A Hindu (Devanagari: ??????) , as per modern definition,
is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures
of Hinduism, the religious, philosophical and cultural
system that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
There are approximately 1 billion Hindus, making
Hinduism the third largest religion in the world
after Christianity and Islam, of whom approximately
890 million live in India.[1] Other countries with
large Hindu populations include Nepal, Bangladesh,
South Africa, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad
and Tobago, Suriname, Guyana and Indonesia.[2] Hinduism
is believed to be the oldest living religious tradition
in the world.[3][4][5] Ancient or Epic India was
known as Bharat, named after Bharatha, the grand
emperor during the time before the Mahabharata war.
Later, after the Muslim Mughul invasion, it became
Hindustan, meaning the "land of Hindus".
Hindustan continues to remain a popular alternative
name for the Republic of India.
Contents [hide]
1 Origins of the word Hindu
1.1 In Scripture (Shastra)
1.2 Further usage
2 Who is a Hindu?
3 =Beliefs of Hindus
4 Hallmarks of Hindu society
4.1 Ethnic and cultural fabric
4.2 Linguistics of Hinduism
4.3 Ceremonies, observances and pilgrimage
4.3.1 Initiation
4.3.2 Hindu New Year
4.3.3 Fast
4.3.4 Marriage
4.3.5 Pilgrimage
4.3.6 Death
5 Religion for the common Hindu
6 Conclusion
6.1 The many names of Hinduism
7 See also
7.1 Hindu people
7.2 Hinduism
7.3 Other Dharmic religions
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
[edit] Origins of the word Hindu
See also: Etymology of India
Origins of the term Hindu is not found in Sanskrit.
Many believe that the name Hindu was developed by
invading forces who could not pronounce the name
of the Sindhu River properly. Hindu is derived from
the Persian pronunciation of the Sanskrit word Sindhu
(Sanskrit: ??????, the ancient name of the Indus
River), located in what is now Pakistan.[6] The
Persians, using the word "Hindu" for "Sindhu",
referred to the people who lived near or on the
other side of the Sindhu River as "Hindus",
and their religion later became known as "Hinduism."
Prior to that time, Hindus had called their religion
Sanatana Dharma (the eternal religion - see also
Dharma), Vaidika Dharma (the religion of the Vedas),
Arya dharma (the noble religion), or manava dharma
(the religion of mankind). Eventually the word "Hindu"
came into common use among Hindus themselves,[7]
and was borrowed by the Ancient Greeks as Indos,
Indikos ("Indian"), into Latin as Indianus.[8]
and into Sanskrit, as hindu (??????), appearing
in some early medieval texts.[9]
River Sindhu, LadakhAn alternative explanation is
that the word 'indu' originates from Rigveda with
reference to a mythological plant juice offered
for oblations, while the 'h' represents auspiciousness
or delight, thus implying that one who propitiates
by drinking soma is a hindu.[10]
There is one interesting theory as regards the
origin of term Hindu which is as follows. Ha(hi)
- denotes the sun(hiranya?) and I(ee) denotes the
moon(indu?) and the land which was ruled by the
suryavamsa(solar race) as well as the chandravamsa(lunar
race) kings came to be called as Hindu.
Hindu is not an appropriate name of a spiritual
path, but the Sanskrit term of Sanatana-Dharma is
much more accurate. The culture of the ancient Indians
and their early history is Vedic culture or Vedic
dharma. So it is more appropriate to use a name
that is based on that culture for those who follow
it, rather than a name that merely addresses the
location of a people.
Hindus have adopted this term because "Hind"
(India) is their fatherland.
[edit] In Scripture (Shastra)
The term Hindu was also loaned into Sanskrit, as
Hindu (??????), appearing in some early-medieval
texts (e.g. Bhavi?ya Pura?a, Kalika Pura?a, Ramakosa,
Hemantakavikosa and Adbhutarupakosa).
From the geographic sense comes the modern (religious)
term Hindu, with the meaning of being a follower
of Hinduism.
In the Baarhaspatyua Samhita it says:
Himalyam Samarabhya
Yavadindusarovaram
Tam Deonirmitam Desham
Hindusthanam Prachakshate
Meaning : The country which starts from Himalayas
and the borders of which reach till the Indian Ocean
(Indu Sarovaram), has been created by Gods and its
name is Hindustan.[11]
[edit] Further usage
Until about 19th century, the term Hindu implied
a culture and ethnicity and not religion alone.
