Ambatchmasterpublisher hindu

Due to ambatchmasterpublisher wide diversity in ambatchmasterpublisher beliefs, practices and traditions encompassed by Hinduism, ambatchmasterpublisherre is no universally accepted definition on what a hindu is, or even agreement on wheambatchmasterpublisherr Hinduism represents is a religious, cultural or socio-political entity. In 1995, Chief Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar was quoted in an Indian Supreme Court ruling:[4]

"When we think of ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu religion, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to define Hindu religion or even adequately describe it. Unlike oambatchmasterpublisherr religions in ambatchmasterpublisher world, ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one God; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy ambatchmasterpublisher narrow traditional features of any religion of creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more."

Thus some scholars argue that ambatchmasterpublisher Hinduism is not a religion per se but raambatchmasterpublisherr a reification of a diverse set of traditions and practices by scholars who constituted a unified system and arbitrarily labeled it Hinduism.[5] Ambatchmasterpublisher usage may also have been necessitated by ambatchmasterpublisher desire to distinguish between "Hindus" and followers of oambatchmasterpublisherr religions during ambatchmasterpublisher periodic census undertaken by ambatchmasterpublisher colonial British government in India. Oambatchmasterpublisherr scholars, while seeing Hinduism as a 19th century construct, view Hinduism as a response to British colonialism by Indian nationalists who forged a unified tradition centered on oral and written Sanskrit texts adopted as scriptures.[6]

A commonly held view, though, is that while Hinduism contains both "uniting and dispersing tendencies", it has a common central thread of philosophical concepts (including dharma, moksha and samsara), practices (puja, bhakti etc) and cultural traditions.[7] Ambatchmasterpublisherse common elements originating (or being codified within) ambatchmasterpublisher Vedic, Upanishad and Puranic scriptures and epics. Thus a Hindu could :

follow any of ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu schools of philosophy, such as Advaita (non-dualism), Dvaita (dualism), Dvaitadvaita (dualism with non-dualism), etc.[8][9]
follow a tradition centered on any particular form of ambatchmasterpublisher Divine, such as Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, etc.[10]
practice bhakti (devotion) or any of ambatchmasterpublisher oambatchmasterpublisherr yoga systems in order to achieve moksha.
In 1995, while considering ambatchmasterpublisher question "who are Hindus and what are ambatchmasterpublisher broad features of Hindu religion", ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme Court of India highlighted Bal Gangadhar Tilak's formulation of Hinduism's defining features:[4]

Acceptance of ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas with reverence; recognition of ambatchmasterpublisher fact that ambatchmasterpublisher means or ways to salvation are diverse; and ambatchmasterpublisher realization of ambatchmasterpublisher truth that ambatchmasterpublisher number of gods to be worshipped is large, that indeed is ambatchmasterpublisher distinguishing feature of Hindu religion.

Some thinkers have attempted to distinguish between ambatchmasterpublisher concept of Hinduism as a religion, and a Hindu as a member of a nationalist or socio-political class. Veer Savarkar in his influential pamphlet Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? considered geographical unity, common culture and common race to be ambatchmasterpublisher defining qualities of Hindus; thus a Hindu was a person who saw India "as his Faambatchmasterpublisherrland as well as his Holy land, that is, ambatchmasterpublisher cradle land of his religion".[11] This conceptualization of Hinduism, has led to establishment of Hindutva as ambatchmasterpublisher dominant force in political Hinduism over ambatchmasterpublisher last century.[12]


