hindu dharma essay

Your Article Library

Essay on dharma – hindu philosophy.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Here is your essay on Dharma – Hindu Philosophy !

Meaning of Dharma :

There is no Hindu term corresponding to what we call religion, because Dharma and religion are not the same and Hinduism is in fact a Dharma rather than a religion in the restricted sense of the word.

Religion is the response of man to apprehend the forces which are beyond his control and which are supernatural and supersensory.

Image Courtesy : 4.bp.blogspot.com/-QXVQhUtHQ_Y/UclxKuBcpuI/AAAAAAAAATU/Hawaii-hawaiidermatolog.jpg

Hence, religion means those powers and forces which are supernatural, super-social and superhuman. Religion is a belief in some divine power. It may be pointed out that religion has two aspects, namely some sort of belief system and the rituals or the observance of certain actions to establish contact between the individual, and the supernatural power. Real meaning of Dharma is something different from the pure religion.

Dharma means the righteous way of living. It is intended to provide guidelines in all social action and to harmonize relation between Kama and Artha. According to R V. Kane, “The writers on Dharma Sastras meant by Dharma not a creed or religion but a mode of life or code of conduct which regulated a man’s work and activities as a member of society and as an individual and was intended to bring the gradual development of man and to enable him to reach what was deemed to be the goal of human existence. “Therefore, Dharma implies those rules according to which a man must behave as a member of society.

B.G. Gokhale has written, “And if there is any one concept that has permeated Indian thinking through the ages and created a consistent pattern of thought and behaviour for the large majority of the people it is that of Dharma. The term is of such wide implication that it is applied to determination and evaluation of all forms of human activities.”

Dharma has been equated to the performance of duties. It is said, do the duty even if it be humble, rather than other persons’ duty even if it be great. Dharma is the doctrine of the duties and rights of each in the ideal society and as such the law or mirror of all moral actions.

It is clear that Dharma has special significance for Hindus because Dharma is not a creed worship but a mode of life. Dharma represents social values and cultural norms. It is created for the welfare and happiness of man. It is a doctrine of duties and rights.

Forms of Dharma :

Dharma has been viewed in a larger sense to mean the duties a person has to perform. The Hindu social organization views the individual not only in terms of the personality of the individual but also as a member of the group. In this manner, Dharma can be understood at several levels of human existence.

Dharma is the First Purushartha :

The theory of Purushartha explains the management and conduct of life of the individual with regard to the group. Dharma has been given the most important place in the Purushartha system. If man pursues Artha and Kama without Dharma, he cannot attain Moksha. Dharma is the very basis of human life. Devoid of Dharma, man cannot pursue the correct course of life.

Various forms of Dharma are as follows:

Ashrams Dharma:

The theory of Purushartha finds concrete expression in the Ashrams system. The Ashrams system has been regarded as a place of work and the stages of life through which-a man passes his whole span of life. Accordingly, there are four Ashrams namely Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa. A man is supposed to pay off three Rinas, namely Deva Rina, Rishi Rina and Pitri Rina. These Rinas can be fulfilled only by passing through the Ashrams system, particularly Grihastha Ashrams. In the Vanaprastha Ashrama, a man goes to the forest and lives the life of a hermit. In the Sanyasa Ashrams, a man has to free himself from all worldly bondage. In this way the Ashrams system prescribed Dharma or duties for every stage of human life.

Varna Dharma:

In ancient Hindu society there were four Varnas or classes. Each Varna was assigned a particular duty to perform and this duty was performed as a matter of Dharma. Whatever might have been the connotation of the Varna, one thing is clear that it was the division of society into various groups. Accordingly, Varna and Dharma meant the prescription of duties for various groups of people. According to Varna system, a man must follow the duties prescribed by his Varna. The Brahmin Varna is to teach, the Kshatnya Varna has to organize and manage the affairs of the society. The Vaishya Varna has to manage the economic affair and the Sudra Varna has to offer his service to the above three Varnas. The Varna Dharma defines the code of conduct and mode of life a person to follow.

Manava Dharma:

Hinduism can also be understood in terms of the religion of humanity. The aim of Manava Dharma or religion of humanity is to know the ultimate truth. According to Manava Dharma Sastra, Dharma is satisfaction, forgiveness, self-control, abstaination from irregular encroachment upon other’s life, control of the senses, and ultimate y to know the truth and reality. According to Vishnu Dharma Sastra, the religion of humanity includes tolerance, control” non-violence, devotion to teachers, sympathy and freedom from desires, and respect to elders.

Kula Dharma:

The kula Dharma includes the duties of a person and he has to perform his duties in accordance with Dharma prescribed for the householder. The Hindu Sastrakaras are of the opinion that man should not confine himself only to his own selfish interests. A person should not confine himself only to his own selfish interests. A person should offer part of his meals to Gods. Bhutas, guests, animals and saints and only after that he should at his own meal.

Yuga Dharma:

The Hindu Sastrakaras have made Hindu Dharma very dynamic and changeable. According to each age and circumstances, a man has to act and it is his duty to move and work according to the needs of times. Prabhu has remarked that Hindu Dharma has so fluctuations that even Adharma becomes Dharma if the situations so demands.

Raja Dharma:

Under this category, the duties have been mentioned according to which the ruler and the ruled must conduct their lives. The duty of Kshatriya is to protect the population. It is the duty of king to protect and safeguard the interests of the public. It is the duty of the public to obey the rules of the land and the dictates of the king.

