Of all the religions in the world such as Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Christianity, Hinduism is the oldest living and still practiced religion, but only the third largest. Hinduism originated in India located between the Himalayan Mountains (north), Sri Lanka (south), the Arabian Sea (west), and the Bay of Bengal (east). When looking at a map of India it is shown that this subcontinent is isolated. Due to this isolation, India has created a culture that is rare and fascinating (Experiencing the World’s Religions). The word ‘Hindu’ does not belong to Indian language; it is derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu, which is a local name for the Indus River that flows throughout India.
The Saraswati-Indus civilization developed in India and eventually became the world’s largest and most advanced …show more content…
Hindus do not follow a single set of rules, it is a collaboration of thoughts and ideas passed down by groups of individuals such as philosophers, scholars, and lay people who came together to create an understanding of moral beliefs. They are open-minded and tolerant, thus respecting all other religions. Hinduism is the only major religion that worships God in male and female forms.
The original Sanskrit name for Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma which means “eternal religion” (The History of Hindu India). The Supreme God, Brahman, is known to be all powerful, knowing, and loving, immanent, and transcending. God is believed to exist within each person as atman, the divine soul. The ultimate goal in life is a profound encounter with God through an experience of the divine within oneself (The History of Hindu India). It is taught that every human being can know God personally, but Hindus also worship other divinities. Each Hindu can choose which deities he or she wants to