Features

About Hinduism

Hinduism is very different from religions like Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. It is more an approach to the universe and a way of living in the universe.

Hinduism includes a far wider range of beliefs and practices than many other faiths and does not insist on being the only truth.

There is no individual who is, or has become, central to the faith and its practice.

For many Hindus, religion is a matter of practice rather than of beliefs. It's more what you do, than what you believe.

Hindus believe that every soul is trapped in a cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The ultimate aim of every Hindu is to escape from the cycle altogether.

Hindus aim to live in a way that will cause each of their lives to be better than the life before.

Hindus believe the universe doesn't have a beginning and an end. It's a cyclical pattern, so once it ends, it begins again.

When Hindus promote the idea of spirituality as a principle rather than a personality, they call this Brahman.

The gods Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, for example, are different aspects of Brahman:

• Brahma- reflects God's divine work of creating the universe.

• Vishnu - reflects God's work in keeping the universe in existence

• Siva - reflects God's work in destroying it

Worship

Hindu worship, or puja, involves images (murtis), prayers (mantras) and diagrams of the universe (yantras).

Central to Hindu worship is the image, or icon which can be worshipped either at home or in the temple.

- Temple Worship
At a Hindu temple different parts of the building have a different spiritual or symbolic meaning.The central shrine is the heart of the worshipper. The tower represents the flight of the spirit to heaven.

- Worship at Home
The majority of Hindu homes have a shrine where offerings are made and prayers are said. A shrine can be anything from a room, a small altar or simply pictures or statues. Family members often worship together.

Festivals and Pilgrimage

Hindu festivals are largely linked with the movements of the sun, moon and seasonal changes, but they also incorporate the myths of the Ramayana and Krishna’s activities.

Diwali (Deepvali)

A festival of lights celebrates New Year. It is celebrated between late October and mid-November.

Dasara (Dassehra)

Ten days of celebration in honour of Durga or Kali. It is held between late September and mid-October and lasts nine days to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

At the spring festival associated with Krishna, people throw coloured powder and water at each other. Holi also celebrates creation and renewal.

Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is an important aspect of Hinduism.

Popular pilgrimage places are rivers, temples, mountains and sacred sites in India, as these are sites where the gods may have appeared or become manifest in the world.