Hinduism

Hindu traditions comprise a very wide variety of religious beliefs and practices associated with the people of India and their descendents. Even more so than other ‘faiths’, it is difficult to speak of ‘Hinduism’ for there is no one founder or hierarchy, creed or code.

Nevertheless, the major principles of Hindu worldviews can be readily summarised: samsara, the idea of an endless cycle of birth and rebirth intrinsic to the universe; dharma, ‘duty, law, order, morality’ which, in theory at least, varies according to a Hindu’s occupational caste and stage of life; karma, a soul reaps in this life what it has sown in a previous birth; and finally, moksha, the soul’s release from samsara and karma as it becomes at one with ‘Brahman’ (the divine), ‘liberation’ or ‘salvation’ depending on which Hindu teachings are followed. The idea of rebirth and the presence of the divine in everything means that life is sacred, and most Hindus are vegetarian.

The diverse texts known as the Vedas are the ancient scriptures of the Hindus. These include the petitionary hymns and ritual manuals associated with sacrifices intended to propitiate various deities and they continue to be an important part of Hindu practice today. It is only later, in more philosophical treatises such as the Upanishads, that Brahman becomes a single impersonal principle, seen as the underlying ground of all being. However, the dominant mode of Hindu practice was to become worship (puja) of one of several important deities with different qualities and attributes, such as Vishnu, Shiva or the Goddess. Indeed, it was this devotionalism (bhakti) which saw the emergence of the Hindu temple or mandir, although domestic worship is also very important for Hindus, who often have a shrine at home. Hindus also celebrate many festivals such as Holi, Navaratri and Diwali and may undertake pilgrimage to sites such as Varanasi (Benares).

In the UK most Hindus are of Gujarati or Punjabi heritage though many were ‘twice migrants’ who arrived in the 1960s and 1970s from East Africa. At the local level, Hindu communal organisation has routinely been along the lines of caste, regional or linguistic groups, as well as religious movements, the latter often associated with particular gurus, e.g. the Swaminarayans. In Yorkshire and the Humber 15,797 people identified as ‘Hindu’ at the 2001 Census. Bradford (4457 / 1.0%) and Leeds (4183 / 0.6%) were the largest ‘communities’, followed by Sheffield (1675) and Kirklees (1222). Other smaller centres, included Wakefield, East Riding, Doncaster, Calderdale and York, with Richmondshire, interestingly, home to 309 Hindus. Ryedale was the smallest settlement with just 12.

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Essential Facts

Origins

Diverse origins in India which can be traced back thousands of years.

Present Spread

Mainly India and wherever migrant Indians live.

Founder/prophets

Hinduism had no named founder.

Major beliefs

Brahman, atman, karma, moksha, dharma.

Sacred writings

Bhagavad Gita, The Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana.

Special places of worship

Temples and shrines in the home.

Special times

Divali, Holi, Navaratri, Dassehra (Vijay Dashami), Saraswati, Puja, Raksha Bandhan, etc.

Religious teachers

Pujari, Gurus, Sadhus, Swamis.

Places of pilgrimage

Dwarka, Haridwar, Varanasi (River Ganges), Vrindervan, and many other Holy sites in India.

Holy day

No particular day of the week is special.

Forms of worship

Prayers, offerings, recital of sacred texts, ritual cleansing, etc.

Sects

Vaishnaites, Shaivites, Shhaktas, and more modern groups including Swaminarayan Hindu Mission and ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Conciousness).