25 Interesting Facts about Hinduism

Hinduism is the oldest practiced religion and has the third largest following in the world today. Despite its universal appeal, Hinduism is easily misunderstood mainly due to incorrect interpretations of the scriptures written in Sanskrit, and the oral tradition of literature. This article is a small attempt to share some of the larger facts of the Hindu practices and beliefs.

Hinduism fact 1

Hinduism is the largest ancient religion in India. This religion has 330 million gods and 108 scared numbers odd numbers are auspicious for the Hindu religion.

Hinduism fact 2

Hindus believe that souls reincarnate, undergoing a rebirth cycle. In Hindu mythology, people believe the soul considers as space (empty) invisible one.

Hinduism fact 3

Hindus hold the belief of the four Vedas in their minds. This considers the most ancient book in the world. Hindus believe the myth book of ‘Bhagavat Gita’ and it quotes also Four Vedas of Rig, yajir, Sama and Adharvana are ancient scripture of Hindu religion.

Hinduism fact 4

Hindus believe that the soul can undergo a variety of physical endurance in the body. All past life you’ve led contributed to the person you are today, nevertheless the soul reincarnates for the physical body.

Hinduism fact 5

Hinduism follows the creation concept of practices of Yoga, Ayurveda, Astrology, Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, and Karma. Hindus believe these four types of kama, Artha, Dharma, and Moksha is important to live in the human life. This four-level of life to reach a good karma life.

Hinduism fact 6

Karma is the universal principle of cause and effect, karma calculates based on our activity, our actions, good, and bad come back to us in the future, helping us to learn from the lessons of life and become a better person. Karma only decides the future life of the human.

Hinduism fact 7

There is no concept of Creation and the Creator. World come from God, is in God and will return to God, like a wave arising from the sea, there are at sea and eased back into the sea. However, Hindu religion believes three Major Trimurti Gods of Lord Bhrama (creator) Lord Vishnu (preserver) and Lord Shiva (Destroyer).

Hinduism fact 8

Reincarnation is a phenomenon in which the immortal soul continuously born and reborn in one of the 8.4 million forms of life-to achieve moksha. Moksha is the final liberation. But the soul is roaming of conscious only, not memory and also an inevitable one.

Hinduism fact 9

Hindus believe that all living things have a soul or Atman. Each timeless – never created and never will perish. Atma is characterized as an unchanging truth, consciousness, and happiness.

Hinduism fact 10

The last facts about Hinduism are not a religion but a way of life of tradition and culture. Hinduism gives you a healthy lifestyle. Hindu practices such as bathing in the morning, do Yoga, avoid meat, etc. promote health and hygiene, this is the most interesting Hinduism fact. Dharma lifestyle will give Moksha to complete the circle of rebirth.

Hinduism practices of one person taken bath from the holy river of Ganga such as bathing in the Ganga river firmly, reach Moksha or soul purifies.

Hinduism fact 11

Hinduism is an exonym, a name given to those who were residing across the River Sindu by those of other geographic origins. Believed to have originated in Central Asia and the Indus Valley the adherants of this faith know it as ‘Sanatana Dharma’ or ‘Eternal Dharma’. This way of life practiced in the Indian subcontinent over time became Hinduism denoting the native religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions practised in India.

Hinduism fact 12

The concept of God is as simple as it is complex in Hinduism. Hindus are not Idol Worshippers. In Hinduism the idols ‘murthi’ serve as reminders of godly virtues and are not worshiped believing it to be gods. These physical representations are only manifestations of the Omnipotent or ‘Bhraman’ as the Hindu belief is that any object is worthy of being worshiped as it contains a facet of divine energy

Hinduism Fact 13

Hinduism has 33 primary gods. The Vedas mention ‘trayastrimsati koti’ devi-devta or 33 kotis gods which was incorrectly translated to 33 million gods by foreign scholars. The word Koti in Sanskrit has 2 meanings one means ‘types’ & the other ‘Crore’. Dev here means ‘that which is divine and useful to the universe’ and not an individual. The worship therefore extends to every aspect that contributes to maintain an order in the universe. Sun, moon, planets, and other elements of nature are thanked and respected for their invaluable benevolence to mankind.

