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HINDUISM

India's major religion, Hinduism, is practiced by approximately 80% of the population  over 670 million people. Only in Nepal, the Indonesian island of Bali, the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius and possibly Fiji do Hindus also predominate, but in terms of numbers of adherents, it is the  largest religion in Asia. It is one of the oldest extant religions, with firm roots extending back to beyond 1000 BC. 

The Indus Valley civilization developed a religion which bore a close relationship to Hinduism. Later, this religion was influenced by the combined religious practices of the southern Dravidians and the Aryan invaders who arrived in the north of India around 1500 BC. Around 1000 BC, the Vedic scriptures were introduced, providing the first loose framework for the religion. 

Hinduism today has a number of holy books, the most important being the four Vedas (divine knowledge) which are the foundation of Hindu philosophy. The Upanishads are contained within the l/edas and delve into the metaphysical nature of the universe and soul. The Mahabharata (Great War of the Bharatas) is an epic poem containing over 220,000lines. It describes the battles between the Kauravas and Pandavas, who

were descendants of the Lunar race. It also includes the story of Rama, and it is probable that the most famous Hindu epic, the Flamayana, was based on this. The Flamayana is highly revered by Hindus, perhaps because a verse in the introduction says 'He who reads and repeats this holy life-giving Flamayana is liberated from all his sins and exalted with all his posterity to the highest heaven'. The Bhagavad Gita is a famous episode  of the Mahabharata where Krishna relates his philosophies to Arjuna. 

Basically, the religion postulates that we will all go through a series of rebirths or reincarnations that eventually lead to moksha, the spiritual salvation which frees us all from the cycle of rebirths. With each rebirth we can move closer to or further from   moksha; the deciding (actor is our karma, which is literally a law of cause and effect. Bad actions during our lives result in bad karma, which ends in a lower reincarnation.

Conversely, if our deeds and actions have been good, we will reincarnate on a higher level and be a step closer to eventual freedom from rebirth.  Dharma, or the natural law, defines the total social, ethical and spiritual harmony of our lives. There are three categories of dharma, the first being the eternal harmony which involves the whole universe. The second category is the dharma that controls castes and the relations between castes. The third dharma is the moral code which an individual should follow.

The Hindu religion has three basic practices. They are puja, or worship, the cremation of the dead, and the rules and regulations of the caste system. There are four main castes: the Brahmin, or priest caste the Kshatriyas, or soldiers and governors; the Vaisyas, or tradespeople and farmers; and the Sudras, or menial workers and artisans. These basic castes are then subdivided into a great number of lesser divisions. Beneath all the castes are the Dalits (formerly known as Harijans), or

untouchables, the lowest class for whom all the most menial and degrading tasks are reserved. 

Hinduism is not a proselytizing religion since you cannot be converted. You're either born a Hindu or you are not; you can never become one. Similarly, you cannot change your caste - you're born into it and are stuck with it for the rest of that lifetime. Nevertheless, Hinduism has attracted many Westerners, and India's 'export gurus' are many and successful. 

A guru is not so much a teacher as a spiritual guide, somebody who  by example or simply by their presence indicates what path you should follow. In a spiritual search one always needs a guru.