
learned to the west to spread the word and spark interest to join this movement. Their teachings
come primarily from the Bhagavad gita and another text. Another thing that they practice is they
view the cow very sacred and are vegetarians just like other Hindus. Also they are very small in
numbers but they do have their own temples. This group is similar because of how they look at
only one part of the yoga's Bhakti, but they do follow everything else of the religion. Another
movement of Hinduism, are the followers of Satya Sai Baba and believed he was the
reincarnation of the god Shiva and also a living god. He was also known for saying he performed
miracles just like the god Krishna did, but there was a lot of speculation that he didn't. Also he
was well known for his philanthropy on providing clean water in rural areas of India and has other
projects that are currently going on. The other one is the original Sai Baba, his name is Sai Baba of
Shirdi and he also was a spiritual
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Essay on Hinduism and Buddhism
Throughout the world, different nations have different beliefs or religion. Some religions evolve
from others, and others are combination of other religions. Religion is a way of life, a lifestyle; it
should dictate how you live your life. For instance, in India, Buddhism evolved from Hinduism, a
religion were people believe in 300, 000 gods. Even though, Hinduism and Buddhism have different
similarities such as believes in god, soul, and rituals, which in some ways connected to each other,
both religions believe of what happens after life.
Although Buddhism evolved from Hinduism it differs from Hinduism in god beliefs. According to
Buddhists there is no God, but they reverence the Buddha and his teachings as though he were one.
...show more content...
Vishnu, to his worshipers, is all–powerful and supreme. He is believed to be to god from whose
navel a lotus sprang giving birth to Brahma, the creator. Vishnu created the universe by separating
the heavens and the earth and has rescued it on a number of occasions. As Hopfe and Woodward
state "Vishnu is known as a god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness (Hinduism 94)." " In some
incarnations, he has come as a man." (94). The third popular god is Brahma, the creator of the world.
Since Buddhism and Hinduism have different believes they also have different holy days.
Moreover, because Hindus worship variety of gods they have a variety of festivals. The three main
festivals of Hinduism are: Holi, Divali, and Dasehra. Holi is the most popular festival. This holy day
is celebrated each year during February–March to welcome spring. "Holi is dedicated to god Krishna
and it was once a fertility ceremony (104)." Throughout the days of Holi, many of the casts and
taboo restrictions are set aside and pleasure is emphasized. The second ceremony Divali,
celebrated in November, is a festival to welcome a new year. Finally the third festival, the
Dasehra, celebrated up to nine days in October, in honor of Durga, a consort of Shiva. On the other
hand Buddhism is divided in many ways according to philosophy and geography. The major
festivals that are celebrated by most Buddhists are New Year, Buddha's birthday, the festival of
souls, and robe offering. In
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Hinduism Research Paper
There are many religions that relate to one another in more ways than one. Hinduism is a very
interesting religion to study. There is a lot of history know in Hinduism. Hindu's themselves believe
in many different rituals and activities that will bring enlightenment to their souls. This one religion
bases most of its religious aspect on the end, in death. What is interesting about this is Hindus spend
a lot of time doing certain rituals to cleanse their souls so they can achieve peace. This religion alone
also has a very interesting line of gods they worship. This paper will explain these different concepts,
beginning with a Hindu's life story..
Samsara is an endless cycle in a human's life. Karma, spiritual results of actions, moksha, the...show
more content...
Karma, Jnana, Ashtanga/Raja, and Bhakti yoga. Karma yoga are self centered activities that,
later on, link to a greater objective. It usually requires some amount of sacrifice for use in the
next life. This form usually enjoys worldly pleasures. Jnana yoga promotes philosophical wisdom
and knowledge. This type is usually in a secluded space to study, with minimal activity. Ashtanga
or Raja yoga are divided into eight essential stages. Most modern day yoga is based off of this.
This yoga requires some difficult standards to people to participate in. It is said to have mystic
power to become "smaller than the smallest." Lastly, Bhakti yoga is a path to devotional service.
This is a combination of all types of yoga. This is a recommended practice to those emotional people
as a symbolic worship
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Hinduism, Islam, And Hinduism Essay
Introduction
Religious activities have diversified across the world in the recent past. These activities are often
based on the beliefs of particular groups of people that are often geared toward upholding the
social graces that make a society prosper. Each religion has its unique features that differentiate it
from other religions across the world. The beliefs and practices of various religions often follow a
set of principles laid by the founders of that religion. In most cases, these principles often have a
primary theme that they tend to support. The major religions that are practiced b many people across
the world are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The three religions are practiced in different parts
of the world depending on the beliefs of the population in a particular part of the world. Hinduism is
a religion that is dominant in South Asia. In particular, the Hindu religion is mostly practiced in
India than in other countries. Ranked as the third largest religion after Christianity and Islam, the
religion often has rules and principles that are embraced by the Indians and other small groups with
the interest in professing the Hindu region. The religion has set out various traditions that ought to
be followed by all people who wish to profess it. In particular, the religion's traditions include
Shaivism, Vaihanivism as well as Shaktivism among numerous other traditions. The religion further
has a broad spectrum of rule and regulations as well as prescriptions
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The History of Hinduism Essay
The word Hindu has evolved from being the word the Persians used for the Indus River in 500 BC
to the accepted name for the primary religion of India this name was originally given by foreign
rulers and ultimately used by Europeans in the 1500's as the official name of the religion. History
plays an important part of Hinduism because new developments reinterpret an update past practices
rather than end them. The Hindu religion is broke down into three periods the Vedic period, the
Upanishadic period, the classical period, and the devotional period.
The Vedic period lasted from 1500 to 600 BCE. The Dravidian civilization was located in the Indus
Valley of northwest India, this area is now known as Pakistan. The Dravidians were advanced...show
more content...
