Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with the vast majority of adherents living in India. Hinduism is very different from the Abrahamic faiths because there is no identifiable single founder, single holy text or central religious authority. As one of the world’s oldest religions it has encompassed thousands of religious groups in India since 1500 BCE.
Hinduism is henotheistic, meaning that there is a single supreme deity, Brahman, and other Gods and Goddesses are aspects of that supreme being. The most worshipped deities are Shiva, Vishnu and Shakthi. In addition, Hindus believe that every living thing has an eternal soul or self called the atman which identifies with Brahman. All living things are tied to a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth called samsara. Karma is the universal law of causation that affects how a person is reincarnated. One can reach liberation, or moksha, from the cycle of death and rebirth by grasping the knowledge that atman and Brahman are one.
Sects
Hinduism is unique in that it was never a unified religion. As such, there are numerous sects within Hinduism, because it has encompassed so many smaller religious groups over the years. The major sects are Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Saktism. Each represents a group that worships a particular deity, Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti, respectively. Many different sects engage in the same practices, which often include yoga, meditation, worship and ritual offerings, and pilgrimage to holy cities.
There are 4 main objectives in the life of a Hindu. The first is dharma, the goal of fulfilling moral, social, and religious duties. The second, artha, is the objective of attaining worldly success. The third, kama, is to satisfy worldly desires in moderation. The third and most difficult objective to attain is moksha, liberation from reincarnation.
Spiritual Leaders: Guru
Place of Worship: Temple, home shrines
Language of Origin: Sanskrit
By The Numbers:
1.4 million Hindus in the U.S.
900 million worldwide
