Hinduism Essay -- Religion India Expository Essays Hindu

HinduismIntroductionHinduism - stands for the faith and the way of life most of the people who havein India.Hinduism is such an ancient religion that it had numerous types of beliefsand sacred practices. Around 1750 BC Aryan invaders from central Asiasettled in North - West India and introduced their birth religious ideas.Slowly the Hindu came to accept the idea of the existence of an eternalsupreme being. They called this being, Brahman. Hindus also worship differentgods which individually represent one concomitant aspect of Brahman. The mostpopular one of the lesser gods argon Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver),and shiva (the destroyer)Hinduism has no founder. It is a religion that has slowly developed over aperiod of time.Hindu BeliefsHindu GodsThe Hindus have four gods Brahman, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Theremain god is Brahman. He is the origin and the sustainer of all life, and thegoal of all things. He is eternal and omnipotent and only he is real. Theybelieve that Brahman is so great that he cannot be explained in human wordsbecause all globe are imperfect and Brahman is perfect.ShivaShiva is usually depicted with six arms each one representing adifferent function to preform. He is known as the destroyer and restorer oflife, symbol of the reproductive force of nature, philosopher and sage. He hasa third eye which signifies wisdom or higher consciousness. He has a bluethroat which is a result of him swallowing a full cup of mans sins. Worship ofShiva includes fertility rites and veneration of the symbols of male and female conjure organs. Most Hindus imagine Shiva as being in deep meditation high in theHimalayas. Shiva is the ultimate god who holds in master tension thepreservation and destruction of the cosmos, both its birth and death. At timeshe is portrayed as the great ascetic. He is often depicted as the reconciler ofdualities such as good and evil, eroticism and asceticism, his creative energyis depicted in the Lingam and Yoni. Shiva is frequently shown in loving unionwith his relate Parvati (another form of the great goddess)Shiva devotees are called Shaivites, and devotion usually takes the formof Yogic practice. Shiva is often pictured, in one of the best known religiousimages from India, as the lord of the cos... ...in January-February andlasts thirty-six hours. The name of this festival means night sacred to Shiva,because worship goes on throughout the night. Compared to other festivals it isa grievous occasion marked by fasting. Some devotees of Shiva do not sleep, eator drink for the thirty-six hours. During the night Shiva is worshiped withsinging and bound in shrines dedicated to the god. In the shrine is a smallstone pillar representing the god Shiva around which people assemble and performpuja. Offerings are made by pouring milk, honey and melted butter over thelinga. When the fast ends at about four oclock much feasting follows withsweet potatoes and cucumbers among the many foods eaten. Th e people remember astory which helps to explain why they fast and keep watch throughout the night.The story tells of a hunter who was once dog by a tiger, he climbed a tree toescape, and he had to perch the whole night as the tiger crouched below. Tomake sure he did not fall asleep he plucked the leaves one by one and droppedthem on the ground. There was an image of Shiva under the tree, as the leavesfell Shiva felt he was being worshiped and blessed the hunter.