RELIGION IN INDIA – WHAT IS HINDUISM AND WHAT HINDUS BELIEVE
Understanding religion in India is very important for grasping Indian’s ways of living as Hinduism governs most aspects of life. Upon returning from a long vacation in India, we wanted to pass on our learnings to you. So in this blog post, we will attempt to explain the basic principles of Hinduism, what Hindus believe in and role of religion in India.
We tried to keep it as simple as we can. As you can tell we are outsiders trying to understand what Hinduism is. If you think we over-simplified or misinterpreted anything please feel free to correct us.
Religion in India
India is home to several religions, but the most common is Hinduism at 80% of the population.
Hinduism is the third-most widespread religion in the world after Islam and Christianity and it is thought to be the oldest religion in the world dating back at least 5,000 years ago. It is believed to be older, but there’s no definitive proof.
Nepal and Bangladesh also have significant Hindu populations as well. Traditions and rituals vary from region to region. In this article, we’ll briefly summarize the most essential points about Hinduism without going into too much detail.
Let’s take a look at the distribution of religion in India:
– 80% of the population is Hindu. Other religions include (the percentages are rounded):
– 13% Islam (The Muslim population is spread throughout the country)
– 2% Christianity (in Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya)
– 2% Sikhism, (Punjab region)
– 1% Buddhist (in the Maharashtra area)
– 0.4% Jainism (in the regions of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and major cities)
– 1.6% Other (Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Bahá’í, tribal religions).
Jainism and Buddhism formed in response to Hinduism, but all three have similar teachings.
When looking at these percentages, keep in mind that while 0.4% may seem like an insignificant number but when you consider that fact that India has a population of 1.3 billion, it amounts to a huge number of people. 5.2 million to be exact 🙂
What is Hinduism
Hinduism is a mystical religion that has no books and no prophets, but followers believe the Brahman as a creative power – everything comes from and goes back to Brahman.
God in Hinduism
Because there are so many gods and goddesses in Hinduism, it’s often perceived as a polytheistic religion. However, followers believe that Brahman is the only god and that the other gods are different manifestations of him.
These are the gods that you’ll often hear about in association with Hinduism:
– Brahman – creator of the universe
– Vishnu – God of keeping the universe in balance and harmony. Vishnu shows himself in different forms based on the situation, and he takes many different forms such as Rama, Krishna, and Sarasvati.
– Shiva – God of destruction. Followers believe that the universe was destroyed by Shiva from time to time and created again by Brahman. Cycles are a significant symbol for Hindus.
– Ganesha – God who lifts barriers and brings luck. Ganesha is depicted as having an elephant face and a human body.
Basic beliefs in Hinduism
– Vedas is the equivalent of the holy books: While there is no holy book, there is a doctrine known as the Vedas that has been transmitted orally generation by generation for 5,000 years. Hindus believe that the Vedas is the promise of God that came through revelation. Although the Vedas has different interpretations, there are a few important beliefs that are common amongst all Hindus:
– Truth is timeless, infinite, and unique. But the truth can be expressed in different ways and can be reached by using different methods. This belief is one of the main reasons why Hinduism is perceived as an inclusive and tolerant religion. Because, from a Hindu’s point of view, there are endless ways of worshipping, and all of them are valid. What matters is the intention not the method. In this way, they see that all religions are valid ways of reaching God.
Although there has been some division over this issue among Hindus, “unity in diversity” became a widely accepted concept in contemporary Hinduism.
– Brahman as no form, it is limitless, infinite, and omnipresent. It may sound as Brahman is an abstract concept, but it is rather treated as a body that includes everything, the whole realm, inside it.
– Dharma is “the moral order of the universe and a code of living that embodies the fundamental principles of law, religion, and duty that governs all reality”. According to drahma, every individual has a duty and she/he has to make sure it happens. (Read more here)
– The pursuit of dharma allows humanity to get to the higher truth, and the person who arrives here reaches moksha (like nirvana).
– Atman is the immortal soul; in other words, the soul cannot be created or destroyed.
– They believe in reincarnation, and the soul continues to come back to the world again and again until the soul reaches maturity (or reaches moksha).
Reincarnation is not really something desirable, each soul strives to get liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. Liberation only happens when a soul matures enough to reach moksha. Then a soul can escape the cycle and be one with Brahman.
So what is desired is breaking the cycle of reincarnation and integrate with Brahman. Followers of Hinduism believe that if they die in the holy city of Varanasi, then they will be liberated from reincarnation. For this reason, many elderly or sick people go to Varanasi and wait to die there. It’s a very interesting place to see in India.
– Followers think that their body and the circumstances of their life are a result of karma from their past lives. In other words, everyone creates their own destiny.
– Hindus believe that all life and living things are sacred. One of the most admirable principles of Hinduism in the west is that all living things are sacred therefore they should not be harmed (also known as ahimsa). According to ahimsa, all living beings deserve love and respect.