The Upanishad scriptures suggest that followers exercise their body and mind. These exercises
become more important to Hindu practice as time goes by. Through the teachings of Upanishads
there is a spiritual essence called "Brahman". Brahman is a single world soul that is the base of all
physical matter, energy, time and space. Brahman is all things on earth and beyond. It is thought
that a person's inner soul known as the "atman", is part of Brahman and therefore; a person's
innermost soul is part of the single world soul. The meditation associated with the search for perfect
knowledge has evolved into a permanent aspect of Hinduism and is known as "Yoga". During this
period Buddhism and Jainism were created as additional ways of reaching enlightenment while
denying key teachings and practices.
The Classical period lasted from 400 – 600 BCE. There was a change in rule which affected all of
India during this period. The Mauryan dynasty was pro Buddhist and extended Aryan rule to all of
India. There was an increase in the number of conversions to Buddhism and Jainism. The rising
number of converts caused the Hindu religion to integrate foreign elements into Hindu tradition.
The scriptures of Veda was now deemed compatible with the Upanishadic teachings and added into
the Vedic body of scriptures. Due to a caste system upper classes accepted the tradition of the lower
class and controlled the way lower class
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Diversity In Hinduism
In Hinduism, Hindus believe in religion for the reasons of what they are expected to do in life
and in the future: "Hinduism became one of the world's most complex religions with countless
Gods and Goddesses and many forms of worship existing side by side. Despite this diversity, all
Hindus share certain basic beliefs" (Ellis 76). In other words, having all Hindus have the same
basic beliefs, which are Dharma, Karma, and Samsara lead to why they believe in religion. The
diversity gave the Hindus the opportunity share and worship many gods and goddesses. Along the
same lines, Dharma belongs to the world and to the individual as well. Saying that they believe in
completing their own duties having their own responsibility to balance his or her own dharma.
Therefore, they believe in religion also to achieve by living a life of religious devotion and moral
integrity....show more content...
In Christianity, Christians believe in religion because of the bible and having respect on just God:
"The Bible is the only inspired and authoritative written Word of God penned by man with the
leading of the Holy Spirit." In other words, Christians believe in religion due to the fact that they
focus and believe entirely about the bible, which gives them the focus on the one God and his
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Hinduism Essay
Hinduism
Introduction
Hinduism – stands for the faith and the way of life most of the people who live in India.
Hinduism is such an ancient religion that it had many types of beliefs and religious practices.
Around 1750 BC Aryan invaders from central Asia settled in North– West India and introduced their
own religious ideas.
Slowly the Hindu came to accept the idea of the existence of an eternal supreme being. They called
this being, Brahman. Hindus also worship different gods which individually represent one particular
aspect of Brahman. The most popular one of the lesser gods are Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the
preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer)
Hinduism has no founder. It is a religion that has...show more content...
His upper right hand is holding a drum (to beat the rhythm of the time) while the upper left hand
holds a flames (element of destruction).
His second right hand is raised for blessing, while his second left hand points to the raised left foot
(symbolizes release). The right foot treads on a dwarf that represents ignorance and spiritual
blindness.
Life Before and After Death
A Hindu believes and hopes that eventually his soul will join with
Brahman. They welcome death as a step towards gaining this everlasting union with him. They
believe that their souls were never born and therefore never dies, but it moves on from one body to
another. This movement form one body to another in the cycle of birth death and re–birth is called
reincarnation. This belief that a person will be born again following the death is linked with the
law of karma. They also believe that the type of existence a person will experience in the next life
depends on the good and bad karma built up in the previous life. The white cows are considered
holy because they believe that they are a symbol of "atman", which means the soul in all living
things.
The Caste System
A caste is a group of people with a particular place in society. Hindu people are born into their caste,
wether high or low, they must accept their place without question. This means that a person can only
be born a Hindu. To maintain purity Hindus can only
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Essay on Hinduism and Buddhism
Hinduism and Buddhism The idea of "religare" or binding oneself back to one's religion is key to
many religions. In Christianity, we bind our selves back to the truth unveiled through scripture,
myths, tradition, and the church's teachings. Hinduism, however has a much different interpretation
of the idea of binding oneself back. There really is not a whom or what that I can put my finger
on. We all came from one God and we must get back to God. But how can one go about doing that? A
Hindu would say to free ourselves from the desires and illusions present here on Earth. To free
ourselves from the material possessions and pleasures would be to obtain Moksha. Moksha, for
Hindus, would be the point of freedom and the attachment to Brahman....show more content...
The second way to God is through love. The love we show to others can be translated into a love
for God. The third path to God is though work. Through a devotion to one's work, God can be seen
through the highest rewards if done so wisely. The final Hindu path to God is through
Psychophysical Exercises. In this way, a Hindu experiments with mental exercises and observing
their effects. Not all Hindus take the same path to God, but the goal is identical. The Buddha made
much reform to the path to God. Well, not so much a reform as perhaps an alternate route. He called
this the Middle Path. A way between sensuality and asceticism, the Middle Path lay through
intelligence. The main revolutionary idea behind the Buddha's teachings was that he rejected
asceticism, which at that time had been a popular belief and a socially approved route to salvation.
Not only did he reject self–denial, but the worship of gods. In his renowned Eightfold Path, there is
never any mention of worship. Also, he refuted the idea that one had to pass through countless
rebirths to reach the Brahmin caste before being able to obtain salvation. For this very reason,
Buddhism ultimately failed in India, because of the widespread control by the Brahmins. The most
challenging concept for the Hindus to except was that the Buddha taught that the soul did not exist.
