Overview of Hinduism
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Hinduism is the oldest known religion, dating back over 8,000 years. There are over a billion practicing Hindus in the world, with over 1 million of them practicing in America. Hinduism, unlike many other religions, has no one founder, no one set of scriptures, and is practiced differently around the world. Brahman, an eternal, formless creator, is the highest deity in Hinduism. Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer, are the two other lords that rule along with Brahman. Brahman can take many different forms at one time, which many Hindus classify into different gods and goddesses that may embody certain characteristics of Brahman. Some of the sacred texts of Hinduism include the Veda, the Upanishads, the Puranas, and the Bhagavad Gita. Hindus are born into one of five caste systems, which include brahmin (priests), kshatriyas (warriors and kings), vaishyas (merchants and traders), and sudras (peasants and laborers). Each of these castes, or varnas, have their own dharma, or social and ethical code for behaviour. One of the most important aspects of the Hindu religion is worship. Prayer, meditation, yoga, lighting candles, and worshiping statues are all forms of worship Hindus partake in. Another major aspect of Hinduism is samsara, or the cycle of life and death. Hinduism is a unique religion and with the continued growing numbers of practicing Hindus, it is important to note what they believe about these topics.
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"All beings are unmanifest, or invisible to our physical eyes, before birth and after death. They manifest between the birth and the death only. What is there to grieve about?" Bhagavad Gita (2.28)