In Jainism, this is so important that they don’t eat plants such as root vegetables and lettuce as doing so would be killing the plant and the microorganisms which live off of it.
Prophecy in Hinduism
Rishis are people who can reach divine truths and who can act as a bridge between gods and people. However, the concept of prophecy is different in Hinduism; prophets are not special people chosen by God. People whose souls have matured through reincarnation can get in touch with god and can provide people with divine truths.
Some Hindu Practices Converting
Caste System
The most well-known and controversial aspect of Hinduism is the caste system, which divides society into four hierarchies of professions.
From the second that someone is born, they are assigned a place in society, which dictates where they can work, which social areas they are able to interact in, and with whom they can marry.
People are expected to obey the life set and the duties that have been assigned to their caste. If someone doesn’t follow the rules, then this is considered immoral.
1st Caste Brahmans – This caste is made up of religious clergyman. They are at the top of the hierarchy.
2nd Caste Kshatriya – This is a class of warriors and rulers (kings and princes. Their duty is to protect the clergymen and serve the faithful.
3rd Caste Vaishya – Vaishya caste is made up of merchants, and it’s their duty to ensure the economy remains running. In modern times, this is business people and bosses of industry.
4th Caste Shudra – This is the labor and servant caste, and their mission is to serve the other three castes.
And then there are the untouchables, who are seen as not being worthy of being included in the caste system, and they do all the jobs that are seen as being “dirty” such as cleaning toilets.
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Karma
Karma is the belief that all the good or bad you do in life will return to you.
In Hinduism, karma does not just follow you in this life, but it also affects you in the next life. As we are traveling throughout India, we saw extreme examples of poverty and wealth side by side. How it’s fair that millions live on the street right next to a 27-story house that hosts a family of only six people? I could not help but wonder why people do not revolt. I was explained that they accept their situation as a result of their karma, something they call upon themselves. They think they must have done something in their past life to deserve their current life.
Meat and Alcohol
When it comes to setting rules, Hinduism has a soft approach. There are no banes or prohibitions, instead, there are suggestions to help increase your karma and warnings about what could hurt your karma. While alcohol and meat consumption is not forbidden, but it’s not recommended. Because of the principle of “do no harm,” many Hindus are vegetarians.
Holy Cows
In Hinduism, all animals are sacred, but cows are a notch above other animals. This is because cows and humans are intimately connected. Cow manure is plastered on the walls of houses, used as isolation in the roofs and as fuel in the kitchen. Milk and dairy products are very important for Indian cuisine, so the cow is a sacred animal. Even though the consumption of chicken, lamb, and fish is widespread among non-vegetarian Hindus, beef is off the limits.
Indian Astrology (Vedic Astrology)
We also wanted to briefly mention Indian astrology as it’s an important belief among Indians today.
Indian astrology is similar to western astrology as it deals with planets and starts, but the method of calculation and analysis differs. Western astrology looks at the nature and character of the person, but Indian astrology is more focused on significant events in someone’s life, and there is a dimension of fortune telling.
Interestingly, Indian astrology informs about every aspect of life. While considering a potential candidate for marriage, astrological compatibility is taken into account. People look at astrology to decide what to wear the following day, and astrology even determined when Indian independence day should be. Even though India was free from the Brits on August 14, because it was astrologically better to be the following day, Independence Day is celebrated on the 15th.
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Hope we are able to shed some light your questions about what Hinduism is and what Hindus believe in. Please feel free to
Thanks for the sharing informative article.
Its my thought….
Hinduism is one of the oldest and most diverse religions in the world, with a rich history and a vast array of beliefs and practices. It is a religion that values spiritual diversity, and encourages individuals to seek their own path towards enlightenment.
At the heart of Hinduism is the belief in the eternal soul, or Atman, which is believed to be immortal and infinite. Hindus also believe in the concept of karma, which is the idea that every action has a consequence, and that these consequences will determine the quality of our next life.
Hinduism is also known for its rich mythology, which includes a pantheon of deities and a vast array of stories and legends. These stories often provide moral lessons and insights into the nature of the universe and the human condition.
Overall, Hinduism is a complex and multifaceted religion that has had a profound impact on the culture, philosophy, and spirituality of India and beyond. Whether you are a follower of this religion or simply interested in learning more, there is much to discover and explore within the rich tradition of Hinduism.
FROM
BRIJMOHAN SHARMA
This is useful and helpful information. I’m adding a supporting character from India to my novel, so it’s nice to have some understanding of his culture and the major concepts he’d be familiar with. This is a great jumping off point for me for research, so thank you!
Hello,
My name is Brittany. I am no one special and I just recently started researching beliefs and reincarnation and your post came up. I found it so interesting and I’m looking up more information from this context and learning more. I am so grateful for this and thank you for putting your energy towards it. If anyone wants to chat about religion, theories, reincarnation and inform me about your own thoughts please feel free. My email is brittanyeileen3@icloud.com
Hey Brittany,
Your comment made our day. So glad we could contribute.