When the British colonial government started taking
a periodic census and established a unified legal
system, the need arose to define what constituted
Hinduism as a religion, in order to compare it with
the likes of Christianity or Islam. Since then,
various definitions have been proposed by scholars
like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who tried to define it
as a religion based on the Vedas, just as the Bible
and the Qur'an are the basis of Christianity and
Islam, respectively. Hindusim encompasses a wide
diversity of beliefs, although most Hindus believe
in a Supreme Being (see Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan),
others follow traditions more akin to atheism and
yet both are still considered as followers of Hinduism.
According to Vish Ayengar, all the spiritual traditions
of India are inspired by the Vedas.
[edit] Who is a Hindu?
See also: History of Hinduism
Since Hinduism is a way of life more than a religion
it would be difficult to precisely describe who
is a Hindu. There could be many ways in which one
could describe a Hindu. One of those ways is in
accordance with the traditional schools of Hindu
philosophical thought.
The Sanskrit term Nastika means a non-believer,
non-Hindu. The six traditional schools of Hindu
philosophy (Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva
Mimamsa, Vedanta) define Astika [7] (believer, Hindu)
as one who accepts the authority of the Vedas as
supreme. These six schools are known as Shat Astik
Darshana. Even though these philosophies are studied
only formally by the scholars their influence is
found in many religious beliefs of the average Hindu.
Hence a Hindu could be defined as a person who
accepts the authority of the Vedic scriptures as
supreme and leads his/her life in accordance with
Dharma. (righteousness, good moral and ethical practices
in accordance with the scriptures.)
The Nastika (non-believer) schools are the ones
which deny / reject the authority of the Vedas as
supreme. They are Buddhism, Jainism and Lokayata.
Thus if you accept the Vedas (by extension Bhagavad
Gita, Puranas, etc.) as your scriptural authority,
and lived your life in accordance with the Dharmic
principles as mentioned in them, you are then a
Hindu.
Truly out of Hindu practices and beliefs a Hindu
is one who practices Bhakti (devotion) on any form
of God (who is Brahman), practices Karma for the
purpose of Moksha.
Beliefs of Hindus
Many Hindus identify Brahman with Vishnu and believe
that Vishnu Himself represents the Trinity and are
known as Vaishnava; many others believe the Supreme
Being is Shiva or Shankara and that He reprsents
the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva himself
and are known as Shaiva; while many other believe
in the female Principal Shakti as the Supreme Energy
or Force for life (birth and preservation) and destruction
unified, and are called Shakta. In Vaishnavism and
Shaivism, Shakti is God's Unified Energy (Power)
personified. The fourth major group, the Smarta,
the non-sectarian Hindus that call the Trinity and
Shakti as the Supreme One Brahman, which manifests
into personal forms of God, such as Brahma, Vishnu
or Shiva (also known as Mahesh). However, no barrier
or distinction or rivalry of any nature exists between
any of these - historically, Hinduism is known for
its religious tolerance and there is no friction
whatsoever between these groups, who respect each
other's practices. Each naturally respects all incarnations
of the God, only choosing to see the Supreme in
one particular form. Many follow a blend of all
three beliefs and this is by far the most common
form of religion for Hindus, with a mix of Shaivism,
Shaktism and Vaishnavism as well as other reform
movements. In most Hindu temples one will find Shiva
lingam together with vaishnava aspects of worship.
In certain sections contradictions appepar such
as depicting Vishnu and the Lord while other sections
maintain another spirit is God. The contradictions
are believed to come from the same truth because
for Hindus as well as other such as Zoroastrians
or Parsis, God is beyond conception, beyond immagination.
God is believed to be both impersonal (without qualities)
and yet transcendent (with qualities) by Hindus.
Because the foundation of Hinduism, the Rig Veda
says that there are many paths to the Lord, any
God may be worshipped for the achievement of a union
with the Supreme, Moksha.
Hinduism, especially its history and heritage,
is vitally important, and the political identity
and expression of India and other countries' Hindus.
[edit] Hallmarks of Hindu society
[edit] Ethnic and cultural fabric
The Ganga is considered as one of the two most sacred
river by Hindus, the other being the SindhuSee also:
Indo-Aryans, Aryan Invasion Theory, Demographics
of India, History of India, and Out of India Theory
Hinduism has one of the most ethnically diverse
body of adherents in the world. For some, it is
hard to classify Hinduism as a religion, as the
framework, symbols, leaders and books of reference
that make up a typical religion are not uniquely
identified in the case of Hinduism. However, it
is the world's oldest religion which inspired others
and is seen as the mother of all religions just
as India is seen as the father of all civilizations.
