New Page 1

Quick Facts
Beliefs / Ritual and Worship / Lifestyle / Holidays / Cooperation
Founder	No specific person is accredited with founding Hinduism
Date Founded	2,000 B.C.
Number of Followers	900 million, Making Hinduism the third largest religion in the world
Major Countries	India
Sacred Texts	Upanisads, Smrutis. Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas
Beliefs	“Truth is one” is a central thought of their religion. People can declare themselves to be Hindu if they are monotheistic, polytheistic, pantheistic, or agnostic. One must believe in Vedas or the oldest Indian sacred texts, Brahmans or the reality of reincarnation or rebirth, and the law of karma that determines one’s destiny. After death, Hindus believe that one is reincarnated based on one’s karma.
Ritual and Worship	The main three main gods are: Brahma, the Creator Vishnu, the Preserver Shiva, the Destroyer Three Paths: Karmamarga - Path of works and action Jnanamarga - Path of knowledge of philosophy Bhaktimarga - Path of devotion to God Three Debts: Debt to God Debt to sages and saints Debt to ancestors Four Purposes of Life: Dharma - Moral, social, and religious obligations Artha - Attain financial and worldly success Kama - Satisfy desires and drives in moderation Moksha - Attain freedom from reincarnation Four Purposes of Life: Dharma - Moral, social, and religious obligations Artha - Attain financial and worldly success Kama - Satisfy desires and drives in moderation Moksha - Attain freedom from reincarnation Ten Commitments: - Ahisma - Do no harm - Satya - Do not lie - Asteya - Do not steal - Brahmacharya - Do not overindulge - Aparigraha - Do not be greedy - Saucha - Be clean - Santosha - Be content - Tapas - Be self- disciplined - Svadhyaya - Study - Ishvara Pranidhana - Surrender to God
Lifestyle	Most Hindu homes have statues of gods, which they pray to, worship, and offer sacrifices to every day. Also, there are many roadside shrines that people can offer a prayer up to or offering. The husband and wife rise early in the morning to take a bath in order to purify themselves. The bath can take place at their home, in a temple pool, river. Some temples offer everyday worship while other, more ornate temples can only be visited during festivals and special occasions.
Holidays	India bases their festivals on a lunar calendar, of all minor holidays, 16 are nationally recognized, although only 5 are listed here Kumbha Mela - Takes place once every 12 years when Hindus go to the Ganges and Jumna rivers for cleansing. Holi - Two day celebration to mark the end of winter and beginning of spring. This festival celebrates nature’s rebirth and is a time of gaiety. Janmashtami - Krishna’s birthday is celebrated Ganesh Charurti - Honoring Ganesha Divali - Festival of Lights, celebrated as the return of Rama from exile of as the puha of Lakshimi the goddess of wealth and fortune.