Facts about Hinduism

Hinduism has close family ties with Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism and is considered to be a cultural sphere in its own right.

The relatively small Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is the only nation in the modern world with Hinduism as its state religion.

An alternative approach to Hinduism sees it as a many-layered religion, with different strands responding to different needs, which sometimes react to previous layers and to their particular emphases.

Reciting mantras (sacred formulae, phrases, or sounds) is a fundamental practice in Hinduism.

The Bhakti movements rejuvenated Hinduism through their intense expression of faith and their responsiveness to the emotional and philosophical needs of India.

Hinduism has been described as a sponge, able to absorb ideas and beliefs into itself.

In Balinese Hinduism, two Vedic texts are used, the Catur and the Veda Cirah.

Aum (?) is the standard sign of Hinduism, and is prefixed and sometimes suffixed to all Hindu mantras and prayers.

Contemporary Hindus are critical of many Western, non-Hindu accounts of Hinduism, suggesting that they set out to make Hinduism seem exotic, mysterious, erotic, and often somewhat irrational, even magical, demanding a suspension of reason.

Tantric Hinduism uses sex and sexual energy to release inert powers that can help us to overcome duality by embracing what is dark and forbidden.

Bali's major religion is Hinduism and is still reflected in traditional Balinese culture and architecture.

Hinduism was often taken to be a form of idolatry by Westerners.

Hinduism was not a missionary religion that aimed to convert non-Indians.

Hinduism is the third largest religion, with a following of approximately one billion people, encompassing many diverse beliefs and schools.

The difficulty of identifying a single definition of Hinduism may not be accidental.

The cow is especially sacred in Hinduism and is seen as a symbol of the universal mother who generously provides milk to all, without asking anything in return.

The Smarta perspective dominates the view of Hinduism in the West.

The scholarly estimates of Hinduism's origin vary from 3102 B.C.E.

Hindus themselves speak of “certain things as having an inner proper form (surupa)—hard to know if not unknowable) which may be experienced under different forms.” Thus, Hinduism is itself experienced under different forms.

Hinduism is practiced through a variety of spiritual exercises, primarily loving devotion (Bhakti Yoga), selfless service (Karma Yoga), knowledge and meditation (Jnana or Raja Yoga).

Hinduism, known as San?tana Dharma, (????? ????) and Vaidika-Dharma by most Hindus, is a worldwide religious tradition rooted in Indian culture and based on teachings of the Vedas.

The Uttara ("later") Mimamsa school is perhaps one of the cornerstone movements of Hinduism and certainly was responsible for a new wave of philosophical and meditative enquiry, renewal of faith, and cultural reform.

All existence, per Hinduism, from vegetation to mankind, are subjects and objects of the eternal Dharma, which is the natural harmony or law of the entity.

Some Hindus dislike the name “Hinduism,” although many now use the term.

Ninety-eight percent of Hinduism's practitioners can be found on the Indian subcontinent, chiefly in Bharat (India).

The schools that continue to affect Hinduism today are Purva Mimamsa, Yoga, and Vedanta.

Hinduism has helped billions of people to make sense of life, and to live orderly lives centered on belief in the existence of universal moral principles for thousands of years.

Consequently this school's most valuable contribution to Hinduism was its formulation of the rules of Vedic interpretation.

The four major sects or orders of Hinduism (known as sampradyas) are: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism.

An alternative approach to Hinduism sees it as a many-layered religion, with different strands responding to different needs, which sometimes react to previous layers and to their particular emphases.