Main Characteristics of Hinduism free essay sample

The majority of Hinduism is henotheistic- worship of one God while acknowledging the existence of other Gods. Hinduism concepts teach a cycle of life. From birth to rebirth can happen 84 million times because there are 84 million species. All living beings are created by God and has a soul known as Hindus. It identifies one deity and acknowledges the remaining Gods and Goddesses as part of the supreme God. Henotheistic religions are known to be very tolerant and diverse. B. G. Tilak (1995, July 2) at the Supreme Court in India quoted, the true definition of Hinduism: Acceptance of the Vedas with reverence; recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are diverse; and the realization of the truth that the number of gods to be worshipped is large, that indeed is the distinguishing feature of the Hindu religion. † Hinduism is not regulated by a central institution. It welcomes other religions as one of the many paths to redemption and is not in favor of organized effort to convert someone to a religious faith. We will write a custom essay sample on Main Characteristics of Hinduism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Throughout its history, scholars, kings and emperors, seers and sages have contributed to modifying and molding aspects to suit the social and intellectual requirements or the times.Many Hindus believe Hinduism is not a religion but more so a way of life. Religion is imbedded in the life of Hinduism. According to the Hinduism principles life and religion go hand and hand. Religion is everywhere dominating, regulating life with divine existence making for a purposeful and meaningful life. Each Hindu person is free to follow a path they would like but underneath the mind the religion remains and influences the actions and decisions made. V. Jayaram (2009, May 26) proposed that religion is: â€Å"According to Hinduism, religion is not separate from living. It is living itself. God does not exist in temples and sacred places only. Going to the temples is a good practice, but that is not the only way to worship God. God does not exist in temples alone, in some particular alter or sacred place. † The Hinduism lifestyle urges individuals to accept everyday as self-realization. As stated by (V. Jayaram, 2009) every activity that we perform while living and every aspect of life that we know and deal with becomes means to realize God. Life is a time to discover your hidden self. Hinduism has three symbolic essentials: roots, for meditation on Vedas; ethics, focusing on karma and ignorance of self.The most well-known Hindu concepts are Advaita, Samkhya, Vedanta and Yoga. The most sacred scriptures of Hinduism is the Vedas. According to the Hinduwebsite (V. Jayaram, 2009), some people say that all human knowledge is available in the Vedas in symbolic form and that the knowledge of all our discoveries and inventions is already contained in the Vedas. The Vedas are religious texts full of spiritual knowledge and often thought of as the basis of Sanatana Dharma. They are a celebrated set of ancient hymns that was not written until the first millennium B-C-E. The text contains four parts established over time: Samhitas, which are hymns of worship; Brahmanas, instructions on how to carry out ritual sacrifices to the Gods; Aranyakas, literature by inhabitants meditating in the woodlands; and Upanishads, based on teachings from superior spiritual leaders. The Vedic scriptures go beyond human time being as significant today as they were thousands of years ago. One of the most fascinating aspects of Hinduism is the yoga, that has influenced many people no matter what religion they practice. Yoga started in Indus-Sarasvati civilization in northern India about 5000 years ago.The Rig Veda contains the first original reference to yoga. Although the development of yoga basics has been a long process with many influences, the overall path of the discipline can be divided into classical, post-classical and modern periods (And Then There Was Yoga-The Yogic Story, 2009, par 4). The various types of yoga can be so different and serve different purposes . Bhakti Yoga concentrates on devotion, emotional bond and love of God. This yoga has been used prior to the fifth century BC and officially has nine forms: Sravana, Kirtana, Smarana, Padasevana, Archana, Vandana, Dasya, Sakhya and Atmanivedana.Karma (deeds) yoga, dating as far back as 800 BC promotes good behavior and positive actions. Practicing karma yoga consists of doing good, selfless deeds that allow for goodness. This yoga is performed in unity with the Devine. Around 5000 BC Ashtanga yoga was created by Patanjali Yoga Sutra. It involves paying attention to the eight limbs, that are: Yama- moral code; Niyama- disciplines; Asana- posture; Pranayama- breathing; Prayahara- removal of senses; Dharana-concentration; Dhyan-meditation; Samadhi- salvation. Top Yoga Techniques For A Healthy Life (2009) suggest Jnana yoga for the brain, which means: â€Å"Jnana yoga is yoga that focuses on knowledge. There are seven stages to Jnana, involving study, self-realization, desire, protection of the mind, developing indifference to objects, letting the world appear like a dream, non-attachment to the world, bliss and knowledge of truth. † The United States mostly practices Hatha Yoga which applies to the modern period. In the 1800’s early 1900’s Yoga masters started traveling around the world. T.