Hindu Religious Practices and Traditions

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how, although practicing Hindus in different societies alter their religion to suit the needs of their own cultures, they all share a core of rich and complex traditions. It discusses how three major creeds constitute Hinduism with each one of them having a different idea of the divine, the universe, and the human condition. It also examines different traditions such as Dharma and Samskara.

From the Paper:

"In his book Hinduism: World Religions (1991), Madhu Bazaz Wangu explains that unlike Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam religions, Hinduism is not founded by one individual but rather it is a mixture of many beliefs and philosophical schools. From its beginnings, the religion has been polytheistic, and some even estimate the number of Hindu gods to be in the thousands. Although this is the case, Wangu expresses that there is really only one true god who is the complete embodiment of all other gods. Brahman is the true god who is at the heart of all Hinduism and is also referred to as the One, the Ultimate Reality, and the World Soul. All Hindu gods form a part of Brahman (Wangu 8)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Hinduism." World Almanac & Book of Facts 2008: 720.
• "The Swamis." Economist 369 Dec. 2003: 61-64.
• Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Hinduism: World Religions. New York: Facts On File, 1991.

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