There is no central ancient text that succinctly sums up the religions basic tenets, no single leader that hindus can call the founder of their faith and no single modernday organization to which all hindus belong. This provides a basic and correct understanding of hindu religion. The bhagavad gita is the most sacred of all hindu books. The first phase of hinduism was early brahmanism, the religion of the priests or brahmans who performed the vedic sacrifice, through the power of which proper relation with the gods and the cosmos is. Once hinduism was spread in nearly all parts of the world. Top 10 organized religions and their core beliefs listverse. The book is a collection of chapters on the varied dimensions of a womans life in the contemporary indian society under the larger umbrella concepts of religion and patriarchy. Of all the basic books on hinduism, this rather thin volume of 160 pages is the most balanced introduction to the religion. These religions are also all classified as eastern religions. Hindu sacred texts the sacred texts of hinduism fall into one of two categories.
Hinduism is an ancient religion with diverse traditions such as vaishnavism, shaivism, shaktism and others. So, before that time, most important book were vedas. Two types of sacred writings comprise the hindu scriptures. Hinduism is an indian religion and dharma, or way of life, widely practised in the indian subcontinent and parts of southeast asia. Shruti that which is heard, and smriti that which is remembered.
The basics is an essential buy for students wanting to get to grips with this hotly debated topic. Prominent themes in hindu beliefs include dharma ethicsduties, sams. Hinduism is one of the oldest known organized religionsits sacred writings date as far back as 1400 to 1500 b. Religion as a barrier in womens empowerment the hindu. To close up this series of articles about hinduism, well turn our focus to the second most important component of religion for hinduism hindu practices and behaviors. This will facilitate our young learners to know how. This is a revised and updated second edition of a paperback book is available through. Kamasutra is the oldest book about the sex written by vatsayana, a hindu sage. It is perhaps the best book for someone who has no prior knowledge of the religion, a stable stepping stone for the student of religious studies, and an eyeopener for the practicing hindu. The subject matter of the textbook is derived from the basic issues of the religion familiar to the children through their family practices. Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but several scriptures. The basic scriptures of hinduism, which are collectively referred to as shastras, are essentially a collection of spiritual laws discovered by different saints and sages at different points in its long history. The term hinduism became familiar as a designator of religious ideas and practices distinctive to india with the publication of books such as hinduism 1877 by sir monier monierwilliams, the notable oxford scholar and author of an influential sanskrit dictionary.
The vedas scriptures guide hindus in their daily life. The religion has a long tradition of rishis, sannyasis, tapasvins, and other holy men and women who renounce the world and spend their time in meditation or reading holy texts. By jeaneane fowler of all the basic books on hinduism, this rather thin volume of 160 pages is the most balanced introduction to the religion. The most ancient sacred texts of the hindu religion are written in sanskrit and called the vedas.
Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with about 1 billion followers worldwide, most of whom live in india. These postvedic texts contain a complete discussion of the history. I agree with all those who said bhagavadgita and bhagavata pura. The hindu religion originated in india thousands of years ago. Om chanting and meditation by amit ray, the bhagavad gita by krishnadwaipayana vyasa, autobiography of a shiva devotee by sh. Indian religions, sometimes also termed dharmic religions or indic religions, are the religions that originated in the indian subcontinent. For example, walking around with a white cap on your head has no meaning on its. The ancient civilizations such as the roman, the greek, the egyptian, the sumerian, and the. The textbook entitled, hindu religious studies has been prepared on the basis of attainable competencies for the students of class four. Online books on hinduism, hindu religion, hindu culture. Hinduism provided the belief structure for all other south asian religions that followed such as buddhism, sikhism, and jainism. Hindus have a wide variety of core beliefs and exist in many different sects. Learn the basics about hindu beliefs, gods and rituals this book contains an easily accessible overview of the hindu religion, with a focus on those coming from the western religions and cultures. There are two historic classifications of hindu texts.
