| 1
• 2 • 3
• 4 • 5
• 6 • 7
• 8 • 9
• 10
Previous • Next
2.
Examining Hinduism
1. What are its key teachings Parts 1-5.
For Part 5
click here: Scriptures
2. What are the differences and similarities with Christianity and
how are we to present the Gospel to Hindus? For Part 6 click
here: Witness
3.
For a testimonial of a former Hindu Hem Sagar(David)
Rasaily click here: Testimony
4. Part 7
Other Hindu Sects click here Sect
A
special thanks to Hem Sagar (David) Rasaily for his contribution
on this page.
Specific
Teachings
Parts
1 - 4
Part One
The word HINDU: The word Hindu
is a controversial word. Many linguists disagree with the origin
of the word. It is generally accepted that it is a Persian word
pertaining to those who lived beyond the river Indus, which is called
Sindhu in Sanskrit. The Greek term India was pronounced Hindia in
classical Greek for there was no character for H. The term Hind
denotes the Indian Sub-continent in Farsi and Arabic. Thus the word
HINDU, HINDUSTAN and INDIA originated.
The word INDIA is not found in
any Holy Books of Hinduism. But The Bible is only the Religious
book which records the word India in the book of Esther. Read
Esther 1:1.
Hinduism’ Size: Hinduism
is the third largest religion in the world followed by approximately
900 million people. Christianity is the First: Christianity 2.1
billion (33%); Second: Islam 1.3 billion (21%).
Sanatana Dharma (Ancient Religion):
Hindus (believers of Hinduism) claim Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma
(an Ancient religion) and the oldest of all religions of the world.
The estimates of Hinduism's origin vary from 3102 BCE to 1300 BCE.
Hinduism Practitioners: In India
(Bharat) 94% of Hinduism practitioners are found. Other countries
with a significant number of Hindu communities include: Nepal, Bhutan,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, U.S.A., South Africa and in many
nations.
The only Hindu Nation is Nepal which is the only
part of the world with Hinduism as its state religion?
Numbers of Gods: Hindu teachers
claim that there are 330 million (33 Koti) gods
(devatas) and goddesses (devis).
They are also called Bhagwan. Hindus have the choice
to worship any god according to their choice.
God-Types: For every area of life
Hinduism has provided them gods or goddesses. Some examples: goddess
Saraswati for wisdom; goddess Laxmi for money; goddess Durga for
creative energy (Shakti); Ganesh for Treasure, god Hanuman of virtue
and strength, Shiva (Shanker) for wrath or anger and so on. All
gods and goddesses exceot for a few were married and had family
life. On many ocassions there are records of their killings, fighting
wars and polygamy.
Temple: Hinduism has temples for
their gods. In the temple they keep the Murti (idol or statue),
offer incense, eat the food after offering it to the idol. There
are also temples where sacrifices of animals are offered. Sometimes
there is human sacrifice also in order to get the blessings or to
get rid of curses. Often we hear this kind of news in India.
Point of Interest: after the grand
celebrations of pooja (festival) people purchase idols (made of
clay) from the market, the idols are of different sizes, and may
be up to 10 Meters. After the 10th day of the grand celebration,
they take the idol to the river or sea, with a procession of people
with dancing and singing and they immerse the idol into the water
and if the idol does not dissolve in it then they get on the idol
and jump on it until the idol is fully immersed. If you were to
ask a devotee why they do this? They could not give you a proper
answer.
Part 2
Hindu-Trinity
Hindus also have a type of Holy-Trinity sort of
like Christians, which is called, Tri-Murti (Supreme Trinity) and
they are:
1. Brahma - Brahma as the creator.
2. Vishnu and Mahesh - Vishnu as Preserver and.
3. Shiva (Shankar) - Shiva as the destroyer.
1. Brahma: Scholars say, Brahma
is like a father and creator, the cosmic mind. There is only one
temple of Brahma in India. He is the creator. But there is no worship
for Brahma anymore because he sinned. When he was creating the universe,
he made a female deity known as Shatarupa (one
with a hundred beautiful forms), she was very beautiful and very
soon he was attracted to her beauty (there is a saying he had a
physical relationship with her) and Shatarupa fled into many places
to avoid this. Brahma created five heads at different heights to
look for her. Lord Shiva (the Second aspect of
god in Hindu-Trinity) thought that Shatarupa was Brahma's daughter,
being created by him. Therefore, Shiva determined, it was wrong
for Brahma to become obsessed with her and thus called him ‘Unholy
Brahma’, so he is fully ignored. To repent from sin, the creator
Brahma, has been reciting the four Vedas. A great regret for Hinduism
is “How could the Creator commit sin and have to repent for
his sin?” Hinduism is silent concerning this.
2. Vishnu: Vishnu is the second
aspect of god in Tri-Murti (Hindu Trinity). Scholars say, He is
like the son Jesus Christ, the preserver. He is famous for his 9
avatars (incarnations). His incarnations are as fish, tortoise,
boar, Narasimha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parshurama (Rama with
axe), Rama (Sri Rama Chandra who was the king of Avodhya, Krishna
Balarama or maybe Buddha, and the last tenth incarnation (avatar)
is due as Kalki which is known as ‘who is to come’ ‘The
destroyer of Foulness’ who is expected to appear at the end
of Kaliyuga (when sin fully matures) according to their calculations
may be in 428899 A..D.. He is frequently invoked by other gods,
especially the god Indra. The book of Hindus Puranas also mentions
more of his twenty-five incarnations.
3. Shiva: Scholar says, Shiva
is known as third aspect of god in Tri-Murti (Trinity of Hinduism).
