Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world and that is next to Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is believed to be composed of different religions and was only categorized together as one. But others often view Hinduism as different type of religion. One of the most inaccurate beliefs is that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion and that they worship multiple deities. While others have viewed it as monotheistic and “recognizes only one god”; while some view it as Trinitarian who believes that their god is in three personas: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic whereas they recognize a single deity, and recognize other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or aspects of that supreme God.
Hinduism is divided into different sects and regards different deity depending on their sect. The two largest sects, which are followed by most urban Hindus, are the Vaishnavaism which generally considers Vishnu as their ultimate deity and Shivaism which views Shiva as their ultimate deity. Hinduism does not have a formalized creed or standardized forms of worship. There is no system of religious government nor accepted any scriptural standard although usually Hindus acknowledge the Vedas as authoritative, regarding them as divine in origin and having existed from eternity. Although Hinduism lacks a uniting belief system, there are systems and laws that shaped the Hindus of what they are today.
The Hindu following is based on dharma. The word dharma is often translated to as “religion”. Although there is no actual English translation of this word but this refers to the duties, principles and set of laws. Brahmans, using Vedic texts, created these laws within systems for everyone to follow. Dharma dictates a Hindu’s life from birth to death. Hindus follow certain activities for their lives or purusharthas. It is the “rightuousness of their religious life” (dharma), the “success in their economic life” or...
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