Nepal

Hinduism

Hinduism generally is regarded as the oldest formal
religion in
the world. The origins of Hinduism go back to the pastoral
Aryan
tribes, spilling over the Hindu Kush from Inner Asia, and
mixing
with the urban civilization of the Indus Valley and with
the tribal
cultures of hunting and gathering peoples in the area.
Unlike other
world religions, Hinduism had no single founder and has
never been
missionary in orientation. It is believed that about 1200
B.C., or
even earlier by some accounts, the Vedas, a body of hymns
originating in northern India were produced; these texts
form the
theological and philosophical precepts of Hinduism.

Hindus believe that the absolute (the totality of
existence,
including God, man, and universe) is too vast to be
contained
within a single set of beliefs. A highly diverse and
complex
religion, Hinduism embraces six philosophical doctrines
(darshanas). From these doctrines, individuals
select one
that is congenial, or conduct their worship simply on a
convenient
level of morality and observance. Religious practices
differ from
group to group. The average Hindu does not need any
systematic
formal creed in order to practice his or her religion
Hindus only
to comply with the customs of their family and social
groups.

One basic concept in Hinduism is that of dharma,
natural law
and the social and religious obligations it imposes. It
holds that
individuals should play their proper role in society as
determined
or prescribed by their dharma. The caste system, although
not
essential to philosophical Hinduism, has become an
integral part of
its social or dharmic expression. Under this system, each
person is
born into a particular caste, whose traditional
occupation--
although members do not necessarily practice it--is graded
according to the degree of purity and impurity inherent in
it.

Other fundamental ideas common to all Hindus concern
the nature
and destiny of the soul, and the basic forces of the
universe. The
souls of human beings are seen as separated portions of an
allembracing world soul (brahma); man's ultimate goal
is
reunion with this absolute.

Karma (universal justice) is the belief that the
consequence of
every good or bad action must be fully realized. Another
basic
concept is that of samsara, the transmigration of
souls;
rebirth is required by karma in order that the
consequences of
action be fulfilled. The role an individual must play
throughout
his or her life is fixed by his or her good and evil
actions in
previous existences. It is only when the individual soul
sees
beyond the veil of maya (illusion or earthly
desires)--the
forces leading to belief in the appearances of
things--that it is
able to realize its identity with the impersonal,
transcendental
reality (world soul) and to escape from the otherwise
endless cycle
of rebirth to be absorbed into the world soul. This
release is
known as moksha.

Veneration for the cow has come to be intimately
associated
with all orthodox Hindu sects. Because the cow is regarded
as the
symbol of motherhood and fruitfulness, the killing of a
cow, even
accidentally, is regarded as one of the most serious of
religious
transgressions.

Hinduism is polytheistic. It incorporates many gods and
goddesses with different functions and powers; but in the
most
important and widely held doctrine, the Vedanta (end of
the Vedas),
gods and goddesses are considered merely different
manifestations
or aspects of a single underlying divinity. This single
divinity is
expressed as a Hindu triad comprising the religion's three
major
gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, personifying creation,
preservation, and destruction, respectively. Vishnu and
Shiva, or
some of their numerous avatars (incarnations), are most
widely
followed.

Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is regarded as the
ninth
avatar of Vishnu. Some Hindus identify Christ as the tenth
avatar;
others regard Kalki as the final avatar who is yet to
come. These
avatars are believed to descend upon earth to restore
peace, order,
and justice, or to save humanity from injustice. The
Mahabharata (compiled by the sage Vyasa, probably
before
A.D. 400), describes the great civil war between the
Pandavas (the
good) and the Kauravas (the bad)--two factions of the same
clan. It
is believed that the war was created by Krishna. Perhaps
the
flashiest and craftiest avatar of Vishnu, Krishna, as a
part of his
lila (sport or act), is believed motivated to
restore
justice--the good over the bad.

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