Hinduism Essay -- Religion Religious Beliefs Spirituality Essays

Hinduism Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. One individual did not found Hinduism. Hinduism is God centered and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God. Hinduism is based upon Eternal Principles. If a great scientist like Einstein discovered or realized laws of physics, Hinduism would call him a great Rishi (Maharshi or seer of truth.) Such seers of truth are not confined to any one age or country. Self realized persons like Jesus Christ would be called Rishis (seers) and their teachings would be readily acceptable to those who properly understand the principles of ‘Hinduism’. From the ancient times, many great Rishis achieved â€Å"self-realization† through such means as meditation and they realized knowledge concerning Eternal Principles. Their knowledge, taught to disciples, and eventually made available in written form, is known as the Vedas (Ved = knowledge), the scriptures upon which Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) is based. Sanatan means eternal and Dharma means religion. The word Hinduism does not appear anywhere in the Hindu scriptures, the proper name for Hinduism is â€Å"Sanatan Dharma†. Sanatan means eternal and Dharma means religion. Hinduism is based on finding acquiring knowledge thought means of science and though the use of yoga, Hinduism is all about finding one’s self-realization. The classical theory of the beginnings of Hinduism traces the religion's roots to the Indus valley civilization circa 4000 to 2200 BC. The development of Hinduism was influenced by many invasions over thousands of years. The major influences occurred when light-skinned; nomadic "Aryan" Indo-European tribes invaded Northern India (circa 1500 BCE) from the steppes of Russia and Central Asia. They brought with them their religion of Vedism. These beliefs mingled with the more advanced, indigenous Indian native beliefs, often called the "Indus valley culture.". This theory was initially proposed by Christian academics some 200 years ago. Their conclusions were biased by their pre-existing belief in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The Book of Genesis, which they interpreted literally, appears to place the creation of the earth at circa 4,000 BCE, and the Noah’s flood at circa 2,500 BC. These dates put severe constraints on the date of the "Aryan invasion," and the devel opment of the four Veda and Upanishad Hindu religio... ...u India and Muslim Pakistan. The last two months of his life were spent trying to end the appalling violence, which ensued, leading him to fast to the brink of death, an act that finally quelled the riots. In January 1948, at the age of 79, an assassin killed him as he walked through a crowed garden in New Delhi to take evening prayers. Little Known Facts and Statistics about Hinduism  · Today there are about 650 million Hindus worldwide.  · The majority of Hindus live in India, where the religion was born.  · One in every seven people in the world is a Hindu living in India.  · There are also significant Hindu populations in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, and smaller groups in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Fiji, Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States.  · About three-quarters of a million Hindus live and work in the United States. While Hindus in each region have altered their religion to suit the needs of the surrounding culture, all Hindus share a common set of traditions.  · One individual did not found Hinduism. Rather, it is a fusion of many religious beliefs and philosophical schools. Hinduism is said to be a religion of a million and one gods.