Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Arctic Circle
60
°
60
°
P
I
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I
P
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P
40
°
P
40
°
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PACIFIC
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S
Tropic of Cancer
20
°
S
OCEAN
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I
INDIAN
OCEAN
P
Equator
0
°
P
ATLANTIC
P
20
°
20
°
20
20
20
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°
OCEAN
Tropic of Capricorn
40
°
40
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40
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0
°
20
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40
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60
°
100
°
120
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140
°
160
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60
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60
60
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60
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SOUTHERN
OCEAN
Antarctic Circle
a universalizing religion would, before the diffusion
of Buddhism and Islam into Southeast Asia (Fig. 7.7).
Although Hinduism is now more of an ethnic religion,
the religion has millions of adherents in the popu-
lous region of South Asia, extending beyond India to
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
The Hindu religion is not centrally organized. The
religion does not have an administrative or bureaucratic
structure like Christianity and Islam. The Hindu reli-
gion does not have a prophet or a single book of scrip-
tures, although most Hindus recognize the sacredness of
the
Vedas
, the four texts that make up the sacred books of
Hinduism. Hinduism is a conglomeration of beliefs char-
acterized by a great diversity of institutional forms and
practices. The fundamental doctrine is
karma
, which has to
do with the transferability of the soul. According to Hindu
doctrine, all beings have souls and are arranged in a hierar-
chy. The ideal is to move upward in the hierarchy and then
escape from the eternal cycle of
reincarnation
through union
with Brahman (the universal soul). A soul moves upward
or downward according to the individual's behavior in the
present life. Good deeds and adherence to the faith lead to
a higher level in the next life, whereas bad behavior leads
to demotion to a lower level. All souls, those of animals as
well as humans, participate in this process. The principle of
reincarnation is a cornerstone of Hinduism.
Hinduism's doctrines are closely bound to Indian
society's caste system, for castes themselves are steps on the
universal ladder. However, the
caste system
locks people
into particular social classes and imposes many restrictions,
