Questions:

12-06-2005, 10:39 PM

Are there any holidays celebrated in Hindu?

Are there any books or writings?

How do you achieve salvation by what hinduism teaches?

Do hindus believe in life after death? In afterlife?

How/Where do Hindus worship?

12-06-2005, 11:24 PM

Can someone PLEASE reply? I need to know TONIGHT!

12-06-2005, 11:39 PM

holidays: lots of holy days celebrated, major ones are Shivratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chatruti.

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The four priciple Scripture of Hinduism are known as Vedas. These are collections of mantras revealed to the ancient seers (Rishis).

Rig (oldest - bout 8000 years old)
Yajur
Sama
Atharva

each has 4 portions. the hymns, the rituals, the contemplations/meditations, and the philosophy of Absolute Truth (Upanisads - most important).

there are also many puranas (stories, not exactly myths). They were written after the Vedic Revelation for people who could not properly grasp Absolute Truth. From puranas God with form was born. in way of stories Absolute Truth was imparted to the less intelligent.

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For Hindus there is no salvation. There is only Liberation. Liberation from suffering. this is the goal of life. and unlike in christianity and other western religions, the goal is life in Hinduism (eternal happiness) is supposed to be achieved IN LIFE, NOT AFTER IT. get it?

so what hinduism teaches is that man's true nature is Pure Conciousness. This Pure Consciousness is Absolute Truth. The Consciousness falsly misidentifies with the ego and mind, thus creating suffering. therefore Liberation (the goal of life) is to remove all conditioning from the mind and to silence it. Then a person can be what he true is - Pure Consciousness, Absolute Truth. just Be.

This can also be called God-realization, Self-realization. Realization of Truth.

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There is no afterlife for Hindus. People go to higher planets and lower planets to fulfill karmas. the hevanly plantes of the demi-gods where the soul goes and enjoys, and the hellish planets of the demons where the soul suffers. the idea of karma (action-reaction) is crucial with the idea of reincarnation. so one a person has fulfilled his karmas, he comes back to the earth (the middle ground) to realize God. And then after God is realized, the person is never born again, and merges with Truth.

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Hindus worship in Temples. idols are a very important part of worship. HINDUS DO NOT WORSHIP THE IDOLS. they worship what the idol represents. This is becaues the idol is a reminder of what is being worshipped. since most people worship the God with form and attributes the image is very important. just as the father who goes on a trip keeps a picture of his son in his wallet for rememberance, the Hindu keeps the image of God in his heart.

for example we devotedly place flowers at the feet of the idol, showing our love. we say sacred Mantras and pray for Liberation, pray for fulfillment of a desire. We sing wonderful songs of devotion as groups. many awesome things!

12-06-2005, 11:48 PM

THANKS!

Pankaja_Dasa · 12-07-2005, 03:47 AM

Go here often: www.vedabase.net

It's got good selection of Books. !