Hindus thought that the Atman, or soul, was actually God. The Buddha reasoned that if the soul is
purely God, the it is not
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Hinduism : A Way Of Life In Hinduism
Hinduism is defined as a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, developed from
Vedic religion. (Citation) This religion has over 300,000 gods. The religion Hinduism is more of
a way of living than just a religion, Hinduism is a lifestyle. The reason I came to this conclusion
is because my research has lead me to the fact that it is an acronym. The "H" in Hindu stands for
Honesty. The "I" stands for indignity. The "N" stands for nobility. The "D" stands for devotion.
The U stands for unity. Also in ancient Hindu there was something called the caste system. The
caste system is a type of social organization hierarchy in which a persons occupaiton and position
in life is determined by karma and Reincarnation. In the Hindu religion there were four caste
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sandra. Brahmins are priest, teacher, and judges. These guys
don't really own land and need other cast to work the land and provide for them. Kshatriyas are
warriors and land owners. Vaisyas are skilled traders, merchants, and farmers. Sandra's are the
unskilled workers and laborers and craft workers. Each caste system has Dharma, code of
behavior or set of moral and ethical rules that govern the conduct of each social class group has a
different set of rules to live by. Karma is a persons social position life. The afterlife of the Hindus
is called reincarnation. Reincarnation is when a person is born, lives, and dies and is reborn many
times again. The belief of the Hindus is
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Hindutva Essay
Hinduism Hindutva is a popular concept in India that represents Hindu ideology and promotes the
hegemony of Hinduism in government, even at the expense of others. Directly translated as
"Hinduness", Hindutva was established as an official term made up by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
in 1923 (Falak). Opponents of Hindutva suggest that it is greatly similar to fascism in the sense that
it oppresses the beliefs and liberties of minority groups. On the other hand, the Sanatan Sanstha was
founded by Jayant Balaji Athavale in 1990 and arranged the "Hindu Awakening" conferences about
unification for the sake of improving India (Falak). However, Sanatan Sanstha activists have been
caught in the process of trying to bomb Indian cities. Many Hindu political groups contradict their
own peaceful words with violent actions, which is simply deceptive....show more content...
The caste system, often highly regarded by the elite of Hinduism, consists of four main divisions
(Lee). There are Brahmins, the highest caste of priests and scholars; Kshatriyas, warriors and
kings; Vaishyas, merchants and landowners; and Shudras, servants and peasants. Technically, there
is a fifth category of social status, formerly known as the Untouchables, called Dalits. According to
academic scholars like Dr. Ram Puniyani, Hindutva mainly represents the response of higher caste
Hindus to the uprising of the lower castes; additionally, it is the primary cause of Saffron terrorism
in India and Nepal (Falak). Divisive politics are progressively isolating classes from empathy which
is counterproductive when attempting to create peace for all people since it condones violence
against the lower castes. These inequalities are also apparent beyond the realm of socioeconomic
struggles and cause discriminatory violence in the name of
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Essays On Hinduism

  • 1. Hinduism Research Paper Hinduism: A Realm Outside of My Own To get from South India to South Florida, normally, a person would need to travel roughly 15,117 km or 9,394 miles. Being that it is hardly just a hop, skip, and a jump away, members of the South Florida community, who are also a part of the Hindu community, desperately wanted a place where they could feel close to their motherland and yet remain near their newfound homes. To ensure this dream would become a reality, devotees gathered funds and support from friends and families to build what would later be known as the South Florida Hindu Temple. Interestingly, this temple, dissimilar to many others in the country, was built strictly from love and charity. All of the funds used to create the holy place...show more content... While it may be argued that all religions, at their core, are tolerant, I have personally never felt so welcomed in a community where I expected to be an outsider. With my mind at ease and my defenses lowered, I could finally completely open myself up to the beliefs of these gentle people. One of the main truths of Hinduism is that there is one "supreme being", a God, if you will, that is made up of everything and in turn makes up everything. This truth is the basis for many, if not all, of the other truths found in Hinduism. For example, another Hindu belief is that all life is to be preserved, cherished, and valued equally. With that being said, Hindus are expected to practice ahimsa or nonviolence; that is by action or by word. In a Hindu's mind to be violent or disrespectful towards anything and anyone would be the equivalent of being violent or disrespectful to God; considering whoever or whatever you are disrespecting is made from the essence of the "supreme being". Hinduism is known for its many gods and goddesses or deities that devotees worship on a daily basis. In fact, it is not uncommon to find that a wife holds preference to a deity and her husband another. However, there are different sects, such as Shaivism and Vaishnavism, where one deity is primarily worshiped. The South Florida Hindu Temple falls under a different sect; Smartism. In the Smartism sect, devotees are allowed to show preference to whichever deity they Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. Individualism : Hinduism And Hinduism It can be said that a religion of particular cultures reflects the psychology of that culture(Cohen, Wu and Miller 1236–1249). In other words, the philosophy and opinions of a group when combined again for to the religion the following. So by studying a particular religion, we can thereby get a feel for the philosophy and psychology of a culture. Eastern philosophies and religions have long been against the idea of individualism (Cohen, Wu and Miller 1236–1249). Hinduism for instance, believes that individualism is an illusion (Cohen, Wu and Miller 1236–1249). It is the collective that holds the power in such beliefs. The idea that an individual is any different from the collective is considered to be a naГЇve view. It is not that the philosophy discounts the existence of the individual, it only goes against the fact that an individual is somehow different from the collective. In other words an individual is part of the whole, and thus the feeling and sense of identity is an illusion (Cohen, Wu and Miller 1236–1249). Hinduism originated in India not through the works of any specific founder but from the various ways of living that existed in ancient India. Hinduism recognizes many different cultural structures and authorities, though the highest authorities are recognized as the Vedas. The Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad–gita are other recognized authorities that are of lesser impact. "Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. Essay on Hinduism The Hindu religion