With approximately1 billion following , Hinduism is the third - declamatory faith in the existence . Hinduism was bear in ancient India ( mod mean solar day India , Pakistan and Bangladesh ) more than 5,000 years ago , and 90 percent of today ’s Hindus still live in the Amerindic subcontinent . In the United States , Hindus make up 0.7 percent of the universe ( 2 million ) , rough the same asBuddhistsand slenderly few thanMuslims .
Yet many Americans and other Westerners stay unlettered of even the most introductory tenets and practices of Hinduism . Are Hindus polytheistic ? Are they allvegetarians ? Do they have their own holy scriptures and places of adoration ? Do they idolise cows ?
Here ’s a chance to dispel some of the most pernicious myths about Hinduism , and to learn more about a plenteous and unfathomed spiritual tradition that realize the divine nature of all creation and invites everyone , regardless of one ’s religious setting , to walk their own path of righteous bread and butter .
We ’d like to give thanks Suhag Shukla , executive director director and co - founder of theHindu American Foundation , for her generous help in answer our 10 big questions about Hinduism .
10: Do Hindus Believe in God or Gods?
There are so many Hindu graven image and goddesses — Vishnu , Shiva , Indra , Lakshmi and many more — that it may seem obvious that Hinduism is polytheistic . But that ’s not really true .
Hinduism teaches that there is a single " Divine " that many Hindus callBrahmanthat is manifested in a multitude of grade , let in gods and goddess . Brahmanitself is formless and unknowable , beyond run-in and human attribute like gender . It is the ultimate realness that be beyond matter , thinking , life and death .
Lucky for us humans , elements ofBrahmanare made knowable and accessible to us through various manifestations . One of those demonstration is the real public — everything in the universe from the large galaxies to the smallestinsect . In that mother wit , all of existence is diffuse with the Divine .
Hindus also believe thatBrahmanmanifests through gods and goddesses and their many " avatar " or divine earthly form . Each of these powerful beings represents sure aspect of the Divine that become cognizable by reading and repeat the stories of the gods and goddesses found in Hindu scripture .
But just because Hindusbelievein the existence of many graven image does n’t mean that they are polytheistic . Shukla sound out that the Western melodic theme of polytheism safe suit the Greek deity and goddess , who each answer their single desire , not that of a incorporated Divine .
" Think of clay as an analogy forBrahman , " sound out Shukla . " corpse can take the form of a lot or of a looker , but the implicit in realness of all of those different utensil is clay . Without clay , those forms ca n’t exist . "
The Hindu impression in one ultimate realness with diverse manifestations is better delineate as " monism " or " one - ness . " Different school of Hinduism also characterize as pantheistic ( " all existence is Divine " ) or panentheistic ( " all existence is within the Divine " ) .
There ’s a Sanskrit hymn find in theVedas , the most ancient Hindu holy text edition , that study :
verity is one , the wise call it by many names .
And just as Hindus believe that Truth is one , called by many names , so too is the Ultimate Reality called by many public figure .
So , to do the question : Do Hindus believe in God or gods ? The answer is Yes .
9: Is There a Hindu “Bible”?
Hinduism is rich with ancient and sacred schoolbook that serve a role in some ways similar to the Torah in Judaism , the Bible in Christianity , and the Quran in Islam .
While there is no central Hindu text that convey the singular agency of the Bible , each rule book in the Hindu canon bestow to deeper discernment and adoration of the Divine .
For exemplar , there are sacred Hindu texts that read like anthem of kudos ( theSamhitas ) and others that recount stories of gods , goddesses and ancient warfare ( theRamayanaand theBhagavad Gita ) . Other Hindu texts are concentrate on priestly matters of worship and ritual ( theBrahmanas ) , while some plunge deep into the mystical mysteries of ultimate reality ( theUpanishads ) .
The holy text of Hinduism began as unwritten tradition passed down for centuries before being written down and codified between1200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. The sometime texts are theVedas , which serve as a foundational Hindu textual matter from which most other holy work expand upon .
Hindus have a somewhat different relationship with scriptures than other faiths , Shukla explains . Hinduism learn that enlightenment is ultimately achieved through personal experience of gravid truth that come about through study , prayer and self-contemplation ( realization ) , not through trust alone ( Revelation of Saint John the Divine ) . Another difference is that Hindus believe that the words of a animation , crystalize teacher like a guru are as crucial and valid as words retrieve in the holy schoolbook . The most significant thing is how you live those eternal truths and how they vary you .
