Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. There are about 1.2 billion Hindus. At one time Hinduism was referred to as Brahmanism. The religions of Jainism, Buddhism, and Hare Krishna all take some of their beliefs from Hinduism as the root of those religions is Hinduism. Most are found in India and Hindu is the national religion of India. India is the only Hindu nation, though Nepal and Mauritius have a majority Hindu as well. Hinduism is said to be the oldest religion in the world, but this is not true as there has always been true believers of Jehovah God and Satanism in its various forms is the oldest religion in the world. Hinduism consists of philosophies, rituals, many gods and goddesses, pilgrimage sites, yoga, mythology, and many other beliefs. The major writings of Hinduism are the Vedas. This is their holy book. The four main denominations of Hinduism are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. These divisions are based on the major god they worship. Vaishnavism is Vishnu, Shaivism is Shiva, Shaktism is Devi, and Smartism is based on five gods all considered equal. The Om is the symbol used to represent Hinduism just as the cross represents Christianity. Hinduism is based on six main schools of philosophy. These are Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. The two most popular today are Vedanta and Yoga. Yoga is also found in Buddhism. Yoga has become popular today among Christians and many others besides just Hindus and Buddhists. No true Christian should have anything to do with Yoga. How sad many churches today including some Baptist churches have yoga classes in the church and encourage their members to participate. One of the things in yoga is for the person to try and empty their mind of all thoughts and to meditate. This opens the door to Satan and his minions. God does not want a Christian to empty their mind or do this kind of meditation. God wants a Christian to meditate upon his word and to fill their mind with the Holy Ghost. (Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;) If our minds are full of God, then there is no room for Satan. Yoga also consists of many chants that do not honor God. God also said not to use vain repetitions. (Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.) The beliefs of Hinduism vary greatly among Hindus and has often been said to be many religions in one religion. Hinduism absorbs many of India’s culture and traditions and the government believes that a person cannot be a true Indian if they are not a Hindu. Hinduism does not worship one specific god, but rather many gods and goddesses. Hinduism does not claim any one individual as its founder. Hinduism beliefs have greatly affected Hollywood and the movies coming out of it. Hindus worship in temples. Some Hindus become monks just as in Buddhism. Many Hindus take pilgrimages.
Here are some beliefs of Hinduism:
1. Dharma- Dharma is considered the main goal of every Hindu. Dharma includes behaviors that are said to be in accord with the universe. This is known as rta. Other aspects of Dharma are religious duties, being good, and your social order. Social class that a person is born into in India is very important. We see dharma consists of good works and religion. Dharma is the highest a Hindu can reach.
2. Artha- Artha is the pursuit of wealth for one’s living as well as for their political and social status. All Hindus strive to reach Artha. God said money is the root of all evil. (I Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.) God also said it is hard for those who trust in riches to enter heaven. (Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!) A person needs to turn from money and to Jesus for their salvation.
3. Kama- Kama is the pursuit of one’s sensual pleasures so the Hindu is satisfied. God said we need to turn to him for pleasure, not pleasures of this world. (II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;) (Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.) (Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.)
4. Moksa- Moksa means liberation or freedom from samsara (reincarnation). Some Hindus refer to this as Brahman. When a Hindu reaches this point then they no longer die and know their true self or essence. When a Hindu reaches moksa they supposedly finally have happiness and peace. Jesus brings true peace. (I Corinthians 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.) One school of belief (Vedantic) says that Moksa is the liberation in this life and another liberation after death. If a Hindu wants true liberation then they must turn to Jesus for salvation as only he can give true freedom from death. (Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.)
5. Karma- Karma is the belief that a Hindus actions or works in either their current life or their past lives affects the way they live now as well as what they are reincarnated as in the next life such as social status or as an animal rather than a person. Scripture does say a person reaps what they sow, but this is not karma that is being referred to in scripture. Hindus believe in good karma and bad karma.
6. Samsara- Samsara is the belief in reincarnation. Hindus believe they are born and then die and then are born again and die and just continue this endless cycle until they are able to reach moksa. Hindus believe their karma affects how they are reincarnated. Hindus believe a person can be reincarnated as an animal such as a rat. This is why Hindus are careful not to kill many animals because the bug you squash might be grandpa. If it was I would think you would be doing him a favor so he can come back as something better. Rats are considered holy animals and often run around in their temples. It is believed that the sons of Karni Mata came back as rats. A Hindu better hope they do not reach moksa after being reincarnated as a rat. One of their gods is associated with rats. Hindus believe that their current works and efforts assist with their reincarnation status as well as reaching moksa. Scripture says that we only die once and once we die comes the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:) There is no reincarnation. A person either goes to heaven or hell when they die depending on whether they received Jesus as their Saviour or not. A person also could not become an animal as scripture says we reproduce after our kind. A rat always makes a rat and a person always a person.