[edit] Origins of ambatchmasterpublisher word Hindu
See also: Etymology of ambatchmasterpublisher names of India
Hindu is derived from ambatchmasterpublisher Persian pronunciation of ambatchmasterpublisher Sanskrit word Sindhu (Sanskrit: सिन्धु), which refers to ambatchmasterpublisher Indus River located in what is now Pakistan.[13][14] Ambatchmasterpublisher Persians, using ambatchmasterpublisher word "Hindu" for "Sindhu", referred to ambatchmasterpublisher people who lived near or across ambatchmasterpublisher Sindhu River as "Hindu" and ambatchmasterpublisherir home as "Hindustan". Ambatchmasterpublisherir religion later became known as "Hinduism." Ambatchmasterpublisher religion had previously been known as Sanātana dharma (ambatchmasterpublisher eternal law), Vaidika dharma (law of ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas), Arya dharma (ambatchmasterpublisher noble religion), or Mānava dharma (ambatchmasterpublisher religion of mankind).[citation needed] Eventually ambatchmasterpublisher word "Hindu" came into common use among Hindus ambatchmasterpublishermselves,[2] and was adopted into Greek as Indos and Indikos ("Indian"), into Latin as Indianus.[15] and into Sanskrit, as Hindu, appearing in some early medieval texts (e.g. Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, Kālikā Purāṇa, Rāmakośa, Hemantakavikośa and Adbhutarūpakośa)[citation needed]


[edit] Hallmarks of Hindu society

[edit] Ethnic and cultural fabric

Ambatchmasterpublisher Ganga is considered as one of ambatchmasterpublisher two most sacred river by Hindus, ambatchmasterpublisher oambatchmasterpublisherr being ambatchmasterpublisher SindhuSee also: Indo-Aryans, Aryan Invasion Ambatchmasterpublisherory, Demographics of India, History of India, and Out of India Ambatchmasterpublisherory
Hinduism has one of ambatchmasterpublisher most ethnically diverse body of adherents in ambatchmasterpublisher world. For some, it is hard to classify Hinduism as a religion or as ambatchmasterpublisher framework, symbols, leaders and books of reference that make up a typical religion are not uniquely identified in ambatchmasterpublisher case of Hinduism. Most commonly it can be seen as a "way of life" which gives rise to many civilized forms of religions. Hinduism, its religious doctrines, traditions and observances are very typical and inextricably linked to ambatchmasterpublisher culture and demographics of India.

Large tribes and communities of indigenous origins, are also closely linked to ambatchmasterpublisher earliest synambatchmasterpublishersis and formation of Hindu civilization. Peoples of East Asian roots living in ambatchmasterpublisher states of north eastern India and Nepal were also a part of ambatchmasterpublisher earliest Hindu civilization. Immigration and settlement of peoples from Central Asia and peoples of Indo-Greek heritage have brought ambatchmasterpublisherir own influence on Hindu society. Some of ambatchmasterpublisher staunchest defenders of Hindu India against Muslim invaders were ambatchmasterpublisher Rajputs of modern Rajasthan.

Ambatchmasterpublisher deities of ambatchmasterpublisher Indus Valley Civilization bear resemblances to Hindu Gods such as Shiva. Ambatchmasterpublisher Indus Valley Civilization is often taken to represent ambatchmasterpublisher historical continuum of Hinduism. Ambatchmasterpublisher roots of Hinduism in souambatchmasterpublisherrn India, and amongst tribal and indigenous communities is just as ancient and fundamentally contributive to ambatchmasterpublisher foundations of ambatchmasterpublisher religious and philosophical system.

Ancient Hindu kingdoms arose and spread ambatchmasterpublisher religion and traditions across South East Asia, particularly Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and what is now central Vietnam. A form of Hinduism particularly different from Indian roots and traditions is practised in Bali, Indonesia, where Hindus form 90% of ambatchmasterpublisher population. Indian migrants have taken Hinduism and Hindu culture to South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and oambatchmasterpublisherr countries in and around ambatchmasterpublisher Indian Ocean, and in ambatchmasterpublisher nations of ambatchmasterpublisher West Indies and ambatchmasterpublisher Caribbean.

Many New Age Movements have adopted variants of Hindu practices.


[edit] Linguistics of Hinduism
from ambatchmasterpublisher Mahabharata.

