Hinduism vs Christianity: Hindu beliefs compared with Christian beliefs

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Hinduism and Maya

According to Hinduism, the world around us is not real, because it is impermanent and ever changing. The world in which we live is a world of ignorance and falsehood or untruth, called Asat, in contrast to Sat or the world of Truth that exists beyond it, where neither the mind, nor any of the senses can ever reach even remotely.

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Hinduism versus Christianity: Hinduism and Christianity Compared

Similarities and differences between Hinduism and Christianity.

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What is the Hindu definition of God -monotheistic or polytheistic?

There is much confusion about this, not among Hindus but among those on the outside looking in.

Hinduism is both a monotheistic and a henotheistic religion. Hindus believe in one supreme God who created the universe and who is worshipped as Light, Love and Consciousness. Hindus were never polytheistic, but were always henotheistic. Henotheism is defined by Webster's as "the belief in or worship of one God without denying the existence of others."

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Hinduism: Definition of Hinduism

Hinduism is not a religion but a set of beliefs and traditions which have evolved over a period of time. It is a way of life based upon a group of religious movements evolved in the Indian subcontinent over a vast period of time. It is not based upon a single scripture or the teachings of a single prophet. There is no central organization like the Church of Christianity or the Order of Buddhism to control its movements or progress.

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Hinduism and Maya

Maya is the power that deludes. From where does this power come? It comes from Prakriti or Nature. Prakriti is the creation of God. First He creates Prakriti and then enters into it. And when He enters into it, He becomes enveloped with his own maya leading to his own delusion and bondage.

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Hindu - Zulu Tradition - Many Similarities

There are some striking similarities between the African and Indian cultures.

In both Hindu and Zulu cultures religion and culture have become inseparable. You cannot talk of culture without implying religion; and you can't talk of religion amongst the Zulus and the Hindus without implying culture.

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God and Gods of Hinduism

Devotion to God and the Gods of Hinduism is known as Bhakti. It is an entire realm of knowledge and practice unto itself, ranging from the childlike wonder of the unknown and the mysterious to the deep reverence which comes with understanding of esoteric interworkings of the three worlds. Hinduism views existence as composed of three worlds. The First World is the physical universe; the Second World is the subtle astral or mental plane of existence in which the devas, angels and spirits live; and the Third World is the spiritual universe of the Mahadevas, "great shining beings," our Hindu Gods. Hinduism is the harmonious working together of these three worlds.

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God and Gods of Hinduism

The most prevalent expression of worship for the Hindu comes as devotion to God and the Gods. In the Hindu pantheon there are said to be three hundred and thirty-three million Gods. Hindus believe in one Supreme Being. The plurality of Gods are perceived as divine creations of that one Being. So, Hinduism has one supreme God, but it has an extensive hierarchy of Gods. Many people look at the Gods as mere symbols, representations of forces or mind strata, or as various Personifications generated as a projection o of man's mind onto an impersonal pure Beingness.

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In India we find the oldest continually operating pilgrimage tradition in the entire world. The practice of pilgrimage in India is so deeply embedded in the cultural psyche and the number of pilgrimage sites is so large that the entire subcontinent may actually be regarded as one grand and continuous sacred space. Martin Gray spent the last 20 years visiting more than thousand sacred sites around the world and he guides us to some of the sacred sites of India.

Read more here: » Sacred Places: Sacred Sites, places and temples in India

Hinduism versus Islam: Hinduism and Islam Compared

Similarities and differences between Hinduism and Islam.

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Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus, a name given to the Universal Religion which hailed supreme in India. It is the oldest of all living religions. This is not founded by any prophet. Buddhism, Christianity and Mohammedanism owe their origin to the prophets. Their dates are fixed. But no such date can be fixed for Hinduism. Hinduism is not born of the teachings of particular prophets. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It is free from religious fanaticism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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Hinduism and Women: Hindu view on the Woman

According to Hinduism, a woman is a form of energy (shaktiswarupini) or an aspect of Shakti. She is mata, the Mother Goddess, or devi the auspicious one. As a young child she is kanya, the goddess Durga. As a wife she is patni and saha dharma charini, a partner in her husbands religious duties. As a mother she is worthy of worship (matrudevobhava).

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Nine Beliefs of Hinduism

Beliefs are the building blocks of the mind. Our beliefs determine our thoughts and attitudes about life, which in turn direct our actions. By our actions we create our destiny. Beliefs about sacred mattersÑGod, man and cosmosÑare essential to oneÕs approach to enlightenment. But beliefs are not mere matters of agreement. They are what we value and hold as true. Hindus believe many diverse things, but there are a few bedrock concepts on which most Hindus concur. The following nine beliefs, though not exhaustive, offer a simple summary of Hindu spirituality.

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Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras

Hinduism prescribes both ritual and spiritual practices for the final liberation of men. The ritual aspect is meant to make man more spiritual in the end, not vice versa. Each and every important event in the life a Hindu, who has chosen to lead a normal householder's life calls for the performance of certain rites. These rites are intended mainly to invoke the blessings of various gods and ensure success in the performance of his ordained duties. They are performed during various stages in his life for different ends. Some of the important rites of Hinduism are described here.

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Hinduism and Buddhism Compared

Similiarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.

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Hinduism and Creation: The 24 Principles of Creation & Samkhya Yoga

According to the Bhagavad gita, the Purusha enters the Prakriti and manifests the entire creation. At the human level, the purusha is compared symbolically with a man and the Prakriti with a woman. At the microcosmic level a union between the two indeed leads to the creation of a new being, which can be compared to the Hiranyagarbha (the golden embryo) at the microcosmic level. 

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Telugu New Year's Day

THIS FALLS on the first day of the month of Chaitra (March-April) according to Chandramana. This is a day of rejoicing. This is new year's day for the people of Andhra Pradesh and also the Telugu people all over the world.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

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Hinduism and Pacifism

Hinduism does not advise peace in the face of evil and injustice. The Bhagavad gita, which is like a bible for the Hindus, is a message to Arjuna when he hesitates to wage a war against his own kith and kin. Sri Krishna advises him that Arjuna should wage the war because it was a part of his duty or karma and that he should not think of withdrawing from his responsibility out of fear or cowardice. 

Read more here: » Hinduism and Pacifism: A hindu view on war and pacifism

Basics of Hinduism: Are Hindus idol worshipers?

Hindus do not worship a stone or metal "idol" as God. We worship God through the image. We invoke the presence of God from the higher, unseen worlds, into the image so that we can commune with Him and receive His blessings.

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