Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hinduism
Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, dating back to about
1500 B.C. It is also the world's third-largest religion; about 13 per-
cent of the world's population follows the faith, most of whom
live in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. At the root of Hinduism
is the recognition of a trinity of gods:
Brahma
(the creator),
Vishnu
(the preserver), and
Shiva
(the destroyer). Additionally,
there are many forms and avatars (incarnations, or the pres-
ence of a spirit in earthly form) of gods and goddesses.
Vedas
are the sacred and holy scriptures of the Hindu faith. Although
it is not known when they were written, it is believed that the
Vedas are the most ancient texts in the world. The primary
sacred texts include four Vedas. Other Hindu holy books are
the
Ramayana
and the
Mahabharat
.
BhagavadﾭGita
is the main
sacred book of the Hindus. It is a poem that describes a con-
versation between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjun in the
battlefield. Lord Krishna is believed to be the eighth incarna-
tion of Lord Vishnu.
Have you ever wondered why Hindus hold life sacred,
including cows? It is because they believe in reincarnation, or
the rebirth of a soul in a new body after death. In other words,
they believe in a cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth through
an infinite series of lives here on Earth. This life cycle is called
Sansara,
and it is determined by
Karma
. Karma is the lifetime
sum total of one's deedsﾭboth good and bad. It is Karma that
determines the fate of an individual's soul in the next life. A
good life, full of good deeds and devotion, assures one of a
rebirth of high status. A life of bad deeds, however, can cause
one to be reborn as a lower life form. Because all life forms are
believed to be incarnate souls (possibly even a deceased rela-
tive), life, itself, is held sacred.
In this way, Hindus view everyday suffering and happi-
ness, poverty and wealth, scorn and prestige, and other traits
as the natural consequence of deeds from a previous lifetime.
Such beliefs and practices have resulted in a fatalistic way of