Apat Dharma:

Duties have been prescribed to face the complexity of life. It is said that in times of emergency a Brahmin is allowed to follow the Dharma of Kshatnya and if it s not possible then he should follow the Dharma of Vaishya. In times of emergency even those things which are generally prohibited become the duty of individual if it can save the atma and Dharma. ,

It is clear that Dharma has been regarded as not only a moral scheme of life but also as the duties prescribed for various sections of the society. Dharma has great significance m Hindu society. It reminds all of their duties and social responsibilities. It is Dharma which acts as an arbitrator between Arha and Karma. Since Dharma is righteousness, therefore, it leads society on right path.

Related Articles:

• 5 Main Aims of a Hindu Marriage – Essay
• 11 Characteristics of Dharma – Discussed!

Dharma , Hindu Philosophy

No comments yet.

Leave a reply click here to cancel reply..

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Hindu University of America

• President’s Message
• Mission & Vision
• Ethos And Culture
• Our Promise
• Learn more about HUA
• Donate Today
• Areas of Study
• Credit Hours
• Academic Calendar
• Explore programs and courses
• Browse our course catalog
• Conversion Formula
• Credit Transfer
• Tuition and Fees
• Scholarships
• Learn more about our admissions process
• Advancement
• Director’s Message
• Giving to HUA
• Giving Categories
• Sustenance Funds
• Capital Funds
• Endowment Funds
• Donor Recognition
• Legacy Gift Guidelines
• Learn about giving to HUA
• Give to HUA
• Access HUA Email
• Access HUA LMS

How Hindu Dharma Transformed America: A Reflective Essay

How Hindu Dharma Transformed America: A Reflective Essay 

I have been teaching Yoga for over 15 years, and over that period of time I observed a huge increase in the number of people practicing Yoga. While it was wonderful to see that more and more westerners were interested in the ancient Hindu philosophy and practice, the awareness of any philosophy behind the asanas, or Yoga’s origin being from Hindu Dharma, was very absent. This was really puzzling and disturbing for me, so I started looking into it from any and every source available to me. 

When I attended HUA’s free webinar with Dr. Philip Goldberg on how Hinduism has transformed America, it felt like a good source for my ongoing quest. That is how I came to attend the “ How Hindu Dharma Transformed America ” course at Hindu University of America. It was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot from the course, as well as from fellow attendees. 

This course made me aware of the deep impact that the Vedic Hindu philosophy has made in America. Starting from the 19 th century, the influence of Hindu philosophy can be seen on many prominent individuals, from philosophers to writers, to poets, to musicians, to movie makers, to doctors, and can now be seen on every American! Ralph Waldo Emerson , a prominent writer and popular philosopher of the 19 th century, was profoundly impacted by reading the English translation of the Bhagavad Gīta. He could feel Brahman, the universal consciousness in nature, and he felt the need to preserve nature so much that his efforts ended up causing FDR to make a law for the preservation of forests.

The chronological presentation of Gurus coming to America was also very interesting: Starting with Swami Vivekananda coming to America in 1893, followed by another very influential Guru Yogananda, many others followed suit all the way to the 1960s and 70s; then there were others like Shri Arobindo, Ramana Maharshi, and Neem Karoli baba, who never came to America but had a tremendous impact nonetheless; and then gradually seeing the trend shift to western gurus like Alan Watts. The way Yogananda’s language changed over time in order to bring more westerners into understanding Hindu philosophy by keeping “Hinduness” discrete was surprising for me. This helped me make a connection to the trend I had been seeing with an increase in the number of yoga practitioners, but very little to no awareness of the Hindu connection to Yoga. I am not sure what would have happened if earlier Gurus had kept strong Hindu connections while preaching the philosophy. Who knows if it would still be as influential like it is today.

Learning of the way physicists like Tesla and Schrodinger , among others, got attracted to Advaita Vedanta’s philosophy of all pervading one consciousness, and connected that to quantum physics, was a wonderful way of understanding the impact of Hindu Dharma on the sciences. I was amazed to find out that the famous nuclear science lab CERN has a statue of Nataraja on its campus. Hindu philosophy has impacted other scientific fields and prominent scientists besides physics. To name a few science professionals who were particularly impacted, e.g. psychologists like William James, and doctors like Dr. Herbert Benson  and Dr. Dean Ornish (who started Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California). The philosophical yogic language got translated into medical language by doctors like Dr. Sandra Mclanahan. Once the benefits of meditation got validation in the modern scientific world due to experiments using modern devices and the publications of it in famous medical journals, meditation became extremely popular. The health benefits of meditation are so incredible that more and more people wanted to try meditation to reduce high blood pressure or cholesterol or stress. Sadly, people were not interested in the philosophy or spiritual importance of meditation and it got watered down to a mere technique without Sanskrit mantras or poojas in order to become secular. The same trend seems to be following Ayurveda, which is firmly rooted in Samkhya philosophy of Hinduism.

The way Hindu culture and music influenced the west was a big takeaway for me from this course. Being brought up in India and having English as my second language, I was not exposed to English literature and western music a whole lot. So it was indeed awesome to learn that Ravi Shankar and his sitar made a huge impact on the Beatles , and the Beatles impacted masses in the western world. As Dr. Philip Goldberg explained, the songs written by the Beatles after visiting India and staying in an Ashram in Hrishikesh were quite reflective of Hindu philosophy. Additionally, poets like Walt Whitman , Alan Ginsberg , and authors like Somerset and  J.D. Salinger were greatly impacted by Hindu philosophy, which was reflected in their work. I was blown away to find out that the Star Wars movies had so much of Hindu philosophy in them. George Lucas, the producer of Star Wars, was influenced hugely by the writings of Joseph Campbell , who specialized in religious traditions of the world, with Hinduism being one of them. (You can explore more here .)