Hinduism have many holy books such as 4 Vedas,18 purana, Ramayana, Mahabharata, bhagwati, etc.
Read the book breaking india by Rajiv malhotra to know how caste system came into india . India originally had varna not caste . There is no word called caste in any of the native Indian languages . British created the first caste census in india ased on a racial theory that’s how the system got created . Geeta clearly says that a person is known by ones qualities and actions . Basic issue in india like all developing countries is economic issue . Once economic issues get resolved the problem goes away .
FROM
MR. MOHAN A. HOSKOTE
VASCO-DA-GAMA
GOA-403802
INDIA
MOST SUITABLE BOOK FOR EXPLAINING “WHAT IS HINDUISM?” TO THE WORLD AT LARGE – MY PAPERBACK “JESUS MYSTERY SOLVED” PUBLISHED ON THE KDP AMAZON.COM
Most Respected Duygu and Bilgehan,
I, Mr. Mohan A. Hoskote, aged 86 years, most humbly submit to you as under:
I have published my book “JESUS MYSTERY SOLVED” as a “Paperback” on “kdp amazon.com”.
My Paperback is most suitable for explaining What is Hinduism? to the World at large simply because it shows how Jesus himself had preached 100% Hinduism.
If we write [Religion = God-concepts + Doctrines + Moral Teachings], the Hindu God-concepts preached by Jesus were “distorted” by one Bishop Alexander between @ 330-325 AD & the Hindu Doctrines preached by Jesus were “replaced” at the behest of Emperor Justinian in @ 553 AD, to give birth to present-day Christianity.
My “holistic” research has also shown that there are many false beliefs that need to be cleared.
For Example:
(1) My research shows that there exists a Goddess in Islam but Muslims are ignorant of her presence and they vehemently declare that there is no Goddess in their religion. My book clears this mistaken belief.
(2) Secondly, Moses did not write the Ten Commandments on the “Two Tablets of Stone” that he worshiped. But he certainly wrote “something else”and this “something else” has been explained in my book with fuller details.
(3) Thirdly, the Holy Koran has rejected the Christian Three-person Trinity – The Father, The Son & The Holy Ghost or Spirit in a strong rebuttal.
However, questions such as “When” did the “Concept” of God as “Three-aspects-in-one Trinity” made its maiden beginning?” and How, over the years, did this “Concept” go through various stages & depictions such as “The Three-faced Trinity”, “The Three-person Trinity”, “The Three-Headed Trinity” and “The Christian Trinity” has been explained in my book alone and no other.
(4) Lastly and Importantly, it is essential that “Students of Comparative religion & Interfaith” should come to know that “History” of religions, from the beginning up to the end, has been a “Tug-of-War & Confrontation” between (The God + Goddess) Cult and (The God alone, No Goddess) Cult and that after over two millennia of confrontation, the two warring Cults arrived at a compromise and this “Compromise Agreement” arrived at in India between the two warring Cults, is today known as Hinduism.
My research helps to clear the above “road-blocks” to Inter-religious Understanding.
Some of my interesting new findings are:
That a Lord Krisna, Krista or Christ Temple was built on Mount Zion in Jerusalem in
@ 2000 BC.
This Temple was named “The Abode of the Greatest Teacher”, the Temple-City too, was named after Lord Krisna and the entire Country was named after Lord Krisna as Caanna and these people have been referred to in the Bible as Canaanites.
The Hebrews who arrived middle of 18th century BC were Lord Siva worshipers.
@ 957 BC, King Solomon renovated the above Krisna Temple and made it a “Combined Krisna cum Siva” Temple. And many more such new & interesting findings.
Over the years, the Hebrews & the Canaanites intermingled and the Hebrew-Canaanite progeny are the Jews, who today have forgotten many facts of their own history.
I earnestly beg of Duygu and Bilgehan to publicize my research in whatever best manner you can.
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MOHAN A. HOSKOTE
Hello Mohan,
Congrats on your book!
I hope your efforts will be rewarded with respect and loving readers.
I’m a 48year old female in U.S.A and what I’ve read so far that you wrote spoke to me in a way that made the most sense. I can’t wait to see more I hope to talk to you about your book and learn something more even after I read it because I know after you wrote your book you must have learned something new as we’re always learning every day.my mailing address is – 745 Third st Folkston,GA 31537 I know pen and paper isn’t what most people do but if you want to write me I will write you.
Hi
Kavya here.
I would love to thank you for this wonderful information as this enlightened more people to learn and profess in Hinduism. I also a learnt many thing from this blog as i am a teenager and has not lived in India for a long time but till what I know from my parents all the above facts are correct. I have to write an essay on Religions of India and this information is my base for it so I thank you once again and please upload more blogs cause I would love to read and know more not only about India but also other parts of the world.