Hinduism

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Part of a on Hinduism
History · Deities
Denominations · Mythology
Beliefs & practices
Reincarnation · Moksha
Karma · Puja · Maya
Nirvana · Dharma
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Yoga · Ayurveda
Yuga · Vegetarianism
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Scriptures
Upanishads · Vedas
Brahmana · Bhagavad Gita
Ramayana · Mahabharata
Purana · Aranyaka
Shikshapatri · Vachnamrut
Related topics
Hinduism by country
Leaders · Mandir
Caste system · Mantra
Glossary ·
Murti
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Hinduism (Sanskrit - Sanātana (eternal) Dharma also known as Vaidika (Vedic) Dharma) is a religion or philosophy that originated from the Indian subcontinent and nearby surrounding areas. The term Hinduism is heterogeneous, as Hinduism consists of several schools of thought. It encompasses many religious rituals that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies. Many Hindus, influenced by Advaita philosophy, venerate an array of deities, considering them manifestations of the one supreme monistic Cosmic Spirit, Brahman, while many others focus on a singular concept of Brahman (God), as in Vaishnavism, Saivism and Shaktism.["Concept of God"]

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with approximately 900 million adherents (2005 figure), of whom approximately 890 million live in India.[link] "Adherents" It is also the oldest known religion in the world today. Unlike many other religions, Hinduism has no main founder, and no main holy city.Osborne, E: "Accessing R.E. Founders & Leaders, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism Teacher's Book Mainstream.", page 9. Folens Limited, 2005Klostermaier, K:"A Survey of Hinduism", page 1. SUNY Press, 1994.. It also has no single holy book — its original scriptures were the four Vedas, but as time has passed, many other scriptures have also emerged.

Etymology

The term Hindu is derived from Sindhu (सिन्धु, i.e. the Indus River in particular, or any river in general).["Meaning of Hindu"] In the Rig Veda, the Indo-Aryans mention their land as Sapta Sindhu (the land of the seven rivers of the northwestern Indian subcontinent, one of them being the Indus). This corresponds to Hapta-Hendu in the Avesta (Vendidad: Fargard 1.18)—the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism of Iran. The term was used for people who lived in the Indian subcontinent around or beyond the Sindhu.

The Persian term was borrowed by the Ancient Greeks as Indos, Indikos "Indian", from which was derived the name India, Indianus in Latin.["Indos"] The term hindu was also loaned into Sanskrit, as hindu (हिन्दु), appearing in some early medieval texts (e.g. Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, Kālikā Purāṇa, Rāmakośa, Hemantakavikośa and Adbhutarūpakośa).

According to Historical linguistics, Proto-Indo-Iranian / *s / is preserved in the Indo-Aryan languages (including Sanskrit as / s /) but was changed to / h / in prevocalic position in the Iranian branch (including Avestan and Old Persian); see also Indo-European sound laws.

Core concepts

The Hindu faiths, practices and philosophies have evolved from the Vedic tradition (Vaidika paramparā). Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism all share common philosophical and spiritual traits with Hinduism in varying degrees.

The Eternal Way (Sanatana Dharma)

Sanātana Dharma—"The Eternal Dharma (Ethos, Law, Values)"—the traditional name of Hinduism, alludes to the idea that certain spiritual principles hold true forever, transcending man-made constructs, representing a pure science of consciousness. This consciousness is not merely that of the body or mind and intellect, but of a transcendental state that exists within and beyond our somatic existence, the unsullied 'Soul' of all. Religion to the Hindu is the eternal search for the divine Brahman (wordstem: / brəhmən /; nominative singular: brahma / brəhmə /), translated as the "Supreme Immanent and Transcendent Truth" or the Cosmic Spirit.

Hinduism teaches tolerance of other religions, as expressed in the Rig Veda verse:

ekam sat viprā bahudhā vadanti

Truth is One, but sages call it by many names

Rig Veda 1:164:46.

Hinduism's aspiration is best expressed in the following mantra from the view] • [ talk] • [ edit]