| Of the theologies in the world, some change with time | | | | Hinduism is a religion rich in rituals and festivals. Rituals |
| and are often further developed; many stay fairly | | | | are acts which are proscribed by scriptures and a |
| constant and keep their original beliefs with them. One | | | | great help to fulfilling various desires, to purifying the |
| like this is Hinduism. An ancient religion formed centuries | | | | mind, and to bring Brahman into daily activities. They |
| ago in India and Asia, Hinduism is a complex belief that | | | | have a diverse amount of festivals to celebrate |
| is based on the spirit and mind, and also on the idea of | | | | throughout the year. Some of these festivals include: |
| reincarnation. With many rituals and festivals, Hinduism | | | | Mahashivratri dedicated to Lord Shiva; Navrati in |
| is a very active religion that requires a firm faith. In it is | | | | celebration of the goddess Mahamaayaa Bhagawati; |
| the idea of multiple gods, yet all of these are in turn | | | | Aahoi which is the fast to bring prosperity to children; |
| forms of the one true deity, God. This religion also | | | | and Holi, the festival of colors that mark the end of the |
| consists of many sacred writings that seem to | | | | year. These celebrations and rituals allow mankind to |
| incorporate mythological stories. Hinduism is a unique | | | | give homage to the gods and life itself while achieving |
| religion that focuses on a much more spiritual aspect | | | | further enlightenment. |
| of being than many of the world's other religions. | | | | The basis of higher being in Hinduism revolves around |
| Hindu teaching itself is based on a higher level of | | | | the idea of a trinity. It is a trinity of the three main gods: |
| spirituality than simply being and is based also on | | | | Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma is known as the |
| mystic experience. It deals with God and its creation | | | | creator and appears sitting on a lotus, the symbol of |
| along with mankind and its salvation. Hindus believe in | | | | glorious existence. Vishnu is known as the preserver. |
| one true power of the universe that they call Brahman. | | | | He has four hands and is seen holding a lotus, a conch |
| This god has no form, no gender, and can not be | | | | shell which indicates the spreading of the sound "Om", |
| prayed to; it simply exists. In each living creature there | | | | a shakra representing time, and a mace to show his |
| is a bit of Brahman, which they call atman, or a spirit. | | | | power. Shiva is the destroyer of the universe. He |
| The religion also believes that human and animals | | | | appears in a meditating state and his vehicle of |
| spirits reincarnate, or come back to earth until they | | | | transportation is the bull, the symbol of happiness and |
| reach Nirvana. The Hind path of salvation is divided into | | | | strength. Their wives, Saraswati the goddess of |
| three main parts: the way of works (rituals), the way | | | | knowledge, Lakshmi the goddess of love and beauty, |
| of knowledge (self-reflection), and the way of devotion | | | | and Kali the goddess of destruction and |
| (harmony with the chosen god). Hinduism itself holds no | | | | transformation, respectively, make up the female trinity. |
| true basis on a higher being view, meaning that a Hindu | | | | Though separate in their appearances, they are all of |
| can be polytheistic, monotheistic, pantheistic, agnostic, | | | | one, of the true God, and each represent a different |
| or even atheistic. | | | | aspect of life. |
| Hindu scripture and literature are some of the oldest in | | | | There may not be another religion that is so complex |
| existence of mankind. They are divided into two forms: | | | | and spiritually based as Hinduism. There may also not |
| primary scriptures known as Sruti, and secondary | | | | be a religion that allows for any chosen view of higher |
| scriptures known as Smriti. The Sruti are channeled | | | | being so long as the person follows the basis of the |
| through sages during meditation while the Smriti are | | | | religion. It is one of the most accepting, peaceful and |
| used to explain Sruti writings to the general populace. | | | | understanding of beliefs that mankind has. Hinduism is a |
| Examples of Sruti include the four Vedas and the | | | | deep religion that has strong roots in morality, spirituality, |
| Bhagavad Gita, while examples of Smriti include | | | | and the search for eternal peace. Hinduism is a religion |
| Dhama Shãstras Law Codes and Darshanas | | | | that tolerates humankind not for what it can be nor for |
| Manuel of Philosophy, to name a few. | | | | what it wants to be, but rather for what it is indefinitely. |