Hinduism

Hinduism is believed to be dated as far back as 10000 BC and its derivation is known to be in India. Modern India identifies Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma, a religion that is a way of life or a particular life style an individual will follow while practicing. Sanatana meaning "eternal" or "ageless" and Dharma meaning "religion", focuses its attention on the Earth's natural laws, social welfare, ethics, health and transcendental realization. Hinduism consists of multiple deities and it is said by professionals there is probably more than 330 million of these deities that are worshiped in all. Though Hinduism has only one supreme absolute deity referred to as Brahman, the belief is that deities can come in many shapes and forms with innumerable faces. Hinduism is a very diverse religion that corresponds to the order of the cosmos or universe and is created in such a way that its spiritual terminology can be very extreme in whatever direction one may decide to take it.

Hinduism lacks a unified system and is based around Dharma, Samsara, Karma and Moksha and consists of asceticism, sensuality and individual's devoting their life to one deity, multiple deities or symbols. Hinduism can also be the reading of philosophy and metaphysical proclamations from behind a material world and the worship of images. Individuals who practice Hinduism believe in reincarnation, when an individual's spirit is reborn back on earth after death, taken the form of any living organism without the original spirit changing. Followers also believe in Karma, the positive or negative effects one will endure in their current life for any positive or negative thoughts or actions taken here on Earth.

There are many cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism so vital to the region in which it was originated. There are a total of 16 rites that will be performed as rituals on every individual of the Hindu religion and will take place the moment of one's birth right up to the day of the individual's death. These rituals can be done by public worship known as "puja" or by a single Brahmin priest or priestess and can only be done in Vedic tradition. The intention of these ceremonies is to help purify and consecrate all Hindu followers throughout the course of the individual's life journey here on earth. By society preserving Hinduism to its original tradition and practices, followers have grouped together and established community participation as its best.

Tradition will occur throughout the course of one's life and the Hindu society has in-deed created a life style worship that is positive in manner to help followers abide by laws that relate to the cosmos or natural laws and laws created by government. Both men and women practice home worship also known as "puja" on a daily basis and display shrines within their homes. Some households have even set aside a spare room for worship where all family members are able to visit for daily prayer. This reminds followers on a daily basis about Hindu way of life and what each individuals purpose while on earth.

The desire for liberation from earthly existence is a major part in any Hindu's life and can only be achieved once an individual has accomplished spiritual perfection. Some believe that spiritual perfection can take a life time or even many reincarnations for an individual to succeed in his or her life lesson. By tradition, a male's life is divided into four stages, 25 years for each stage in order to achieve spiritual perfection. For the first 25 years, a male must be a chaste student and learn from his teacher. Once the man has studied and gathered the needed wisdom, he must then build a family and become productive amongst society. At the age of 50, the man must start withdrawing himself from the world and focus in more on meditation and religious study.

During the beginning of the male's last stage in life, by the time he is roughly 75 years of age, he must withdraw himself once again, but this time from his wife, family and society, becoming what they call a Sannyasin. This allows the man the power to believe that he owns no one and no one owns him. Most men retreat to spiritual temples where they will remain for the rest of their lives, while others walk naked with nothing but a water jug and a cane where they may live secluded in the mountains or forests. This last stage of life is the most crucial because it is when an individual has the ability to be released from Samsara into the universes consciousness. Most modern day Hindu males do not participate in the last stages of the original tradition.