Hinduism

1. Hinduism is one of world’s oldest religions.

2. It originated in the Indus valley, in modern-day Pakistan, over three thousand years ago.

3. Hinduism is a mix of a variety of Indian religious traditions and beliefs.

4. The word Hindu means people living near the Indus river.

5. Hinduism has about nine hundred million followers world wide.

6. The religion has no founder or prophets, relies on holy books to guide people on how to live their lives.

7. The Aum is the main symbol of Hinduism, it is a chant used at puja (worship).

8. Hindus believe in a universal, eternal soul, Brahman, who created, and is present in, everything.

9. Brahman can take on many forms.

10. There are three principal Gods: Brahma creates the universe; Vishnu preserves the universe; Shiva destroys the universe.

11. Hindus believe in the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth and being governed by Karma.

12. Hindus believe the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives.

13. The quality of each life depends on how the previous life was lived.

14. Hindus follow four rules for a good life.

(1) to do their duty

(2) to earn money honestly and look after their families,

(3) to live their lives to the full, but in moderation

(4) to live in a way that will improve their reincarnation

15. Hindus have no holy book, but several religious texts known as Vedas, which are the most ancient Hindu religious texts.

16. The Vedas are written in Sanskrit and guide Hindus in their daily life.

17. Hindus attend a mandir or temple for collective worship.

18. Hindu worship is called puja.

19. A bell is rung at the entrance to announce the presence of Hindu worshippers.

20. Most Hindus worship every day at the shrine at home.

21. They have a murti, or sacred statue to which offerings are made.

22. Hindus feel what you do and the way you live your life is very important.

23. The River Ganges is holiest of India’s rivers, all Hindus try to bathe in it once in their lives.

24. Hindus are cremated not buried, often people travel great distances to scatter the ashes in the Ganges.