All through the 10 weeks of the course, it became very clear to me that the impact of Hindu philosophy has been more widespread in America than I had previously thought. It has slowly but surely trickled down into the day-to-day life of the average American, although, sadly, they continue to remain oblivious to it. The footprints of Hindu philosophy are so subtle that even today, a common American person may not be aware of anything with regards to Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma. It could be a result of the uniqueness of Hindu Dharma’s adaptability to the changing times, or the reluctance of some influential Hindu gurus to preach Hindu philosophy without emphasis on its Hinduness. However, it’s now up to the people who hold Hindu Dharmic values in high regards to be the torch bearers in spreading the awareness of Hindu roots in American society.

Cover Image Credit: Erik Brolin – Unsplash

Related Articles

Statement by hua on palghar sadhu lynching, the influence of indian spirituality in the west, takeaways and surprises on how hindu dharma transformed america.

Advertisement

The Truth of Dharma and the Dharma of Truth: Reflections on Hinduism as a Dharmic Faith

• Open access
• Published: 07 December 2019
• Volume 23 , pages 213–237, ( 2019 )

Cite this article

You have full access to this open access article

• Julius Lipner 1  

2638 Accesses

2 Altmetric

Explore all metrics

This article discusses what it might mean to characterize traditional Hinduism as a dharmic faith in relation to the concepts of truth ( satyam ) and its opposite ( anṛtam ), without however expatiating on supposed contrasts between Hinduism and the “Abrahamic” faiths. The argument is conducted by recognizing two senses to anṛtam , namely, “non-truth” and “falsehood,” in contrast to satyam ; and the method used is inductive in that a historically well-known episode of the Mahābhārata— the story of Kauśika and the bandits—and its authoritative interpretation by the deity Kṛṣṇa in terms of satyam and anṛtam (in the Karṇaparvan , Book 8, of the text) are analyzed heuristically to indicate how dharma is viewed in the tradition qua ethical concept. The conclusion is drawn that Hindu dharma is understood as that whose objective is ultimately to bring about the welfare of the world ( lokasaṅgraha ). In relation to truth (and its opposite), materially , dharma is invariably contextual in connotation (in contrast to what might be a Kantian or absolutist reading of moral imperatives), whereas formally , at the hands of one commentator or other, not least in modern times, dharma is that which defines what it means to be Hindu. The material and formal connotations of dharma thus analyzed and taken together set Hinduism apart qua dharmic faith.

Article PDF

Download to read the full article text

Similar content being viewed by others

Locke’s Cicero: Between Moral Knowledge and Faith

Introduction

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Abulafia, Anna Sapir. 2018. “The Contested Seed of Abraham.” In Iris Shagrir, Benjamin Z. Kedar, and Michel Blard, eds., Communicating the Middle Ages: Studies in Honour of Sophia Menache , 239–53. New York: Routledge.

Chapter   Google Scholar  

Barua, Ankur. 2017. “Vedantic Variations in the Presence of Europe: Establishing the Hindu Dharma in Late Nineteenth Century Bengal.” International Journal of Dharma Studies 5, 10: 1–22.

Google Scholar  

Chakrabarti, Arindam. 2018. “Vyāsa.” In Stephen Leach and James Tartaglia, eds., The Meaning of Life and the Great Philosophers , 18–26. Abingdon: Routledge.

Chatterji, Bankimcandra. 1941 [1348 BE]. Kṛṣṇacaritra (eds. Brajendranath Bandyopadhyay and Sajanikanta Das). Calcutta: Baṅgīya Sāhitya Pariṣat.

Constant, Benjamin. 1797 [1796]. “Von den politischen Gegenwirkungen” (trans. Anonymous; original French version of the essay was entitled “Des réactions politiques”). Frankreich im Jahr 2, 5: 3–27; 6: 99–127; 7: 200–203; 8: 291–98.

Kant, Immanuel. 1996. Practical Philosophy (trans. and ed. Mary J. Gregor). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kauṇḍabhaṭṭa. 1957. Vaiyākaraṇabhūṣaṇasāra (ed. S. Shastri). Anandasrama Sanskrit Series, 135. Poona: Anandasrama Press.

Lipner, Julius. 1997. “Śaṅkara on Satyaṃ Jñānam Anantaṃ Brahma. ” In P. Bilimoria and J. N. Mohanty, eds., Relativism, Suffering and Beyond: Essays in Memory of Bimal K. Matilal , 301–18. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Lipner, Julius. 2010 [1994]. Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices . Abingdon: Routledge.

Matilal, Bimal Krishna. 1968. The Navya-Nyāya Doctrine of Negation: The Semantics and Ontology of Negative Statements in Navya-Nyāya Philosophy . Harvard Oriental Studies, 46. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Matilal, Bimal Krishna. 2002a. “Moral Dilemmas and Religious Dogmas.” In Jonardon Ganeri, ed., The Collected Essays of Bimal Krishna Matilal: Ethics and Epics , 2: 3–13. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Matilal, Bimal Krishna. 2002b. “Elusiveness and Ambiguity in Dharma- Ethics.” In Jonardon Ganeri, ed., The Collected Essays of Bimal Krishna Matilal: Ethics and Epics , 2: 36–48. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Matilal, Bimal Krishna. 2002c. “ Dharma and Rationality.” In Jonardon Ganeri, ed., The Collected Essays of Bimal Krishna Matilal: Ethics and Epics , 2: 49–71. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Pechilis, Karen. 2006. “Singing a Vow: Devoting Oneself to Shiva through Song.” In Selva J. Raj and William P. Harman, eds., Dealing With Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia , 147–64. Albany: SUNY Press.

Pintchman, Tracy. 2010. “Vratas.” In Knut A. Jacobsen, ed., Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism , 2: 427–34. Leiden: Brill.