and culture is a very complex subject. The Hindu religion combines rich ethnical and standard beliefs. We will take a closer look and try to understand the Hindu religion and culture. The Hindu religion is the oldest religion of the five major religions, which are Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism (Major World Religions, 2006). The Hindu religion began to develop about 4.000 years ago in India, but it there was no single founder or system of belief (Major World Religions, 2006). There are many diverse and various Gods in the Hindu religion. One of the most important beliefs is the theory of karma, which holds that all beings, human or animal have karma which determines which soul is for which body and...show more content... Hindus have to be patient in their religion to achieve their peacefulness. Hindus are also known to be very friendly. Having such characteristics would greatly empower our whole society no matter what religion someone is from. My interviewee Tony Khanna, a fellow co–worker, took me to his temple he goes to worship, on a Sunday evening. He took me to the Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam located in Pearland, Texas. The first thing I noticed upon arrival at the temple is the beautiful architectural building design outside. I was in amazement of how beautiful the temple was. I had not seen something so beautiful in quite awhile. The temple is visible from a quite a distance away and has two stunning white towers. When coming up to the temple from the parking lot Tony indicated to me that the temple was established in 1977 and was a replica of a famous temple in India. There was a huge white gate we had to walk through to get to the main temple. Once inside I was greeted by many Hindu's that were quite pleasant and talkative towards this outsider that I was. Before the visit one of my questions to Tony was if Hindu's welcomed outsiders within their temples. He indicated that Hindu's are very open and that I would be welcomed. I was quite surprised for this to be so true. With in the confines of the temple there were many different kinds of symbols that I was not quite familiar with. A couple that I noted was a Diya, Om, and Swastika. There were Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Essay Hinduism Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions in existence (Srinivasan 66). It ranks as the third largest religion. Today there are about fifty million Hindus worldwide, majority of them living in India (Wangu 6). In order to understand the followers of the religion, you must first realize that Hinduism is more of a way of life than a religion (Srinivasan 66). Hinduism holds together diversity and not only for its own spiritual tradition, but for the entire subcontinent of India (Berry 3). All traditions within India are somehow associated with Hinduism. "The diversity which marks Hinduism begins with the notion of deity" (Boraks 14). "There is a strange kind of unity in the vast multiplicity of the Hindu pantheon" (14). "One...show more content... "One of the four Vedascontains hymns, chants and praises to gods" (Wangu 9). "Another Vedas serves as a guidebook for rituals and priestly behavior" (9). "A third offers information on magic and charms that can be used as blessings or curses, and the fourth gives musical notes to be chanted while performing rituals" (9). The latest of the shruti texts are the Upanishads (Wangu 9). The Upanishads were written around 700– 500 BC (9). Most of the Upanishads are written in the form of dialogue, possibly between a teacher and a student (9). The most important concepts explained in the Upanishads are the concepts of karma – the belief that ones beliefs will later have an affect in this life or another life, samsara – reincarnation, and moksha – release from the cycles of samsara (9). In the texts of the Upanishads one finds more of the philosophical outlook of Hinduism, especially concerning the ,meaning of life and the value of suffering (Boraks 17). These two groups of books are the principal doctrines of the Hindu faith (Wangu 10). All of the works that come after the Vedas and Upanishads are smriti texts (10). The smriti texts include epics, Puranas, Sutras, Shastras, and devotional Bhakti songs (Wangu 10). Two great smriti epics that have had a significant influence on Hinduism are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana (10). These two epics have undergone numerous changes throughout the centuries Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5. Religion: Hinduism and Islam Essay Hinduism and Islam are two largely practiced religions, specifically in India and the subcontinents. Both Hinduism and Islam have unique practices and traditions, which can vary depending on the town, region or people. They share a common belief in a supreme god, that being either Brahma or Allah respectively. The traditions differ on the central texts used, as well as differences in the process of reaching the afterlife and basic beliefs. Although, Hinduism might be regarded by some as a polytheistic religion in its most basic form Hinduism is based around one deity. The Brahma is the god that all of the other gods are derived from and each god is a manifestation of the one being. There are four other main deities, aside from Brahma,...show more content... Allah is the creator of everything and is held in the highest regard for Islamic people. Although there is one god, there are a multitude of prophets who bring the word of God to the Muslim people much like the multiple deities who come from Brahma. It is believed that God sent multiple prophets to tell of the last and most significant prophet, Muhammad. These prophets also preached the Oneness of God and would tell followers to avoid sin. Muhammad, who is believed to be a prophet of God, is considered the last prophet sent by god to the Muslim people. Muhammad is believed to have brought the word of God through the Qur'an. The Prophets' life started in Mecca where he grew up orphaned. During his life, specifically in the month of Ramadan, he would spend time in a cave outside Mecca where he originally received revelations about the sacred text. Originally Muhammad found little success preaching God's word but eventually gained a following of Muslim people, which would turn into the tradition it is today. Although their belief in a supreme god aligns in both Islam and Hinduism, the traditions differ on the texts used centrally in each practice. The Veda, written between 1750 BCE and 600 BCE are ancient scriptures, which are the sacred texts of Hinduism. One of the forms the Veda is the Shruti, which is "that which was heard" and the other form is the Vedir seers or Rishis which means "saw". The Veda is split into four Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. Essay about Hinduism What is Hinduism? Sanatana Dharma, otherwise known as Hinduism, means "eternal religion". Defining Hinduism may be difficult due to multiple variations of religions, such as Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, which have steamed from Sanatana Dharma beliefs. Instead of focusing on a direct definition of Hinduism, it might be easier to identify Hindu philosophies and key practices that make up Hindu beliefs. Is it a religion or is it a culture? The truth is – it is both a religion and a way of life. Hinduism is also known as "Sanatana Dharma" to Hindus. Hinduism was founded and in India. India gave to the world the original, oldest and most profound philosophy of