Hinduism

The Hindu deity Lord Krishna advising his friend and brother-in-law, Arjuna, the warrior hero of the Mahabharata

Hinduism is a religion from the Indian sub-continent. It is a polytheist anthropomorphic religion with a highly ritualized form of worship. The canon of books and poems that define Hinduism were written in Sanskrit and are of ancient origin. They range from Epics about the lives and loves of the Gods, philosophical treatises on metaphysical questions, and law books. The Hindu religion has absorbed practices and ideas from other religions and in turn has provided the roots of Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. In the West it can be found in the Hare Krishna movement. Hinduism is the majority religion of India, Nepal, and Mauritius and a significant minority religion in Fiji, Suriname, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Contents

• Introduction
• Etymology of the words Hindu and Hinduism
• Religious Symbols of Hinduism
• Hindu Temples
• The Vedas
• The Puranas
• Hindu Festivals
• Hindu Deities
• Dictionary