You should read enough of the materials presented in this section concerning the tradition of hinduism in order to understand how this tradition displays the characteristics or elements that make a tradition one that would be termed a religion. Influences of ancient hinduism on early christianity. There are four main castes in hinduism namely brahmans, kshatriyas, vaisyas and the sudras. The effects of hinduism in india high school american. Not once are either of these words mentioned within the various sacred texts of hinduism. Almerico also believes that culture has a strong relationship to anthropology and focuses on the fact that humans create culture as a way of making sense of their social and physical worlds.
The name hindu is given by the people outside of india, especially greeks and arabs, to. The vedas and these other works are further divided into two sections. Hinduism is the worlds oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Their words and wisdom permeate hindu thought, ritual and meditation. Roughly 95 percent of the worlds hindus live in india. They bind all hindus together irrespective of the regional and ethnic diversity. Hinduism was the unifying umbrella that brought peace to the land. These 8 western philosophers were influenced by hinduism. In the wars that occur in the holy books, as in mahabharta, the different sides had different war weapons which had characters similar to modern day war weapons.
Influences of ancient hinduism on early christianity a. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. Hinduism also influences the laws on the treatment of animals. The third edition includes chapters on the origins of. They are affected by believing in reincarnation, to pass many lives to reach brahman, a spirit. Hindu culture and traditions remain indispensable to the lives of hindus and hindu temples today as sources of religious practices, spiritual inspiration, cultural expression, and social bonding.
There is a sense of pride associated with the countrys rich religious history as the traditions of hinduism, buddhism, sikhism and jainism all emerged out of india. The temple is also a cultural center where songs are sung, holy texts read aloud in sanskrit and vernaculars, and sunset rituals. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. Hinduism factshinduism facts revealing facts about hindu. The rigveda is a collection of hymns dedicated to 33 gods especially to indri and agni. It is only because of this influence that humanity has achieved a lot. Books which studied are gita, upanishads, manu, vedas and vishnu. Tantric practices cross religious boundaries, and manifest themselves in aspects of hinduism, jainism, and buddhism. Theres some debate over who influenced who more during this time. Book on hinduism, hindu religious beliefs and practices. Today, with about 900 million followers, hinduism is the thirdlargest religion behind christianity and islam. Hinduism is considered to be a religion, most of the times. Unlike christianity or islam, it is a not a religion that is governed by the book.
Hinduism as a religion has no single founder, no single holy book, no organisational hierarchy or structure. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism there are several important historical facts about hinduism that are relevant to the humanist context. Mantras are invocations, praise and prayers that through their meaning, sound, and chanting style help a devotee focus the mind on holy thoughts or express devotion to godthe deities. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism. Hinduism is worlds third largest religion after christianity and islam. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as sanatana dharma, the eternal tradition, or. Read and learn for free about the following article. Ramayana and mahabharata are the two important holy books of hinduism. Apr 03, 20 the puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. Think there are many dieties like for chinese they pray to.
Social influences are among the most robust and consistent predictors of adolescent smoking. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word. Populated by an infinite amount of gods, the belief system is open to adopting any of the gods produced by younger religions. Hinduism is the harmonious working together of these three worlds. Is christianity in india largely influenced by hinduism. Hinduism can be traced to the indus valley civilization that took place in 4000 bc to 2200 bc. Hindus believe that the cow is a holy animal and therefore, would never partake in any beefbased foods. Although religious aspects of culture and gender attitudes are two of the most important factors in the relationship between culture and smoking, other cultural norms can play a role too. The scriptures of the vedas are meant to guide hindu believers in their daily lives. A hindu is anyone born within india,belonging to the indus valley civilisation. Social, environmental, cognitive, and genetic influences. Hinduism and buddhisms influence of indian culture in. I would encourage you to tease apart the culturalsocietal aspects as. Every culture has influenced every other culture during mutual interactions.
The way hinduism and buddhism entered southeast asia was not the same, as well as when it entered and its influence of indian culture that emerged into the area. Hindu online sanskar, sacrament, wedding, marriage. Find here a list of selected books on the various aspects of hinduism, history, philosophy, scriptures and sects of hinduism, gods and goddesses, the vedas, puranas and the upanishads, vedic rituals, art and temple traditions. Hinduism especially emphasizes respect for all older people, with children having a special responsibility towards their parents.
