Other significant populations are found in nepal 23 million, bangladesh 15 million and the indonesian island of bali 3. Many of hinduism s core beliefs such as reincarnation or karma didnt appear until then. The vedas and these other works are further divided into two sections. The book contains 270 pages and is divided in 57 small easytoread chapters, containing authentic information about all the important aspects of hindu religion, culture, and philosophy. This religious book defines the boundary of the religion and the followers would be expected to strictly abide by that holy book. What hinduism does claim is that it has, along with many other religions, universal and perennial truths which are timeless and eternally valid. Only the revealed religions are gauranteed to have a book about them. Hindu scriptures and holy books hinduism facts hinduism facts. Hinduism is the largest and oldest religion on earth almost 5,000 years old. Feb 21, 2020 hinduism is the worlds oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. This page has been archived and is no longer updated.
Hinduism is the worlds third most popular religion, with around 750 million followers. Hinduism is a compilation of many traditions and philosophies and is considered by many scholars to be the worlds oldest religion, dating back more than 4,000 years. Many scholars liken hinduism to a family of religions, with all affiliated members bearing a family resemblance. The corresponding influence of these various religions on hinduism it has an extraordinary. It is now the 3 rd largest religion with more than 1 billion followers. The function of religion the ideal function of religion is to provide a sound, fundamental world. The vedas, upanishads, puranas, and brahmanas granth are the four sacred books in hindu religion. Of all the ancient writings, most scholars agree that the old testament of the bible is the oldest of religious books. Raimon panikkar 19182010 made pioneering contributions in the areas of interreligious dialogue, comparative theology, and the phenomenology of religion, while bridging different religions and cultures christianity, buddhism, hinduism, and effected insightful conversation between the socalled sacred and secular worlds. Books are not just the foundational bricks of theology. Hinduism is a major world religion, not merely by virtue of its many followers estimated at more than 700 million but also because of its profound influence on many other religions during its long, unbroken history, which dates from about 1500 bc. Prior to the start of the common era, the hindu texts were composed orally, then memorized and transmitted orally, from one generation to next, for more than a millennia before they were written down into manuscripts. Its a little hilarious to see the answers here about this question almost every person is trying to prove their scriptures are the best just like any other religious question. Hinduism, as the worlds most ancient surviving religion, could have it no other way.
Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf. Are there any religions that are older than hinduism. We are trying to list out here as many hindu scriptures and books as possible. Hinduism is the worlds most ancient surviving religion. Therefore, many philosophies over a period of time became part or branches of hinduism so much so that it no longer remained a religion but a way of life recommended by sages.
Mar 26, 2014 more than being completely erroneous, this is an uninformed canard that implicitly suggests, hinduisms true place is more in line with paganism than with any religion or creed. Hinduism is more of a religious culture than a fixed doctrinal system. It is dated, hinduism, is the oldest religion in history led by one factor. Religious texts are texts related to a religious tradition.
Hinduism therefore abhors the idea of superiority of any one religion over any other, because the believers in god cannot maintain that god has be stowed on them all wisdom and truth and. This selective bibliography makes it easier than ever to find quality childrens books that focus directly on religious themes or characters. Turning believers into nonbelievers and nonbelievers into believers. Not included, then, are the various animistic and shamanistic traditions. The term hinduism became familiar as a designator of religious ideas and practices distinctive to india with the publication of books such as hinduism 1877 by sir monier monierwilliams, the notable oxford scholar and author of an influential sanskrit dictionary. To proceed, in light of the textual evidences following hinduism and the religion of the muslims, islam. The vedas are a collection of hymns and other ancient religious texts written in india between about 1500 and bce. Bal gangadhar tilak interpreted the karma yoga teachings in gita as a doctrine of liberation taught by hinduism, while s radhakrishnan stated that the bhagavad gita teaches a universalist religion and the essence of hinduism along with the essence of all religions, rather than a private religion. Religion has been a factor of the human experience throughout history, from pre historic to.
Sanatana dharma is the original religion that comes down from the dawn of creation of. Christianity vs hinduism difference and comparison diffen. Roughly 95 percent of the worlds hindus live in india. Koran or alquran holy book of islam was written in 650 ad. The bhagavad gita was written at some point between 400 bc and 200 ad. Older organized religions did exist egypt, mesopotamia although they are now dead. Hinduism is over 3700 years old, so it is certainly older than christianity, which is around 2000 years old. Indian hindus claim that hinduism is the oldest religion, but bible teaches us that god created all this in jewish form. There is no eternal hell, no damnation, in hinduism, and no intrinsic evilno satanic force that opposes the will of god. During the 5th or 6th dynasties of the old kingdom in ancient egypt, the text. Religionfacts does not necessarily endorse the contents of these books.
