The term hinduism was coined in western ethnography in the 18th century, and refers to the fusion or synthesis of various indian cultures and traditions, which emerged after the vedic period, between 500 200 bce and c. Find out where hinduism originated, trace its history, and explore the meanings of its symbols. Apr 03, 20 the puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. Hinduism sacred books the bhagavad gita, translated from the sanskrit, with introduction and notes revised second edition. How that absolute, holy, truly real realm exists, by what power, and for what purpose, is differently conceived by the two great traditions. The majority of the vedas are considered the shruti, which is translated to that which is hard. Hinduism is a religion from the indian subcontinent. Karma is an invisible force in hinduism, whereas in jainism it is a form of matter which can stick to the soul. Hinduism is considered to be a religion, most of the times. The dhammapada is a good book and actually the bhagavad gita is more buddhism than hinduism.
And also the whole holy book and the poem of ramayana is also a part of the mythology book used as our course book for that class in my school and is. Holy bhagavad gita english holy upanishads holy vedas rig, sama, atharva, yajur pdf. The upanishads are a collection of hindu texts which contain some of the central philosophical concepts of hinduism. Hinduism does not have a single holy book that guides religious practice. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa.
Most western religions, such as judaism, christianity, and islam, see the absolute as transcendent, beyond, and other. The canon of books and poems that define hinduism were written in sanskrit and are of ancient origin. Is hinduism mentioned in the bible, quran, and other holy books. Hinduism is not characterized by rigid beliefs in the same way that christianity and islam are. Early hinduism was founded over 5,000 years ago in the indus river valley in india. Meet young people from around the world who share their reflections about hinduism. Religious texts are texts related to a religious tradition. When the west discovered hindus, they tried to understand us fitting us in the. Hinduism part 4 download books, sacred, spiritual texts.
About hinduism and 10 inspiring quotes on hinduism by famous personalities. How much ever genuine a translator may be, a little impact of his own thought process will reflect in his work. Contemporary western culture is ready to accept eastern religious ideas in a way that is unprecedented. In hinduism, gods are worshiped in several ways and for several reasons such as knowledge, peace, wisdom, health, and it also believed to be ones duty to pray god as god is considered as our maker as we originated from them and we are staying in them and at last will. Hinduism is a religion, or a way of life widely practiced in south asia. Some of the other holy works and books of hinduism are stories and epic poems. Taoism has been an important influence on western thinking, especially through the impact of the tao te ching. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world. The shruti refers to the body of most authoritative, ancient religious texts, believed to be eternal knowledge. Only the original writer can point to the flaws in such t. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. It is a polytheist anthropomorphic religion with a highly ritualized form of worship. When any work is translated, be it fiction or anything else, it gets diluted.
Hinduism is the worlds oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Sruti consists of four vedas, upanishads, brahmanas, aranyakas, and bhagavadgita while smriti consists of manu smriti, 18 puranas, ramayana, and mahabharata and other hindu holy books. Followers of christianity read the holy bible, which included the new testament and the hebrew bible. First, by focusing on one tradition at a time, he reduces the confusion that often arises from the complex. I have come across a number of different blogs from westerners who are following the path of sanatana dharma hinduism. The religion of hinduism originated in northern india, near the river indus, about 4000 years ago and is the worlds oldest existing religion. The upanishads are also called as vedantas or the end of the vedas. Roughly 95 percent of the worlds hindus live in india. Smriti literature is considered less authoritative than sruti. Hinduism is an ancient religion with diverse traditions such as vaishnavism, shaivism. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. What is heard in hinduism, the mostrevered body of sacred literature, considered to be.
Learn about major festivals, celebrations, and rites of passage. Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of indias population. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. Jan 07, 2009 the dhammapada is a good book and actually the bhagavad gita is more buddhism than hinduism. In fact, hinduism does not have a unified belief encoded in the declaration of faith or a creed. The holy book in the hindu religion is known as the vedas. Jan 30, 2014 to learn about hinduism it is good to go to hindu teachers and gurus who know western culture and can speak in a language that you can understand. The relative authority of religious texts develops over time. The relative authority of religious texts develops over time and is derived from the ratification. Hinduism as antiwomen some groups try to discourage women from joining hinduism by trying to portray hinduism as antiwomen or blaming discrimination against women in india on hinduism.
How does hinduism differ from christianity and other western. The upanishads are commonly referred to as vedanta, variously interpreted to mean either the last chapters, parts of the veda or the object, the highest purpose of the veda. A striking instance of making a distinction between canonical and semicanonical scriptures occurs in hinduism. The primary sacred texts, known as the vedas, were composed around 1500 b.
Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism. Although there are relatively few western converts to hinduism specifically, hindu thought has influenced the west indirectly by way of religious movements like hare krishna and new age, and even more so through the incorporation of indian beliefs and practices such as the chakra system and yoga into health and spirituality. The rigveda is a collection of hymns dedicated to 33 gods especially to indri and agni. There are also other holy books like puranas, ramayana, mahabharta etc. Hindu texts are manuscripts and historical literature related to any of the diverse traditions within hinduism. Hinduism holy book important books and writings of hinduism. Would the translated holy books of hinduism in the western. Itihasas in hindu religious context this term refers to the mahabharata and the ramayana but may also be used in reference.