life. The brilliant ancestors of present–day Indians explored the Truth behind...show more content... Since Hindu beliefs are based on Vedic literature, Hinduism is vital to the preservation of early Indian history and beliefs. The four main parts of the Veda are the Rig–veda, Yajur–veda, Sama–veda, and Atharva–veda. Hinduism is influenced by all four parts of the Veda and the Veda is held sacred in Hindu religion. The Veda is what would be comparable to the Christian Bible or the Muslim Quran but is Hindu belief. All four parts of the Veda include separate, but related, philosophies. Since Vedic literature is vast it is important to know what the focus of the Veda is, Absolute Reality. Absolute Reality is liberation from the material world with the understanding of one's Self and what cannot be experienced through the five senses. Liberation is obtained through numerous reincarnations of the soul into other life forms until the soul is liberated from rebirths due to achieving moksha, or realization of the immortal Absolute. Desire for liberation of earthly existence is the desire to be freed of earthly despair. The caste system, originally described in the Vedas, but much abused and maligned over the years, is nothing but a representation of an efficient human society. The four castes described in the scriptures are – the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. According to the Vedas, an efficient human society is based on the strength of its educational/knowledge–pursuit system Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 7. Hinduism Essay Hinduism Hinduism, known today as Sanatana Dharma, originated primarily in India and is the oldest religion in history. Unlike Christianity, Hinduism cannot be dated back so it is unknown exactly when this religion came about. Hinduism is often broken down into three different groups which express Brahman in different forms. Hindus recognize one God known to them as Brahman. Brahman is the creator of everything and is present in everything. Brahman represents many different gods. There are three gods that have a major influence over the religion, they are Vishnu, who is the preserver along with his three incarnations Rama, Krishna and Narasimha; Shiva, the destroyer; and Sakti, the Mother of Goddesses, also known as Parvati,...show more content... On thing that has remained relatively the same is the organized functioning of India's society which includes a clear division of labor among four major occupational groups; this later became known as the caste system. The purpose of the caste system is to uplift people from worldly concerns and to encourage them to behave according to the higher laws. This division of labor that is represented by the caste system is a strong part of Sanatana Dharma's emphasis on social duties and the sacrifice of an individuals desires for the sake of the social structure. This religion consists of many other things that influence the culture as well. Such as arranged marriages which are different than a forced marriage. In an arranged marriage both parents of each the bride and the groom believe that there son and daughter are compatible and could form a lifelong partnership. The bride and the groom both must agree to the ceremony before it occurs. Hindu scriptures prohibit any use of physical punishment or blackmail should either party disagree to the marriage. Hindu's believe in a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth also known as samsara. This cycle they believe is controlled by what they call karma. They believe that each time they are reborn they are born again as a hire being than there last form on earth. This is because of karma. If in a person's life they perform, think, and desire only good things than when death comes they Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. Hinduism Essay –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– November 19, 1997 By Jordan Bruins Buddhism/Hinduism Comparison Report Hinduism is the oldest known religion and is very rich with literally hundreds of gods, symbolistic rituals and beliefs. It is believed to have been established around 1500 B.C. but no one person founded Hinduism as it evolved over a long period of time. Buddhism on the other hand has a definite founder, Siddhartha Gautama who is otherwise known as the Buddha or Enlightened One who lived from 565 to 483 B.C. Both these religions originated in India. Siddhartha Gautama was a Hindu who found Hindu theology lacking and after years of searching for truth created a religion now known as ...show more content... The ultimate goal is to achieve Nirvana. There are numerous rudimentary similarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism. In Buddhism the place of women is an inferior one which stems from traditional, cultural, and social values of Asia. Although females can accumulate good karma, they can rarely attain Nirvana and therefore must wait until they are born as men. In Hinduism the role of women is downgraded as well and no act is to be done according to her own will. A woman must always be cheerful and clever in the household business and keep the furniture well cleaned. She must always have a free hand. She must have only one husband, even if he dies. If a woman commits adultery, she must be burned to death and all property a couple may acquire belongs to the male. Buddhists preach compassion, charity and nonviolence and while Hindus profess pacifism and ahimsa which is the avoidance of harm to people and animals they still believe war is justifiable in certain cases. They see it as their duty to fight in a just war. Harming others is wrong but if refusing go to war will cause undue suffering to others, then violent acts are justifiable. "There is no greater good for a warrior than to fight in a righteous war" (Bhagavad Gita 2:31) Many Buddhist beliefs and goals are similar if not the same as Hindu beliefs and goals. The concept that life Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. Hinduism Essay Hinduism In India there are six orthodox schools of philosophy which recognize the authority of the Vedas as divine revelation, and they generally function as pairs – Nyaya and Vaishesika, Mimamsa and Vedanta, and Samkhya and Yoga. Those who did not recognize this authority were the Jains, Buddhists, and materialists. Even in India where spiritual ideas dominate the culture there were some who were skeptical of those ideals and held to a materialist view of the world; they were called Carvaka, and their doctrine that this world is all that exists is called Lokayata. The materialists did not believe in an afterlife and found sense perception to be the only source of knowledge, denying the validity of inference or general concepts. They...show more content... How can fasting, begging, penance, and exposure to the elements be compared to the ravishing embraces of women with large eyes and prominent breasts? The pleasures of life are no more to be avoided because they are mixed with pain than a prudent person would throw away unpeeled rice because it has a husk. Sacrifices, reciting the Vedas, and penance are merely ways thatignorant and weak men contrive to support themselves. Yet upon analysis it was often found that the materialists' theory that no general inferences can be made contradicted their own views about the nature of the world. Nevertheless their hedonistic philosophy at times gave a humanistic criticism of the ethical contradictions of others. In the great epic Mahabharata a Carvaka is