Characteristics of Hinduism

• As mentioned earlier, Hinduism is

diverse as it is composed of different
traditions and beliefs however,
despite the pluralistic nature of their
traditions, Hindus indentity to the
following characteristics:
• The Vedas as the source of Hindu belief
The Vedas is the earliest among the
sacred
Hindu texts, Althoug not all Hindus give the
same value to this text, they all affirm the
centrality of the Vedas to Hinduism
• Belief in Karma and reincarnation.
Hindus believe that life is an endless
cycle. Whatever ones has done in his
or her present life has a corresponding
reward or punishment. The two
principles go hand in hand in a sense
that every being is reincarnated and
will receive his or her karma.
• Belief in the social class system known as
caste
The caste system which is traditionally
called carnashrama, is a guide that
systematizes that social order in a form of
hierarchical ordering of groups in a society.
Hindus believe that his hierarchic order
maintains and sustain society from
crumbing, and that it strengthens social
mobility.
• Others suggest more detailed
criteria as to what constitutes
a Hindu religion. Aside from
the charactetistics enumerated
above, Steven Rosen (2006), a
respected scholar or Hinduism,
added the following principles:
• Belief in one, all-pervasive
Supreme Reality, manifesting
as both an impersonal force,
which is called Brahman, and
as a personal divinity(known
variously, according to
whichever particular tradition
obe adheres to) ;
• Belief in the cyclical nature
of time- that there are
world ages that repeat
themselves such as
seasons;
• Belief in alternate realities with
higher beings-God and his
manifold manifestations who can
be accessed throug temple
worship, rituals, sacraments, and
prayers;
• Belief in enlightened master or
gurus- exemplary souls who are
fully devoted to God and Who act
as a conduit for others to reach
him;
• belief in nonnaggression
and noninjury(ahimsa) as a
way of showing love to all
creatures including the
idea of the sacredness of
all life its concomitant
universal compassion);
• belief that all revealed religions
are essentially correct, as aspects
of one ultimate reality, and that
religious tolerance is the hallmark
of true wisdom;and
• Belief that the living being is
first and foremost a spiritual
entity- a soul within the body,
and that the spiritual pursuit is
consequently the essence and
real purpose of life
• In other words, Hinduism can be described
and defined in terms of rituals, ceremonies,
religious, and social practices and the caste
system hence, to describe what a Hindu is
means so say what a Hindu does.
Furthermore, another aspect of hinduism as
religion is being ethnocentric It is a religion
that does not proselytize; it is a non-
missionary religion because membership is
based on birth
 We can also say that Hinduism is a unique
and inclusive religion. Hinduism welcomes
diverse beliefs in gods and goddesses. A Hindu
can believe in different gids and goddesses
without fear or violating relgious rules or
dogma. Hindys believe that gods and goddesses
are different expressions of one God and that
any form Hinduism, as long as it is practiced
with all sincerity, will liberate one from the
world of suffering and pain. This belief is called
Moksha
 There are three major paths that
every Hindu should follow and live by:
namely, the way of works, way of
knowledge, and way of devotion. The first
way emphasizes performing proper ritual
and doing one's duty in society. The second
way promotes asceticism, seeking unity
with the eternal (This is a life embraced by
monks.) The third gives importance to
putting one's faith in a personal god
 Hinduism, being inclusive, does not deny
polytheism or monotheism, It is both. It seeks to
find unity amidst diversity. For example, Hindus
worship many gods and goddesses, which is
considered polytheitic. Howewver, they also
recognize that there is only one reality- one
personal God and the gods and goddesses are
simply different manifestation of that one
reality. This is a monotheisti belief.
Other scholars consider this form of theological
or religous belief as Henotheism- a belief in one
god but at the same time acceptng the existence
Of other gods(as manifestation of the supreme
being).
End