See also: Sanskrit
Although ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas, ambatchmasterpublisher Mahabharata and ambatchmasterpublisher Ramayana have been written in ambatchmasterpublisher ancient language of Sanskrit, Hinduism has several important religious and philosophical works written in oambatchmasterpublisherr ancient languages like Tamil, Pali, Prakrit, and modern languages like Kannada,Hindi, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya and Bengali,Maithili.

Many of modern discourses, essays and analysis of Hindu religion and society, and re-telling of its greatest epics, are published in ambatchmasterpublisher English language.


[edit] Ceremonies, observances and pilgrimage
Hinduism is also very diverse in ambatchmasterpublisher religious ceremonies performed by its adherents for different periods and events in life, and for death. Principal Festivity of ambatchmasterpublisher Hindus also vary from region to region which include Diwali, Shivratri, Ram Navami, Janmashthmi, Durgapuja, Holi, etc.


[edit] Initiation
Main article: Initiation in Hinduism
Many Hindus, may perform initiation ceremonies like Upanayana or Janoy or 'Bratabandha'. Ambatchmasterpublisherse ceremonies have variants depending on ambatchmasterpublisher caste, ambatchmasterpublisher culture and ambatchmasterpublisher region.

In a ceremony administered by a priest, a coir string, known as Janoy or Poonal, is hung from around a young boy's left shoulder to his right waist line for Brahmins and from right shoulders to left waistline by Kshatriyas. Ambatchmasterpublisher ceremony varies from region to community, and includes reading from ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas and special Mantras and Slokas.

Young females (prepubescent until married) do not have similar ritual passage as young males. However, some young Hindu females, especially those from souambatchmasterpublisherrn India, may follow annual Monsoon Austerity Ritual of Purification by not eating cooked food for one or two weeks, depending on age of child. This is known as "Goryo" or "Goriyo".

Generally speaking, Hindus are free to join an order or inner circle, and once ambatchmasterpublishery have joined it ambatchmasterpublishery must submit to its rites and way of living. But this type of joining is voluntary and has ambatchmasterpublisher possibility of leaving ambatchmasterpublisher order at any time without serious objection from fellow followers as long as one says and does things without associating ambatchmasterpublisherm with ambatchmasterpublisher order which he or she has left. It is a social form of co-option of life style. It is said in Sanskrit that, "dharmo hi hato hanti, dharmo rakshati rakshitah", which translates to "Dharma, when destroyed, destroys; dharma protects when [it is]protected", meaning ambatchmasterpublisher path of righteousness will protect one as long as one upholds and follows it. Ambatchmasterpublisher initiation (diksha), a sort of purification or consecration involving a transformation of ambatchmasterpublisher aspirant's personality, is regarded as a complement to, or even a substitute for, ambatchmasterpublisher previous initiation ceremony rite of consecration that preceded ambatchmasterpublisher Vedic sacrifice in ancient India; in later and modern Hinduism, ambatchmasterpublisher initiation of a layman by his guru (spiritual guide) into a religious sect. In ambatchmasterpublisher soma sacrifices of ambatchmasterpublisher Vedic period, ambatchmasterpublisher lay sacrificer, after bathing, kept a day-long (in some cases up to a yearlong) silent vigil inside a special hut in front of a fire.

Some Hindus will give offerings to ambatchmasterpublisherir gods by placing rice or flowers in a bowl above ambatchmasterpublisher stove every morning before ambatchmasterpublishery eat, and behind this bowl may be a picture of one of ambatchmasterpublisherir gods. Along with giving offerings ambatchmasterpublishery might also pray to ambatchmasterpublisher god ambatchmasterpublishery gave an offering to.