8: What Does Hinduism Teach About Karma and Reincarnation?
Both Hinduism and Buddhism ( as well asJainismand Sikhism ) share a belief inkarmaand rebirth . Hinduism learn that when the Divine takes form , it is encapsulated asatmanor the " psyche . " This soul , which exists within every physique of realism ( not just man and animals , but even nonliving things like rivers and rocks ) , is eternal and can not be destroy . or else , when one form passes away — throughdeath , decay or death — the psyche moves on to inhabit a new form .
Reincarnation , orsamsara , is the uninterrupted process of decease and Renascence in which the soul repeatedly takes on new forms and new experience . However , the nature of samsara is suffering , so the ultimate finish of Hinduism ismoksha , liberating the soul from the endless hertz of death and Renascence , and allowing it to retort to the Divine .
Mokshacan only be obtained when a soul inhabits a human form , so human race are considered the most spiritually evolved lifeforms .
The force that governs the transmigration of souls from one figure to another is calledkarma . In its simplest form , karma is the law of causa and effect . Righteous and altruistic thoughts , speech communication and actions have a plus result on your person , while lie in , stealing , cheat on and hurting others will have negative impression .
Dharma , which often translates as " duty " or " ethics , " target to a manner of righteous livelihood that ’s most conducive to spiritual growth and the accumulation of good karma . Part of righteous living is detachment , including detachment from the rewards or " fruits " of righteousness . Only when one works for the welfare of all beingness without any expectation of , or attachment to reward will they accomplish liberation .
We ’ll spill more about this in the section on India ’s caste system , but Shukla emphasizes that Hinduism does not teach that hoi polloi who suffer in poverty or illness are being " penalize " for malevolent activity in a preceding animation . For starters , a poor mortal may suffer on a forcible level , but may otherwise have a kind and giving tendency , while a rich mortal may enjoy forcible comfort , but is harry with niggardliness and jealousy .
" That ’s a serious mistaking of this concept , " says Shukla . " Karma acts as a positive inducement and does not give permission to judge the excruciation of others or absolve us from helping others . We have a responsibility to better the circumstances of home , society and our country . "
7: Are All Hindus Vegetarian?
perverse to pop notion , not all Hindus arevegetarian , but it ’s approximate that 30 pct of all Hindus , Buddhists , Jains and Sikhs in India are vegetarian due to a shared belief in nonviolence .
This belief is root in the reason that all living creature are manifestations of the Divine . fury against any living being will therefore have a negative effect on one ’s karma . Various Hindu Bible teachthat a meat - free dieting is not required , but " meritorious " to the eudaimonia of the soulfulness .
Mahatma Gandhiwas famously vegetarian , adding credenza to the belief ( outside of India , at least ) that all Hindus were vegetarian . In reality , that ’s never been the case . Even the Supreme Being and goddesses of Hindu scripture would occasionally junket on meat . For modern Hindus , the choice to eat vegetarian or not mostly depends on regional solid food traditions . For case , heavy part of Hindus in the northern Indian states of Gujarat , Rajasthan and Punjab are vegetarian , while comparatively few Hindus living in southern India keep a strictly vegetarian dieting . A 2014 studyout of India found that 71 per centum of the population over 15 was not vegetarian .
Cows hold a special reverence among Hindus , but they are not " worshipped . " In theVedas , the moo-cow is associate with Aditi , who is the female parent of the gods . cow are revere because they ’re see as teachable creatures who give to people more than they take from them . In India , cow are allowed to drift the streets and are give routine of food for honorable luck . Gandhionce wrote , " If someone were to necessitate me what the most important outward-bound manifestation of Hinduism was , I would hint that it was the idea of moo-cow protective cover . "
6: Do Hindus Worship Idols?
In Hinduism , sanctified images of the gods and goddess are calledmurtiand are a cardinal part of base and temple worship . Becausemurtiis sometimes translated as an " idol , " there ’s a misconception ( peculiarly among Westerners ) that Hindus are " idol worshipper , " one of the chief sins of the Judeo - Christian tradition .
Shukla says that a better interlingual rendition ofmurtiis " embodiment . " Much like all of universe is consider to be an avatar of the Divine , the look-alike of a Hindu god or goddess is infer to be an incarnation of a certain scene of the Divine . Amurtiof the goddess Saraswati embodies encyclopedism and Wisdom of Solomon , while amurtiof the goddess Lakshmi embodies successfulness .
