What is Hinduism?
Hindus are people who practice the religion that we presently know by the name of Hinduism. Many Hindus themselves prefer to call the religion by its true name, Sanatan Dharma meaning eternal religion or eternal truth. ‘Sanatan’ means eternal, without a beginning or end and forever true. ‘Dharma’ means that which upholds. Therefore Sanatan Dharma means laws or rules that uphold and are true everywhere at every time. Often Hindus greet each other with the word Namaste which literally means I bow down to that Divine presence in you.
The term ‘Hindu’ was derived from the river or river complex of the northwest the Sindh. Sindhu is a Sanskrit word meaning vast and was used by the inhabitants of the region, the Aryans, in the second millennium BCE. Later migrants and invaders, the Persians in the sixth century BCE and the Greeks from the 4th century BCE, used the name of this river in their own languages for the land and its people. Since they could not pronounce the word correctly they turned the ‘S’ in Sindhu into a ‘H’. the dwellers who practiced Sanatan Dharma became known as Hindus and the religion they practiced became known as Hinduism.
Hinduism is the oldest practicing religion found and presently it is the third largest world religion followed by over 900 million Hindus. The uniqueness of this religion is that is had no founder, prophet or a Guru, as the law of nature is universal and therefore believed to have always been in existence. Thus Hindus believe that Sanatan Dharma has always existed and will forever continue to do so.
Scholars have traced the history of this religion as far back as 3500 and 1500 BCE which flourished in the Indus valley, in India but Hindus believe that its true origin began with the beginning of time.
Beliefs and Values
Hindus believe that Brahman (God) is present everywhere in everything. Therefore every part of creation is a part of the divine energy. Hence Hindus worship God in may different forms from plants to animals to popular deities and gods such as Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha, Mother Shakti, Mother Lakshmi.
There are male and female forms of the divine which reflects the attitude of Hinduism that everyone and everything is equal as it has an essence of the divine in it.
For many Hindus religion is a matter of practice rather than beliefs. Hindus believe Brahman to be the ultimate God; the uncreated, unchanging cosmic energy behind the whole of existence. Brahman is the source from which everything proceeds and the ultimate goal is to re-unite with this force/energy. Brahman is expressed throughout the universe in infinite ways. There is one God but many manifestations and qualities. Therefore different forms of gods and goddesses exist. Each with their own special qualities and functions in life. Hindus believe that there is a part of Brahman in everyone and its called the Atman (soul).
Hindus believe in Reincarnation – a belief that the soul is eternal and continues to pass through the cycle of birth and death – Samsara to live many lives in different bodies. These lives are dependant on their action – Karma. It is their individual karma that determines their future successive lives. Hindus therefore aim to live in a way that will cause each of their lives to be better than the life before.
The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with Brahman – and this is called Moksha. Until moksha is achieved a Hindu believes they will repeatedly reincarnate so that they can progress towards this aim of self-realisation of the truth.
Holy Days
The Hindu calendar is full of festivals. The most significant being, Diwali, Navratri and Holi. Most festivals mark seasonal and mythological happenings, rites of passage, family celebrations of life events and vrats (vows such as fasting). All of these have an underlying spiritual significance.
Diwali – The festival of light is a 5 day celebration to mark the end of the year and the beginning of the new one. Goddess Laksmi – a goddess of wealth and beauty is particularly remembered and worshipped as is Lord Rama and his wife Sita who returned from a 14 year exile. To mark this, small lamps called diwas are lit and fireworks set off. Hence the name Diwali meaning a row of lights. Diwali takes place in October/November.
Navratri is a 9 night festival to praise the power of Shakti – goddess Durga who is thought to have slayed the demon Mahisasur in a long battle that lasted 9 days and nights. Garbas and Raas – dances played in a circle with claps and sticks are performed for 9 nights to remember the strength and courage of the goddess. Takes place around September/October. It is also to mark the significant strength of women in our society.
Holi – the festival of colours. This is to mark the beginning of spring and also to remember the true devotion of a young child who believed Vishnu (form of God) to be the supreme being. His father had tried to kill him for this but all in vain. His sister Holika had also assisted but was burnt in the fire and this festival is to mark the victory of good over evil. The first crop of the harvest is picked and offered into a large bonfire. Colours are thrown on each other to mark the beginning of Spring and life.