burned to death for preaching against the bloodshed of the great war and condemning Yudhishthira for killing thousands to regain his kingdom. They did criticize sacrifices and valued the arts as a means of pleasure. Hell they believed to be the pain experienced in this world, but all this ended in death. Like Epicureans they found that pleasure could be maximized and pain minimized by detachment (vairagya). Immortality was only found in the fame one leaves behind for noble deeds performed. Nyaya and Vaishesika The Nyaya and Vaishesika schools are primarily analytic and are therefore more concerned with logic and epistemology than ethics. The word nyaya means that by which the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. Research Paper On Hinduism Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world. It is also the 3rd most popular religion. Originating in Northern India by a group of people known as Brahmins. Hinduism is a very complex culture that has been around for thousands of years. Teachings are based on ancient Aryon practices. Hindus are born into a caste and remain in those castes there whole lives. Hinduism is a culture that believes in 4 goals. They worship many gods but believe in one powerful god. Worshiping takes place in a Hindu Temple, where people gather to worship. Hindus bring offerings to the gods when worshiping. Offerings include water, fruit, flowers, and incense. Hinduism follows a caste system also known as a social order. They believe people are different and fit in different aspects of society. Hindus are born into a caste and remain there...show more content... Dharma means righteousness and is the first goal in human life. Dharma is a very challenging task to achieve and exists in all levels of creation. Austerity, cleanliness, mercy, and truthfulness are all parts of dharma. Artha means wealth and is the second most important adjective. Artha is wealth in all forms and householder needs wealth to fulfill the needs of family and society. Hinduism recognizes the importance of wealth for overall happiness and well being to each individual. Kama is pleasure mainly in a sensual sense. Kama is considered to be the root cause of human suffering. Not a single thing goes unnoticed and should be done not expecting a reward or gift. According to Hinduism sexual activity is prohibited. Sexual desire is fulfilled for procreation, continuation of family, and social order. Moksha means absence of delusion. This is the most important goal for living. Moksha can begin at any time of a person's life, and becomes important the older someone gets. By understanding Moksha we can understand why dharma is important. In Hinduism everything is governed by Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. Hinduism To begin, my part of the project focused on the gods Krishna, Parvati and Shiva and these three gods play a significant role in Hinduism. Hinduism has many deities within this religion and it is most commonly practiced in South Asia in countries such as India. Hinduism currently has over 900 million followers. The first topic, in my essay, I am going to compare and contrastHinduism from the Abrahamic religions to Hinduism. Most religions like Christianity, Islam and Judaism have a founder and a main religious text but Hinduism on the other hand is unique in its own way. In the second topic I am going to talk about the gods that I chose for my part in the project. The god Krishna in Hinduism is one of the most popular gods of the religion....show more content... Because Hinduism was started in India, some are offshoots of it, one is considered to be a direct link of it and the others are movements of it based on a certain guru they follow. Here are some of the religions that are similar to Hinduism, Buddhism and the movements are Hare–Krishna's and followers of both the Sai Baba gurus. Here are some of things that make Buddhism and Hinduism similar, both believe in reincarnation and practice different kinds of yoga. Another thing that is common between the two is that Ashoka Gautama was a Hindu and he is the founder of Buddhism and his religion still incorporates some of the practices that are from Hinduism. Hare–Krishna is a movement that was founded in the U.S. in recent times and they focus their belief on Krishna. The founder of this movement was A.C. Bhaktivedanta and he was told to bring the teachings he learned to the west to spread the word and spark interest to join this movement. Their teachings come primarily from the Bhagavad gita and another text. Another thing that they practice is they view the cow very sacred and are vegetarians just like other Hindus. Also they are very small in numbers but they do have their own temples. This group is similar because of how they look at only one part of the yoga's Bhakti, but they do follow everything else of the religion. Another movement of Hinduism, are the followers of Satya Sai Baba and believed he was the reincarnation of the god Shiva and also a living god. He was also known for saying he performed miracles just like the god Krishna did, but there was a lot of speculation that he didn't. Also he was well known for his philanthropy on providing clean water in rural areas of India and has other projects that are currently going on. The other one is the original Sai Baba, his name is Sai Baba of Shirdi and he also was a spiritual Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12. Essay on Hinduism and Buddhism Throughout the world, different nations have different beliefs or religion. Some religions evolve from others, and others are combination of other religions. Religion is a way of life, a lifestyle; it should dictate how you live your life. For instance, in India, Buddhism evolved from Hinduism, a religion were people believe in 300, 000 gods. Even though, Hinduism and Buddhism have different similarities such as believes in god, soul, and rituals, which in some ways connected to each other, both religions believe of what happens after life. Although Buddhism evolved from Hinduism it differs from Hinduism in god beliefs. According to Buddhists there is no God, but they reverence the Buddha and his teachings as though he were one. ...show more content... Vishnu, to his worshipers, is all–powerful and supreme. He is believed to be to god from whose navel a lotus sprang giving birth to Brahma, the creator. Vishnu created the universe by separating the heavens and the earth and has rescued it on a number of occasions. As Hopfe and Woodward state "Vishnu is known as a god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness (Hinduism 94)." " In some incarnations, he has come as a man." (94). The third popular god is Brahma, the creator of the world. Since Buddhism and Hinduism have different believes they also have different holy days. Moreover, because Hindus worship variety of gods they have a variety of festivals. The three main festivals of Hinduism are: Holi, Divali, and Dasehra. Holi is the most popular festival. This holy day is celebrated each year during February–March to welcome spring. "Holi is dedicated to god Krishna and it was once a fertility ceremony (104)." Throughout the days of Holi, many of the casts and taboo restrictions are set aside and pleasure is emphasized. The second ceremony Divali, celebrated in November, is a festival to welcome a new year. Finally the third festival, the Dasehra, celebrated up to nine days in October, in honor of Durga, a consort of Shiva. On the other hand Buddhism is divided in many ways according