Continent of hinduism

India is the continent of Hinduism. History and origin of Hinduism begins in India. The root word of Hindu comes from Sindhu which refers to people who come from the land of river Sindhu. It is no doubt that India has the largest number of Hindus. Approximately, there are over eight hundred million Hindus live in India, and there are several million Hindus living outside India. There are many gods and deity in Hinduism. Hinduism is one of the oldest religions of the world. It is definitely the oldest among the living religions .The antiquity or origin of Hinduism can be better estimated from the astronomical evidence available in the Hindu Scriptures, the folk-traditions and anthropological studies peculiar to the Indian sub-continent, and some geographical and etymological references mentioned in the Vedic literature. these Vedic literatures explains the continent of Hinduism. These evidences suggest that Hinduism has a long and checkered history of at least 6000 years or more.

The continent of Hinduism and origin of Hinduism can be traced from the ancient epics and Vedas. As the birthplace of several world religions, the Indian sub-continent is home to countless ancient sacred temples and holy sites. The Hindus and their beliefs have created a rich, complex mythology which is still very much alive. Hundreds of millions of people continue to believe in the multitudes of gods which inhabit the Hindu pantheon. This tapestry of religion is the result of millennia of integration. The Indian sub-continent has been a crossroad for several cultures, and the Indian people have incorporated numerous ideas from different faiths and several beliefs for Hinduism.

Still, one cosmic Truth holds in Hindu thought, and that is that all things are simply a part of a greater, whole One. In early Hinduism belief, which still holds true, for nothing in Hinduism, is ever discarded, this Universal whole was called Brahman. All beings and things, from the gods and demons, through humans, on to the lowliest pebble on the beach, were and are part of this One. In later times, the neuter Brahman became equated with the masculine Brahma, but the original idea is still very much a part of beliefs for Hinduism.

The history and origin of Hindu mythology can be broken up into several different ages, all of which have contributed to the faith as a whole. The first is the pre-Vedic age, which goes back to the time of the early Indus valley civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, which were established around 2400 BCE. These cities were destroyed by 1700.

Some scholars have suggested that the Indo-European invaders known as the Indo-Aryans came and conquered both much of India and Persia by about 1500 BCE. They brought with them new gods and hymns dedicated to them. These hymns came to be called collectively the Vedas. The Vedic age is when Hinduism proper begins. The Indo-Aryans became the lords of India, and their gods became the most important in the pantheon, but earlier gods were still revered; they were just given different roles. The Aryans also brought with them a distinct class structure, which included a priestly class, a warrior or ruling class, and the trade or merchant class. The native peoples who were subject to Aryan rule were incorporated into a fourth class. This is the basis for the caste system which still is very much a part of Indian life. By the end of the Vedic period, these castes were called, respectively: Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras. The Vedic gods were led by Indra, the archetypical thunder god, and they got their strength from the drink Soma, a form of ambrosia.

From around 900 BCE to 500 BCE, as Aryan culture spread further into the sub-continent, Hinduism underwent some major changes. This period has been referred to as the Bra manic Age, for it was during this time that the Brahmans and the Kshatriyas fought for supremacy over Indian life. New thought had been adopted, with the idea of the soul or atman becoming a major part of Hinduism and the transmigration of that soul becoming a foundation of the religion. It was during this time that the Brahman caste asserted that the gods need human priests to keep their power, and some of the rishis, or sages, became more powerful than the gods. Sacrifice became the chief form of worship. The major Vedic deities began to fall from their high positions and were slowly usurped by the cults of the three gods who came to dominate Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
From 500 BCE to about 100 CE, the age of Buddhism and Jainism put Hinduism in decline. The Buddha's doctrine took India by storm, and the older religion almost was suppressed entirely. Hinduism still included its child into itself, however, and was able to survive the storm with new ideas. Sacrifice went out of favor, and influence by the ascetic worshipers of Jainism and Buddhism led to the composition of the Upanishads. It was also during this time that Vishnu and Shiva completed their eclipse of Indra and the other Vedic gods.

The next age was the Epic or Classical period, the time of the great Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These great works were compiled into their present form during this time, but their origins go back at least to Vedic times. The Puranas were also composed at this time. Finally, around 1000 CE we come to modern Hinduism, when the religion once again became the dominant faith on the sub-continent.

The Hindu sacred sites which explains the continent of hinduism.

Below is a list of fourteen of the most notable Hindu sacred sites in the sub-continent which also constitutes the continent of Hinduism.

» Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India — considered the most sacred Hindu city, located on the banks of the Ganges, one of the     oldest continually inhabited cities of the world.
» Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India — the birth place of Krishna, also known as the City of Widows.
» Nashik, Maharashtra, India — a temple town in the West
» Jagannath Puri, Orissa, India — temple town in the East
» Shirdi, Maharashtra, India — the site of a temple dedicated to Saibaba
» Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India — one of the most sacred places for Hindus with Golden Temple on Seven Hills.
» Char Dham, Uttarakhand, India — a pilgrimage of four towns
» Ellora and Ajanta, Maharashtra, India — spectacular rock-cut cave monasteries and temples, holy place for the Buddhists,    Jains and Hindus.
» Haridwar and Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India — spiritual twin cities, the Gateway to the God, and the Yoga capital of the     globe    respectively.
» Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India — site of the spectacular Meenakshi Amman Temple
    Festivals in the continent of hinduism.