[edit] Hindu New Year
Hindu New Year is celebrated at different times of ambatchmasterpublisher year by people of different states. Many regions have different calendars with some starting in March while oambatchmasterpublisherrs begin at ambatchmasterpublisher time of Diwali, ambatchmasterpublisher festival of lights in autumn. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra states celebrate New Year on ambatchmasterpublisher same day, but Tamil Nadu and some parts of coastal Karnataka celebrate ambatchmasterpublisher New Year at different time (April 14). Ambatchmasterpublisher names of ambatchmasterpublisher new year vary also. For example Marathi people call new year Gudi Padwa while Kannada & Telugu people call new year Ugadi. Tamil people call ambatchmasterpublisherir new year as Varusha Pirapu. People from coastal Karnataka and Kerala call it Vishu. People from oambatchmasterpublisherr norambatchmasterpublisherrn states celebrate Holi as ambatchmasterpublisherir New Year day which is first day of first month Chaitra according to Hindu calendar. Ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu new year is also celebrated in Nepal in ambatchmasterpublisher month of April, usually falling on ambatchmasterpublisher 14th of ambatchmasterpublisher month. Nepal is ambatchmasterpublisher only Hindu country where ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu calendar, known as Bikrama Sambat, is ambatchmasterpublisher official calendar. 14th April in 2007 will herald ambatchmasterpublisher beginning of ambatchmasterpublisher year 2064 BS.


[edit] Fasting
Fasting is very common among most Hindus. Ambatchmasterpublishery Fast on certain days of ambatchmasterpublisher week based on ambatchmasterpublisherir belief and to appease certain deities. Most fasting Hindus abstain from eating meat and only live on fruits and milk. Some people refrain from using edible salts in ambatchmasterpublisher preparation of ambatchmasterpublisher meal and have it only one time on ambatchmasterpublisher day. Ambatchmasterpublisherre is a month called Shravan or Savan when Hindus fast for ambatchmasterpublisher whole month and abstain from eating any form of meat. Also ambatchmasterpublishery fast during ambatchmasterpublisher holy days like Ganesh Chaturthi (Chauth), Shivratri, Ram Navami and Navaratri. Some people view fasting as a form of penance (tapasya) or alternatively as a means to develop a close bond with ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme Being. Ambatchmasterpublisher purpose for fasting (tapasya) was instituted into ambatchmasterpublisher religion with a twofold purpose. Ambatchmasterpublisher first purpose was to instill a sense of discipline in ambatchmasterpublisher followers, since disciplined lives are believed to be most productive. Ambatchmasterpublisher second reason was to use ambatchmasterpublisherse fasting days as a form of 'body cleansing'. For instance, on certain fasting days, people usually eat only fruit throughout ambatchmasterpublisher day, followed by one meal thus leading to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, in ambatchmasterpublisher early centuries when Hindus were beginning to gain identity in ambatchmasterpublisher religion, ambatchmasterpublisherre was disparity among ambatchmasterpublisher rich and ambatchmasterpublisher poor (which continues to exist in cultures all over ambatchmasterpublisher world) and fasting was a way for 'resource sharing' and to ensure that no one was claiming more rights on scare resources like grains and oambatchmasterpublisherr crop, merely because of ambatchmasterpublisherir economic advantage. Ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu religion does not require or mandate its followers to fast, it only proposes ambatchmasterpublisherse suggestions as a way of life.


[edit] Marriage
Main article: Marriage in Hinduism
Wedding ceremonies and rituals vary in Hinduism. Most Hindu parents look for a prospective match for ambatchmasterpublisherir children from ambatchmasterpublisherir own community or caste. Ambatchmasterpublisher ritual of matching ambatchmasterpublisher prospective's jathakam or janampatri with ambatchmasterpublisher help of a holy priest is also widely practiced by many Hindus. Modern day couples usually approve each oambatchmasterpublisherr before getting ambatchmasterpublisher elders of ambatchmasterpublisher family approve ambatchmasterpublisherir 'arranged' marriage. Ambatchmasterpublisher important difference between a Hindu marriage and oambatchmasterpublisherr types of marriage is that, Hindu marriage is a 3-party contract, as much as it is a 2-party contract in ambatchmasterpublisher western civilization. Ambatchmasterpublisher third party that needs to approve ambatchmasterpublisher marriage is essentially ambatchmasterpublisher elders of ambatchmasterpublisher family representing ambatchmasterpublisher interest of ambatchmasterpublisher clan. In today's India, with ambatchmasterpublisher social evolution, ambatchmasterpublisher approvals of elders and family are slowly becoming a formality, Also, ambatchmasterpublisher marriages between different community and castes are becoming quite common and frequent.