The hebrew name for their only god used in the bible is. Indian subcontinent, and the faiths oldest scriptures which make hinduism without. Its exact author is unknown but some believe it to be a man named vyasa who may or may not have existed. In fact, scholars make a distinction, calling it vedic or ancient hinduism, versus classical hinduism that appeared around 600 bc. Aug 25, 2009 it is one of the most popular hindu texts and is known as a smriti text the remembered tradition. Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in india and nepal. Hindus believe that the vedas texts were received by scholars direct.
The theme of death and the afterlife was one of the most prominent ones in the texts. Some of the other holy works and books of hinduism. Today, with about 900 million followers, hinduism is the third. Turning believers into nonbelievers and nonbelievers into believers achuthananda, swami on. Hinduism is neither monotheistic nor restricted to one religious scripture. W elcome to the largest freely available archive of online books about religion, mythology, folklore and the esoteric on the internet.
It was first written at bc through 500 bc and the words were given by god to its writers. There are a number of scriptures and holy books in hinduism. Christianity, islam, hinduism, buddhism and judaism. What name is given to the four holy books of the hindus. Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of indias population. There is no single scripture as it is in other religions like christianity and islam. Religion has been around for as long as man has existed. The terms sacred text and religious text are not necessarily interchangeable in that some religious texts are believed to be sacred because of the belief in some theistic religions such as the abrahamic religions that the text is divinely or supernaturally revealed or divinely inspired, or in nontheistic religions. Bce though we suspect its as old as the first stirrings of religious thoughts.
While it certainly has evolved over the years, the belief in gods and deities is an ancient tradition and dates back thousands of years. But why is it that people dont really have a good answer when asked, what is hinduism. Very young compared to judaism and is 600 years younger than christainity, catholicism to be exact. Sometimes called the official religion of ancient persia, zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest surviving religions, with teachings older than buddhism, older than. Hinduism is the oldest known religion on the earth. Many of the old customs are overlooked, but some traditions, such as only marrying within. While the number of living religions is staggering, nearly 75 percent of the population belongs to one of five religions. Followers of christianity read the holy bible, which included the new testament and the hebrew bible. Vedas and upanishadas are the most authoritative amongst all hindu scriptures and holy books. The proof of many of these religions are seen in religious texts discovered by experts and specialists. The holy books in hinduism are there only for guidance. It includes elements such as liturgical material as well as mythological accounts, poems, prayers, and formulas considered to b.
Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book. This verbal tradition of preserving and transmitting hindu texts, from one generation to next, continued into the modern era. However, the holy books in hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of. There might have been religions earlier than hinduism. Its followers, called christians, often believe christ is the son of the holy trinity and walked the earth as the incarnate form of god the father. As i have earlier explained in my answer to is hindu religion older than islamic. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world. The mahabharata, in book 1, for example, states, no man, even in anger, should ever do anything that is disagreeable to his wife. These books are in sanskrit, the sacred language of the hindus. More than a billion people are followers of indias eternal faith.
Thats a lot of religions and most of the worlds popultion but we still have hindu tha. The concept of hinduism being a single monolithic religion is recent, dating back only to the 19th century. Hindu religion, hinduism, culture, india, kids, sanatan. Its origin can be traced back to the prehistoric era with its ancient scriptures dating back more than four thousand years, but no specific point of origin can be cited. At the same time, liberalism, call it universal tolerance, allowed the religion undergo modifications with time. Sruti consists of four vedas, upanishads, brahmanas, aranyakas, and bhagavadgita while smriti consists of manu smriti, 18 puranas, ramayana, and mahabharata and other hindu holy books. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word. If so, why do those vedas and upanishads say they are older than the bible. Hinduism contains its own customs, festivals and holy books as well as a number of deities that intertwine its history, culture and indian society, past and present.
In yet others hinduism, buddhism, there has never been a definitive canon. It is based on vedas and upanishadas and follows the teachings and rituals described in these books only. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism. Today, with about 900 million followers, hinduism is the thirdlargest religion behind christianity and islam. Can we call hinduism the oldest religion in the world. Apr 03, 20 that is why there are many holy books in hinduism. Both the age and expanse the kind of liturgy religious texts, mythology.
Smriti literature is considered less authoritative than sruti. Religion has been a factor of the human experience throughout history, from prehistoric to. The proof of many of these religions are seen in religious texts discovered by. It is often described as a way of life and is widely practiced in india and other parts of the indian subcontinent as well as parts of southeast asia. Feb 07, 2012 hinduism is much older than any of the other religions. The hindu religion is also known as sanatan dharma sanuhtan darmuh, which translates to eternal spiritual path. An atheist who viewed religion as an outward manifestation of basic psychological causes, considered religion to be an illusion, a form of wish fulfillment and a projection of neuroses. They got their present form between 1200200 bce and were introduced to.