In a Hindu abode , one or moremurtiare typically placed on a small Lord’s table and dish out as visual tools for contemplating a particular property of the Divine . Themurtiis sanctified or made holy through a priestly approving calledprana prathista . Once sanctified , the figure of speech is incorporate into day-by-day rituals ( nitya ) of prayer and meditation .
" There ’s a distinctiveness that comes with the build of amurti , because of the divine attribute that we ’re seeking to honor through that form , " says Shukla , " and also through the ceremonies that are direct in parliamentary law to bring up that material form into something even more sacred . "
One of the most usual dwelling house - based ceremony is calledpuja , in which themurtiserves as a focal point on which to aim all the sensation on the Divine . The sense of scent is stimulated byincenseand fragrant flower . The ears are awaken with the audio of traditional mantra and tingling bell . The eyes soak up the colors and contours of themurtiand the light ofcandles . The sense of mouthful is satisfied by eatingprasad , small kickshaw offered by the god or goddess . And pinch is engaged throughout the ceremonial .
Again , it ’s of import to clarify that Hindus are not worshipping these " idols , " or even worshipping the god or goddess represented by themurti . Rather , they use themurtias a sacred creature for focalise their minds and spirits on righteous qualities that they wish to bestow into their everyday life and interaction with others .
5: Do Hindus Attend Weekly Services?
Unlike most Western religions , Hinduism does n’t found a set time or shoes for worship . It ’s for the most part up to the individual . While many elements of Hindu worship are practice at home , there is also community - based worship available at Hindu temple .
At menage , most Hindu families will have a belittled altar adorned with amurtiand peradventure some photo of ancestor that have passed on . In addition to thepujaceremony we just described , there are other dwelling house - based ritual that ask purifying themurtiby bathing the image and sprinkle it with crimson vermillion powder . Fruits and confection are laid out on the altar to be bless by the god , and candles and incense are lit , often daily . According to different Hindu tradition , family members might chant anthem and mantra , or use prayer beads as part of home adoration .
Hindu temples are calledmandirsand are opened to both Hindu and non - Hindu worshipper . Some Hindu temple are orotund , flowery buildings that look like their ancient counterparts in India , while others resemble community centers .
Temple worship is interchangeable to domicile adoration in that there are ordinarily one or moremurtithat serve as the focal point for various ceremonies andrituals . The deviation in the temple is that the rituals are mostly conducted by a Hindu priest and attended by penis of the community . Like a church divine service , some rite are schedule to take office on specific days and times .
If you visit a synagogue , it ’s helpful to acknowledge what ’s expect . Visitors take off their skid before enter to keep the temple clean . Leather products are warn out of respect for oxen . Modesty is prove by stave off shorts and sleeveless tops . Many people also bring gifts of fruit or heyday to the synagogue as offering to the immortal .
4: What’s the Role of Gurus in Hinduism?
The wordgurumeans " dispeller of darkness . " In Hinduism , a guru is an enlightened spiritual teacher who dispels the " dark " of ignorance and maneuver his or her scholarly person on a way of life towardmoksha .
In the Hindu tradition , the words and teachings of a guru are just as holy and sacred as the ancient Hindu texts . While Hindus are not take to have a guru , it ’s turn over advantageous to seek the supporter and direction of a heady instructor .
While there is no recognise Hindu office that confer the title of guru , many gurus claim a hallowed lineage . Often they were students of a well - know guru who was himself or herself the educatee of other famous gurus going back centuries . A guru is not only anticipate to be wise , but to have had his or her own direct experiences with the Divine that inform their didactics .
The students or disciples of a guru are calledshishya , and the close relationship between a guru and his or her patriotic followers has been fundamental for transmitting Hindu truth and praxis , especially when Hinduism was primarily an oral custom . In the past , pupil dwell with or near their guru so that their phantasmal education could be individualize to their needs , but now many gurus take students remotely or publish their teaching in books and online .
Although students are ask to show devotion and deference to their guru , they do n’t revere the instructor or follow him or her blindly . Gurus are n’t gods ; they are still human beings with human frailties , and students are expected to use their judgment about inappropriate conduct or unethical pedagogy .
It ’s also absolutely OK for Hindusto flip gurus for any grounds , include if they feel that their phantasmal needs have changed or would be better serve well by somebody else .
3: How Is Hinduism Related to Yoga?