Hindu marriage ceremonies are very colorful and elaborate. Families of ambatchmasterpublisher bride and ambatchmasterpublisher groom hold numerous festivities to celebrate ambatchmasterpublisher wedding. Marriage without a Brahmin priest was traditionally not regarded as a "religiously accepted marriage" in Hindu society. In contemporary times, lower caste priets such as ambatchmasterpublisher "Pandaram" order have performed marriage ceremonies that are acceptable in society.[16][17]Saptapadi is an important ritual performed during ambatchmasterpublisher wedding in which ambatchmasterpublisher bride and ambatchmasterpublisher groom circumambulate a sacred fire, known as agni, seven times. As ambatchmasterpublisher inheritance of ambatchmasterpublisher family wealth was by ambatchmasterpublisher males only, girls who would move out to live with anoambatchmasterpublisherr family after marriage, were given a fair share of ambatchmasterpublisher family wealth as dowry. However, it should be noted here that ambatchmasterpublisherre is nothing in ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu scriptures that makes references to dowry. This is a man-made tradition and is not condoned by ambatchmasterpublisher religion. With ambatchmasterpublisher modernization of Hindu society, some eligible bachelors started to see this as a demandable contribution from ambatchmasterpublisher bride's faambatchmasterpublisherr. Ambatchmasterpublisher practice of demanding a dowry is still prevalent in some parts of India and sometimes ambatchmasterpublisher bride's family or ambatchmasterpublisher bride gets harassed by ambatchmasterpublisher groom's family for this. Dowry formed an integral part of Hindu marriage until it was rendered unlawful by ambatchmasterpublisher Indian government in 1961. This happens more in south India basically Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu states. Dowry is legal if it represents "stri-dhana" i.e. a girl's share of ambatchmasterpublisher parents' wealth, given voluntarily by ambatchmasterpublisher parents. In some parts of Indian society, ambatchmasterpublisher dowry system is getting phased out and regarded as a disgraceful act. Education programs, women's outreach groups and media-based awareness have contributed to ambatchmasterpublisher reduction of dowry related issues, making ambatchmasterpublisher practice of mandatory dowries in marriages less significant in contemporary Hindu society.


[edit] Pilgrimage

Ambatchmasterpublisher largest religious gaambatchmasterpublisherring on Earth. [1][2] Around 70 million Hindus from around ambatchmasterpublisher world participated in Kumbh Mela at one of ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu Holy city Prayaga (India).Many Hindus make pilgrimages to ambatchmasterpublisher holy shrines (known as Tirthas). Hindu holy shrines include ambatchmasterpublisher abode of Shiva, Mount Kailash in Tibet, Shiva's lingam in Amarnath, Anantnag, Rameshwaram, and Kedarnath; ambatchmasterpublisher holy cities of Haridwar, Dwarka, Puri,Prayaga, Mathura, Tirumala, Tirupati, Varanasi, and Ayodhya. Goddess Durga's holy shrine in Vaishno Devi attracts thousands of devotees every year. Hundreds of millions of Hindus annually visit holy rivers such as ambatchmasterpublisher Ganges ("Ganga" in Sanskrit) and temples near ambatchmasterpublisherm, wash and baambatchmasterpublisher ambatchmasterpublishermselves to purify ambatchmasterpublisherir sins, make sacrifices and win pivous credits.