Śaṅkara. 1964. Ten Principal Upanishads with Śāṅkarabhāṣya . Works of Śaṅkarācārya in Original Sanskrit, 1. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

Smith, John D., trans. 2009. The Mahābhārata: An Abridged Translation . New York: Penguin Classics.

Young, Richard Fox. 1981. Resistant Hinduism: Sanskrit Sources on Anti-Christian Apologetics in Early Nineteenth-Century India . Vienna: Institut für Indologie der Universität Wien.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Emeritus Professor of Hinduism and the Comparative Study of Religion, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 9BS, UK

Julius Lipner

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julius Lipner .

Additional information

Publisher's note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Lipner, J. The Truth of Dharma and the Dharma of Truth: Reflections on Hinduism as a Dharmic Faith. Hindu Studies 23 , 213–237 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11407-019-09262-3

Download citation

Published : 07 December 2019

Issue Date : December 2019

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11407-019-09262-3

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Hindu dharma
• satyam/ truth
• anṛtam/ non-truth/falsehood
• lokasaṅgraha
• ethical contextualism versus absolutism
• Hinduism and modernity
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

The Historical Depth of Hindu Cosmology: A Historical Interpretation of Hindu Dharma

This essay is a basic interpretative essay of the Hindu Tri-Marga and Hindu Dharma as it can be cosmologically understood through history. This essay delves into an interpretive understanding of the depth of the Tri-Marga in Hinduism by offering an interpretation of a Hindu cosmology defined by Dharmic significance as it is enpresented in the continuous development of Hindu history. Thus my goal is to present a historical and religious interpretation of the development of a Hindu cosmology by addressing the Hindu historical enpresenting of dharmic truth and meaning through interpretive schemas of time, practice, and experience. This paper was originally intended for teaching purposes at an undergraduate level.

Related Papers

Andy Thrasher

This paper addresses confluences between the methodologies involved in Comparative Theology (Inter-religious Dialogue) and Christian Apologetics by offering an analysis of religious truth and cosmology in Hinduism and a Christian apologetical and evangelical engagement with Hinduism to prepare Christians with an understanding of Hindu truth claims on how how share the gospel in dialogue and apologetics. This paper proposes a field of apologetics using methodologies of comparative theology by articulating a new field in apologetics called dialogical apologetics by articulating a case scenario between Hindu understandings of cosmology and truth through Vedic, Advaitic, and Bhakti traditions and Christian confluences through which the gospel may be shared with a deep respect, love, and knowledge of Hinduism.

ragini sharma

Meera Nanda

Three essays on various aspects of Hindu nationalism

Alhassanain English

Hinduism's Online Lexicon - A-Z Dictionary, Hinduism, Dictionary, Subcontinent, India

Rana P.B. SINGH

In Indian thought the sense of intrinsic value is posed in the basic quest of knowing the place and role of man with respect to interrelatedness of ecological cosmology, or sacred ecology, popularly called ecospirituality. Hindu thought, survived from at least since 3000 BCE, ascribes to the unity of life and to psychic attachment with nature in different forms at various levels, and through a variety of rituals, sacrifices and symbolism. The idea of nature and human integrity in Hindu thought depends upon ways in which people see and experience themselves, their sense of attachment to nature, and their ways of maintaining this. The integrity of dwelling in space is expressed through the notion of home. Hindu quest for understanding and practicing harmony between nature and humanity has a vital role in the new ecospiritual consciousness under the umbrella of harmonious co-existence, Kyosei. However, it also sometimes turned to superstitions, fundamentalism and used as political tools. Nevertheless such new consciousness is a good sign in promoting global humanism, which has strong root in the ancient past. Keywords: Ecospirituality, Hinduism, Kyosei, Gross elements, spirit of place, dharma, new publics.

Tony Watling

The book seeks to ethnographically analyse and explore what could be termed religious ecotopias, different religious visions of nature (and humanity and the human-nature interaction), as expressed in the 'field of religion and ecology', a new religious-environmental movement that seeks to challenge modern secular views that it sees as leading to environmentally destructive thought and actions and create new ones based in religious traditions. In this sense, the book also explores the re-imagination and possible re-vitalisation of religion in the modern world. It analyses and explores the idea that the environmental crisis is a moral and spiritual issue at heart, the result of a hegemonic, modern, secular, Western worldview - a mechanical model - that is dualist, materialist, and objective, separating humanity from nature, fact from value, spirit from matter, seeing nature in a disenchanted, passive way, as a commodity. The book analyses responses to this view - an emerging ecological model - providing a contestation or politicisation of nature (which is argued as a diverse process); ones that stress holistic, organic, spiritual visions, seeing humanity and nature as inter-dependent, combining fact/value, spirit/matter, seeing nature as active and meaningful, re-enchanting it. The book also explores the means to this, metaphors and myths, cosmogonies and cosmologies, that are seen as needed to evoke and inspire ecological thought and action and, in particular, religion, which is argued as able to provide these. It analyses the perceived need for religion to re-imagine nature as well as the need for it to re-imagine itself in doing so, arguing for it also as a process, analysing the place and role of religion in the modern world and its possible re-vitalisation in the face of secularisation, environmental issues in this sense being argued as providing an arena for religious traditions to address the discontents of the modern world, realigning human boundaries. In particular, the book analyses a greening of religion within the field of religion and ecology that is encouraging, inspiring, assessing, comparing, and combining, religious traditions to explore and express ecological ideas. The main body of the book thus analyses different religious ecotopias, different visions of nature (and humanity) expressed in the field of religion and ecology - Indian (Hindu and Jain), Chinese (Confucian and Daoist), and Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic - exploring the ecological metaphors and myths expressed, arguing for these as new religious forms, new ecological interpretations of religious traditions (it is not religious traditions, per se, that are analysed, then, but particular new ecologically aware or inspired forms of them, although these may influence the traditions). The book argues that ecological issues and the religious-ecotopian expressions they stimulate, critiquing the present and imagining alternative worlds, may act as compass points for learning and change, critically and reflexively bringing to light and engaging problematic issues of the modern world, as well as demonstrating religious creativity and innovation. Publisher Blurb: "The field of religion and ecology is an emerging and growing movement that is becoming relevant and influential in the world. It seeks to analyze, encourage, inspire, use, compare, and combine religious traditions to engage and shape environmental issues.Tony Watling seeks to ethnographically analyze this important field and its expressions. In particular, he analyzes and compares its explorations of different world religions for ecological themes and the resulting expressions of ecological visions, in what he terms 'religious ecotopias' - idealized, environmentally-friendly re-imaginings of nature and humanity, and correspondingly religion, which seek to influence environmental attitudes." Contents Acknowledgements viii Introduction 1 Ch 1. The Modern World-View, the Ecological Model and the Reimagination of Nature 14 Ch 2. Religious Environmentalism: Reimagining and Revitalizing Nature and Religion 38 Ch 3. Indian (Hindu and Jain) Visions 64 Ch 4. Chinese (Confucian and Daoist) Visions 85 Ch 5. Buddhist Visions 105 Ch 6. Jewish Visions 123 Ch 7. Christian Visions 140 Ch 8. Islamic Visions 158 Ch 9. Conclusion 175 Bibliography 198 Index 223

