Hinduism: The Oldest Living Religion (mini series Pt. 2)
Hinduism isn’t just a religion — it’s a living, breathing philosophy rooted in thousands of years of tradition, myth, and spiritual insight. We’ll take a brief look at it’s essence (Hinduism is a religion based on many, many texts that would take me YEARS to research): the idea that divinity lives in all things, that the universe is one vast interconnected web, and that every soul is a path toward truth and liberation of the material. Let’s get started!
Scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between 2300 BC and 1500 BC in the Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan. Although, many Hindus argue their faith is timeless and has always existed. Around 1500 BC the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the Indus Valley, and their language and culture blended with that of the indigenous living in the region during that time. Who influenced whom during this time is still up for debate.
Central to Hinduism is the belief of a Supreme Personality of Godhead Brahman. Brahman is present everywhere and there is a part of Brahman in everyone/everything. Brahman takes on many forms, especially three forms called the Trimurti.
Brahma is the creator of the world and all creatures. Usually, he is depicted with four heads.
Vishnu is the preserver of the world. The role of Vishnu is to return to earth during turbulent times and restore balance of good and evil, much like the avatar! He is depicted as having blue skin with four arms each holding an item representing an element of the world.
Shiva is the destroyer of the universe. He destroys the universe to re-create it and he is often depicted to have blue skin, with a third eye and carries a trident.
Hindus believe that life is a cycle consisting of birth, death, and re-birth. They also believe the next life to obtain depends on how the previous life was lived.
What are Hinduism’s holy books? Like I stated previously, Hinduism does not consist of one book, but MANY ancient texts and scriptures.
The Vedas – a collection of hymns praising the Vedic gods. Veda means “knowledge”.
The Ramayana – long epic poems about Rama and Sita
The Mahabharata – which includes the Bhagavad Gita (I will be dedicating most of my podcast episode on this fascinating ancient scripture)
The Puranas – a collection of stories about the different incarnations and the lives of saints.
The Bhagavad Gita is one of India’s ancient texts derived from the epic poem, The Mahabharata. This still stands as the longest poem ever written, with over 200,000 verses. Though it is only part of The Mahabharata, the Gita is perhaps one of the most important and highly revered yogic texts.
“The Bhagavad Gita is a map and a guidebook. It gives us a systematic overview of the territory [of life], shows various approaches to the summit with their benefits and pitfalls, offers recommendations, tells us what to pack and what to leave behind. More than either of the others (the Upanishads and the Dhammapada), it gives the sense of a personal guide. It asks and answers the questions that you or I might ask. Questions not about philosophy or mysticism, but about how to live life effectively in a world of challenge and change.”
~ Eknath Easwaran – The Upanishads Introduction
The whole story is set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, upon which two sides of a family, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, are preparing for battle. The text itself focuses on a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna in the chariot. Each character representing a human aspect.
Arjuna: Our human self
Kirshna: Higher self; the Divine
Pandavas: the great virtues within us
Kauravas: the opposing forces within us
The Chariot: Our physical body
The Horses: our 5 senses that need to be guided by the Self so we can realize our true nature.
We explore what happens when Arjuna needs to make difficult, life-changing decisions (specifically his decision as to whether he should battle against his own family and friends in a war of “good” versus “evil) and the importance of living a life of truth, purpose and duty.
As much as Arjuna wants to give up the kingdom that is rightfully his, it is not his duty to give up! It is his duty, as a warrior, to do what is just. Justice might not always be pretty, but it is what is right! It is the balance needed in this reality. Just as Krishna urges Arjuna to cast aside all doubts and trust in his higher self, we too can use the wisdom in the Gita to meet our own difficulties and decisions with fearlessness and learn to live life authentically and fully.
The Bhagavad Gita is a timeless masterpiece, a story that can be read one thousand times and gain new wisdom from it. I cannot recommend it enough! So here’s to walking our paths with purpose, dancing through duty with love, and remembering — jst like Krishna told Arjuna—that the heart guided by truth never truly loses its way. May your soul stay steady, your spirit stay sweet, and your actions shine like offerings to the divine! <3 Be sure to check out my podcast on Spotify, Listen, Mich!, and stay tuned for pt.3 as I dive into Zoroastrianism. Stay open minded! *