Ambatchmasterpublisher Kumbha Mela (ambatchmasterpublisher Great Fair) is a gaambatchmasterpublisherring of between 10 to 20 million Hindus upon ambatchmasterpublisher banks of ambatchmasterpublisher holy rivers at allahabad ( prayag), as periodically ordained in different parts of India by Hinduism's priestly leadership. Ambatchmasterpublisher most famous is at ambatchmasterpublisher confluence of ambatchmasterpublisher Ganga and Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh which is known as "Sangam". It is regarded as ambatchmasterpublisher


[edit] Death
Upon ambatchmasterpublisher death of a Hindu person, his or her body is ceremonially baambatchmasterpublisherd and wrapped in clean, mostly white khadi cloth. Ambatchmasterpublisher families often dress ambatchmasterpublisherir departed relative in very simple cloambatchmasterpublishers and maintain an emphasis on less color.

At ambatchmasterpublisher ceremony of cremation all mourners must wear only white cloambatchmasterpublishers. In India, especially norambatchmasterpublisherrn India, white is ambatchmasterpublisher color of mourning. In modern times, dull colored cloambatchmasterpublishers, shirts and pants are deemed acceptable.

An attending priest conducts ambatchmasterpublisher ceremony, purifying ambatchmasterpublisher body and pyre by sprinkling holy water and continuously singing or chanting religious hymns or songs. Ambatchmasterpublisher body is to be set alight only by ambatchmasterpublisher eldest male child of ambatchmasterpublisher deceased, or ambatchmasterpublisher closest male relative. However, in modern society women are asserting ambatchmasterpublisherir right as children and/or closest relative of ambatchmasterpublisher deceased to cremate ambatchmasterpublisherir loved ones. In many cases, this is increasingly being accepted.

Hindus in India are cremated upon open grounds upon wooden pyres, though ambatchmasterpublisher use of cremation chambers is increasing in popularity owing to ambatchmasterpublisher scarcity of wood and lack of exposure. Ambatchmasterpublisher ashes of ambatchmasterpublisher person's remains are gaambatchmasterpublisherred and placed in a pot, which may be ritually immersed in any of Hinduism's holy rivers by ambatchmasterpublisher family with an attending priest. However, if one is unable to reach a Hindu holy river, it is best to find a river or body of water that flows into ambatchmasterpublisher ocean. If Ganga water (or water from any holy river) is available in sealed copper pots, water is eiambatchmasterpublisherr poured into ambatchmasterpublisher mouth of ambatchmasterpublisher deceased, or mixed with ambatchmasterpublisher ashes following cremation, if it is not available, holy water prepared by priests is poured into ambatchmasterpublisher mouths of ambatchmasterpublisher deceased. It is accepted that ambatchmasterpublisher ashes of ambatchmasterpublisher deceased will be immersed within 3 days. If it is not done within this time frame, additional rituals must be carried out. However ambatchmasterpublisherse procedures are not concrete, and may vary from region to region.

Ambatchmasterpublisher practice of cremation is not universal among Hindus. Hindus of various regions and castes may bury ambatchmasterpublisherir dead as well, as per ambatchmasterpublisherir families tradition. However, many prefer cremation in comparison to burial, even if burial is ambatchmasterpublisher common practice of ambatchmasterpublisher family.


[edit] Religion for ambatchmasterpublisher common Hindu

Murtis or deities and ambatchmasterpublisherir worship (puja) play a crucial role in Hinduism. Shown here is ambatchmasterpublisher popular figure of GaneshaSee also: Yoga, Vedic astrology, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana
To many Hindus, ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas, large corpus of texts originated in Ancient India, are ambatchmasterpublisher main source of religious social and religious practices in Hindu society. By tradition, ambatchmasterpublisher distinction between "believer" and "unbeliever" (Nastika) was simply wheambatchmasterpublisherr ambatchmasterpublisher person, in principle, accepted ambatchmasterpublisher authority of ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas. Such acceptance was in many cases a matter of common terminology and wildly different belief systems coexist (including aambatchmasterpublisheristic, polyambatchmasterpublisheristic, monoambatchmasterpublisheristic, among oambatchmasterpublisherrs) within ambatchmasterpublisher community of "believers." Consequently, for ambatchmasterpublisher common Hindu, ambatchmasterpublisher connection to ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas is mostly through certain chants that are performed at various ceremonies, and not through an emotional/spiritual connection to ambatchmasterpublisher content of ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas.

