Hinduism in India
It is the third largest and the oldest religion of the
World. No one is actually certain how old is Hinduism but it can be
said with certainity that Indus valley civilisation contributed some
ideas to Hindu religion. The earliest known Hindu scriptures are the
"Vedas". Vedas describe the religion of Aryans, who invaded India
around 1500 B.C. The Vedic religion was not Hinduism although hindus
consider Vedas as their scriptures. Of the Hindu "Trinity" Brahma
the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Mahesh (Shiva) the destroyer
only Vishnu's name appears in the oldest Vedas. The concept of
Trinity dates back to 500 A.D. Around the same time, the importance
of goddess began which appears in many forms of Shakti (Shiva's
consort). However, Upanishads which were written several hundreds
years later have characteristic Hindu ideas of unity of soul with
Brahman, karma, reincarnation, and salvation (Moksha- escape from
reincarnation).
 The notion of class and caste which was absent in Vedas
starting appearing during this period. Hindus are mainly divided
into three groups i) Shivites, who are devoted to Shiva, whom they
consider as their creator and preserver of the universe ii)
Vaishnavas, who assign the above roles to Vishnu and iii) Shaktas,
who worship Shakti. These divisions of Hinduism are not very rigid
as in other faiths and it is not strange for people of one belief
to mix with others. The Hindus do not form congergations and
mostly worship at home. They worship other God and Goddesses as
well as these are considered as another reincarnation of main
Hindu Gods. As a result, the major Gods and Goddesses are
worshiped in many names and forms. Hindus have little missionary
feeling because they believe that the proper way to become a Hindu
is to born one. Hindu rituals cover all areas of a person's life.
Hindu society has a high standard of conduct, with little
immorality, crime, or violence.
Trimurti
Trimurti, meaning "having three
forms", is the term applied to the three main Hindu gods: Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva. This Trimurti or triad represents all aspects of
the Supreme Being. The Trimurti is depicted as a single-bodied,
three-headed man. This symbolises the fact that the three forms
are aspects of one Supreme Being. Nothing in the universe is
created, preserved, or destroyed without the mutual agreement and
approval of the three aspects of the Supreme Being, for they are
unitedly essential for the production and reproduction of all
forms of life.
In the early Hindu beliefs the Trimurti was
worshipped as a deity, as a representation of Brahman, the Supreme
Being, and as a single entity. Later, each god was separated from
the single entity and considered a deity in his own right. Today,
Brahma is not worshipped, but Vishnu and Shiva both have large
followings.
Vedas
The Rig Veda -"Royal Knowledge"
The Sama Veda - "Knowledge of Chants" The Yajur Veda -
"Knowledge of Sacrificial Rituals" The Atharva Veda -
"Knowledge of Incarnations"
Indien Temples
Khajuraho Temple Konarak Temple
Meenakshi Temple Sun Temple Jagannath Temple Dwarka
Temple Thousand Pillar Temple Cave Temple Birla Mandir
Temple Jagannath Temple
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