Hinduism

Hinduism
A handwritten Devangari manuscript of the Rigveda, one of the earliest and most important Hindu texts.
Founded in	Before 1500 BCE India
Founder	Many early influences, including Krishna
Significant Scriptures	Rigveda Bhagavad Gita
Sects	Vaishnavism Shaivism Shaktism Smartism

Hinduism is a religion, or a synthesis of religious traditions, originating in India. The origins of Hinduism stretch beyond the beginnings of recorded history, and many influences have contributed to the development of Hindu religious doctrine and practice. While Hinduism contains a plethora of saints, gurus, avatars and other religious teacher, the Manifestation of God Krishna is of particular importance to Bahá’ís, being the only Hindu Teacher specifically named in the Bahá’í Scriptures.

in 2009 it is estimated that 900 million people practice some form of Hinduism. While most Hindus today live in India, Hindu communities exist throughout the world as members of the Indian diaspora and non-Indian converts. Historically, the spread of Hinduism reached as far as Indonesia, and communities continue to exist throughout southeast Asia.

Origins of the name Hinduism

The word Hindu comes from the name of the River Indus, which flows from the Tibetan plateau to the Arabian Sea. (The country name India is also derived from this.) Colonialists referred to the religions, or varieties of religion, practised in this region collectively as Hindu and the people as Hindus. Many people who practise these religions find the term Hindu insulting, saying that the religions have too little in common to warrant giving them a collective name. The name also reminds them of colonial oppression. Others agree that these religions have a common base in Vedic traditions, but prefer to call them Sanātana Dharma (a Sanskrit term meaning "eternal law"). Common beliefs are reincarnation, karma, dharma (duty) and ātman (the immortal soul, or true self of everyone), non-violence and vegetarianism. Every conceivable form of theism can be found in Hinduism. Vishnu and Shiva are the deities with the largest number of worshipers.

Krishna

Hinduism was an established religion thousands of years before the birth of Krishna. While tradition gives His birh as the year 3228BCE, Harold Rosen gives an approximate date of 1400 B.C.E. to 1100 B.C.E. Many Hindus refer to Krishna as the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, others describe Him a Manifestation of God, which effectively amounts to the same thing. Many Hindus believe that Krishna was born without a sexual union, through a spiritual connection between His parents. This belief has led some to compare Krishna's biography to Jesus Christ, although Devika was not a virgin, and had had other children before giving birth to Krishna. Krishna's older siblings were murdered by the upstart King Kamsa, Devika's cousin. A prophecy foretold the death of King Kamsa at the hands of Devika's eighth child. Krishna was hidden from the king and raised as a cow-herder. Kamsa tried to have Krishna assassinated many times, but eventually Krishna caused the demise of King Kamsa, fulfilling the prophecy. Krishna did not usurp the throne for Himself, but reinstated Kamsa's father as rightful king and served as a prince in his court.

Krishna "Govinda"

Hundreds of years after Krishna's time, a body of literature was composed which fancified Krishna's life. In this literature, Krishna's early life is treated in enormous detail. The stories include the child's pranks with the local cowgirls, the defeat of monsters, demons and the like, and miraculous feats of various sorts. This alternative Krishna is referred to as "Krishna Govinda". This is probably also the source of the idea that Krishna had a miraculous birth, as his parents were supposed to have been tied up to different pillars in the prison where they were incarcerated. There are Hindus who do not regard Krishna as an avatar, due to the existence of this version of His life story.

Rama

It is generally believed that Rama was the avatar (Manifestation of God) before Krishna, but the revelation of Krishna has made it difficult now to be sure of what Rama taught. It could be postulated that Rama was responsible for creating either the Vedas or the Upanishads, as these works contain advanced spiritual insights. However, this would be conjecture.

Hindu scriptures

The Hindu scriptures are an extensive collection of religious literature of various forms. The Upanishads and the Vedas are both collections of inspirational writing from long ago, and authorship would probably be impossible to establish. The Ramayana is an epic poem which tells the story of Rama and His consort Sita. A similar epic poem, the Mahabharata sets the background of the war in which Krishna was involved. The Bhagavad Gita is now positioned within this larger work.

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, taken as the primary piece of Krishna's teaching, is set within the story of the Kurukshetra War and is sacred Hindu scripture. The context of the Bhagavad Gita is the battle of the Kauravas and the Pandavas clans over the throne of Hastinapura. All of this background is described at great length in an epic poem known as the Mahabharata. The Bhagavad Gita itself recounts a conversation between Pandava Arjuna and Krishna concerning Arjuna's unwillingness to enter battle against his own family. Krishna explains Arjuna's duty and reveals Himself as a Manifestation of God.

Teachings of Hinduism

Hindu practices are incorporated into every day life. Many Hindus erect an altar in their homes and visit temples or sacred rivers only occasionally. Icons are commonly used in worship. These icons are considered to be a manifest form of a deity. Hindus begin each day with ablutions and by chanting mantras. Puja is the performing of prayer and ritual. This is often performed daily, in front of the shrine or altar at home, and may involve the movement of a flame (to represent purity) in front of the shrine. Gifts - possibly a few grains of rice, some petals or similar - are offered to God ( or the god).

In the Bahá’í Writings

In an 1882 tablet to Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl later published in the book Tabernacle of Unity, Bahá’u’lláh responds to several questions from Mánikchí Ṣáḥib, a prominent Zoroastrian diplomat, about beliefs attributed to Hindus. Although He does not offer specific references to scripture, Bahá’u’lláh answers in general terms that elucidate the topics and principles cited. Among these topics are:

• the creation of the universe;
• the station of the prophets of God;
• the status of laws and jurisprudence in their relation to religious principles;
• attainment to Paradise by the followers of other religions, specifically in relation to the eating of meat;
• teaching and welcoming outsiders who wish to become Hindus;
• showing kindness to the adherents of other faiths;