Quick Guide to Hinduism | Birmingham Museum of Art Culture Bridge

Core Concepts

Hinduism is a major world religion originating in India
It is a collection of several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual developed over thousands of years
Like Buddhism, a core belief in Hinduism is that we are all stuck in samsara (endless cycle of existence) and reincarnation (rebirth) is determined by karma (“actions” – good and bad deeds in life)
The goal in Hinduism is to reach moksha (liberation from the endless cycle of existence) by seeing past the illusion and distraction of worldly existence
The religion is organic with no founder, prophets, or a single teacher
It is referred to as the oldest religion in the world, and according to the Hindu belief of cyclical existence, it is an eternal religion that has always been around
Often referred to the religion of 330 million gods, Hinduism is actually considered poly-monotheistic, meaning there is one Supreme Being (Brahman) that manifests as numerous major and minor gods
There is a saying in Hinduism, “Every path you take is a path to God.” Meaning that no matter what individual god you worship (even within another religion), all worship leads you to unite with the one Supreme Being

Samsara – cyclical existence. Specifically, life is eternal; there is no ultimate death, only infinite existence.
Reincarnation – part of the concept of samsara, reincarnation is the act of birth, death, and rebirth
Karma – literally, “action.” The actions that determine the condition of one’s future lives/existence
Dharma – literally, “duty.” The moral order of the universe
Moksha – final liberation from cyclical existence and attainment of oneness with the Universal
Darshan – the act of seeing and being seen by the Divine
Puja – worship; performance of rituals and offerings of flowers, food, water, and incense; a means for darshan
Yoga – a form of physical exercise where one’s goal is to “yoke” themself to the Universal. Practitioners of yoga are referred to as yogis

Art, Images,and Darshan

India is a visual culture. Images of gods are located in temples, in shrines that populate a family home, city streets, or in rural fields
Images are a key element in Hindu worship. Why? Because images of gods can serve as a conduit between gods and devotees
A main objective in Hindu worship is darshan (seeing). Specifically, to see God and for God to see you
When a sculpture of a god is created, it is then consecrated, and therefore a god is welcome to use that image for darshan with devotees
The eyes on a Hindu image are often quite large and are the last to be added to a sculpture or painting
Images are supposed to be beautiful, as it is meant for an abode of a god

Puja
- Hindu worship is referred to as puja and involves images of gods (murtis), prayers (mantras), and offerings
The majority of Hindu worship is not in the temple, but in the home
- Private worship
  - Worship is private, between you and God
  - Every Hindu home has a shrine with the favorite gods of the family
  - A shrine may have a sculpture of a deity of even a printed image
  - The idea is that you treat God like a guest in your home, you offer water, flowers, food, and the things you would a valued guest
- Temples
  - Hindus go to temples for festivals, when a image of a deity is being consecrated, or if you have a specific request from a deity
  - There are not sermons or spiritual education at the temples – that is for home or an ashram (place to get away from it all and meditate for spiritual growth)
  - Hindu temples are quite tall and are meant to represent mountains (the home of the gods)

Because gods can come to earth, or manifest in the landscapes of earth, the very land of India is considered sacred
This makes pilgrimage very important, as one wants darshan from multiple sacred places
For instance, a pilgrimage to the Ganges River is important, as it is the living goddess Ganga
One may make a pilgrimage to a famous Hindu temple, to see an ancient sculpture of Shiva
Or one may visit the Himalayas, the abode of the gods
Making a pilgrimage not only provides darshan, but also provides good karma

Often referred to the religion of 330 million gods…
However, Hinduism is actually considered poly-monotheistic, meaning there is one Supreme Being (Brahman) that manifests as numerous major and minor gods to aid people in their path towards moksha
Three of the Hindu gods form the Trimurti “God in three forms”
- Brahma: the Creator
- Vishnu: the Protector
- Shiva: The Destroyer and/or the Liberator
Individual goddesses are manifestations of The Goddess, “Devi”, the Divine Female
- Durga, Parvati, and Sarasvati are three popular forms of Devi