Hinduism

Introduction

During the fourth century B.C.Aryans—the same people that developed Greek culture-conquered much of present day India. Their pantheon of gods, similar to that of the Greeks, combined with indigenous India traditions of meditation to forma loose combination of beliefs and practices that came to be known as Hinduism. “Orthodox” Hindus can be either pious worshipers of a god or atheists, self-negating ascetics or men of the world.

Hinduism had never been a missionary religion until the twentieth century and is largely limited to India and groups of emigrant Indians.

Advaita Vedanta, which believes in complete identity between the inmost self and the impersonal, ultimate God, is the most common form of Hinduism in the West. Jainism probably represents the most ancient, pre-Aryan elements of Hinduism. The Sikh religion attempts to unite elements of Hinduism and Islam.

GOD

Many gods or incarnations of gods are worshiped by Hindus. Chief among them are Shiva, a fierce figure representing both the creative and destructive sides of divinity as well as the ideal of yogic meditation, and Vishnu, who incarnates himself many times through history in order to bring the message of salvation to man. Vishnu’s incarnations (or avatars) include Rama, a benevolent king, and Krishna, an impetuous, violent, and erotic figure. The gods are sometimes amoral; their freedom from the usual restraints necessary to humans is often celebrated, and they are often represented with sexual imagery. Many lesser cults worship a complex variety of gods, all of whom are usually seen as manifestations of the one supreme being, Brahman.

Brahman is seen by many Hindus as a personal, loving God who desires the salvation of all men. More usually, however, he is described as a supreme, impersonal being completely above all creation and uninvolved with life on earth.