Most commonly it can be seen as a "way of life"
which gives rise to many civilized forms of religions.
Hinduism, its religious doctrines, traditions and
observances are very typical and inextricably linked
to the culture and demographics of India.
Then Hinduism is not just a religion; it is also
a philosophy and a culture ("Sanatan Parampara,"
the "Eternal Tradition.")
Large tribes and communities of indigenous origins,
are also closely linked to the earliest synthesis
and formation of Hindu civilization. Peoples of
East Asian roots living in the states of north eastern
India and Nepal were also a part of the earliest
Hindu civilization. Immigration and settlement of
peoples from Central Asia and peoples of Indo-Greek
heritage have brought their own influence on Hindu
society. Some of the staunchest defenders of Hindu
India against Muslim invaders were the Rajputs of
modern Rajasthan.
The deities of the Indus Valley Civilization bear
resemblances to Hindu Gods such as Shiva. And the
ancient Indus valley and Saraswati Valley Civilizations
represent the historical continuum of Hinduism.
The roots of Hinduism in southern India, and amongst
tribal and indigenous communities is just as ancient
and fundamentally contributive to the foundations
of the religious and philosophical system.
Ancient Hindu kingdoms arose and spread the religion
and traditions across South East Asia, particularly
Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and
what is now central Vietnam. A form of Hinduism
particularly different from Indian roots and traditions
is practised in Bali, Indonesia, where Hindus form
90% of the population. Indian migrants have taken
Hinduism and Hindu culture to South Africa, Fiji,
Mauritius and other countries in and around the
Indian Ocean, and in the nations of the West Indies
and the Caribbean.
Many Many New Age Movements have adopted variants
of Hindu practices.
[edit] Linguistics of Hinduism
Shown here is a scene from the epic Battle of Kurukshetrafrom
the Mahabharata.
See also: Sanskrit
Although the Vedas, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana
have been written in the ancient language of Sanskrit,
Hinduism has several important religious and philosophical
works written in other ancient languages like Tamil,
Kannada,Pali, Prakrit, and modern languages like
Hindi, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi,
Oriya and Bengali.
Many of modern discourses, essays and analysis
of Hindu religion and society, and re-telling of
its greatest epics, are published in the English
language.
[edit] Ceremonies, observances and pilgrimage
Hinduism is also very diverse in the religious ceremonies
performed by its adherents for different periods
and events in life, and for death. Principal Festivity
of the Hindus also vary from region to region which
include Diwali, Durgapuja, Holi, etc.
Initiation
Main article: Initiation in Hinduism
Many Hindus, may perform initiation ceremonies like
Upanayana or Janoy or 'Bratabandha'. These ceremonies
have variants depending on the caste, the culture
and the region.
The Upanayana is akin to the Jewish B'nai Mitzvah.
It is very similar to the Navjot ceremony of the
Zoroastrians, being of common origin. In a ceremony
administered by a priest, a coir string, known as
Janoy, is hung from around a young boy's left shoulder
to his right waist line for Brahmins and from right
shoulders to left waistline by Kshatriyas. The ceremony
varies from region to community, and includes reading
from the Vedas and special Mantras and Shlokas.
Young females (prepubescent until married) do not
have similar ritual passage as young males. However,
some young Hindu females, especially those from
southern India, may follow annual Monsoon Austerity
Ritual of Purification by not eating cooked food
for one or two weeks, depending on age of child.
This is known as "Goryo" or "Goriyo".
Generally speaking, Hindus are free to join an
order or inner circle, and once they have joined
it they must submit to its rites and way of living.
But this type of joining is voluntary and has the
possibility of leaving the order at any time without
serious objection from fellow followers as long
as one says and does things without associating
them with the order which he or she has left. It
is a social form of co-option of life style. It
is said in Sanskrit that, "dharmo hi hato hanti,
dharmo rakshati rakshitah", which translates
to "Dharma, when destroyed, destroys; dharma
protects when [it is]protected", meaning religion
is with the believer as long as the person believes
in it. The initiation (diksha), a sort of purification
or consecration involving a transformation of the
aspirant's personality, is regarded as a complement
to, or even a substitute for, the previous initiation
ceremony rite of consecration that preceded the
Vedic sacrifice in ancient India; in later and modern
Hinduism, the initiation of a layman by his guru
(spiritual guide) into a religious sect. In the
soma sacrifices of the Vedic period, the lay sacrificer,
after bathing, kept a day-long (in some cases up
to a yearlong) silent vigil inside a special hut
in front of a fire.