to philosophy and geography. The major festivals that are celebrated by most Buddhists are New Year, Buddha's birthday, the festival of souls, and robe offering. In Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. Hinduism Research Paper There are many religions that relate to one another in more ways than one. Hinduism is a very interesting religion to study. There is a lot of history know in Hinduism. Hindu's themselves believe in many different rituals and activities that will bring enlightenment to their souls. This one religion bases most of its religious aspect on the end, in death. What is interesting about this is Hindus spend a lot of time doing certain rituals to cleanse their souls so they can achieve peace. This religion alone also has a very interesting line of gods they worship. This paper will explain these different concepts, beginning with a Hindu's life story.. Samsara is an endless cycle in a human's life. Karma, spiritual results of actions, moksha, the...show more content... Karma, Jnana, Ashtanga/Raja, and Bhakti yoga. Karma yoga are self centered activities that, later on, link to a greater objective. It usually requires some amount of sacrifice for use in the next life. This form usually enjoys worldly pleasures. Jnana yoga promotes philosophical wisdom and knowledge. This type is usually in a secluded space to study, with minimal activity. Ashtanga or Raja yoga are divided into eight essential stages. Most modern day yoga is based off of this. This yoga requires some difficult standards to people to participate in. It is said to have mystic power to become "smaller than the smallest." Lastly, Bhakti yoga is a path to devotional service. This is a combination of all types of yoga. This is a recommended practice to those emotional people as a symbolic worship Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. Hinduism, Islam, And Hinduism Essay Introduction Religious activities have diversified across the world in the recent past. These activities are often based on the beliefs of particular groups of people that are often geared toward upholding the social graces that make a society prosper. Each religion has its unique features that differentiate it from other religions across the world. The beliefs and practices of various religions often follow a set of principles laid by the founders of that religion. In most cases, these principles often have a primary theme that they tend to support. The major religions that are practiced b many people across the world are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The three religions are practiced in different parts of the world depending on the beliefs of the population in a particular part of the world. Hinduism is a religion that is dominant in South Asia. In particular, the Hindu religion is mostly practiced in India than in other countries. Ranked as the third largest religion after Christianity and Islam, the religion often has rules and principles that are embraced by the Indians and other small groups with the interest in professing the Hindu region. The religion has set out various traditions that ought to be followed by all people who wish to profess it. In particular, the religion's traditions include Shaivism, Vaihanivism as well as Shaktivism among numerous other traditions. The religion further has a broad spectrum of rule and regulations as well as prescriptions Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. The History of Hinduism Essay The word Hindu has evolved from being the word the Persians used for the Indus River in 500 BC to the accepted name for the primary religion of India this name was originally given by foreign rulers and ultimately used by Europeans in the 1500's as the official name of the religion. History plays an important part of Hinduism because new developments reinterpret an update past practices rather than end them. The Hindu religion is broke down into three periods the Vedic period, the Upanishadic period, the classical period, and the devotional period. The Vedic period lasted from 1500 to 600 BCE. The Dravidian civilization was located in the Indus Valley of northwest India, this area is now known as Pakistan. The Dravidians were advanced...show more content... The Upanishad scriptures suggest that followers exercise their body and mind. These exercises become more important to Hindu practice as time goes by. Through the teachings of Upanishads there is a spiritual essence called "Brahman". Brahman is a single world soul that is the base of all physical matter, energy, time and space. Brahman is all things on earth and beyond. It is thought that a person's inner soul known as the "atman", is part of Brahman and therefore; a person's innermost soul is part of the single world soul. The meditation associated with the search for perfect knowledge has evolved into a permanent aspect of Hinduism and is known as "Yoga". During this period Buddhism and Jainism were created as additional ways of reaching enlightenment while denying key teachings and practices. The Classical period lasted from 400 – 600 BCE. There was a change in rule which affected all of India during this period. The Mauryan dynasty was pro Buddhist and extended Aryan rule to all of India. There was an increase in the number of conversions to Buddhism and Jainism. The rising number of converts caused the Hindu religion to integrate foreign elements into Hindu tradition. The scriptures of Veda was now deemed compatible with the Upanishadic teachings and added into the Vedic body of scriptures. Due to a caste system upper classes accepted the tradition of the lower class and controlled the way lower class Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 16. Diversity In Hinduism In Hinduism, Hindus believe in religion for the reasons of what they are expected to do in life and in the future: "Hinduism became one of the world's most complex religions with countless Gods and Goddesses and many forms of worship existing side by side. Despite this diversity, all Hindus share certain basic beliefs" (Ellis 76). In other words, having all Hindus have the same basic beliefs, which are Dharma, Karma, and Samsara lead to why they believe in religion. The diversity gave the Hindus the opportunity share and worship many gods and goddesses. Along the same lines, Dharma belongs to the world and to the individual as well. Saying that they believe in completing their own duties having their own responsibility to balance his or her own dharma. Therefore, they believe in religion also to achieve by living a life of religious devotion and moral integrity....show more content... In Christianity, Christians believe in religion because of the bible and having respect on just God: "The Bible is the only inspired and authoritative written Word of God penned by man with the leading of the Holy Spirit." In other words, Christians believe in religion due to the fact that they focus and believe entirely about the bible, which gives them the focus on the one God and his Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 17. Hinduism Essay Hinduism Introduction Hinduism – stands for the faith and the way of life most of the people who live in India. Hinduism is such an ancient religion that it had many types of beliefs and religious practices. Around 1750 BC Aryan invaders from central Asia settled in North– West India and introduced their own religious ideas. Slowly the Hindu came to accept the idea of the existence of an eternal supreme being. They called this