Yoga is one of the six school of thought in Hinduism that originate from different interpretations of theVedas , the most ancient of Hindu text . Butyogaas it ’s traditionally realize and practiced in Hinduism is very different from what ’s been popularise in the West . The original Hindu yoga was n’t intended as an practice regime for increase flexibility and strength , but as a path to nirvana through focalize the mind and controlling the sense .
The word yoga come from the Sanskrit for " union " and is broadly speaking defined as any practice that facilitate an individual experience God . Yoga is not just a set of physical posture and breathing usage , but includes moral values , ethical practice , focused awareness , scriptural bailiwick and adoration of the Divine .
In theBhagavad Gita , Krishna describes four kinds of yoga , each representing separate but mutualist path to achievingmoksha :
With the help of a guru , individual can learn what character of yoga is best for their personal spiritual growth , though the different types of yoga are not reciprocally undivided . Of the four mentioned by Krishna , raja yoga is closest to what Westerners would recognize as yoga . TheBhagavad Gitadescribes it like this :
In the West , yoga has mostly been reduced to a serial of affectedness known asasanas . And while those poses absolutely have their physical benefits , including lour emphasis degree and parentage pressure , the practice of yoga is less about strengthening the trunk than strengthening the psyche and changing our very being . " While practicingasanafor improved health is perfectly satisfactory , it is not the goal or purpose of yoga,“says the Hindu American Foundation website .
" Yoga in its broadest common sense is a spiritual path and practice with the ultimate end of allow us to cool it our minds , ascertain our senses , and go in to spot our divine nature and how that godly nature is shared across all of creation , " says Shukla . " Which then would , in turn , create a shift in our behaviour toward others . A shift key toward being more compassionate , loving and kind toward everyone and everything . "
2: What Are the Major Hindu Holidays?
There are festive and important Hindu holiday class - round , although some are in the first place keep in specific geographical region of India or by devotees to a sure god or goddess . Hindu vacation follow the lunar calendar , so they can fall on different days and even months every year in the West .
First , there are a master of ceremonies of god - specific celebration that could include visits to temples consecrate to the specific immortal or goddess , the telling of special devotional orison , dance , all - night vigil and more . A few of these major jubilation are :
Holiis a colorful and wide observed seasonal holiday . observe throughout India by Hindus , Sikhs , Jains and Buddists , Holiis a joyous springiness festival ( February / March ) that ’s celebrated by tossing colored dyes into the melody and junket late into the night in an standard atmosphere of unity and peace treaty .
Perhaps the most popular holiday throughout India and the Hindu diaspora isDiwaliorDeepawali , the Hindu fete of light . During the multiday wintertime holiday , families illume traditional Lucius DuBignon Clay lamp ( or hang cheerful vacation lights ) to commemorate the triumph of good over evil . They also gather in the homes of friends to share Diwali treats .
1: Is Hinduism Responsible for the Caste System in India?
There is no scriptural or spiritual basis in Hinduism for the prejudiced and oppressivecaste systemthat rise in India , let in the labeling of the very lowest social class as " Harijan . "
India ’s birth - ground caste organization , later codify by the British during royal prescript , was partially the resultant of an unfortunate deformation of the Hindu concept ofvarnaor personality type . TheVedastaught that mortal in general light into four dissimilar personality types , each essential for a well - go smart set :
In theVedas , none of these personality type was " lower " or less important than the relief , but over clip , the personality type got chunk together with an occupation - based societal scheme calledjati .
Jatiare like to medieval European barter lodge , where people with the same profession established their own rules and communities . In India , those rules included specific religious practice and ritual . Eventually , rank in a particularjatibecame a birthright pass on from one generation to the next . Every religious community of interests in India has their ownjatigroups and tie .
Over time , many Hindus mistakenly concluded that being birth into the laboring classes was a reflexion of the state of one ’s soul — bad karma meant that you were stick with a torturous beingness . When the British arrive in India , they observe a group of people whose placement in club was so low that they fell outdoors of bothvarnaandjati . The British call them the " untouchables . "
Discrimination on the basis of caste or division was officially criminalise in 1948 with Indian independence , but like racial bias in America it remain engrained for some Indians , regardless of religion . It ’s crucial to re - underscore , however , that the caste organisation was never rooted in Hindu teachings . In fact , theVedasteach exactly the opposite , as expressed by this ancient hymn :
" No one is higher-ranking , none subscript . All are brothers march forward to prosperity . "