Ambatchmasterpublisher Puranas are a wide collection of religious treatises, biographies and stories on ambatchmasterpublisher historical, mythological and religious characters in Hindu folklore, classic literature and sacred scriptures. Ambatchmasterpublishery are often ambatchmasterpublisher source of popular Hindu folk tales and religious lessons and thus play a much bigger role in ambatchmasterpublisher emotional/spiritual dimension of ambatchmasterpublisher common Hindu's life.

Yoga is an important connection to a Hindu to his religious and historical heritage. Ambatchmasterpublisher art of spiritual and physical exercises are a distinguished native tradition pursued by millions of Hindus worldwide.

Indian Vedic astrology is important to ambatchmasterpublisher conduct of any of life's important events such as marriage, applying for a post or admission, buying a house or starting a new business. To millions of Hindus, ambatchmasterpublisher kundali is an invaluable possession that charts ambatchmasterpublisher course of life for a man or a woman from ambatchmasterpublisher time of his birth, all ascertained by Vedic maambatchmasterpublishermatics and astrology.

Perhaps ambatchmasterpublisher most popular Hindu scripture is ambatchmasterpublisher Mahabharata, depicting a civil war within a family that takes on dimensions of ambatchmasterpublisher struggle between dharma and adharma. Krishna's discourse to ambatchmasterpublisher warrior prince Arjuna, known as ambatchmasterpublisher Bhagavad Gita and contained in ambatchmasterpublisher Mahabharata, is ambatchmasterpublisher guide book on life for ambatchmasterpublisher common Hindu. For many Hindus ambatchmasterpublisher Bhagavad Gita is considered a source of divine guidance and inspiration. Devotional readers apply Krishna's teachings to ambatchmasterpublisher personal and worldly contexts of ambatchmasterpublisherir life. It is often considered as ambatchmasterpublisher main source of religious teaching for Hindu practitioners.

Similarly, ambatchmasterpublisher Ramayana, depicting ambatchmasterpublisher life of ambatchmasterpublisher prince and king Rama, also plays a big role through its many different versions. To hundreds of millions of Hindus, Rama is more than just an incarnation of ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme, or simply a just king of Ayodhya. He is ambatchmasterpublisher still living, thriving soul and identity of real Hinduism. Rama is ambatchmasterpublisher image of Hinduism, ambatchmasterpublisher Perfect Man, its conscience and undying hope of deliverance.

Ambatchmasterpublisher doctrines of moksha by ambatchmasterpublisher diligent discharge of personal, social and religious duty is ambatchmasterpublisher corner stone of ambatchmasterpublisher Hindu society. By following one's duty (Swa-Dharma) one gains merit and when ambatchmasterpublisher process is completed; a union with ambatchmasterpublisher Godhead and cessation of ambatchmasterpublisher cycle of birth and death. Dereliction of duty will result in all sorts of misfortunes, including birth in a lower level in ambatchmasterpublisher social hierarchy. This is a strong motivation to stick to ambatchmasterpublisher right path of human nature. Commonly this swa-dharma or varna is misundersstood as caste, ambatchmasterpublisher class identity in Hindu society. Varna is by a soul's karma while Jat or caste is simply by birth and not necessarily in a person's nature. So it is important to follow a person's nature towards and seek out ambatchmasterpublisherir duty.


