The oldest is called the Rig Veda (hymns praising a number of gods), with the other three being the Yajur Veda (rituals for sacrifices), the Sama Veda (chants for ritual worship), and the Athara Veda (spells and charms for healing the sick). The Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas, was composed around 1500 B.C. Vedas are ancient oral traditions that reflect the customs, belief and practices of the ancient Aryan people. It contains hymns, chants, incarnations and rituals from ancient India. Later additions to the Vedas were the Upanishads, which elaborates on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through meditation. It was written around 700 BC ("Hinduism, Information, Gods…," 2009). The other type of Hindu literature is smrti, which is verbal remembered or "handed down" by tradition, texts. One of the most famous stories is the Ramayana. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Ramayana is a love story about Rama and Sita. The demonic king of Lanka, Ravana, captures Sita, who was eventually rescued with the help of Hanuman, the monkey king. Sita had to proved her fidelity by leaping into flames. Agni, the fire God, rescues Sita, telling Rama that Sita was indeed pure. The Ramayana has been a perennial source of spiritual, cultural and artistic inspiration, not only to the people of India but also to the people all over the world. It has helped to mould the Hindu character and has inspired millions of people with the deepest of love and devotion. The Mahabharata was written at about 300 BC and is the world's longest poem of 100,000 verses. The Bhagavad Gita is the sixth book of the Mahabharata and is a poem describing a conversation between a warrior Arjuna and the God Krishna. The Gita discusses selflessness, duty, devotion and meditation. The Dharmashastras are another group of writings that deal with the religious duty. The most significant of these is the Manusmrti, written around 200 AC, which dealt with Hindu law and conduct. The Puranas,...
Karma yoga refers to finding salvation through fulfilling the familial and societal duties and overcoming bad karma. Jnana yoga focuses on the acquisition of knowledge, but it is the third way, Bhakti, that promises release from the mundanity of the world through a personal approach to God, or devotion through acts of worship and symbolism. (Rood, 1994). Each of these three, however, have a great deal in common in that they are all using a particular form of ritual to cleanse their soul, release the bounds of earthly existence, and promising something far, far better than any life they have known. This very premise of utilizing a path is essential in Hinduism -- and the idea, also echoed in the Buddhist traditions, is to progress through various existences until the lessons have been learned such that the next incarnation is completely without earthly bounds (Bowes, 1976).
Hinduism With Other Religions There are a number of common characteristics that Hinduism shares with other religions. One of the most fundamental of these is the notion of the afterlife in Hinduism. Specifically, Hinduism posits the notion that there is both a heaven and a hell that people will encounter after their physical existence ends on earth. This idea is reflected in Christianity and in Judaism. Additionally, it is significant
Christianity vs. Islam vs. Hinduism Comparing and Contrasting Christianity with Islam and Hinduism Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are among the five most practiced religions in the world. Christianity, with its top position, shares common grounds with both Hinduism and Islam. However, there are several differences that make Christianity a unique religion in comparison with Hinduism and Islam. Christianity and Islam Similarities Christianity and Islam are Abrahamic religions and monotheistic in nature. Abrahamic religions are the
Hinduism and Buddhism Historical Context of Hinduism Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance list a number of areas in which Hinduism differs from other more monotheistic religions in that Hinduism does not have the following: A single founder A central religious authority A singles concept of deity A specific theological system A single system of morality The concept of a prophet They further explain that Hinduism should not be considered a religion in the same way that Christianity is, that
Islam Select a Religion Religion is considered to be belief and acts of worship, which concentrates on worshiping a deity and gives a detailed and comprehensive outline for the way of living. It teaches the difference between good and evil, right and wrong and morality and immorality. This paper has selected Islam as the religion to be discussed. Analysis of Christianity Analysis of Christianity Analysis of Islam Religion plays an essential role in providing spiritual,
Subsequently, other Daoist sages who were influential include Yu, Shun, and Yao. The principle early Daoist text was written by unknown individuals in the 3rd century BC and based on the earlier teachings of Lao Zi. Unlike most other religions Daoism does not emphasize any specific doctrines or beliefs, instead focusing mainly on the mechanisms for teaching and sharing communal values. The most popular deity accepted by Daoists is
Hinduism, Buddhism, And Jainism Hinduism is among the world's oldest faiths, and is regarded as a total way of life, or dharma, which evolved by the great sages and seers of ancient India (Hinduism pp). With traditions dating back before recorded history, the early phase of the Verdic tradition in India is generally dated between 10,000 -- 7,000 BCE. (Hinduism pp). However, in spite of the fact that Hinduism evolved more
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