The term “Hindu” was first used by people outside of the tradition (particularly by the Greeks and the Persians) to refer to people who reside beyond the Indus/Sindhu River. Hindus today worship different deities and form complex social systems. The similarities of beliefs between Hindus include affirming that the Brahman or the Divine are always present in the universe in different forms, that it takes many lifetimes for self-realization to occur, and that one’s actions will contribute to the soul’s journey in the next life.... Read more about What Does “Hindu” Mean?
Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism
Essays
The Textures of Tradition
What Does “Hindu” Mean?
A Context for Diversity
Many Gods and One
Agni: The Fire Altar
Veda: Scripture and Authority
Brahman and Atman: That Art Thou
Vedanta: The Way of Wisdom
Bhakti: The Way of Devotion
Karma: The Way of Action
Dharma: The Social Order
Abodes of God: Temple and Image
The Hindu Diaspora
Home Altar
Building a Temple
Consecration: Kumbhabhishekam
Murti: The Image of God
Lamp Offerings: Hindu Worship
Ganesha: the Lord of Beginnings
Balaji: Vishnu in America
Rama, Sita, Hanuman
The Great Night of Shiva
Krishna’s Chariot Festival
Many Ma’s: Goddess in America
Ashram: The Forest Retreat
Upanayana: The Sacred Thread
Explore Hinduism in Greater Boston
When immigrants from South Asia first came to Greater Boston, they worshipped and celebrated festivals in homes and rented halls, but eventually saw the need for temples to institutionalize and preserve their religious and cultural heritage. Today, there are close to forty Hindu religious centers in Greater Boston, including the Sri Lakshmi Temple in Ashland, which serves as a major religious pilgrimage site for a diverse community of Hindus from throughout New England.