Brahmans priests are at the top of the social caste system and at the very bottom are the socalled. Vedic writings refer to the worship of images, tutelary divinities, and the phallus. Hinduisms impact on todays society tremaurice johnson medium. From diwali the festival of lights to holi, bengali new year, the festival of colors to rakshabandhan, a special festival for brothers and sisters, hindu festivals are colorful, fun yet with a deep social and religious significance. Hindu customs and traditions, culture, indiahinduism facts. The vedic religion was influenced by local cultures and traditions adopted by indoaryans as. The caste system is a social hierarchy in india that divides hindus. Hinduism developed over many centuries from a variety of sources. An introduction to hinduism by gavin d flood providing a muchneeded thematic and historical introduction to hinduism, this text traces the development of hindu traditions from ancient origins and the major deities to th. When he was in harvard, he studied many books related to eastern and western philosophies including hindu philosophies.
Civilizations in southeast asia focused on an appreciation to nature, which resulted in a harmonious and equal relationship between man. Vedic to refer not only to the ancient religious texts known as the vedas but also to a. There are many cultural and societal influences that have made hinduism vital to the region in which it originated. Some of the other holy works and books of hinduism are stories and epic poems. Hinduism and buddhism are the identities and cultural assets of nepal. It is a religious symbol representing divine sight and shows that one is a hi foreward magazine. What we call hinduism has for thousands of years been in a constant process of change. Hinduism is an indian religion and dharma, or way of life, widely practiced in the indian subcontinent and parts of southeast asia. Hinduism has done more than influence the nonreligious side of society.
Hinduism is rich in its unique festivals and customs which are being celebrated through centuries. Traditionally, people are born in a certain caste, or class, and they can never change that. The cultural and social influences that have made hinduism vital to the region in which it originated, is pretty much the same of any other religion in any other part of the world. Hinduism, also known as the oldest religion on earth. Religious and cultural aspects of hand hygiene who. One of the most remarkable aspects of hinduism has been its ability to absorb and adopt an array of cultural and religious influences, in the process transforming seemingly nonhindu ideas and. Hinduism has a number of holy books, bhagavadgita, the ramayana and mahabharata, the vedas, the upanishads and the puranas. India was a land of diverse cultures, religions, races and ethnicities. Really good introduction to hinduism, and all its many facets. Bhagavad gita the technical part of book 6 of the mahabharata is also the world famous one. Most of his ideas are quite similar to the concepts of hinduism.
Hinduism hinduism religion hindu religion cultural india. It also focuses on the geographical ties of hinduism with the land of india, the social order created by hinduism, and the various systems of hindu thought. Why is an understanding of cultural stereotyping important, and what can students do to prepare for cultural stereotyping by looking at social institutions. The word hinduism actually has no real meaning because hinduism was not founded as a religion. The impact of hinduism and buddhism in the world newsblaze news. Today, with about 900 million followers, hinduism is. Culture is defined as the beliefs, values, and attitudes practiced and accepted by members of a group or community almerico, 2014. Religion, especially hinduism, have had a major impact on indian society and culture. Peer influences seem to be especially salient, perhaps because adolescence is a time during which school and peer group affiliations take on particular importance.
Pdf the influence of hinduism on the writings of ralph. These values were brought forth experientially by methods of great spiritual discipline. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf e. In addition to these communities, there are charismatic teachers gurus who.
One way is affected is that around 80% in india is hindu. Culture and religion information sheethinduism 3 hinduism. Hinduism encourages family members to take a role in the care of family members. As hinduism is the oldest religion on the earth, there are a lot of hindu customs and traditions observed in india.
It is wonderful to discover the why and the wherefore of hinduism, but it is disconcerting to see a lack of apparent scholarship. The reference provides an overview of the hindu religious tradition and describes the essence of the hindu vision of reality. May 11, 2009 it is foolish to say that cultural diversity is unique to hinduism. How does hinduism affects indian culture by daniel collins.
The above sections provided you with some strong insights into cultural differences. What are the cultural and societal influences that have made hinduism vital to the region in which it originated. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the indian subcontinent and. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa. It is considered a family obligation to care for the elderly and the sick. If the indus valley civilization 3rd2nd millennium bce was the earliest source of hindu traditions, then hinduism is the oldest living religion on earth. The rise of hinduism world civilization lumen learning. The upanishads are also called as vedantas or the end of the vedas. Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book. You may find it surprising that much of christianity originated from india. Indeed, over the centuries, numerous historians and sages have pointed out that not only has hinduism had a predominant influence on christianity, but that many of the christian rites could be directly borrowed from hindu vedic india. Hinduism is an indian religion and dharma, or way of life, widely practiced in the indian. This influence prevails in all of his writings such as poetry.