Tulasi Srinivas

Book Rutgers University Press, 2--3

In Indian thought the sense of intrinsic value is posed in the basic quest of knowing the place and role of man with respect to interrelatedness of ecological cosmology, i.e. ecospirituality, receiving more attention today under New Age Movement. The question of moral duty of human being to the community and nature is the subject of imposition of inherent deep thought, i.e., ethical values, since ancient past in Indian thought. Imposition of value appears as human response to the world, in association with nature, and in realization to the cosmic interrelatedness. This is an issue of human duty, a sense of realization, a wish to promote culture and civilisation for human development. The idea of nature and human integrity in Hindu thought depends upon ways in which people see and experience themselves, their sense of attachment to nature, and their ways of maintaining this. It is through symbolism, the main expression of mythological understanding, that one can gain insight into the relationships of humanity to nature. Religion (dharma) plays a vital role in the Hindu quest for understanding and practicing harmony between nature and humanity that result to the formation of a cosmological awakening, i.e. ‘transcending the universe’. The importance and applicability of such new consciousness is a good sign in promoting global humanism in the 21st century. The central monistic philosophy of Hindu tradition, Vedanta, recog¬nizes that ‘fundamentally all life is one, that in essence everything is reality, and that this oneness finds its natural expression in a reverence for all things’. This essay attempts to present ecospiritual contextuality and its vitality concerning environmental sensitivity in India, illustrated with myths, traditions and symbols that evolved in the past and continued in the passage of time, and is on the way to critical appraisal. Keywords: Ecospirituality, Hindu tradition, Gross elements, spirit of place, dharma, new vision.

Handbook of Process Teology

Jeffery Long

RELATED PAPERS

Fabio Milioni

setiawan ignasius

Ancient Ethics, ed. J. Hardy and G. Rudebusch, Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, 2014, pp. 33-53.

John Bussanich

Stuart Gray

Mubassir Anjum

Ferdinand Tablan

Hermeneutics and Hindu Thought: Toward a Fusion of …

Sthāpatyam, Journal of the Indian Science of Architecture and Allied Sciences

Helen De Cruz

Ernst Fuerlinger , Alois Haas

Ithamar Theodor

Alexis Pinchard

Stephanie Majcher

Amy Allocco

Salaphaty Rao Marrao

Syed M Waqas

Shriram Darbha

The Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Christopher Fici

Anand Amaladass

Anand Amaladass , Sebasti Raj

Ram L. Pandey Vimal

Religious Studies Review

Shrinivas Tilak

Acta Bioethica

Sreekumar Nellickappilly

Matthew S LoPresti

Christopher Richardson

The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities, Volume 39

Shobhana Xavier

Shreyas Bharule

Dibendu Nag , World Macalliance

Bryan James

World Views: Environment, Culture, Religion

Gavin Van Horn

Vishwa Adluri

Religions, MDPI

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

Hinduism and hindu art.

Krishna Killing the Horse Demon Keshi

Standing Four-Armed Vishnu

Linga with Face of Shiva (Ekamukhalinga)

Standing Parvati

Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja)

Standing Ganesha

Standing Female Deity, probably Durga

Ardhanarishvara (Composite of Shiva and Parvati)

Vaikuntha Vishnu

Krishna on Garuda

Durga as Slayer of the Buffalo Demon Mahishasura

Seated Ganesha

Kneeling Female Figure

Hanuman Conversing

The Goddess Durga Slaying the Demon Buffalo Mahisha

Loving Couple (Mithuna)

Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Shaiva Saint

Vidya Dehejia Department of Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University

February 2007

According to the Hindu view, there are four goals of life on earth, and each human being should aspire to all four. Everyone should aim for dharma , or righteous living; artha , or wealth acquired through the pursuit of a profession; kama , or human and sexual love; and, finally, moksha , or spiritual salvation.

This holistic view is reflected as well as in the artistic production of India. Although a Hindu temple is dedicated to the glory of a deity and is aimed at helping the devotee toward moksha , its walls might justifiably contain sculptures that reflect the other three goals of life. It is in such a context that we may best understand the many sensuous and apparently secular themes that decorate the walls of Indian temples.

