HinduismDPD8

HINDUISM[[image:dws-t-is-one-Hinduism.jpg width="136" height="137" align="left"]]
= HISTORY = HINDUISM IS BELIEVED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE INDUS RIVER VALLEY IN INDIA ABOUT 4,000 (FOUR THOUSAND) YEARS AGO. ALTHOUGH THERE ISN'T AN ACTUAL FOUNDER OF HINDUISM, IT IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST PRACTICED RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD.

BELIEFS
IN THE RELIGION OF HINDUISM, THERE IS NOT ONE SET WAY TO PRACTICE THE BELIEFS, THIS IS CALLED "THE DIVINE UNITY" (IN ENGLISH). THE BASIS OF THE RELIGION IS THE BELIEF IN SEVERAL GODS, THIS BELIEF IS KNOWN AS MONOTHEISM. THE MAIN GODS IN THIS RELIGION ARE: SHIVA--THE DESTROYER, VISHNU--THE PRESERVER, GANESHA--THE REMOVER OF OBSTICLES, AND BRAHMA--THE CREATOR OF LIFE; ALL THAT IS GOOD (NOT BAD THINGS).

SPIRITUAL LEADERS
THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL HINDU LEADERS IS ONE COMMONLY KNOWN AS GANDI. UNFORTUNATELY, GANDI WAS TRAGICALLY ASSASINATED IN THE 1900's

SACRED PLACES AND TEXTS
THE COMMON SPIRITUAL PLACE OF HINDUISM IS KNOWN AS THE "TEMPLE", OR AS COMMONLY REFFERED TO AS A " MANDIR". THE MAIN PURPOSE OF A "TEMPLE" OR A "MANDIR" IS TO PREFORM RELIGIOUS TASKS SUCH AS WORSHIPPING THE MANY DIFFERENT HINU GODS. A COMMON SACRED TEXT IS KNOWN AS THE "VEDAS", WHICH IS WRITTEN IN SANDSCRIPT, THE OLDEST FORM OF COMMUNICATION IN THE WRITTING FORM.

TRADITIONS / HOLIDAYS
THE MOST COMMONLY CELEBRATED HINDU HOLIDAYS ARE HOLI--THE RETURN OF SPRING CELEBRATION, AND DIVALI--THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, AND OF COURSE RAKSHA BANSHI--THE CELEBRATION OF SIBLINGS.