Provides a historical and analytical discussion of hindu mythology, art, rituals, and social structure. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual. Of all the basic books on hinduism, this rather thin volume of 160 pages is the most balanced introduction to the religion. The earliest manifestation of what we now call hinduism seems to be the product of the melding of two religious and cultural influences. The cultural influences that have made hinduism essential to the region in which it originated is that thousands of years ago, the beliefs in the vedas were broken into various schools of thought by philosophers. Its many sacred texts in sanskrit and vernacular languages served as a vehicle for spreading the religion to other parts of the world. I really got a lot out of this book, and ended up going really well wthe other book i am currently reading, which takes place in india. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. While it is true that various elements of vedic ritual survive in modern practice and thereby serve a unifying function, much. The name hindu is given by the people outside of india, especially greeks and arabs, to those living in the vicinity of the sindhu river. It is perhaps the best book for someone who has no prior knowledge of the religion, a stable stepping stone for the student of religious studies, and an. There are many communities within hinduism, and many of them have their own chains of leaders.
If the indus valley civilization 3rd2nd millennium bce was the earliest source of these traditions, as some scholars hold, then hinduism is the oldest living religion on earth. Its interesting to note that the book noted hinduism is the oldest religion in the world. Although religious aspects of culture and gender attitudes are two of the most important factors in the relationship between. Within this framework, a who task force on religious and cultural aspects of hand hygiene was created to explore the potential influence of transcultural and religious factors on attitudes towards hand hygiene practices among hcws and to identify some possible solutions for integrating these factors into the hand hygiene improvement strategy. Religious and cultural influences on the selection of menu. However, despite these observations, cultural scholars often find examples where cultural realities don. For most foreigners and most illinformed indians,jainism,sikhism,buddhism, are different from hinduism.
Hinduism associates many symbols, which include the lotus, chakra and veena, with particular deities. But if you dig deep, then there are philosophies embedded in the religious hindu books, and these philosophies, as well as the teachings, have influenced western philosophers too. It causes them to be more aware of the needs of others and to be more caring and considerate. The four books of the vedasrig, yajur, sama and atharvainclude over 100,000 verses. But many people today call such crosscultural interactions, influences, adaptations etc as copyin.
Customs and traditions have always been an important part of every religion and culture. Major scriptures include the vedas and the upanishads, the puranas, the. A cultural perspective is filled with extremely helpful and insightful information on hinduism. It is a way of life, upholding the principles of virtuous and true living. About that dot on the forehead, the ten questions people ask about hinduism says this. The majority of the vedas are considered the shruti, which is translated to that which is hard. The holy books in hinduism are there only for guidance. A comprehensive survey of the hindu tradition, the book deals with the history of hinduism, the sacred writings, the hindu worldview, and the specifics of the major branches of hinduismvaisnavism, saivism, and saktism. Hinduism in india cultural heritage india,cultural tourist. Social, environmental, cognitive, and genetic influences on. Hinduism is also known as sanatan dharma or the everlasting religion. One of the most obvious examples of this is the caste system. Despite indias enormous diversity, a common grammar of ritual behaviour connects various places, strata, and periods of hindu life.
However, the holy books in hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as sanatana dharma, the eternal tradition, or the eternal way, beyond human history. In europe and the americas, this cultural expectation isnt present, though it undoubtedly was in the past. Hinduism is largely based on the teachings from vedas.
Its origin can be traced back to the prehistoric era with its ancient scriptures dating back more than four. Its origin can be traced back to the prehistoric era with its ancient scriptures dating back more than four thousand years, but no specific point of origin can be cited. Something like do religious traditions alter suicide rates. Oct 06, 2007 the cultural and social influences that have made hinduism vital to the region in which it originated, is pretty much the same of any other religion in any other part of the world. Religion has historically influenced indian society on a political, cultural and economic level. Choose from 500 different sets of hinduism beliefs social studies flashcards on quizlet. The knowledge imparted by the vedas ranges from earthy devotion to high philosophy.
Meaning seeker, sramana refers to several indian religious movements that. Hinduism is the dominant religion in india, where hindus form about 84 per cent of the total population. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. Some hindus leave their social world and material possessions, then engage in. Learn hinduism beliefs social studies with free interactive flashcards. The vedasthe oldest texts of the hindu religiondescribe deities. These texts attempt to debate the value of the realworld versus the spiritualworld. Because of this, indian law bans the killing of cows. The second strand in the fabric of hinduism is practice. Based on the prehistoric vedic text, it is a faith in constant change. Some customs are so important for the people that sometimes, they sacrifice their lives for them.