Hinduism is a religion that had no single founder, no single spokesman, no single prophet. Its origins are mixed and complex. One strand can be traced back to the sacred Sanskrit literature of the Aryans, the Vedas, which consist of hymns in praise of deities who were often personifications of the natural elements. Another strand drew on the beliefs prevalent among groups of indigenous peoples, especially the faith in the power of the mother goddess and in the efficacy of fertility symbols. Hinduism, in the form comparable to its present-day expression, emerged at about the start of the Christian era, with an emphasis on the supremacy of the god Vishnu, the god Shiva, and the goddess Shakti (literally, “Power”).

The pluralism evident in Hinduism, as well as its acceptance of the existence of several deities, is often puzzling to non-Hindus. Hindus suggest that one may view the Infinite as a diamond of innumerable facets. One or another facet—be it Rama, Krishna, or Ganesha—may beckon an individual believer with irresistible magnetism. By acknowledging the power of an individual facet and worshipping it, the believer does not thereby deny the existence of many aspects of the Infinite and of varied paths toward the ultimate goal.

Deities are frequently portrayed with multiple arms, especially when they are engaged in combative acts of cosmic consequence that involve destroying powerful forces of evil. The multiplicity of arms emphasizes the immense power of the deity and his or her ability to perform several feats at the same time. The Indian artist found this a simple and an effective means of expressing the omnipresence and omnipotence of a deity. Demons are frequently portrayed with multiple heads to indicate their superhuman power. The occasional depiction of a deity with more than one head is generally motivated by the desire to portray varying aspects of the character of that deity. Thus, when the god Shiva is portrayed with a triple head, the central face indicates his essential character and the flanking faces depict his fierce and blissful aspects.

The Hindu Temple Architecture and sculpture are inextricably linked in India . Thus, if one speaks of Indian architecture without taking note of the lavish sculptured decoration with which monuments are covered, a partial and distorted picture is presented. In the Hindu temple , large niches in the three exterior walls of the sanctum house sculpted images that portray various aspects of the deity enshrined within. The sanctum image expresses the essence of the deity. For instance, the niches of a temple dedicated to a Vishnu may portray his incarnations; those of a temple to Shiva , his various combative feats; and those of a temple to the Great Goddess, her battles with various demons. Regional variations exist, too; in the eastern state of Odisha, for example, the niches of a temple to Shiva customarily contain images of his family—his consort, Parvati, and their sons, Ganesha, the god of overcoming obstacles, and warlike Skanda.

The exterior of the halls and porch are also covered with figural sculpture. A series of niches highlight events from the mythology of the enshrined deity, and frequently a place is set aside for a variety of other gods. In addition, temple walls feature repeated banks of scroll-like foliage, images of women, and loving couples known as mithunas . Signifying growth, abundance, and prosperity, they were considered auspicious motifs.

Dehejia, Vidya. “Hinduism and Hindu Art.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hind/hd_hind.htm (February 2007)

Further Reading

Dehejia, Vidya. Indian Art . London: Phaidon, 1997.

Eck, Diana L. Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India. 2d ed . Chamberburg, Pa.: Anima Books, 1985.

Michell, George. The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms. Reprint . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988.

Mitter, Partha. Indian Art . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Additional Essays by Vidya Dehejia

• Dehejia, Vidya. “ Buddhism and Buddhist Art .” (February 2007)
• Dehejia, Vidya. “ Recognizing the Gods .” (February 2007)
• Dehejia, Vidya. “ South Asian Art and Culture .” (February 2007)

Related Essays

• Nepalese Painting
• Nepalese Sculpture
• Recognizing the Gods
• South Asian Art and Culture
• The Art of the Mughals before 1600
• Buddhism and Buddhist Art
• Early Modernists and Indian Traditions
• Europe and the Age of Exploration
• Jain Sculpture
• Kings of Brightness in Japanese Esoteric Buddhist Art
• Life of Jesus of Nazareth
• Modern Art in India
• The Mon-Dvaravati Tradition of Early North-Central Thailand
• Musical Instruments of the Indian Subcontinent
• Poetic Allusions in the Rajput and Pahari Painting of India
• Postmodernism: Recent Developments in Art in India
• Pre-Angkor Traditions: The Mekong Delta and Peninsular Thailand
• The Rise of Modernity in South Asia
• The Year One

List of Rulers

• List of Rulers of South Asia
• Central and North Asia, 500–1000 A.D.
• Himalayan Region, 1400–1600 A.D.
• South Asia, 1400–1600 A.D.
• South Asia, 1–500 A.D.
• South Asia: North, 1000–1400 A.D.
• South Asia: North, 500–1000 A.D.
• South Asia: South, 1000–1400 A.D.
• South Asia: South, 500–1000 A.D.
• Southeast Asia, 1000–1400 A.D.
• Southeast Asia, 1400–1600 A.D.
• Southeast Asia, 500–1000 A.D.
• 10th Century A.D.
• 11th Century A.D.
• 12th Century A.D.
• 13th Century A.D.
• 14th Century A.D.
• 15th Century A.D.
• 16th Century A.D.
• 17th Century A.D.
• 18th Century A.D.
• 19th Century A.D.
• 1st Century A.D.
• 20th Century A.D.
• 21st Century A.D.
• 2nd Century A.D.
• 3rd Century A.D.
• 4th Century A.D.
• 5th Century A.D.
• 6th Century A.D.
• 7th Century A.D.
• 8th Century A.D.
• 9th Century A.D.
• Architecture
• Central and North Asia
• Christianity
• Deity / Religious Figure
• Floral Motif
• Gilt Copper
• Literature / Poetry
• Plant Motif
• Relief Sculpture
• Religious Art
• Sculpture in the Round
• Southeast Asia
• Uttar Pradesh

Online Features

• The Artist Project: “Izhar Patkin on Shiva as Lord of Dance “
• The Artist Project: “Nalini Malani on Hanuman Bearing the Mountaintop with Medicinal Herbs “
• Connections: “Hands” by Alice Schwarz
• Connections: “Relics” by John Guy
• Connections: “The Embrace” by Jennifer Meagher

Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Hinduism — Essay On Hinduism And Buddhism

Essay on Hinduism and Buddhism

• Categories: Hinduism

About this sample

Words: 613 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 613 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Hinduism: the oldest religion, buddhism: the teachings of the buddha, influence and interactions.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Religion

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 897 words

9 pages / 3932 words

9 pages / 3873 words

2 pages / 840 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Hinduism

Religious values are known as a crucial factor in the cultures of all countries. Traditions, monuments, duties are part of all religions. Hinduism and Buddhism have significant issues that are people curious about. Hinduism and [...]