Diwali - the festival of lights

» Ganesh Chaturthi, August/September. According to legend, Lord Ganesh was born on this day.ganesha worship is very     famous in many parts of the world on that day. It is at its most elaborate in Maharashtra. Ganesha worship is also     celebrated in many other parts of the world.
» Holi, March. The festival of colors, Holi celebrates the coming of spring. A huge bonfire is held in the evening prior to the     festival.
» Diwali, October/November. The festival of lights. Celebrated with diyas, candles, colorful lights, sweets and plenty of     fireworks.
» Dussehra, October/November. Held on the last day of Durga Puja. Celebrates the victory of good over evil. Huge effigies of     the   mythological characters Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are stuffed with fireworks and burned.
» Janmashtami, August/September. Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Marked by devotional songs and dances.
» Khumbh Mela, dates vary. This Hindu festival occurs every 3 years and alternates between Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and     Nasik. None of the events are small, but the Maha Khumbh Mela (held every 12 years at Allahabad) is the largest gathering     on   Earth, attended by millions of bathers and observers.
» Mahashivaratri, March. Dedicated to Lord Shiva. At night, leaves are offered to the idol.

Growth of Hinduism in Northamerica

(Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam)
Even though Swami Vivekãnanda introduced and popularized the Hindu system of belief and philosophy in the North American Continent in 1893, the movement of Hindu Temples began and has gathered momentum only in the last quarter of this century. It is Lord Agastya, the pre-eminent sage now living in the astral world, who took the initiative to direct the establishment and growth of the New York Ganesha Temple and several other major temples in this land.

• Ganesha worship

In Dravidian times, Ganesha was worshipped as an elephant, signifying the wisdom and majesty of the universe. The invading Aryans adopted the Dravidian gosling and affirmed their belief in Ganesha. Ganesha made a ceremonial entrane as an Aryan god. ‘The auspicious god’, he would be worshipped at the beginning of all rites, an unbroken tradition that continues to this day In myths, the birth of Ganesha is celebrated as a divine twist of fate. The most popular myth brings alive the story about the elephant head. It all began when Parvati, wanted to bathe. She needed privacy and since there was no one at hand, she created a guard with the sweat and oils from her body. She brought the figure of a young man to life and told him to stand guard while she bathed.

When Shiva, her husband returned and strode towards their home, he found his way blocked by an unknown soldier. The soldier blocked Shiva’s entry. Shiva was furious, a duel began. The soldier fought well, but was no match against the might of Shiva, who killed him. Parvati came out and saw the dead body, she demanded he be brought back to life.

Shiva sent his hordes to collect the head of the first living being, which was sleeping with head facing north. The north was associated with wisdom, and was also the direction from which the Aryans had invaded.

Airavat, Indra’s white elephant paid the price for Shiva’s blunder. While Airavat slept facing the north, Shiva’s hordes beheaded him. His elephant head was carried away for the dead body. An incensed Parvati demanded that her child be promoted to the status of a primary god. Shiva and all the other gods knew this was the only way they could placate her and Ganesha took his place before all the gods.

All rituals (samskaras), begin with the worship of Ganesha. His image invokes the universe, his head signifies wisdom and his body is globular, Vishwaroopa. Ganesha represents the majesty of the animal kingdom with his head and his vehicle the mouse shows subjugation of pestilent rats. .

Indian goddess hindu lakshmi

Indian goddess hindu Lakshmi is the goddess of fortune, grace and charm, and loveliness, fertility, and beauty in Hindu mythology. Other names for Lakshmi are Skri. She is also worshipped in Buddhism. When a Hindu couple wants a child, they often pray to her. She is believed to be kind to give children and presents because of her motherly feeling. Some Hindu believes that she is the mother of the universe. Lakshmi is believed to be the wife of Vishnu, and she is married to Rama

Hindu Values and beliefs for Hinduism

India is home to more religious systems than any other Asian country, implying that it has a more varied range of ethical principles or cultural values than any other part of the continent. Hinduism itself embraces a multiplicity of beliefs, practices, and peoples that emphatically do not fall under the umbrella of one church, one pope, one liturgical system, or one hierarchy of priests or monks.

The word "Hinduism" and even the concept are English, deriving from the Persian Hindu or the Sanskrit Sindhu, names for the Indus River. Indian languages do not have a word that corresponds with Hinduism, only such words as dharma (social duty) and karma (fate). Cultural values are pervasive yet difficult to pin down, at the same time a part of behavior, a part of culture, and a part of social structure. Moreover they are commonly specified in both sacred texts and secular proverbs.

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with approximately 900 million adherents (2005 figure), of whom approximately 890 million live in India. It is also the oldest known religion in the world today. Unlike many other religions, Hinduism has no main founder, and no main holy city. . It also has no single holy book — its original scriptures were the four Vedas, but as time has passed, many other scriptures like Ramayana, mahabharatha have also emerged and it clearly depicts the continent of Hinduism as Indian sub-continent. Thus we can say India is the main continent of Hinduism as many Vedas and Upanishads were written during ancient Indian Vedic times.