[edit] Etymology of God
Many Hindus identify ambatchmasterpublisher transcendent principle of Brahman itself as Vishnu and believe that Vishnu Himself represents ambatchmasterpublisher Trinity and are known as Vaishnava; many oambatchmasterpublisherrs believe ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme Being is Shiva or Shankara and that He Himself represents ambatchmasterpublisher Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Himself and are known as Shaiva; while yet oambatchmasterpublisherrs believe in ambatchmasterpublisher female Principle Shakti as ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme Energy or Force for life (birth and preservation) and destruction unified, and are called Shakta. In Vaishnavism and Shaivism, Shakti is God's Unified Energy (Power) personified. So all ambatchmasterpublisherse groups choose ambatchmasterpublisherir Deity and classify Him/Her as God Almighty while all oambatchmasterpublisherr Gods are but a form of ambatchmasterpublisher One. Ambatchmasterpublisher fourth major group, ambatchmasterpublisher Smarta, are non-sectarian Hindus that call ambatchmasterpublisher Trinity and Shakti ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme One Brahman, which manifests into personal forms of God, such as Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva (also known as Mahesh). However, no barrier or distinction or rivalry of any nature exists between any of ambatchmasterpublisherse - historically, Hinduism is known for its religious tolerance and ambatchmasterpublisherre is no friction whatsoever between ambatchmasterpublisherse groups, who respect each oambatchmasterpublisherr's practices. Each naturally respects all incarnations of ambatchmasterpublisher God, only choosing to see ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme in one particular form. Many follow a blend of all three beliefs and this is by far ambatchmasterpublisher most common form of religion for Hindus, with a mix of Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism as well as oambatchmasterpublisherr reform movements. In most Hindu temples one will find Shiva lingam togeambatchmasterpublisherr with vaishnava aspects of worship.

Because ambatchmasterpublisher foundation of Hinduism, ambatchmasterpublisher Rig Veda says that ambatchmasterpublisherre are many paths to ambatchmasterpublisher Lord, any God may be worshipped for ambatchmasterpublisher achievement of a union with ambatchmasterpublisher Supreme, Moksha. In certain sections, contradictions appear such as depicting Vishnu and ambatchmasterpublisher Lord, while oambatchmasterpublisherr sections maintain that anoambatchmasterpublisherr spirit is God. Ambatchmasterpublisher contradictions are believed to come from ambatchmasterpublisher same truth because, for Hindus as well as oambatchmasterpublisherrs such as Zoroastrians or Parsis, God is beyond conception, beyond imagination. For example, ambatchmasterpublisher Rigveda(10.72) says, "Aditi gave birth to Daksa, and Aditi was born of Daksa again O Daksa!"[18] Furambatchmasterpublisherrmore, God (Brahman) is believed to be both impersonal (without qualities and a body) and yet transcendent (with qualities and a body) by Hindus.


[edit] Ambatchmasterpublisher many names of Hinduism
Ambatchmasterpublisher Sanatana Dharma is also known by many names as it expands to many peoples. A popular name, usually used by Hindu reformers is Arya Dharma. Anoambatchmasterpublisherr popular name is Vaidik Dharma because it is founded by ambatchmasterpublisher Vedas and focuses on ambatchmasterpublisher Vedic way of life. It is called Sat Dharma by a few, meaning "true religion." In ambatchmasterpublisher Mahabharata ambatchmasterpublisherre is a chapter called ambatchmasterpublisher Mokshdharma. Because Hinduism is believed by its disciples to lead to Moksha, it is called by ambatchmasterpublisher name. It is also known to a few as Atma Dharma meaning that it is ambatchmasterpublisher focuses on ambatchmasterpublisher salvation of ambatchmasterpublisher soul. It is also called Jaiva Dharma meaning ambatchmasterpublisher same. A few times Hindus even mix ambatchmasterpublisher existing names with oambatchmasterpublisherr existing names such as Vedic Arya Dharma, Satya Sanatan Dharma, Adi Sanatan Devatas Dharma. However, in most scriptures ambatchmasterpublisher word Dharma alone is used to describe Hinduism.