Hinduism
Páginas: 3 (567 palabras)
Publicado: 8 de noviembre de 2012
Hinduism
Hinduism is the oldest and one of the most complex of all religious systems. It is difficult to provide adequate history of Hinduism because it has no specific founder or theology. Thedevelopment of this religion was influenced when light-skinned nomadic Aryan Indo-European tribes invaded Northern India BC from Russia and Central Asia attacking the Harappan people who lived there in1500. The word, Hinduism, comes from the word, Indus, which is the name of an Indian River that existed about 5000 years ago.
Both groups adopted the beliefs of the other so they were similar intheir religious doctrines. The Aryans believed in multiple gods to worship and the Harappans believed in the sanctity of fertility.
The Aryan group developed what is called the caste system, whichranked society according to occupational class. That system is as follows: Brahmins are priests; Kshatriyas are soldiers, king-warrior class; Vaishyas are merchants, farmers, Sutras laborers andcraftspeople; Harijahns are "untouchables" -- those thought to be descended from the Harappan aboriginal people who are extremely poor and discriminated against. The higher the person's caste, the more theperson is blessed with the benefits and luxuries of life. The system was outlawed in 1948, but it is still important to the Hindu people and recognized as the proper way to categorize society.
TheHindu religion has branched out and now encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs and organizations. Portions of the Hindu beliefs have found their way into other countries, and are thefoundation of other religions such as Transcendental Meditation and Buddhism.
As we continue on in learning the history of Hinduism, it would be interesting to note some of the Hindu scriptures.
*The oldest form of Hindu scriptures, Veda, means wisdom or knowledge, and contains hymns, prayers and ritual texts composed during a period of a thousand years.
* The Upanishads are a collection...
Hinduism is the oldest and one of the most complex of all religious systems. It is difficult to provide adequate history of Hinduism because it has no specific founder or theology. Thedevelopment of this religion was influenced when light-skinned nomadic Aryan Indo-European tribes invaded Northern India BC from Russia and Central Asia attacking the Harappan people who lived there in1500. The word, Hinduism, comes from the word, Indus, which is the name of an Indian River that existed about 5000 years ago.
Both groups adopted the beliefs of the other so they were similar intheir religious doctrines. The Aryans believed in multiple gods to worship and the Harappans believed in the sanctity of fertility.
The Aryan group developed what is called the caste system, whichranked society according to occupational class. That system is as follows: Brahmins are priests; Kshatriyas are soldiers, king-warrior class; Vaishyas are merchants, farmers, Sutras laborers andcraftspeople; Harijahns are "untouchables" -- those thought to be descended from the Harappan aboriginal people who are extremely poor and discriminated against. The higher the person's caste, the more theperson is blessed with the benefits and luxuries of life. The system was outlawed in 1948, but it is still important to the Hindu people and recognized as the proper way to categorize society.
TheHindu religion has branched out and now encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs and organizations. Portions of the Hindu beliefs have found their way into other countries, and are thefoundation of other religions such as Transcendental Meditation and Buddhism.
As we continue on in learning the history of Hinduism, it would be interesting to note some of the Hindu scriptures.
*The oldest form of Hindu scriptures, Veda, means wisdom or knowledge, and contains hymns, prayers and ritual texts composed during a period of a thousand years.
* The Upanishads are a collection...
Leer documento completo
Regístrate para leer el documento completo.