A Hindu is a person who follows Hinduism, a major world religion that originated in India. Hinduism has many beliefs, practices, traditions, and philosophies that vary across different regions, sects, and schools. Hinduism is also known as Sanatana Dharma, which means “the eternal way of life”.
Some of the core beliefs of Hinduism are:
- The existence of one supreme reality called Brahman, who is the source of everything.
- The concept of atman, which is the individual soul or self that is part of Brahman.
- The cycle of rebirth or reincarnation, which is determined by the law of karma, or the actions and consequences of one’s life.
- The four goals or aims of human life, which are dharma (duty or righteousness), artha (wealth or prosperity), kama (pleasure or desire), and moksha (liberation or freedom from the cycle of rebirth).
- The respect for all living beings and the practice of non-violence or ahimsa.
- The diversity of paths to reach Brahman, such as bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), karma (action), and yoga (discipline).
- The authority of the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, and other texts such as the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the Agamas.