Hinduism: many paths to one God The earliest evidence for elements of the Hindu faith dates back as far as the late Neolithic, to the Early Harappan period (ca. 5500–3300 BCE).

Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol III. 118-120; Vol. I. 6-7. Hinduism is based on "the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times.” Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol III. 118-120; Vol. I. 6-7.

Many “faces” of Hindus

Hinduism centers around a variety of practices that are meant to help one experience the Divinity that is everywhere and realize the true nature of the Self (Atman). Most Hindus believe in a Supreme Cosmic Spirit, which may be understood in abstract terms as Brahman or which may be worshiped in personal forms such as Vishnu, Shiva or Shakti.

Swami Vivekananda, practicing meditation, concentrating inward – toward Atman or God

Hinduism is the world's third largest religion after Christianity and Islam with approximately a billion adherents (2005), of whom about 890 million live in India. It is based on a number of religious texts developed over many centuries that contain spiritual insights along with guidance concerning the practice of dharma, or religious life. The Vedas are the most ancient texts, and along with the Upanishads, are the most important and foundational texts for Hindu philosophy.

Personal manifestations of gods

Concept of God According to the monotheistic and pantheistic theologies of Hinduism, God (the Supreme Being) is, in the highest sense, One -- beyond form, infinite, and eternal. God is changeless and is the very source of consciousness. God is beyond time, space, and causation and yet permeates everything and every being. God is beyond gender. When God is thought of as this infinite principle, God is called Brahman.

Vishnu is the god that represents Atman, which manifests itself through body, mind and intellect as the individual

Brahma, creator of universe, has the four “faces” of the lotus flower

Shiva, god of destruction

Vasudeva, the cow herd, who saved Krishna

Kamala, or Kama, goddess of sexual desire

Krishna, god of divine love and joy

Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

Atman Hindus think the spirit or soul, the true "self" of every person, called the Atman, is eternal. It is believed that the Spirit of God and the spirit of living beings have existed and will continue to exist throughout all eternity.

Karma The doctrine of karma is related to the law of cause and effect. *Every action has a reaction. It states that everything that people do (karma) leaves impressions (samskāras) in their mind, which determines what kind of people they will be in the future, and hence their fate.

According to karma, one should try to behave in a virtuous manner, as this behavior will impact current and future lives. Over the course of time, if a person sufficiently purifies the mind and intellect, s/he can attain the goal of life, which is to experience the highest truth, or God. Wheel of Karma

Reincarnation Reincarnation is called Samsara according to the Vedic texts. In Sanskrit the word Samsara means being bound to the cycle of repeated birth and death through numerous lifetimes. According to this doctrine of reincarnation, the soul (Atman) is immortal, while the body is subject to birth and death.

Nirvana The Samsara cycle, or cycle of reincarnation, comes to an end once a person comes to accept his/her “true self” – the self that is connected to God and to eternity. This acceptance is considered Supreme Bliss, or Nirvana.

Life’s Goal The goal of life is to have a direct experience of divinity (of God), regardless of precisely how one may choose to define it. All Hindu practices seek to accomplish a single purpose: increasing a person's awareness of the divinity (God) that is present everywhere and in everything.

~ Ancient Hindu teacher ~ The ideal of man is to see God in everything. But if you cannot see Him in everything, see Him in one thing, in that thing you like best, and then see Him in another. So on you go. . . . Take your time and you will achieve your end.

The Caste System Although the caste system was abolished by law in 1949, it remains a significant force throughout India even today.  Each follower of Hinduism belonged to one of the thousands of Jats (communities) that existed in India. The Jats were grouped into four Varna (social castes), plus a fifth group called the "untouchables." A person's Jat determined the range of jobs or professions from which they could choose. Marriages normally took place within the same Jat. There were rules that prohibited persons of different groups from eating, drinking or even smoking with each other.

Brahmins (priests, academics) Kshatriyas (rulers, military) Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs) Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants)

Untouchables or Dalit

Levels of Existence

The Four Castes or Varnas The Rigveda defined four castes so that people created a structure within which they could co-exist. In decreasing status, they are: Brahmins (the priests and academics) Kshatriyas (rulers, military) Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants) Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs) The Dalit were outcasts who did not belong to one of the castes. Until the late 1980s they were called Harijan (children of God). They worked in what are considered polluting jobs. They were untouchable by the four castes; in some areas of the country, even a contact with their shadow by a member of the Varnas was considered polluting.

The Hindu paths to salvation include the way of works (rituals), the way of knowledge (realization of reality and self-reflection), and the way of devotion (devotion to the god that you choose to follow). If the practitioner follows the paths of these ways, salvation can be achieved.

World Religions