What Do Hindus Believe?
Number of Followers: 1 Billion
Place of Origin: Hinduism is a unique religion, with an even more unique background. Unlike most religions, Hinduism is more of a diverse collection of differing faiths that all came out of South Asia, specifically the country of India. One of the most supported theories of origin points towards the convergence of ancient Vedic and Indo-European religions in the Indus Valley (Present day Pakistan/ Northwest India).
Date of Origin: ca. 2000 B.C.
Sacred Text(s): Hinduism has many texts that it considers sacred but views these writings differently than most faiths. Texts such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Puranas are held in high esteem but not seen as the only sources of “revelation” in this life. They point Hindus towards truths to be realized. Scripture is present in the lives of Hindus more to help them on the path to a good life, not as the words of a god, as can be found in Islam and Christianity.
Founder: Hinduism has no founder and very little recorded history to show its origin. Present-day Hinduism is the product of thousands of years of change and reform from many sources within Hinduism. It is important to note that even the terms “Hinduism” and “Hindu” are not necessarily appropriate designations, as they came from foreigners who used the word “Hindu” to classify those of the Indus Valley. Some followers prefer the term “Sanatana Dharma” (“Eternal Law” or “Eternal Way”) to describe their religion and way of life.
Core Tenets: It is difficult or impossible to describe in the short form a thorough understanding of what is often regarded as “Hinduism”.
- Atman-Brahman
Most Hindus believe in one all-pervasive divine reality, Brahman. In Brahman exists all things, and all things have come to exist through the Brahman god. From Brahman comes other expressions or manifestations, often called "avatars". These avatars are often viewed as gods, and from this belief, Hindus are typically considered polytheists.
There are many schools of thought within Hinduism as to the “knowable” nature of the Brahman god, and what form it takes. Some schools of thought within Hinduism elevate gods like Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Krishna, to be the god most worthy of adoration as the knowable expression of the unknowable Brahman.
A very basic understanding of Hinduism can be built around studying the following four concepts:
- Karma
Karma is the universal law of cause and effect. If one does good works, good will be returned to them, and vice versa. Ultimately, this endless cycle will either benefit or harm their karma. One should remain unattached to their good works for it to positively affect their karma, and not allow it to be a prideful pursuit thereby becoming selfish.
- Dharma
Dharma is the mode of conduct that a Hindu follows in their life, based on ancient texts and teachers within various schools of thought in Hinduism. There are different types of dharma that can be performed in different ways to allow a person to live a good life, and continue down the path of spiritual enlightenment.
- Samsara
Samsara is the cycle of death and rebirth that all of mankind is bound to. Hindus believe that the soul is immortal, and experiences various lives based on an individual’s karma. The pursuit of good karma, by following dharma, is with the hope of improving one’s position in future lives within the system of samsara.
- Moksha
Moksha is the release from the cycle of Samsara. It is also characterized by self-enlightenment or actualization. Many Hindus believe that after many lifetimes of good karma, they may experience Moksha.