Hinduism Fact 14

There is no concept of Creation and the Creator. World comes from God, is in God and will return to God, like a wave arising from the sea, exisits in the sea and eases back into the sea. However, Hindu religion believes three major Trimurti Gods – Lord Bhrama (creator) Lord Vishnu (preserver) and Lord Shiva (Destroyer).

Hinduism Fact 15

Hinduism does not believe in only one way to experience or realize God. There is no only one path but many paths to reach God.

Hinduism Fact 16

Hinduism follows the creation concept of practices of Yoga, Ayurveda, Astrology, Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, and Karma. Hindus believe the four tenets of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are important to undergo the human existance.

Hinduism Fact 17

Dharma and Karma are two important principles of Hinduism. Dharma refers to good ethics and the path of righteous living. Karma in Hinduism is not fate. It is the law of Action and Reaction which governs life. It describes the principles of ‘cause and effect’. Karma is the totality of our actions and its resulting reactions across all our lives impacting our present and future lives.  Karma calculates based on our activity, our actions, good, and bad come back to us in the future, helping us to learn from the lessons of life and evolve to a better person.

Hinduism Fact 18

Hindus believe in the human cycle of death – rebirth called ‘samsara’. Life does not end when the physical form ceases to exist. The soul ‘athman’ is reborn after a person dies and takes on another physical body. This is a process that allows the soul to evolve to  certain state of perfection similar to how a caterpillar sheds one form to metamorphose into a magnificent butterfly.

Hinduism Fact 19

The ultimate aim of the Hindu way of life is to attain ‘moksha’ or reach the state of blissful union with the Eternal divine. There is no terrifying concept of ‘Eternal damnation’ instead the focus is on God-realization. The state of moksha ends all pain and suffering linked with physical existence.

Hinduism Fact 20

Hindus believe that all living things have a soul or Atman. The atman is timeless – never created and never will perish. The ultimate goal of the atman is to become one with the Supreme Soul or “Parmatma”

Hinduism Fact 21

In Hindu parlance Maya refers to ’that which exists but is not real’. Maya in Sanskrit means ‘Illusion’. One could often hear Hindus say “everything is maya”. This refers to the limitation of human nature to perceive truth. The perfect example is the blue sky, the sky exists though it in reality it has no color however we see it as blue.

Hinduism Fact 22

108 scared numbers odd numbers are auspicious for the Hindu religion. Numbers offer a means to meditate and realize a hidden symbolic significance. The ancient mathematicians of India identified the number 108 to be the product of a precise mathematical calculation. Other important numbers are 0,1,2,3,7,9…and each of them have multiple symbolic significance.

Hinduism Fact 23

Hindus believe in the horoscope or the birth chart which indicates that there are predestined events that would shape our lives. In the horoscope or the ‘janam-kundli’ the position of the Nine planets, Stars and Moon influence our behaviour and set in motion certain events. Marriages are fixed only after consulting and matching the horoscope of the bride and groom to be.

Hinduism Fact 24

The belief that ‘we are what we eat’ is a strong principle of Hinduism. Hindus do not eat pork or beef. On auspicious days Hindus consume only vegetarian food and on certain days they observe complete abstinence from eating or fast. Food is classified as ‘satvic’, Tamasic, or Rajasic’ based on the impact it creates. Wastage of food is strictly looked down upon in Hindu practices.

Hinduism Fact 25

Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life of tradition and culture. Hinduism allows a healthy lifestyle that resonate with the environment. Hindu practices such as bathing in the morning, do Yoga, avoid meat, etc. promote health and hygiene, and are the most interesting Hinduism aspect of a religion practiced from ancient times. The concept of Hinduism is a set of doctrines and instructions that tell us what is good for the body and the soul while being in tandem with the universe.

 

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