Hinduism: An Overview

In the following pages, there will be an attempt to answer a few questions regarding the religion known as Hinduism. Considering that Hinduism lacks a uniting belief system, there will be a section covering some of the basic beliefs of the Hindu faith, with particular emphasis on those points that remain similar across cultural and geographical lines. Hindu originated in India, and has many cultural and societal influences that make it a regionally vital aspect to the lives of its followers. Within the tenets of Hinduism, there is a great desire for liberation from earthly existence, which will be touched upon as well.

Hindu is the name of a complex variety of various religious practices that have been the central focal point of life for the indigenous people of India for centuries. It is thought that many of these spiritual paths were followed by the aboriginal dwellers of this region long before there was a written form of language, and the core values and traditions were passed down orally through the generations. Despite the innumerable variations of religious beliefs in the area, there are some principles that are strikingly similar, as well as some teachings that remain the same across the boundaries of time and location.

The Hindu Religion

Most of the numerous religions practiced by people living in the area of the Indus River are grouped together under the traditional name of "Hindu." This excepts the religions of Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. However, a more culturally acceptable phrase is in common use today, which is "Sanatana Dharma." This name literally means eternal or ageless religion.

Traditionally, there are more than 330 million deities recognized by the Indian culture. This reflects the widely-held belief that the Divine has countless faces.

The Hindus believe that birth and death are inextricably linked, each giving way to the other in an endless, timeless cycle of eternity. Everyone and everything is tied together in a never-ending pattern of existence. All are parts of the divine essence.

For all of the many varying practices and elaborate philosophical systems of the vast region of India, there are a few major points that remain consistent within each tradition. There are devas, who are the controlling deities in the cosmos, and who consecrate every form of life. It is also believed that behind all aspects of divinity recognized within Hinduism, there is one all-encompassing unseen reality that ceaselessly creates and sustains all of existence.

In Hindu belief, there are four ages. These ages are called "yugas." Breaking these down, it is believed that there are world cycles in the unimaginable vastness of time, and each cycle lasts 4,320,000 years. Two thousand of these cycles equals one day and one night in the life of the supreme Creator god, known as Brahma.

The Hindus believe the world is currently existing in the fourth age, the final age, which is known as the "Kali Yuga." During this time, the world is at its very worst, having rampant egotism, arrogance, ignorance, wars, etc. At the end of this age, the major devas will be victorious against the