The system of religious belief which is generally called hinduism is, on many. Today it is the thirdlargest religion behind christianity and islam. The site is dedicated to religious tolerance and scholarship, and has the largest readership of any similar site on the web. Unlike christianity or islam, it is a not a religion that is governed by the book. Of the three religious texts of the three great world religions, the holy bible is the oldest. Hinduism part 2 download books, sacred, spiritual texts. Hinduism is the worlds oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. For these reasons, writers often refer to hinduism as a way of life or a family of religions rather than a.
So, the final goal of hinduism is to escape or be released from the cycle of reincarnation. Which holy book is the oldest, the bible, the gita, or the. Some of the other holy works and books of hinduism are stories and epic poems. But there is a continuity too, the rig vedic gods are prominent in the classical hindu pantheon, rig vedic practices such as yajnas are still carried out today, the rig veda is still a sacred hindu text. The 5 best things about being hindu facts about hinduism. Religion the hinduism religion is one of the oldest living religions to date. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism there are several important historical facts about hinduism that are relevant to the humanist context. Holy books older than the bible what do religion mean for you. The religion of hinduism originated in northern india, near the river indus, about 4000 years ago and is the worlds oldest existing religion. Why does every religion have a holy book you have to read and follow it. A humanist bible and millions of other books are available for.
May 30, 2009 indian hindus claim that hinduism is the oldest religion, but bible teaches us that god created all this in jewish form. Hinduism is believed to have the oldest roots among all religions. Hinduism is over 4,000 years old, making it one of the worlds oldest religions. What about hindus claim that hinduism is the oldest. Religion is a way of life in india, where hinduism is practiced by over eighty percent of the population. The last one is a commentary on the vedas, but it is considered as a revealed book. The majority of the vedas are considered the shruti, which is translated to that which is hard. The hindu religion is filled with traditions and beliefs closely linked with other practices such as meditation and yoga. Hinduism is such an ancient religion that it had many types of beliefs and religious practices. This is considered by some to be of less importance than shruti the heard text, such as the vedas. But eastern religion like hinduism and budhism are even older thousands of years older than islam. Hinduism today not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny. Your question seems to be a complex question with multiple implications and i think we need to be careful to define some of our terms.
Christianity broadly consists of individuals who believe in the deity jesus christ. Two old faiths, essays on the religions of the hindus and the. It is made up of a variety of different religious beliefs and practices. What about hindus claim that hinduism is the oldest religion. They differ from literary texts by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual practices, commandments or laws, ethical conduct, spiritual aspirations, and for creating or fostering a religious community. Similarly, you could make an argument that the religion of the vedic people wasnt quite hinduism.
In the most general terms, the book of the dead was a book of spells both religious and magical. This sacred text is divided into two main sections, the old testament and the new testament which are then further divided into various books. The rigveda is a collection of hindu hymns that is considered to be one of the four vedas sacred canonical. Holy books of hinduism hinduism a perspective the religions founded by individuals have one book that summarizes the philosophies of the founder or the same from the disciples perspective and so on. The hindu claims that the sacred books of his faith were written by holy men called.
Vedic writings refer to the worship of images, tutelary divinities, and the phallus. Thus any definition of hinduism is somewhat arbitrary and. Hindu festivals are combinations of religious ceremonies, semiritual spectacles, worship, prayer, lustrations, processions, music and dances, eating, drinking, lovemaking, licentiousness, feeding the poor, and other activities of a religious. In search of one of the worlds oldest religions the getty iris. Some argue that hinduism is more a way of life than religion. Dole offers more than 675 critical evaluations of recently published since 1990 materials appropriate for preschool through middle school. What are all the holy books and their religions answers. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. Also discounting animism, since it is an abstract concept and not a fully organized religion. A collection of handselected books on hinduism, chosen on the basis of apparent usefulness and quality. The epics are stories, but carry precepts of dharma embedded them, suggesting perceived notions about women in hinduism at the time the epics were composed. Nor is it based on the teachings of a founder or holy book.
The scriptures of the vedas are meant to guide hindu believers in their daily lives. All are available for purchase on click book images for details. Introduction hinduism stands for the faith and the way of life most of the people who live in india. Information available in the hindu scriptures state that it is difficult to trace the origin of hinduism. Initially it was an outsiders term, building on centuries old usages of the. Most religions have holy books because that is the best way to preserve knowledge from one generation to another. The veda is a rather unusual collection of literature. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. I hope that from this short introduction to the holy books of hinduism it is apparent that hindus consider a great variety of literature important, and that this literature is as diverse and complex as it is beautiful.
These are the most ancient religious texts which define truth for hindus. The aryans gave hinduism its priestly language, sanskrit. Hinduism has more than a billion adherents, and they have a lot to brag about when it comes to their religion. Information on hinduism for kids primary homework help. Around 1750 bc aryan invaders from central asia settled in north west india and introduced their own religious.
23 54 591 743 1561 463 304 35 1273 751 852 1209 778 100 189 702 618 1369 1158 1152 24 15 460 723 307 1215 287 1218 748 546 246