Hinduism
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Hinduism
Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. One individual did not found Hinduism. Hinduism is God centered and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God. Hinduism is based upon Eternal Principles. If a great scientist like Einstein discovered or realized laws of physics, Hinduism would call him a great Rishi (Maharshi or seer of truth.) Such seers of truth are not confined to any one age or country. Self realized persons like Jesus Christ would be called Rishis (seers) and their teachings would be readily acceptable to those who properly understand the principles of Hinduism. From the ancient times, many great Rishis achieved “self-realization” through such means as meditation and they realized knowledge concerning Eternal Principles. Their knowledge, taught to disciples, and eventually made available in written form, is known as the Vedas (Ved = knowledge), the scriptures upon which Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) is based. Sanatan means eternal and Dharma means religion.
The word Hinduism does not appear anywhere in the Hindu scriptures, the proper name for Hinduism is “Sanatan Dharma”. Sanatan means eternal and Dharma means religion. Hinduism is based on finding acquiring knowledge thought means of science and though the use of yoga, Hinduism is all about finding ones self-realization.
The classical theory of the beginnings of Hinduism traces the religions roots to the Indus valley civilization circa 4000 to 2200 BC. The development of Hinduism was influenced by many invasions over thousands of years. The major influences occurred when light-skinned; nomadic “Aryan” Indo-European tribes invaded Northern India (circa 1500 BCE) from the steppes of Russia and Central Asia. They brought with them their religion of Vedism. These beliefs mingled with the more advanced, indigenous Indian native beliefs, often called the “Indus valley culture.”. This theory was initially proposed by Christian academics some 200 years ago. Their conclusions were biased by their pre-existing belief in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The Book of Genesis, which they interpreted literally, appears to place the creation of the earth at circa 4,000 BCE, and the Noahs flood at circa 2,500 BC. These dates put severe constraints on the date of the “Aryan invasion,” and the development of the four Veda and Upanishad Hindu religious texts. A second factor supporting this theory was their lack of appreciation of the sophisticated nature of Vedic culture; they had discounted it as primitive. The classical theory is now being rejected by increasing numbers of archeologists and religious historians. Since Hindus believe that Hinduism pertains to all human beings many timelines begin with the creation of life and includes major human accomplishments.
The Om is to Hindus As the cross is to Christians. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined, make the sound Aum or Om. The most important symbol in Hinduism, it occurs in every prayer and invocation to most deities begins with it. As the symbol of piety, Om is often found at the head of letters, pendants, enshrined in every Hindu temple and family shrines. This symbol is actually a sacred syllable representing the Brahman or the Absolute -the source of all existence. Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. The syllable Om occurs even in English words having a similar meaning, for instance, omniscience, omnipotent, omnipresent. Thus Om is also used to signify divinity and authority. Its similarity with the Latin M as also to the Greek letter Omega is discernable. Even the word Amen used by Christians to conclude a prayer seems to be akin to Om.
Second in importance only to the Om, the Swastika, a symbol that looks like the Nazi emblem, holds a great religious significance for the Hindus. Swastika is not a syllable or a letter, but a pictorial character in the shape of a cross with branches bent at right angles and facing in a clockwise direction. A need symbol for all religious celebrations and festivals, Swastika symbolizes the eternal nature of the Brahman, for it points in all directions, thus representing the presence of the Absolute.
If there is any color that can symbolize all aspects of Hinduism, its saffron – the color of Agni or fire, which symbolizes the Supreme Being. The saffron color, also auspicious to the Sikhs, the Buddhists and the Jains, seems to have obtained religious significance much before these religions came into being. Fire worship had its origin in the Vedic age of Hindu history. The foremost hymn in the Rig Veda glorifies fire: “Agnimile purohitam yagnasya devam rtvijam, hotaram ratna dhatamam.” When sages moved from one ashram to another, it was customary to carry fire along. The inconvenience to carry a burning substance over long distances may have given rise to the symbol of a saffron flag. Triangular and often forked saffron flags are seen fluttering atop most Sikh and Hindu temples. While Sikhs regard it as a militant color, Buddhist monks and Hindu saints wear robes of this color as a mark of renunciation of material life.
Every object associated with the ritual of Puja or worship is symbolically significant. The statue or image of the deity, which is called Vigraha (Sanskrit: vi plus graha) means something that is devoid of the negative effects of the planets or grahas. The flower that we offer to the deity stands for the good that has blossomed in us. The fruits offered symbolize our detachment, self-sacrifice and surrender, and the incense we burn collectively stands for the desires we have for various things in life. The lamp they light represents the light in them that is there soul, which we offer to the Absolute. The vermilion or red powder stands for our emotions.
An earthen pot or pitcher – called Purnakumbha – full of water, and with fresh mango leaves and a coconut atop it, is generally placed as the chief deity or by the side of the deity before starting a Puja. Purnakumbha literally means a full pitcher (Sanskrit: purna = full, kumbha = pot). The pot symbolizes mother earth, the water life-giver, the leaves life and the coconut divine consciousness. Commonly used during almost all religious rites, the pitcher also stands for goddess Lakshmi.
Idol worship and rituals are at the center of Hinduism have great religious and philosophical significance. All Hindu deities are symbols of the abstract Absolute, and point to a particular aspect of the Brahman or the Absolute. The Hindu Trinity