An introduction to the hindu religion hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world, and is based on ancient texts known as the vedas, as well as prehistoric animist religions which existed in the mohenjo daro civilization. Unlike most religions, there is no declared founder of hinduism. However, it is clear that around 4,000 years ago a developed group of people lived in northwest india. Over the centuries this religious tradition has slowly evolved to be practiced and understood in many different ways, but it is. Hinduism for beginners an concise introduction to the eternal path to liberation by. Gita is about 5000 years old, bhagavatam about years, scholars say. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The shruti refers to the body of most authoritative, ancient religious texts, believed to be eternal knowledge authored neither by human nor divine agent but transmitted by sages rishis. Most books available on hinduism in bookshops in the west today are. Hinduism is not an organized religion and has no single, systematic approach to teaching its value system. He wrote, the hindu is completely filled with his religion all of the time. Although indian religions are connected through the history of india, they constitute a wide range of religious communities, and are not confined. To people raised in other faiths, hinduism may seem very complex, but the core beliefs of hinduism are actually quite simple to understand. He also removed four books from the new testament but was later persuaded to put them back they were hebrews, james, jude, and revelation.
Hindu religion is the oldest and third largest religion in the world. Hinduism is the third most popular religion in the world and has more than 750 million followers. The belief in reincarnation also extends to the gods, who can take on multiple forms. All about hinduism is intended to meet the needs of those who want to be introduced to the various facets of the crystal that is hinduism.
Nor do hindus have a simple set of rules to follow like the ten commandments. This book gives detailed descriptions of sex like types, positions, importance, compatibility of partners, eunuchs, etc. Online books on hinduism, hindu religion, hindu culture, shastras, hindu scripture, vedas, upanishad, hindu saints, sages, science and hinduism. Roughly 95 percent of the worlds hindus live in india. Sruti scriptures are considered divinely inspired and fully authoritative for belief and practice, while smruti are recognized as the products of the minds of the great sages. Hindu religion, hinduism, culture, india, kids, sanatan. Where the vedas gave a foundation for the direction of hinduism.
Today, with about 900 million followers, hinduism is the thirdlargest religion behind christianity and islam. Sex and hinduism, hindu sex, india, womenhinduism facts. Hinduism, one of the worlds oldest religions, can be hard to understand or even define. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. An absolute beginners guide on hindu religion or hinduism basic concepts of hindu religion book 1 kindle edition by aiyer, bala. They were passed on from generation to generation orally for centuries before they were.
Religious behaviors are actions that have no intrinsic meaning, but rather ascribed meaning. This article discusses about hindu customs, philosophy, history, beliefs, hindu culture, etc. Just as judaism provided the structure for christianity and islam. Principles and practice of hindu religion is now published as a paper back hard copy in addition to the e book on kindle reader. It is but natural that people all over the world should show increasing interest in a religion with so universal an appeal. The unity of religions from the chapter religion in.
It is a mystical religion, leading the devotee to personally experience the truth within, finally reaching the pinnacle of consciousness where man and god are one. The book, which was first published in 1947, has now been rearranged in a more convenient form, with useful additions here and. After the independence of indonesia, there were efforts emerged to organize the religious life of its citizens that consist of various dimensions and beliefs, with a basic ideology called pancasila panca means five, syila means basic, so it can be interpreted as five basic ideologies for the country. It is also one of the most diverse and complex, having millions of gods. Hinduism, the worlds oldest religion, has no beginningit precedes recorded history. Local, regional, caste, and communitydriven practices influence the interpretation and practice of. Hinduism is a synthesis of the religion brought into india by the aryans c. Balinese hinduism as an official religion in indonesia. The origin of hinduism can be traced back to the indus valley civilization around 4000 to 2200 b. The ancient khajuraho temple in india is famous for the sculptures on it in which the statues of men and women are depicted as having sex in. With new case studies, linking cultural theory to real world religious experience and practice, and guides to further reading, religion. The vedas are the most ancient of the popular scriptures.
Hinduism, the religion followed by 800 million people in india and 100 million in the rest of the world, encompasses a wide variety of beliefs and rituals. The book name is sanatan dharma an elementary book of hindu religion and ethics. Information on hinduism for kids primary homework help. There is no central ancient text that succinctly sums up the religions basic tenets, no single leader that hindus can call the founder of their faith and no single modernday organization to. List here any books that deal with or touch on the hindu religion in a positive and significant way. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as sanatana dharma, the eternal tradition, or. All religions have one common ideal, worship of the lord, and all of them proclaim that there is but one god this one god accepts your devotion irrespective of the manner of your worship, whether it is according to this or that religion so there is no need to abandon the religion of your birth and embrace another the temple, the church, the mosque, the vihara may be different from one ano. As you learn about hinduism, you will find that it is a very unique religion. For example, walking around with a white cap on your head has no meaning on its own.
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