Some Hindus will give offerings to their gods by
placing rice or flowers in a bowl above the stove
every morning before they eat, and behind this bowl
maybe a picture of one of their gods. Along with
giving offerings they might also pray to the god
they gave an offering to.
Hindu New Year
Unlike most other cultures, the Hindu New Year is
celebrated as a festival in India. Many regions
have different calendars and some starting in March
while others at the time of Diwali, the festival
of lights in autumn. Hindu New Year is celebrated
at different times of the year by people of different
states. That is people from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Maharashtra states celebrate New Year on the
same day, but people from Tamil Nadu and coastal
Karnataka celebrate the New Year at different time
(April 14). The names of the new year vary too.
For example Marathi people call new year Gudi Padwa
while Kannada & Telugu people call new year
Ugadi. Tamil people call their new year as Varusha
Pirappu. People from coastal Karnataka and Kerala
call it Vishu. People from other northern states
celebrate Holi as their New Year day which is first
day of first month Chaitra according to Hindu calendar.
The role of prayer is very crucial in the Hindu
religion as it becomes part of there everyday life.
A Hindu may pray up to many times a day. A typical
Hindu would know about 15-20 different prayers,
this is because of the different ceremonies celebrated
eg, when someone is born they will say a life giving
prayer. The life giving prayer is also said if someone
is dying.
[edit] Fast
Fasting is very common among most Hindus. They Fast
on certain days of the week based on their belief
and to appease certain deities. Some fast on Mondays
to appease Shiva, where as some fast on Saturdays
to appease Shani similarly some fast on Fridays
to penance in the name of Goddess Laxmi or Santoshi.
Most fasting Hindus abstain from eating meat and
only live on fruits and milk. Some people refrain
from using edible salts in the preparation of the
meal and have it only one time on the day. There
is a month called Shravan or Savan when Hindus fast
for the whole month and abstain from eating any
form of meat. Also they fast during the holy days
like Ganesh Chaturthi (Chauth), Shivratri, Ram Navami
and Navaratri. Fasting is seen as a form of penance
(tapasya) or alternatively as a mean to develop
a close bond with the Supreme Being.
Marriage
Main article: Marriage in Hinduism
Wedding ceremonies and rituals vary in Hinduism.
Most Hindu parents look for a prospective match
for their children from their own community or caste.
The ritual of matching the prospective's jathakam
or janampatri with the help of a holy priest is
also widely practiced by many Hindus. Modern day
couples usually approve each other before getting
the elders of the family approve their 'arranged'
marriage. The important difference between a Hindu
marriage and other types of marriage is that, Hindu
marriage is a 3-party contract, as much as it is
a 2-party contract in the western civilization.
The third party that needs to approve the marriage
is essentially the elders of the family representing
the interest of the clan. In today's India, with
the social evolution, the approvals of elders and
family are slowly becoming a formality, Also, the
marriages between different community and castes
are getting quite common and frequent.
Hindu marriage ceremonies are very colorful and
elaborate. Families of the bride and the groom hold
numerous festivities to celebrate the wedding. Marriage
without a Brahmin priest was traditionally not regarded
as a "religiously accepted marriage" in
Hindu society. In contemporary times, lower caste
priets such as the "Pandaram" order have
performed marriage ceremonies that are acceptable
in society[12][13].Saptapadi is an important ritual
performed during the wedding in which the bride
and the groom circumambulate a sacred fire, known
as agni, seven times. As the inheritance of the
family wealth was by the males only, girls who would
move out to live with another family after marriage,
were given a fair share of the family wealth as
dowry. But with the modernization of Hindu society,
some eligible bachelors started to see this as a
demandable contribution from the bride's father.
