Hinduism
| Hinduism | |
|---|---|
| Family | Indian / Dharmic |
| Origin region | Indian subcontinent |
| Founding period | Ancient; Vedic traditions from the second millennium BCE and later developments |
| Estimated adherents | More than 1 billion globally. |
Hinduism is A diverse family of Indian religious traditions involving dharma, ritual, devotion, philosophy, karma, and liberation.
Overview
[edit | edit source]Hinduism is not a single centralized church but a large constellation of practices, texts, philosophies, temple traditions, and local cultures. It includes devotional, ritual, philosophical, and yogic paths, with varied understandings of the divine and ultimate reality.
Key beliefs
[edit | edit source]- Dharma as religious, ethical, and social order
- Karma and samsara, the cycle of action and rebirth
- Moksha or liberation as a central goal in many schools
- Many forms of devotion to deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganesha, and others
Practices
[edit | edit source]- Puja
- Mantra
- Yoga and meditation
- Pilgrimage
- Temple worship
- Festivals
- Rites of passage
Places of worship
[edit | edit source]- Mandir / temple
- Home shrine
- Pilgrimage sites
Sacred texts
[edit | edit source]- Vedas
- Upanishads
- Bhagavad Gita
- Ramayana
- Mahabharata
- Puranas
- Agamas
Holidays and observances
[edit | edit source]- Diwali
- Holi
- Navaratri
- Maha Shivaratri
- Janmashtami
- Rama Navami
Branches and related traditions
[edit | edit source]- Vaishnavism - Traditions centered on Vishnu and his avatars, especially Krishna and Rama.
- Shaivism - Traditions centered on Shiva as supreme, often connected with yoga, temple ritual, and philosophical schools.
- Shaktism - Traditions centered on Devi or Shakti, the divine feminine power.
- Smartism - A tradition often associated with Advaita Vedanta and worship of several deities as manifestations of one reality.