Sacred complex of ruruksetra a holy tirtha of hinduism in. The vedas and these other works are further divided into two sections. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. The relations between the academic community and the hindu community in north america have been characterized by a sharp debate. These 8 western philosophers were influenced by hinduism. This holy book is written in the sanskrit language. Instead, hinduism has a large body of spiritual texts that guide.
In modern times, most ancient texts have been translated into other indian languages and some in western languages. Five of the hindu holy books are the rig veda, bhagavad gita, sama veda. This sacred text is divided into two main sections, the old testament and the new testament which are then further divided into various books. Hinduism, one of the most ancient of all belief systems, is increasingly well known in the west through expatriate indian communities. Hinduism does not possess a single holy book like bible in christianity and quran in islamic dharma. See also whats at your library, or elsewhere broader terms. Most eastern religions, on the other hand, envision it as immanent, within, and ultimately identical with the seeker. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. Sep 23, 2008 there is a thinking prevalent among modern hindus, now a days, that due to western education all hindus have given a go by to the tenets of hinduism and do things as they please. Hindu texts are manuscripts and historical literature related to any of the diverse traditions.
Comparing eastern and western religion hinduism and indian. They differ from literary texts by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual practices, commandments or laws, ethical conduct, spiritual aspirations and by creating or fostering a religious community. Scripture, also called sacred scripture, the revered texts, or holy writ, of the worlds religions. They are rig veda, sama veda, yajur veda and atharva veda. Ns essay how the british invented hinduism new statesman. It was prompted by the reservations expressed by a significant number of hindus in north america over the way hinduism is portrayed in the western academia. But if you dig deep, then there are philosophies embedded in the religious hindu books, and these philosophies, as well as the teachings, have influenced western philosophers too. Buddhism and jainism can be and have been considered hinduism. Dont think of these eastern religions in the same context of western religions like christianity.
Its godcentered approach 1 chapters updated feb 04, 2020 05. Hinduism is the oldest of the major world religions. Jul 02, 20 the author tells us which books are used as sacred scriptures for the hindus and explains how each came to be. Hinduism is a religion with various gods and goddesses. It was prompted by the reservations expressed by a significant number of hindus in north america over the way hinduism is. In modern times, most have been translated into other indian languages and some in western languages. Another hindu holy book that deals with religious duties is law of manu or the dharma shastra. Hinduism is the older of the two with a literature going back to the beginning of recorded history. The four vedas the rig veda, the sama veda, the yajur veda and the atharva veda are the authentic texts of hinduism and are comprised of hymns, incantations, rituals and the importance of practicing them in daily life. Together they cover all the major sects of hinduism. By reviving the hindu religion, the middle classes of india hope to turn their.
They differ from literary texts by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual practices, commandments or laws, ethical conduct, spiritual aspirations, and for creating or fostering a religious community. To learn about hinduism it is good to go to hindu teachers and gurus who know western culture and can speak in a language that you can understand. Hindu civilisation originated in the gangetic and indus valleys and from there spread out over. Buddhism, one of the worlds great religious traditions, attracts millions of modernday followers. Hinduism, like many eastern spiritual schools of thought, does not fit into the western concept of religion. The author tells us which books are used as sacred scriptures for the hindus and explains how each came to be. This is not true as some percentage of hindus still follow traditional hinduism and reaping good results. Invading the sacredhinduism and western academiafree ebook. Hinduism is a very recent noun to mean all the religions professed in india.
Oct 22, 2019 when any work is translated, be it fiction or anything else, it gets diluted. The gita is not part of the scriptural canon of many hindu lineages. The british assumed that different religious practices could exist only. The different gods and goddesses in the hindu mythology are derived from these books.
He even discusses how buddhism and hinduism relate and how india has come to be a religious melting pot that opens itself to allowing people to practice many religions while being tolerant of one another. The concluding portions of the vedas are called upanisads. Ruruksetra, also known as ridiksetra, situated at the confluence of the gandaki and ridikhola rivers in nepal is an important tirthasthala, not only for the peopl. We are trying to list out here as many hindu scriptures and books as possible. Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book. Hinduism has many gods and goddesses and it allows one to worship many, three, one. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf. Hinduism is the worlds third most popular religion, with around 750 million followers. There is no central ancient text that succinctly sums up the religions basic tenets, no single leader that hindus can call the founder of their faith. Scholars hesitate in defining the term hindu scriptures given the diverse nature of hinduism, but many list the bhagavad gita and the. The vedas are scriptures that the hindu people use as a guide to daily and religious life. The scriptures of the vedas are meant to guide hindu believers in their daily lives. The hindu sacred literature is voluminous and varied. There are however two holy books for hinduism the mahabhrata and the ramayana.
The earliest texts from this region are extensive, but unfortunately, scholars have yet to find a way to translate the language of the texts. Worship of one god like yhvh, allah, or god as in bible is not necessary. Buddhists believed that people are reincarnated after death souls are reborn into another earthly being until they reach this state of inner peace or enlightenment. A few texts are shared resources across these traditions and broadly considered as hindu scriptures. Today, with about 900 million followers, hinduism is the thirdlargest religion behind christianity and islam.
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