Did you know that there are about 1 billion Hindus in the world today? That’s about 15% of the world’s population.
It’s the third-biggest religion on the globe, right behind Christianity and Islam.
If you’re someone who needs to sink their teeth in a religion that is rich in tradition, as old as time itself, with complicated philosophies and beliefs, then you’ve come to the right place.
Keep on reading for our top five Hinduism facts you’ll want to learn. We’ll merge the fun with the academic to keep you on your toes.
1. The Base of All Hinduism Facts: What Is God?
Hinduism has often been characterized as polytheistic (the worship of several deities), although a more accurate description would be henotheistic (the worship of a single deity without denying the presence of others).
Many Hindus think that the limitless forms of god—god is in everyone, and God is in everything—are represented by the astronomical number of gods recognized by Hinduism.
The Hindu “trinity” consists of the gods Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer), all of whom are revered by many Hindus.
These gods, along with the other millions of deities, are said to be manifestations of a higher force known as Brahman (not to be confused with the priestly caste of Brahmins). Many Hindus even contend that Jesus was an incarnation of one of their deities.
Most Hindus are also practicing animists, regardless of the sect of Hinduism they adhere to.
By performing rituals at fortunate periods, consulting horoscopes, and donning amulets, believers hope to please both good and malevolent spirits.
2. Hindu Figures and Gods: Understanding the Manifestations
How many distinct Hindu denominations are there?
Brahman is the Hindu word meaning God. Atman is the word for our inherent divine nature. They are the same, without a beginning or end. But God is also embedded in the fabric of the universe.
There are a variety of names for God’s expression in the universe. It’s all just different expressions of the same limitless, everlasting, Divine Being.
It’s like being called “father” by your kid and “friend” by your friend at the same time. Or “son” by your father. Or “husband” by your wife. Each name represents a unique connection.
The same Divine Lord is therefore known as both the male deities Shiva and Vishnu and the female deities Kali and Durga. In other cases, God takes human form, becoming an outstanding person known as an incarnation of God like Krishna, Rama, etc.
These representations of the limitless God are equally valid and worthy of worship since they all point to the same deity. All the various Hindu sects share this fundamental belief.
Those who gravitate toward one sort of deity over another are likely to develop a religious subgroup that focuses only on that one. However, the ancient teachings of the Vedas and Vedanta are universally accepted as the basis for practice by all the different groups.
3. Sacred Texts: What Are the Vedas?
The Vedas are scriptures of holy truth given by an absolute power to the people of northern India, and they continue to be an important source of inspiration for many modern Hindu traditions.
As early as 1700 BC, ancient poets, and sages created the Sanskrit books that would later become the Vedas. However, a large portion of the population does not study or follow these scriptures, much less understand their meaning.
Knowledge of the Vedas has been tightly guarded by high-caste Brahmins, members of the priestly social class by birth, to maintain their status as the dominating group in Indian culture. Therefore, many Hindus choose to adhere to the teachings of their gurus and the customs of their families.
4. Schools of Yoga
There are four primary schools of yoga, each tailored to a particular personality type.
Karma Yoga, also known as the yoga of right action, is best suited to people with an active nature who are eager to shed their egos and foster a sense of compassion for their fellow humans by learning to see the divine spark in everyone.
The path of Bhakti Yoga is one of unwavering devotion to the God who permeates everything. One may pray to a picture of God that is kept in a Temple. God may also be worshiped through service to a hurting world.
Jnana Yoga, practiced mostly by persons with an intellectual bent, entails mentally sweeping away all the impeding physical and mental coverings that disguise the divine truth inside all things.
Raja Yoga is the discipline of self-discipline, chastity, and meditation practiced to attain a state of profound mental peace. In such stillness, the holy light inside shines brightest.
5. Reincarnation: Keep Re-Living Until You Get It Right
Every action in the world has an inevitable consequence. The consequences of our behavior are entirely on ourselves.
Since the dawn of time, people have wondered why some are born into privileged situations while others are doomed to a lifetime of hardship. What has happened in this life just isn’t enough to justify all of this pain.
The idea that we are all reaping the consequences of our choices from past lives was put out as a way to rationally explain why some people experience more happiness or pain than others in this life.
If this is true, then we can also control our future immediately. Committing to doing better today can pave the way for a brighter future. But as long as mental cravings persist, the rebirth impulse will too.
Exploring Hinduism Fun Facts
Religion can be a fascinating mix of tempering the human condition with the rules of the Divine. We can spend years and years trying to interpret such ancient teachings, learning about ourselves and our priorities along the way.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning these Hinduism facts and that you’re ready to explore more on the topic. You can do so by checking out our spiritual section. Also, as you’re reading through these blogs, you might be interested in planning a trip to India. In that case, our travel section will be your new best friend.