Moksha, the ultimate goal of life, is a concept deeply rooted in Hindu philosophy and spirituality. It is the liberation from the cycle of birth and death, also known as samsara, and the attainment of eternal bliss and union [...]

When one thinks of Hinduism, the concept of Nirvana often comes to mind. Nirvana is a state of ultimate liberation and enlightenment, a state of being free from suffering and the cycle of birth and death. It is a concept that [...]

Hinduism is one of the oldest and most complex religions in the world, with a rich history and diverse set of beliefs and practices. This essay aims to provide an overview of Hinduism, including its background and history, core [...]

The Bhagavad Gita presents a unique system of moral teachings that characterized the “…sociopolitical and religious reality of South Asia…” in early first century AD (Flood, Martin, pg. xiii). It involves an interaction [...]

The Ramayana is a significant text found in the Hindu religion, which presents Rama as an ideal human being. Rama’s journey through life is used as a model for how to live. According to R. K. Narayan’s version of The Ramayana, [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

139 Hinduism Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for Hinduism topics to write about? The world’s third largest religion is definitely worth exploring!

🏆 Best Hinduism Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

☸️ free hinduism essay examples, 💡 interesting hinduism project ideas, 🥇 hinduism topics to write about, 📌 hinduism research paper topics, ❓ questions about hinduism.

In your Hinduism essay, you might want to focus on the beliefs, practices, or symbols in this religion. Another option is to concentrate on the concept of God. One more idea is to compare Hinduism and Buddhism. Whether you need to write an argumentative, persuasive, or critique essay, our article will be helpful. Here you will find everything you might need to write a Hinduism essay. We’ve collected topics for essays and research papers, Hinduism project ideas and prompts, as well as essay examples.

