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HINDUISM Hinduism, the world's third-largest religion, is India's religious and cultural system. Most are in India, but there are large populations in many other countries. Also called Sanatana Dharma ("eternal religion"), Hinduism encompasses a broad spectrum of philosophies. It is a family of myriad faiths with four primary denominations that hold such divergent beliefs that each is essentially an independent religion. But they do share some beliefs. There are approximately 900 million Hindus in the world and 1,285,000 Hindus in the United States. MAJOR BELIEFS • The divinity of the Vedas, the world's most ancient scripture. • The existence of one all-pervasive God. • Divine beings exist in unseen worlds. Worship and rituals provide communion with those gods. • Karma, the law of cause and effect by which each person creates his own destiny by his thought, word and deed. • The universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution. • The soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas are resolved. • All life is sacred. Hindus practice "non-injury." • No particular religion teaches the only way to salvation. HOW THEY DRESS Women often wear saris, the long silk gowns that wrap around the body. The tiny adornment that many wear on the forehead is known as a bindi. Some men, particularly from Northern India, wear turbans for cultural reasons. TO LEARN MORE |
