Introduction to Hinduism
The Textures of Tradition
The Hindu tradition reflects the interweaving of Harappan, Aryan, Dravidian, and tribal cultures across the many regions of India. Download (PDF) What has come to be called the “Hindu” tradition is a rich fabric of civilization, including many hues and...
What Does “Hindu” Mean?
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...
A Context for Diversity
“The one and the many” reflects the Hindu philosophy of India as well as the exchanges between India and the West. Hindu practices influence and are influenced by other religious traditions in India; the diversity of different religions continue to create...
Many Gods and One
The Hindu tradition acknowledges different forms and representations of the divine, all understood in their relation to the supreme being, Brahman. In a single temple, for example, there may be a central sanctum dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu along with...
Agni: The Fire Altar
Agni and the fire altar occupy a central role in the Hindu tradition; they are integral to domestic rituals as well as temple consecration. The Vedas noted that historically, Brahmin priests were tasked with starting and handling the fire. Download (PDF)...
Veda: Scripture and Authority
The Vedas (literally “wisdom”), are key religious texts. They consist of four collections of hymns, philosophical teachings and instructions that are recited verbally: the Sama Veda (chants and melodies), the Rig Veda (hymns to different gods), the Yajur...
Brahman and Atman: That Art Thou
The Upanishads, the “wisdom literature” of the Vedas, are teachings on the origin and essence of the universe. Taking the form of dialogues between a teacher and a student, the Upanishads point to the reality that Atman (a person’s inmost soul) is also...
Vedanta: The Way of Wisdom
Historically, Vedanta refers to the Upanishads or wisdom “at the end of the Veda.” Vedanta is also a philosophical teaching that requires a transfer of revolutionary knowledge (jnana) through the guidance of a teacher (guru). Download (PDF) The term...
Bhakti: The Way of Devotion
Bhakti – devotion to the divine – is based on another interpretation of Vedanta: that the soul and the Divine are not One, but inexpressibly, mysteriously, both One and distinct, allowing for a relationship of love. This loving devotion, bhakti, is...
Karma: The Way of Action
Karma (literally “action”) is a teaching on the consequences of actions: every action that a human being performs will leave an “imprint” or have its consequences. Teachings on the path of karma from the Bhagavad Gita and Mahatma Gandhi encourage Hindus...
Dharma: The Social Order
Dharma is a concept of social order and duty that sustains the whole universe. A person’s placement in a caste (varna) and birth group (jati) is one element of dharma. Jati is historically also used to determine social interactions and marriages, as...
Abodes of God: Temple and Image
Hindu temples house the images (murti) of the gods. Temples are used for daily worship, festivals, pilgrimages, and for seeing the gods’ images (darshan). Sacred locations like hilltops or rivers, called tirthas (“crossings” or “fords”), are sites of...
The Hindu Diaspora
Today Hinduism is practiced and reinterpreted all over the world. There are Hindus in South Africa and East Africa, in Trinidad and Mauritius, in Australia and Austria, in the United Kingdom and in the United States. Download (PDF) Hinduism is closely...
