A Brief Introduction to Hinduism

Scriptures

Hindu scriptures include: 

•  4 Vedas

• 108 Upanishads 

•  18 Puranas 

•  the Ramayan

•  the Mahabharat (The Bhagavad Geeta is a tiny part of the Mahabharat.)

Trimurti and Tridevi

Hinduism is polytheistic, with dozens of gods, but there are three major deities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiv, together called the Trimurti (meaning 'trinity'). Their respective consorts, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati, are collectively called Tridevi (meaning 'three goddesses').

• Brahma is the Creator of the universe. He grants wishes to those who pray to him, even if they are demons. His consort is Saraswati (the Goddess of learning and music). The mischievous and humorous Rishi Narad is the son of Brahma. Brahma and Saraswati reside in Brahmalok. Brahma never fights; therefore, he wields no weapons. He has four heads (representing the four Vedas) and four arms. His mount (vehicle) is a swan.

• Vishnu is the Preserver of the universe. He periodically incarnates on Earth to destroy the forces of evil. Some of his popular incarnations (avatars) are Lord Ram from the Ramayan and Lord Krishna from the Mahabharat. Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity). Vishnu and Lakshmi lie on the body of a gigantic serpent called Shesh in Vaikunth (meaning 'place of eternal bliss'). Vishnu's weapon of choice is the Sudarshan Chakra—a fast-rotating disc with a sharp, serrated circumference—which he uses to decapitate demons. Vishnu has four arms; his mount (vehicle) is an eagle named Garud, the king of the birds.

• Shivshankar (Shiv for short) is the Destroyer of the universe; he will destroy the universe at the end of each 'cycle'. Parvati (the Goddess of energy and beauty) is his consort. He also sometimes incarnates on Earth, but his avatars are generally less prominent than Vishnu's. He has a third eye in the middle of his forehead, which emits fire when opened. Thankfully, he opens it only when infuriated. Shiv's most famous avatar is the monkey-god Hanuman from the Ramayan. Shiv and Parvati reside on the summit of Mount Kailash with their attendants. They have two children: Kartikey and Ganesh. Shiv's weapon of choice is the Trident. A snake called Vasuki resides on Shiv's neck. Shiv's mount (vehicle) is the bull-god Nandi.

The Minor Gods

Numerous less important gods and goddesses reside in heaven:

• Indra, the king of the gods. His weapon of choice is the Thunderbolt (Vajra). His mount (vehicle) is Airavat, the king of the elephants. 

• Shachi or Indrani (Indra's wife), the queen of the gods

• the Sun god

•  the Moon god

•  the Fire god

•  the Rain god

•  the Wind god

• Yamaraj, the god of death and justice

• Kamadev, the god of love

• Brihaspati, the gods' guru

• Several apsaras (celestial nymphs)

Important Definitions

• Brahman - the supreme, formless reality

• Brahmarshi - the highest class of rishis

• guru dakshina - payment for a guru's services

• Maharshi - great rishi

• Rajarshi - royal rishi

• sati - the practice wherein a new widow is expected to kill herself by self-immolating on her husband's funeral pyre (This ghastly practice has long been abolished in India.)

• swayamvar - a ritual where a bride chooses her groom from a group of suitors

• yagya - any ritual done before a sacred fire

• yojan - a traditional measure of distance, reckoned variously as between about 3.5 km and 15 km

Major Denominations

• Vaishnavism - Its adherents, who believe Lord Vishnu is the supreme being, are called Vaishnavites.

• Shaivism - Its adherents, who believe Lord Shiv is supreme, are called Shaivites. 

• Shaktism - Its adherents, who believe that the supreme being is feminine, are called Shaktas. All goddesses are manifestations of this supreme feminine being called Goddess Shakti.

• Smartism - Its adherents are called Smartas. They worship five deities—Shiv, Vishnu, Devi (Goddess), Sun god, and Ganesh—as manifestations of Brahman.

The Caste System

Hinduism has different castes: 

• Brahmins (Priests and Intellectuals) 

• Kshatriyas (Warriors) 

• Vaishyas (Merchants) 

• Shudras (Manual laborers and Artisans)

• Dalits (Untouchables)

The caste system is one of the modern evils of Hinduism.