HINDUISM

Symbol:  The OM sound. Hinduism encompasses a wide variety of beliefs originating in India. Most Hindus believe that God takes many forms and is worshipped by many different names. Each person and every creature embodies a spark (atman) of the universal soul, equated is reborn in a new body. Thus God is in every object in the universe, and everything that exists – humans, animals, earth, air, water, fire  - is a part of God. “I am pervading the universe. All objects rest on me as pearls in the thread of a garment”. (Bhagavad Gita).

Hindus believe that every action, good or bad, hurtful or compassionate, has an effect on this life and on future lives. This is called karma. By accumulating positive karma Hindus can eventually break free from the cycles of birth and death to achieve liberation or moksha, which is complete union with God.

This is the written form of the sacred sound “Aum” (sometimes spelt “Om”). According to the Hindu scriptures, Aum was the first sound, out of which the rest of the universe was created. 

Worldwide Numbers:   There are nearly 750 million Hindus worldwide, almost all living in southern Asia. In India, where the Hindu religion began there are 650 million Hindus.  Their traditions and beliefs have shaped the unique culture of the county. 

Holy Places:  There are Hindu pilgrimage sites all over India. Among the most important are the Himalayas and the river Ganges, especially where it flows through the city of Varanasi (Benares).

Holy Writings:  There are many scared books, mostly written in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit. The major texts are the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.