What are ten easy-to-read facts about Hinduism?

Answer 1

Hindu spirit, inspired by no one man or woman in particular, is best captured in a line from the ancient Rig Veda, the "oldest religious scripture in the world." (1):

Sanskrit: एकम् सत् विप्रा: बहुधा वदन्ति

Transliteration: Ekam Sat Vipr¨¡ha Bahudh¨¡ Vadanti

English: "Truth is One, though the Sages know it as Many."

-- The Rig Veda (Book I, Hymn CLXIV, Verse 46)

Essentially, any kind of spiritual practice followed with faith, love and persistence will lead to the same ultimate state of self-realization. Thus, Hindu thought distinguishes itself by strongly encouraging tolerance for different beliefs since temporal systems cannot claim sole understanding of the one transcendental Truth.

To the Hindu, this idea has been an active force in defining the "Eternal Dharma." It has been for Hinduism what the infinite Divine Self of Advaita is to existence, remaining forever unchanged and self-luminous, central and pervasive, in spite of all the chaos and flux around it. In general, Hindu views are broad and range from monism, dualism,pantheism, panentheism, alternatively called monistic theism by some scholars, and strict monotheism, but are not polytheistic as outsiders perceive the religion to be. Hinduism has often been confused to be polytheistic as many of Hinduism's adherents are monists, and view multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being. Hindu monists see one unity, with the personal Gods, different aspects of only One Supreme Being, like a single beam of light separated into colors by a prism, and are valid to worship. Some of the Hindu aspects of God include Devi, Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, and Ganesh / Ganesha<="" font="">. One of the most prominent Hindu monists is the great saint, Ramakrishnawhose preferred form of God is Devi and who reiterated traditional Hindu beliefs, that average devotees can invoke God, in whatever form a devotee prefers, (or as monists prefer to call, Ishta Devata, i.e., the preferred form of God) and ask for God's grace in order to attain Moksha<="" font="" style="font-family: Arial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: x-small; "><="" font="">, and end of the cycle of rebirth.

However, like Judaeo-Christian religions which believe in angels, Hindus also believe in less powerful entities, such as devas.