If you want some quick information about the teachings, rites, and rituals of the Hindu tradition, you can find it here in the Quick Facts section.
Hinduism The dominant religion of India, Hinduism has a broad variety of forms, ranging from simple folk practices to abstruse metaphysical systems. Hindus regard the sacred texts known as the Vedas (composed around 1500 B.C.) as central to their tradition. While acknowledging many Gods, Hindus believe in one supreme God who creates and sustains the universe. There are numerous Hindu deities that serve as manifestations of this supreme God, but the three most important are Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer and lord of all yogis. Ritual and devotional practices are widespread, as are meditative practices. The supreme goal of Hindu aspiration is moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death, which, it is said, all beings will attain in one lifetime or another. About 80 % of India’s one billion people are Hindus, while another 30 million Hindus are scattered across the globe.
Traditions
Shaivism One of the three primary traditions of Hinduism, Shaivism focuses on the god Shiva, the lord of transformative power in the universe. Shaivism is sometimes believed to be the oldest living religion in the world, going back at least to the third millennium B.C. The tradition is nondualistic, emphasizing the unity of the Absolute with the manifest world. The primary image of creation is the dance of Shiva, symbolizing the divine play of the universe. The principal authoritative texts are the Vedas and the Agamas.
Shaktism Shaktism focuses on worship of Shakti, the Divine Mother embodying the power of universal manifestation, sometimes known under her names Devi or Kali. Worshippers of Shakti, while acknowledging her identity with the transcendent principle known as Shiva, concentrate their devotion upon her manifest form as the embodied world. Shaktism is primarily practiced in Bengal and Assam. This tradition is often associated with Hindu Tantrism.
Vaishnavism Vaishnavism focuses on Vishnu, the Supreme Lord, and his incarnations Krishna and Rama. Vaishnavism is divided into various sampradayas (sects), each of which has been founded by a particular acharaya (guru). Their respective belief systems are founded upon the specific teachings of the acharaya. The primary texts are the Vedas and the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita or “Song of the Lord,” and the Brahma-Sutra. Many branches of Vaishnavism emphasize bhakti or devotion to the Lord in one of his many guises. Vaishnavism is the most widely practiced form of Hinduism.
Sacred Texts
The Vedas Meaning “knowledge” in Sanskrit, the Vedas are the oldest and most authoritative texts of Hinduism. Composed around 1500 B.C.E., they are among the world’s oldest surviving. The Vedas consist of four parts. The Rig Veda contains verses of praise to the gods; the Yajur Veda discusses the requirements of ritual offerings; the Sama Veda, verses and chants for ritual offerings, and Atharva Veda, magical verses.
The Upanishads Among the principal texts of the Hindu tradition, the Upanishads are metaphysical treatises that are concerned with the origin and destiny of humanity and the universe. These texts (the oldest of which date to the sixth century B.C.E.) teach that the gods of the Hindu pantheon are but manifestations of the unitive power of the cosmos and of an all-comprehensive Reality, Brahman. They also introduce the concepts of karma and reincarnation and of the Atman or transcendent Self.
The Bhagavad-Gita A section of the immense epic known as the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad-Gita (“The Song of the Lord”) is perhaps the best-known of Hindu texts. Believed to be about 2000 years old, it is set on the field of the climactic battle of the Mahabharata. It consists of a dialogue between the hero Arjuna and his charioteer, the divine Krishna. Krishna reveals the nature and purpose of human existence to Arjuna, and urges him on to fulfill his dharma, or divine destiny.
The Puranas The name purana means “ancient,” and these eighteen texts are a compendium of legends and histories dating from the fourth century B.C.E. to 1000 C.E. They address the creation of the universe, its destruction and renovation, the genealogy of gods and patriarchs, and the reigns of ancient rulers. The tales and stories of the Puranas form an integral part of the fabric of Hindu culture.