Hinduism has their own calendar and has many festivals based off of the moon. The best known one is Diwali. This festival has postage stamps issued for it including here in the United States. Diwali is also known as the festival of lights. Diwali lasts five days and is during the Hindu month of Kartika (mid-October to mid-November on our calendar). Diwali is often associated with the goddess Lakshmi who is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is also the wife of the god Vishnu. We see how important wealth is again to Hindus. Diwali celebrates the false light of Satan. Hindus need to turn to the true light of Jesus who is the light of the world, not Satan who only masquerades as light, but is really darkness. (John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.) (II Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.)
Hindus worship millions of gods and goddesses. Some estimate it is around 333 million gods and goddesses. Some are more important than others and some schools of Hindus have certain gods or goddesses more important than another school of Hinduism. Vishnu is one of the major gods for all Hindus and the supreme god for Vaishnavism, a major Hindu denomination. Brahma and Shiva are two other main gods in Hinduism. Devi is very prominent in Shaktism. Some other important Hindu gods are Ganesha who is the elephant god (elephants are important in India), Hanuman, the monkey god, the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess Durga who rides a lion, the goddess Kali, who is the goddess of death, and the goddess Saraswati who is the goddess of knowledge, art, and music. Kali is often portrayed standing on her husband Shiva who is the god of death. Kali is portrayed with her blood soaked tongue sticking out. The Rolling Stones logo is based off of Kali’s tongue. Children and other people are often sacrificed to Kali. Kali is probably the most feared god or goddess in India. Hindus just need to turn to Jesus Christ and they would have no need to fear any Hindu god as they are all controlled by Satan whom Jesus created. I also mentioned the rat is revered in India. The elephant god Ganesha rides on a rat. The Karni Mata Temple which is also known as the Temple of the Rat has over 25,000 black rats running around inside and they are all worshipped. The rats are believed to be the ancestors of Charans who were warriors. Karni Mata is said to be the incarnation of the goddess Durga.
Hinduism is very much a part of India. The government has made it illegal to try and convert a Hindu and forbids Hindus from leaving Hinduism. Hindus will kill those who try and often attack and kill non-Hindus, similar to the violence seen in Islam.
Hinduism has more than one creation story. One says the divine god made a self and things sprang from it. One says the world came from an egg that sat for a year before hatching. One story says Vishnu creates and destroys and keeps recreating and destroying the universe. One says Brahma sprang forth the earth and split into two to form man and woman and then became one again. When he dies the universe dies. His life of one day is said to be equal to billions of years in man’s eyes. Brahman is considered the ultimate reality in the universe. It is the final cause of all that exists. There are other strange stories.
Hindus believe in heaven and hell, but only as temporary places. A person goes to one or the other depending on their karma. Bad karma goes to hell and good karma to heaven. Hell is torment and punishment and one’s length of time in hell depends on their past deeds.
Hinduism has many religious books. These books are to guide the Hindu, but are not followed word for word the way the Holy Bible is for Christians or the Koran for Muslims. The top writings of Hinduism are the Vedas and are said to be the oldest religious writings to man. There are four Vedas Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharaveda. Another religious book is the Puranas, along with Unpanishads which is also known as Vedantas. Some other writings are Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagwad Gita, and Devi Mahatmya.
Hindus believe in ancestral spirits that can be good or evil and Hindus will often try to appease them to keep them happy. They are often worshipped.
The cow is sacred to Hindus. Most Hindus are vegetarians and much of their food contains dairy products. The cow is seen as mother of all beings and God’s gift to mankind. Hindus consider killing a cow as if you killed your mom. It is illegal in most Indian states to kill a cow. Most places in India forbid the selling of beef. The cow is also worshipped by Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.
Job 40:21 in the King James Bible mentions shady trees, but many modern bibles change this to lotus, lotus trees, or lotus plants. The lotus plant is connected to Hinduism where it represents rebirth (reincarnation) and enlightenment (Satan). This shows the corruption of modern bibles as they support Hinduism.
For any precious Hindu that may be listening, please turn from the false religion of Hinduism and its many false dead gods and goddesses which will only lead you to hell and turn to the one true living God Jehovah and to his Son the Lord Jesus Christ who died for your sins. Admit that you a sinner and need a Saviour and call upon Jesus today to save you and be your Saviour. Do it now before it is eternally too late.