The practice of demanding a dowry is still prevalent
in some parts of India and sometimes the bride's
family or the bride gets harassed by the groom's
family for this. Dowry formed an integral part of
Hindu marriage until it was rendered unlawful by
the Indian government in 1961. Dowry is legal if
it represents "stri-dhana" i.e. a girl's
share of the parents' wealth, given voluntarily
by the parents. In some parts of Indian society,
the dowry system is getting phased out and regarded
as a disgraceful act. Education programs, women's
outreach groups and media-based awareness have contributed
to the reduction of dowry related issues, making
the practice of mandatory dowries in marriages less
significant in contemporary Hindu society.
Pilgrimage
The largest religious gathering on Earth. [5][6]
Around 70 million Hindus from around the world participated
in Kumbh Mela at one of the Hindu Holy city Prayaga
(India).Many Hindus make pilgrimages to the holy
shrines (known as Tirthas). Hindu holy shrines include
the abode of Shiva, Mount Kailash in Tibet, Shiva's
lingam in Amarnath, Anantnag, Rameshwaram, and Kedarnath;
the holy cities of Haridwar, Dwarka, Puri,Prayaga,
Mathura, Tirumala, Tirupati, Varanasi, and Ayodhya.
Goddess Durga's holy shrine in Vaishno Devi attracts
thousands of devotees every year. Hundreds of millions
of Hindus annually visit holy rivers such as the
Ganges ("Ganga" in Sanskrit) and temples
near them, wash and bathe themselves to purify their
sins, make sacrifices and win pivous credits.
The Kumbha Mela (the Great Fair) is a gathering
of between 10 to 20 million Hindus upon the banks
of the holy rivers at varanasi ( banaras), as periodically
ordained in different parts of India by Hinduism's
priestly leadership. The most famous is at the confluence
of the Ganga and Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh which is
known as "Sangam". It is regarded as the
largest gathering of humanity on Earth. After this,
Hindus go on pilgrimages to cities, and on the way
stop at as many holy sights as possible.
Death
Upon the death of a Hindu person, his or her body
is ceremonially bathed and wrapped in clean, mostly
white khadi cloth. The families often dress their
departed relative in very simple clothes and maintain
an emphasis on less color.
At the ceremony of cremation all mourners must
wear only white clothes. In India, especially northern
India, white is the color of mourning. In modern
times, dull colored clothes, shirts and pants are
deemed acceptable.
An attending priest conducts the ceremony, purifying
the body and pyre by sprinkling holy water and continuously
singing or chanting religious hymns or songs. The
body is to be set alight only by the eldest male
child of the deceased, or the closest male relative.
However, in modern society women are asserting their
right as children and/or closest relative of the
deceased to cremate their loved ones. In many cases,
this is increasingly being accepted.
Hindus in India are cremated upon open grounds
upon wooden pyres, though the use of cremation chambers
is increasing in popularity owing to the scarcity
of wood and lack of exposure. The ashes of the person's
remains are gathered and placed in a pot, which
may be ritually immersed in any of Hinduism's holy
rivers by the family with an attending priest. However,
if one is unable to reach a Hindu holy river, it
is best to find a river or body of water that flows
into the ocean. If Ganga water (or water from any
holy river) is available in sealed copper pots,
water is either poured into the mouth of the deceased,
or mixed with the ashes following cremation, if
it is not available, holy water prepared by priests
is poured into the mouths of the deceased. It is
accepted that the ashes of the deceased will be
immersed within 3 days. If it is not done within
this time frame, additional rituals must be carried
out. However these procedures are not concrete,
and may vary from region to region.
The practice of cremation is not universal among
Hindus. Hindus of various regions and castes may
bury their dead as well, as per their families tradition.
However, many prefer cremation in comparison to
burial, even if burial is the common practice of
the family.
Religion for the common Hindu
Murtis or deities and their worship (puja) play
a crucial role in Hinduism. Shown here is the popular
figure of GaneshaSee also: Yoga, Vedic astrology,
Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana
To many Hindus, the Vedas, large corpus of texts
originated in Ancient India, are the main source
of religious social and religious practices in Hindu
society. By tradition, the distinction between "believer"
and "unbeliever" (Nastika) was simply
whether the person, in principle, accepted the authority
of the Vedas. Such acceptance was in many cases
a matter of common terminology and wildly different
belief systems coexist (including atheistic, polytheistic,
monotheistic, among others) within the community
of "believers." Consequently, for the
common Hindu, the connection to the Vedas is mostly
through certain chants that are performed at various
ceremonies, and not through an emotional/spiritual
connection to the content of the Vedas.
