Hinduism

Hinduism is one of the oldest world religions, and it began over 4,000 years ago in the Indian subcontinent. It is an eclectic and pluralistic tradition, lacking any single founder or central religious organization. Hinduism is an umbrella term for a variety of beliefs, practices and scriptures. Key elements are Dharma (duty, righteousness), Karma (act and its effect), Samara (birth and rebirth cycle) and Moksha (freedom from the cycle of Samara).

Agni

One of the Vedic gods associated with fire and sacrifice. Agni, the sacred envoy Agni carries offerings of humans to the gods. He is also connected with wisdom and cleansing.

Baba Premanand (1917–2009)

A message on social media said that Gaur was an Indian rationalist and skeptic, famous for propagating the eradication of superstitions along with exposing fake godmen. Baba Premanand played a huge role in promoting scientific temper and inquiry in India. He started the Indian Skeptic magazine and was a leading light in the Indian Rationalist Association.

Bharati

Sanskrit word for Goddess of Speech or Mother India Another name of Saraswati – the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art and learning. Goddess Saraswati represents wisdom and she is usually shown with veena (string instrument), a book, a rosary and pot of water.

Brahma

One of the gods in the Hindu triumvirate (Trimurti), along with Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma is the creator of universe and all living beings. He is sometimes shown with four heads, a reference to his all-seeing and all-knowing nature.

Durga

A fierce and protective mother goddess who symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Durga is often shown riding a lion or tiger, and carrying weapons in many of her arms. Navaratri is the festival which worship her.

Ganesha

Ganesha — the lord of wisdom, intellect and remover of obstacles with an elephant head Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati and worshiped at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies. He represents starting afresh and is the most widely worshipped deity in Hinduism.

Hanuman

A narrative and the most important of all Rama's disciples. Hanuman is a monkey god who symbolizes great strength, devotion, and humility. He is revered for devotion and bravery.

Kali

Goddess of time, change and destruction Kali is shown with dark skin, a menacing face and a necklace of skulls. She is a destroyer of evil, a loving mother figure and an embodiment of how time changes everything.

Krishna

A incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu and one of the most well-loved gods in Hinduism. Examples include Krishna, who is revered for his teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, as well as his role in guiding the Pandavas during the Mahabharata and often depicted as a playful child or lover. He is the embodiment of divine love and joy.

Lakshmi

Goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity. Lakshmi: consort of Vishnu depicted either sitting or standing on a lotus flower. Diwali (also known as Deepavali) is the festival of lights and she is worshiped during this time representing light conquering darkness.

Parvati

Goddess of love, beauty, sexuality and devotion. Shiva is married to Parvati, mother to Ganesha and Kartikeya. She embodies the compassionate and nurturer side, loving face of the divine feminine.

Rama

A different incarnation of Vishnu and the central character in Ramayana. Rama represents righteousness, valor and duty. Dharma has great significance in his life and teachings.

Saraswati

Goddess of Knowledge, Music, Art, Wisdom, and learning. The trinity is Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. Usually depicted as playing a veena, she is linked with the arts and sciences.

Shiva

The Destroyer in the Trimurti, one of the main deities of Hinduism. Having related with transformation, meditation and the destruction of evil. Typically shown with a third eye, a snake coiled around his neck and the river Ganges flowing from his hair.

Vishnu

As "The Preserver" of the Hindu Trimurti, Vishnu preserves the order and harmony in the universe. He takes avataras on this earth in order to re-establish Dharma. Some of the important avatars are Rama, Krishna, and Narasimha.

Concepts

Dharma — a fundamental concept in Indian philosophy, featuring in various schools like Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism; refers to the law of nature, righteousness but also duty. It also helps individuals know right from wrong and what direction they should take social responsibility.

Karma: The basic law of cause and effect, whereby a person's actions in this life or previous lives are taken into account through their subsequent experiences.

Samsara — The wheel of life; the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. All souls get rebirths until Moksha is attained.

Moksha: State beyond transition, finally bringing the union with divine out of Samsara.

Scriptures

Vedic texts: The most ancient scriptures containing hymnal compositions with rites and sacred wisdom

The Upanishads, philosophical writings on the nature of reality and the soul.

Bhagavad Gita: An island of passionate deliberation between Krishna and Arjuna that is a 700-verse ode on duty, righteousness, and devotion.

Ramayana and Mahabharata: Epic tales dealing with tragedy, destiny and the human experience.

Practices

Yoga: A spiritual and physical practice leading to union with the divine.

Meditation: Methods of focusing the mind and obtaining spiritual knowledge

Puja: Devotional worship of deity with offering prayers, and chants

Festivals Festivals like Diwali, Holi and Navaratri are associated with events of significance in one or the other religion and every festival worshipped a particular deity.

Other Deities and Figures

Vedic mythology: Indra — King of the gods and ruler of the heavens

Agni: The fire god / messenger who accepts sacrifices.

Varuna : God of water and cosmic order

Surya : God of Sun, signifying wisdom and purity

Yama: The God of death and the underworld

Philosophical Schools

Vedanta: Builds upon the ideas expressed in the Upanishads, emphasizing final reality (Brahman).

Sankhya: A dualistic philosophy that explains the difference between consciousness and matter

Yoga: Focuses on the physical and mental cultivation of mind-body discipline aimed at achieving spiritual goals

Nyaya: Logic and epistemology concern

Vaisheshika: Discusses physics and materialistic nature of the universe.

Important Concepts

Atman - the individual soul/self

Brahman – the absolute reality, universal soul.

Maya – The artful play of the physical world.

Ahimsa — Non-violence against all living beings except God.

Caste System

A well known stratification system split into four principal varnas:

Brahmins — Priests and teachers

Kshatriya: Second of four social classes in the caste hierarchy, traditionally divided between warriors and rulers.

The Vaishyas: Farmers, Merchants and Traders.

Shudra: Working class and service providers

If the caste system had been officially dismantled, its social aspects play a role in communities to this day.

Ashramas

In Hinduism there are four stages of life:

Brahmacharya: Student stage.

Grihastha: Householder stage.

Vanaprastha: Hermit stage.

Sannyasa: Renunciate stage.

Baba Premanand (1917–2009)

A pivotal mass communicator who engendered the essence of rationalism and scepticism in Indian society. Baba Premanand was a staunch fighter against superstitions and fraudulent spiritualists. He performed demonstrations to expose the tricks of alleged miracles and campaigned for scientific education and rational thought.