Hinduism - tell me more
Facts and information
One of the most important parts of Hinduism is non—violence, which is called ’ahimsa’, Ahimsa means Hindus must respect all living things.
Another important belief is ’karma’, which means that our souls live many different lives after we die. The next life could be better or worse, depending on how the soul behaves during this life.
Other beliefs which are important are:
- respect for parents, older people. teachers and guests
- acceptance of all races and religions
- belief in equality
- belief that the cow is sacred.
The holy book that Hindus treasure most is called the Bhagavad Gita.
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Their understanding of god
Hindus believe in a spirit who is always everywhere all the time — this spirit is called Brahman. Although Brahman is a spirit he can look like a human to us. Once, around 5,000 years ago, he was believed to have lived as a man called Krishna, in India.
Hindus also worship many other gods and goddesses like Krishna, Shiva, Rama and Durga.
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How it began
Hinduism is believed to be the world’s oldest religion. It began in India around 3,000 years ago. The word Hindu comes from the name of the River Indus, which flows through northern India.
Hinduism was not created by anyone, like a teacher or a prophet.
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About worship
Hindus call worship ‘puja’, it can take place in the temple or at home.
Worship (or puja) uses pictures (called murtis), prayers (called mantras) and diagrams of the universe (called yantras). Icons are also an important part of Hindu worship – icons are statues of Gods, which people pray to.
When Hindus worship, they make personal gifts to different gods. This is why most Hindus worship by themselves and not as a group.
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How many people believe in this faith?
Hinduism is the 3rd most popular religion in the world. There are around 900 million Hindus in the world. Most people in India (about 20% of them) are Hindus. Hinduism is the 4th most popular religion in Britain. There are around 400,000 Hindus in Britain. There are just over 1,500 Hindus living in Tower Hamlets.
Hindus accept a wide range of the beliefs of people who follow a different faith.
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| Diet
Hindus believe all forms of life are sacred so many do not eat meat, fish or eggs. Lots of Hindu families in Tower Hamlets do eat meat, but even non-vegetarian Sikhs usually don’t eat beef, as cows are believed to be sacred.
Foods that do not involve an animal being killed, like milk, yoghurt, butter and fruits – are valued as foods that help people to be pure. It is not unusual for Hindus to not drink alcohol, some also will not drink tea and coffee.
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