being, Brahman. Hindus also worship different gods which individually represent one particular aspect of Brahman. The most popular one of the lesser gods are Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer) Hinduism has no founder. It is a religion that has...show more content... His upper right hand is holding a drum (to beat the rhythm of the time) while the upper left hand holds a flames (element of destruction). His second right hand is raised for blessing, while his second left hand points to the raised left foot (symbolizes release). The right foot treads on a dwarf that represents ignorance and spiritual blindness. Life Before and After Death A Hindu believes and hopes that eventually his soul will join with Brahman. They welcome death as a step towards gaining this everlasting union with him. They believe that their souls were never born and therefore never dies, but it moves on from one body to another. This movement form one body to another in the cycle of birth death and re–birth is called reincarnation. This belief that a person will be born again following the death is linked with the law of karma. They also believe that the type of existence a person will experience in the next life depends on the good and bad karma built up in the previous life. The white cows are considered holy because they believe that they are a symbol of "atman", which means the soul in all living things. The Caste System A caste is a group of people with a particular place in society. Hindu people are born into their caste, wether high or low, they must accept their place without question. This means that a person can only be born a Hindu. To maintain purity Hindus can only
  • 18. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 19. Essay on Hinduism and Buddhism Hinduism and Buddhism The idea of "religare" or binding oneself back to one's religion is key to many religions. In Christianity, we bind our selves back to the truth unveiled through scripture, myths, tradition, and the church's teachings. Hinduism, however has a much different interpretation of the idea of binding oneself back. There really is not a whom or what that I can put my finger on. We all came from one God and we must get back to God. But how can one go about doing that? A Hindu would say to free ourselves from the desires and illusions present here on Earth. To free ourselves from the material possessions and pleasures would be to obtain Moksha. Moksha, for Hindus, would be the point of freedom and the attachment to Brahman....show more content... The second way to God is through love. The love we show to others can be translated into a love for God. The third path to God is though work. Through a devotion to one's work, God can be seen through the highest rewards if done so wisely. The final Hindu path to God is through Psychophysical Exercises. In this way, a Hindu experiments with mental exercises and observing their effects. Not all Hindus take the same path to God, but the goal is identical. The Buddha made much reform to the path to God. Well, not so much a reform as perhaps an alternate route. He called this the Middle Path. A way between sensuality and asceticism, the Middle Path lay through intelligence. The main revolutionary idea behind the Buddha's teachings was that he rejected asceticism, which at that time had been a popular belief and a socially approved route to salvation. Not only did he reject self–denial, but the worship of gods. In his renowned Eightfold Path, there is never any mention of worship. Also, he refuted the idea that one had to pass through countless rebirths to reach the Brahmin caste before being able to obtain salvation. For this very reason, Buddhism ultimately failed in India, because of the widespread control by the Brahmins. The most challenging concept for the Hindus to except was that the Buddha taught that the soul did not exist. Hindus thought that the Atman, or soul, was actually God. The Buddha reasoned that if the soul is purely God, the it is not Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 20. Hinduism : A Way Of Life In Hinduism Hinduism is defined as a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, developed from Vedic religion. (Citation) This religion has over 300,000 gods. The religion Hinduism is more of a way of living than just a religion, Hinduism is a lifestyle. The reason I came to this conclusion is because my research has lead me to the fact that it is an acronym. The "H" in Hindu stands for Honesty. The "I" stands for indignity. The "N" stands for nobility. The "D" stands for devotion. The U stands for unity. Also in ancient Hindu there was something called the caste system. The caste system is a type of social organization hierarchy in which a persons occupaiton and position in life is determined by karma and Reincarnation. In the Hindu religion there were four caste Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sandra. Brahmins are priest, teacher, and judges. These guys don't really own land and need other cast to work the land and provide for them. Kshatriyas are warriors and land owners. Vaisyas are skilled traders, merchants, and farmers. Sandra's are the unskilled workers and laborers and craft workers. Each caste system has Dharma, code of behavior or set of moral and ethical rules that govern the conduct of each social class group has a different set of rules to live by. Karma is a persons social position life. The afterlife of the Hindus is called reincarnation. Reincarnation is when a person is born, lives, and dies and is reborn many times again. The belief of the Hindus is Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 21. Hindutva Essay Hinduism Hindutva is a popular concept in India that represents Hindu ideology and promotes the hegemony of Hinduism in government, even at the expense of others. Directly translated as "Hinduness", Hindutva was established as an official term made up by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1923 (Falak). Opponents of Hindutva suggest that it is greatly similar to fascism in the sense that it oppresses the beliefs and liberties of minority groups. On the other hand, the Sanatan Sanstha was founded by Jayant Balaji Athavale in 1990 and arranged the "Hindu Awakening" conferences about unification for the sake of improving India (Falak). However, Sanatan Sanstha activists have been caught in the process of trying to bomb Indian cities. Many Hindu political groups contradict their own peaceful words with violent actions, which is simply deceptive....show more content... The caste system, often highly regarded by the elite of Hinduism, consists of four main divisions (Lee). There are Brahmins, the highest caste of priests and scholars; Kshatriyas, warriors and kings; Vaishyas, merchants and landowners; and Shudras, servants and peasants. Technically, there is a fifth category of social status, formerly known as the Untouchables, called Dalits. According to academic scholars like Dr. Ram Puniyani, Hindutva mainly represents the response of higher caste Hindus to the uprising of the lower castes; additionally, it is the primary cause of Saffron terrorism in India and Nepal (Falak). Divisive politics are progressively isolating classes from empathy which is counterproductive when attempting to create peace for all people since it condones violence against the lower castes. These inequalities are also apparent beyond the realm of socioeconomic struggles and cause discriminatory violence in the name of Get more content on HelpWriting.net