HINDUISMHinduism is also referred to as Sanātana Dharma, a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law". Hinduism is the world's third largest religion, with nearly 900 million followers. The religion of Hinduism originated in Northern India, near the river Indus {sindhu} , about 4000 years ago and is the world's oldest existing religion. Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of India's population.
Who founded Hinduism? Hinduism has no founder, it developed out of Brahminism. Hinduism is the oldest religion, it may date to prehistoric times. Where does the name Hindu come from?The word "Hindu" probably comes from the name of the river Indus (S, which flows 1800 miles from Tibet through Kashmir and Pakistan to the sea. How does Hinduism differ from other religions?Hinduism is made up of a variety of different religious beliefs and practices. Do Hindus have a Holy Book? Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but plethora of religious texts and scriptures, most notably The Rig Vedas and the Bhagavat Gita. These books exemplify a guideline to life and morality. There are also many books such as Ramayana that tell the story of past rulers and kingdoms, most of which provide a moral note through its teaching. There are four major denominations of Hinduism. SAIVISM Saivite Hindus worship the Supreme God as Siva, the Compassionate One. Saivites esteem self discipline and philosophy and follow a satguru. They worship in the temple and practice yoga, striving to be one with Siva within. SAKTISM Shaktas worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother, Shakti or Devi. She has many forms. Some are gentle, some are fierce. Shaktas use chants, real magic, holy diagrams, yoga and rituals to call forth cosmic forces and awaken the great kundalini power within the spine. SMARTISM Smartas worship the Supreme in one of six forms: Ganesha, Siva, Sakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda. Because they accept all the major Hindu Gods, they are known as liberal or nonsectarian. They follow a philosophical, meditative path, emphasizing man's oneness with God through understanding. VAISHNAVISM Vaishnavites worship the Supreme as Lord Vishnu and His incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama. Majority of the Bhatia's are Vaishanavites. Subdivisions of Vaishnavism Sri Sampradayins The most ancient Vaishnava sect is the Sri Sampradaya, founded by Ramanuja Acharya. The followers of Ramanuja adore Vishnu and Lakshmi, and their incarnations. They are called Ramanujas or Sri Sampradayins or Sri Vaishnavas. They all repeat the Ashtakshara Mantra: ‘Om Namo Narayanaya.’ They put on two white vertical lines and a central red line on the forehead. Ramanandis The followers of Ramananda are the Ramanandis. They are well-known in upper Hindusthan. They are a branch of the Ramanuja sect. They offer their worship to Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Ramananda was a disciple of Ramanuja. The ChaitanyasThis sect is prominent in Bengal and Orissa. The founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or Lord Gouranga, was born in 1485. He was regarded as an incarnation of Lord Krishna. He took Sannyasa at the age of twenty-four. He went to Jagannath where he taught Vaishnava doctrines.The Chaitanyas worship Lord Krishna as the Supreme Being. All castes are admissible into the sect. The devotees constantly repeat the Name of Lord Krishna. The Nimbarkas The founder of this sect is Nimbarka or Nimbaditya. He was originally named Bhaskara Acharya. He is regarded as an incarnation of the Sun-God (Surya). The followers worship Krishna and Radha conjointly. Their chief scripture is the Srimad-Bhagavata Purana. The MadhvasThe Madhvas are Vaishnavas. They are known as Brahma Sampradayins. The founder of the sect is Madhvacharya, otherwise called Ananda Tirtha and Purna-Prajna. He was born in 1200. He was a great opponent of Sankaracharya’s Advaita system of philosophy. He is regarded as an incarnation of Vayu or the Wind-God. He erected and consecrated at Udipi the image of the Lord Krishna. Radha VallabhisRadha Vallabhis worship Krishna as Radha-Vallabha, the Lord or Lover of Radha. Harivans was the founder of this sect. Seva Sakhi Vani gives a detailed description of the notion of this sect and more of their traditions and observances Vallabhacharins Or Krishna Sampradayins The Vallabhacharins form a very important sect in Bombay, Gujarat and the Central India. Their founder was born in the forest Champaranya in 1479. He is regarded as an incarnation of Krishna. The Vallabhacharins worship Krishna, as Bala-Gopala. Their idol is one representing Krishna in his childhood till his twelfth year. The Gosains or teachers are family men. The eight daily ceremonials for God in the temples are Mangala, Sringara, Gvala, Raja Bhoga, Utthapana, Bhoga, Sandhya and Sayana. All these represent various forms of adoration of God. The mark on the forehead consists of two red perpendicular lines meeting in a semicircle at the root of the nose and having a round spot of red between them. The necklace and rosary are made of the stalk of the Tulasi (holy Basil). The great authority of the sect is the Srimad-Bhagavata as explained in the Subodhini, the commentary thereon of Vallabhacharya. The members of the sect should visit Sri Nathdvara, a holy shrine, at least once in their lives. "Very many Bhatia's are Vaishanavas and now worship Shri Krishna as laid down by Vallabh and his descendants, who are known by various names, Acharyas, Gosamis and Maharajas. In Samvat 1797(A.D.1741) the Bhatia's of Cutch Mandvi appointed for the first time Diksitji of Vallabh descent as the first religious head. Vallabhacharya, by which name the sect who worship Shri Krishna as laid down by Vallabh, son of Laxman Bhat, known also as Vallabhacharji, Shri Acharayaji, Shri Maha Prabhuji (Vallabh was born in Samvat 1535) is known, is a new sree. It is a new sect inasmuch as it has selected the god Shri Krishna in one of his aspects, that of his adolscence (Bal Gopal Lila), and raised him to superamacy in that respect. It is also a new sect in so far it established the pushtimarg....." The Tribes and Castes of Bombay......R.E.Enthoven 1922 |
Hinduism
What Is Hinduism?
Introduction to Hinduism
India Hinduism
What ancients did for us
|
