Hinduism

Hinduism is considered to be the oldest living religion in the world. It was not founded on the teachings of one man, nor was it based on the doctrines of one single book. The Vedas, the oldest of the Hindu scriptures existed for many centuries before the sacred writings of any other religion. In the Vedas, there is no mention of the words Hindu or Hinduism. Rather, the religion is described as “Sanathana Dharma,” or guidelines for a fulfilled life leading to Eternal Bliss. The terms Hindu and Hinduism seem to have originated from the time of Indus Valley Civilization, around 2500 B.C.E.

In the Vedas, God is described as the Absolute or Brahman from which humans or Atmans have emanated. Uniting the Atman back with Brahman is the state of Eternal Bliss and the ultimate goal of human life. The Vedas enumerate the guidelines, conducts, and duties for humans to reach this goal. The concepts of Karma and Rebirth are fundamental to Hinduism.

Karma, or the fruits of the Atman‘s actions, is the primary determinant of the length of time it takes before its final reunion with Brahman. The Atman is believed to take several births, one after the other, based on the good and bad actions in its previous life, before reuniting with Brahman. The elements of nature are the divine gifts given by the Brahman to assist humans in their pursuit of good Karma, leading to ultimate Bliss. Thus, all forms of nature represent divinity and are treated equivalent to the Brahman by the Hindus.