The Puranas are a wide collection of religious
treatises, biographies and stories on the historical,
mythological and religious characters in Hindu folklore,
classic literature and sacred scriptures. There
are often the source of popular Hindu folk tales
and religious lessons and thus play a much bigger
role in the emotional/spiritual dimension of the
common Hindu's life.
Yoga is an important connection to a Hindu to his
religious and historical heritage. The art of spiritual
and physical exercises are a distinguished native
tradition pursued by millions of Hindus worldwide.
Indian Vedic astrology is important to the conduct
of any of life's important events such as marriage,
applying for a post or admission, buying a house
or starting a new business. To millions of Hindus,
the kundali is an invaluable possession that charts
the course of life for a man or a woman from the
time of his birth, all ascertained by Vedic mathematics
and astrology.
Perhaps the most popular Hindu scripture is the
Mahabharata, depicting a civil war within a family
that takes on dimensions of the struggle between
dharma and adharma. Krishna's discourse to the warrior
prince Arjuna, known as the Bhagavad Gita and contained
in the Mahabharata is the guide book on life for
the common Hindu. For many Hindus the Bhagavad Gita
is considered a source of divine guidance and inspiration.
Devotional readers apply Krishna's teachings to
the personal and worldly contexts of their life.
It is often considered as the main source of religious
teaching for Hindu practitioners.
Similarly, the Ramayana, depicting the life of
the prince and king Rama, also plays a big role
through its many different versions. To hundreds
of millions of Hindus, Rama is more than just an
incarnation of the Supreme, or simply a just king
of Ayodhya. He is the still living, thriving soul
and identity of real Hinduism. Rama is the image
of Hinduism, the Perfect Man, its conscience and
undying hope of deliverance.
The doctrines of moksha by the diligent discharge
of personal, social and religious duty is the corner
stone of the Hindu society. By following one's duty
(Swa-Dharma) one gains merit and when the process
is completed; a union with the Godhead and cessation
of the cycle of birth and death. Dereliction of
duty will result in all sorts of misfortunes, including
birth in a lower level in the social hierarchy.
This is a strong motivation to stick to the right
path of human nature. Commonly this swa-dharma or
varna is misundersstood as caste, the class identity
in Hindu society. Varna is by a soul's karma while
Jat or caste is simply by birth and not necessarily
in a person's nature. So it is important to follow
a person's nature towards and seek out their duty.
Many Hindus identify the transcendent principle
of Brahman itself as Vishnu and believe that Vishnu
Himself represents the Trinity and are known as
Vaishnava; many others believe the Supreme Being
is Shiva or Shankara and that He Himself represents
the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Himself
and are known as Shaiva; while yet others believe
in the female Principle Shakti as the Supreme Energy
or Force for life (birth and preservation) and destruction
unified, and are called Shakta. In Vaishnavism and
Shaivism, Shakti is God's Unified Energy (Power)
personified. So all these groups choose their Deity
and classify Him/Her as God Almighty while all other
Gods are but a form of the One. The fourth major
group, the Smarta, are non-sectarian Hindus that
call the Trinity and Shakti the Supreme One Brahman,
which manifests into personal forms of God, such
as Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva (also known as Mahesh).
However, no barrier or distinction or rivalry of
any nature exists between any of these - historically,
Hinduism is known for its religious tolerance and
there is no friction whatsoever between these groups,
who respect each other's practices. Each naturally
respects all incarnations of the God, only choosing
to see the Supreme in one particular form. Many
follow a blend of all three beliefs and this is
by far the most common form of religion for Hindus,
with a mix of Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism
as well as other reform movements. In most Hindu
temples one will find Shiva lingam together with
vaishnava aspects of worship.
Because the foundation of Hinduism, the Rig Veda
says that there are many paths to the Lord, any
God may be worshipped for the achievement of a union
with the Supreme, Moksha. In certain sections, contradictions
appear such as depicting Vishnu and the Lord, while
other sections maintain that another spirit is God.
The contradictions are believed to come from the
same truth because, for Hindus as well as others
such as Zoroastrians or Parsis, God is beyond conception,
beyond imagination. For example, the Rigveda(10.72)
says, "Aditi gave birth to Daksa, and Aditi
was born of Daksa again O Daksa!" [14] Furthermore,
God (Brahman) is believed to be both impersonal
(without qualities and a body) and yet transcendent
(with qualities and a body) by Hindus.