Shiva is also known as Shankar. Shiva, like the Holy Spirit, according
to scholars, is the destroyer of the bad things and will renew the
universe. His devotees worship Linga (genetial part of male) which
is called Lingam in Sanskrit. He is well known for his anger.
Worship of Nature & Animals:
Hindus also worship nature and animals regading them as gods. Agni
(Fire) is Agni-God, Vayu (Air) is Air-God, Surya (Sun) is Sun-God,
Cow is regarded a goddess Laxmi. At many ocassions Cow, Snake, Crow,
Bull, Dog, Owl, Mice are worshiped. Hindus are free to serve any
god and there is even a practice of man-worship which The Bible
strongly condemns.
Part 3
Four Facts of Hinduism:
The following four facts of Hinduism are karma,
reincarnation, dharma, and worship as the essence of the
Vedas and Agamas and the fabric of every Hindu's life. “Speak
of them to all who will listen, they are the heritage of all souls.”
1) Karma
2) Reincarnation
3) Dharma
4) Worship
1) Karma: Svayambu defines Karma
in this way: “Karma is what the soul undergoes in one of two
ways, according to whether its actions are virtuous or not; but
both kinds subsist until the end of enjoyment in this world.”
Law of Karma (deeds) says Karma is your teacher. Through karma,
your thoughts, emotions and deeds-whether good, bad or mixed-return
to you. Karma of every individual will decide your rebirth.
2) Reincarnation: Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad (one of the Holy Book of Hindus) comments that Reincarnation
is like this: “Through his past works he shall return once
more to birth, entering whatever form his heart is set on. This
mighty soul unborn grows not old, nor dies, for the soul is immortal
and fearless.” Hinduism teaches that the Soul is immortal,
absolute and is a superconscious essence identical with God.
After so many Reincarnations your soul will realize God. After resolving
all residual karmas, your soul will no longer incarnate into human
form. As the Agamas and Vedas teach, the soul continues its evolution
in the inner worlds. The soul continues its evolution in its inner
world.
3) Dharma: Rig Veda (the Oldest
book of Hinduism) defines Dharma in this way: “May noble wisdom
comes to us from all sides, undeceived, unhindered, overflowing,
so that the Devas may always help us onward, unceasing is their
care, our Guardians day by day.” Dharma is God’s divine
law. Through your dharma you grow close to God. When you do good
things you are doing dharma. Hinduism also teaches not to steal,
do not lie, do not murder, give charitably, and love mankind. Dharma
is individual actions. Every person has his or her path; worship
God, and your dharma will become clear. Krishna told Arjuna in the
war field: " whenever there is decline of dharma (righteousness)
and unrighteousness (adharma) is on the
rise, then I incarnate myself."
4. Worship: Kamika Agama comments
on worship this way: “Offering of perfumed substances, flowers,
incense, lamps and fresh reuit-these are the five elements of the
traditional puja which culminates with offering of the lamps.”
Puja (worship) expresses profound love for God. To offer the devotion,
a Hindu must go to the temple. In India and Nepal, Mandir (Temples)
are numerous. In every house of a Hindu one can see a temple.
Part 4
There are Four Stages of Life in Hinduism:
Ancient Hindu culture divides a human life into a 100 year life
span. Let us not misunderstand four stages with four facts. Nowadays,
this system is not being followed because the people have adopted
a different system of education, culture and tradition and have
become materialistic.
Hinduism has divided human life into four ashramas
(Stages or phases) and they are :
1) Brahmacharya
2) Grihasthya Ashrama
3) Vanaprastha Ashrama
4) Sanyasa Ashrama
Let us discuss these four stages:
1) Brahmacharya Ashrama: First
quarter of one’s life is Brahmacharya (first twenty years)
which means a child has to spend time ‘grazing in Brahma,’
leading a student life in the Gurukula (the household of a teacher
or guru) learning at the feet of the Guru (Teacher). Brahmacharya
has to take the vow of celibacy and surrender to the teacher and
God.
2) Grihastha Ashrama: Second stage
of a Hindu is Grihastha (20 to 60 years of human life span). Griha
means house and Grihastha means: who runs a house. This is the phase
of life in which a man gets married and begets children and looks
after family life. This the longest stage of a person.
3) Vanapratha Ashrama: Third stage
of a Hindu is Vanaprastha (60 to 80 years of human life span). At
age 60 a man becomes old, skin becomes wrinkled and hair grey with
white. His interest grows less in worldy life. Vana means (forest
or jungle) and prastha means going. For 20 years he is supposed
to spend time staying in the jungle staying in huts with limited
resources, that is in a single piece of cloth, hair and nails uncut.
His wife can join him if she wishes. He is supposed to spend time
in reading Vedas and keeps undergoing various kinds of privation
and austerities, by doing this he will overcome all sensual affections
and desires.
4) Sanyasa Ashrama: Fourth or
the last stage of a Hindu is Sanyasa which means determination and
disillusionment with material life. He has to live rest of his life
(80 and above years of human life span) without possessions, practicing
YOGA, meditating and praying to and ultimately reaching the Samadhi
(enlightenment) and subsequently Moksha (Liberation).
For Information on Part
5 "Hindu Scriptures" click on the following:
Scriptures
The differences between
Christianity and Hinduism and how to witness to a Hindu Part
6 click here Witness
For a testimonial of Hem
Sagar (David) Rasaily click here Testimony
Part 7 Modern Hindu Sects
For more on a Modern Hindu
Sect click here: Sect
Other Links of interest
Hinduism
Hinduism
Cult
Research
Encyclopedia
of Religions-Cults
For a list of
heresies through the centuries click here: heresies
For a list of
cults click on the following:
Alphabetical list
Back to Main Outline
More >> |