• Hinduism and Christianity: Comparison and Contrast Sufficient knowledge regarding the history and the fundamental values of Hinduism may be the key to sharing Christ with Hindus. Therefore, it is closely linked with the concept of Karma, and Hindus strive to achieve […]
• Buddhism and Hinduism: Similarities and Differences The most conspicuous similarity is the origin of the two religions in sub-continent India. Some worship and religious practices are similar but there is a profound difference in the style and purpose of life in […]
• Hinduism and Christianity In Christianity, it is believed that, the human soul enters heaven after going through the process of subjective perfection and not pure perfection as in Hinduism. Both religions believe in God who has the power […]
• Christianity and Hinduism: Comparative Analysis In Christianity, the Holy Trinity consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit while in Hinduism,the concept is analogous to Trimurti.
• ”The History of God” by Karen Armstrong: An Overview of the History of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism “The History of God” by Karen Armstrong is a comprehensive overview of the history of the development of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
• Hinduism in ‘The World’s Religions’ by Huston Smith Prior to the aforementioned passage, Smith explains the concept of the Path of Desire that is used in Hinduism to summarize possible people’s desires and their causes.
• Hinduism: Origin and Development, the Basic Concept Hinduism, many believe, is not a religion; it is a way of life, a set of beliefs and traditions evolved over a period of time in the Indian subcontinent.
• Comparison of Hinduism and Buddhism Rituals Buddhism and Hinduism are some of the popular religions in the world with their origins dating back to the Common Era in India.
• Caste System in Hinduism The caste system is a description of the way the people in the Hindu society were divided based on their talents and the corresponding vocations; it was once supposedly devised to bring order, discipline, and […]
• Dharma in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism This essay aims to describe the ideas of dharma in the religions of Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism in terms of their doctrines, rituals, origin tales, and modes of worship.
• Dharma in Hinduism Therefore, various Hindu translations have defined dharma as “that which sustains or upholds the right or positive order of the world, a person, the family, society, nation and the entire world”. In the texts, Dharma […]
• Hinduism and Buddhism: Comparative Analysis One of the basic concepts in Indian philosophy: the soul, drowning in the “ocean of samsara,” seeks liberation and deliverance from the results of its past actions, which are part of the “net of samsara”.
• Hinduism Definition and Characteristics The Hindu religion also has some followers in the United Kingdom that amount to approximately 1% of the UK population; in the UK it developed in the 1960s and 1970s following the migration of people […]
• Essential Beliefs in Hinduism: Analysis The three forms of deities allow Hindus to understand the nature of God and the universe. The social and religious life of a Hindu in the Dalit group is different from others.
• Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism Elements Hindus, the last power is discovered in the Vedas and the writing of the religious leaders willing to view the fact nature of reality.
• Reflection on Self in Buddhism and Hinduism The specificity of the Buddhist concept of the human self lies in the acceptance of the distinction between self and general in a spiritual aspect.
• History: Women in Hinduism and Buddhism For instance, one of the main problems that arise when examining the situation of women in Karimpur is the fact that there is a considerable level of disparity in the survival rates between male and […]
• Worldview Questions in Christianity and Hinduism In turn, Brahman is referred to as the source of everything existent and non-existent, which means responsible for establishing the sky, earth, and atmosphere, and is generally the creator of reality.
• Anatman and Atman Concepts in Buddhism and Hinduism Rendering to the Atman notion, Atman is eventually in the custody of people’s reactions to what happens in the outside world. The idea of the self in assembly to God is where Hinduism and Buddhism […]
• Hinduism and Christianity: Comparative Analysis Hinduism and Christianity are respectively eastern and western religions that share few similarities and differences in terms of origins, core beliefs and doctrines, historical and geographic, and core rituals and practices.
• Religions: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism Comparison Primal religions, the religions of antiquity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism are all united by their understanding of religious meaning which the followers of these religions see in different rituals, as well as by the presence […]
• Buddhism and Hinduism: A Comparison Both of Hinduism and Buddhism have shared beliefs but they are different in the practice of duties, worshipped, the founders of the religions.
• Hinduism Philosophy in “The Upanishads” The following paper will discuss the relationship between Atman and Brahman in “The Upanishads”, observe the tractate’s perspective regarding pantheism or panentheism, and explain differences between both higher and lower selves to prove that the […]
• Religious Studies: Hinduism and Buddhism Samsara refers to the processor rebirth whereby the individual is reincarnated in a succession of lives. This is what has led to the many differences that arise, causing Buddhism to be viewed as a religious […]
• Hinduism’s Main Principles Overall, one can identify the following characteristics of Hinduism, namely the acceptance of different religious views, the belief in reincarnation of soul, and the idea that God can take many different forms.
• Buddhism and Hinduism Thus it is each individuals role to return the soul but this is not possible because of the sins and impurities one becomes exposed to once living in this world and since the process of […]
• Free Will in Hinduism and Christianity: Ideologies on Both Religious Practices and Philosophy On the basis of the aspect of free will, the determination of the laws of karma is not favoring to particular people as everyone is treated the same, and has the same opportunity for personal […]
• Theories about Human Nature: Hinduism and Christianity Christianity and Hinduism are certainly at the top of the list of important attempts at explaining the origin of the universe and human nature, since approximately 47% of the world’s population belongs to these two […]
• The Confluence of Buddhism and Hinduism in India The basis of Buddhism is found in the answers to two questions that Gautama attempted to answer. Buddhism was spread to other parts of the world with different doctrines and beliefs.
• Paths to Enlightenment in Hinduism and Buddhism This paper will compare the paths to moksha with the Four Noble Truths and argue that raja yoga would best utilize the Buddhist method of the Eightfold Path.
• Hinduism: Mythology, Rituals, and Symbols Hindus hold that the purpose of Buddha’s arrival on earth was to distract an individual from the appropriate awe of the Vedas, causing the world to deteriorate and eventually end as the cosmic pattern dictates.
• Indigenous Religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism For example, Confucianism is one of the modern national religions of China, which was formed at the turn of the new era based on the ethical-philosophical teachings of Confucius and his followers.
• Hinduism as the Oldest Religion in the World Hinduism believers esteem the teachings of Karma and samsara, that is, the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation. Mercifulness is embraced as one of the critical teachings of the Hinduism religion.
• Buddhism and Hinduism: A Comparative Study While in the case of Hinduism, samsara is the cyclical rebirth of the soul that remains unchanged, Buddhism teaches that samsara is the transformation of a person into something else.
• Hinduism, Buddhism, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Ramayana in the News Media It also implies that the government of the country where Hinduism is the predominant religion is concerned because of the mistakes revealed by mass media.
• Comparison of Islam and Hinduism: Core Beliefs and the Perception of the Central Problem of Humanity The goal of the Mulsims’ life is to follow the Five Pillars and regularly pray to Allah. The continuous cycle of death and rebirths in Hinduism is opposed to a single life of devotion in […]
• Hinduism in Palliative and End of Life Care: Practice Guidelines for Medical Professionals The knowledge gap here is the fact that the medical professionals and patients or their families may have different opinions regarding end-of-life care and since this topic is sensitive, it is vital to examine how […]
• Unique Characteristics of Hinduism and Its Methods: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga It is a part of Vedanta tradition, which is a school of Hindu philosophy. That is why there is a platform with sacred religious books, such as The Texts of Taoism and The Bible.
• Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism in America: A Country of Many Religions This paper aims to explore the impact of Islam, Hindu, and Buddhism on the diversity in America today and answer the question what role they are playing in the society.
• Hinduism: What Is Its Essence and Uniqueness? These are “the manifestation creation and the creator, the manifestation of survival and protection and the manifestation of extinction and transformation.
• The Major Aspects of the Hinduism: The Concept of Karma and Samsara The body of the person who has passed on is believed to undergo a transformation. The quietness of the spirit of this person is also escalated.
• Hinduism History and Its Epics This essay gives an overview of historic development of Hinduism and the importance of epics in Hinduism. Hinduism basically encompasses the development of religion in India from the time of Iron Age, which dates back […]
• Vedic Hinduism, Classical Hinduism, and Buddhism: A Uniting Belief Systems The difference between Vedic and Classical Hinduism is fundamentally approach towards life rather than beliefs or reformation and the progression from the former to latter is not clear in terms of time.
• Nirvana in Buddhism and Atman in Hinduism The Mantras which is the text of the Vedas are the personification of the Brahman and are divided into two forms which are the karma-Kanda and the Jnana-Kanda.
• Christian & Hinduist Religions and Ecology: Human Life and Its Interaction With the Environment It was in this writing whereby he tried to explain that the universe is the most Gods revelation since the universe in this case is trying to unfold hence can reveal the nature of God […]
• Religious Studies and Theology: Hinduism The religion places emphasis upon the importance of truth, like any other religion the main aim of Hinduism is to make the people aware of the supreme power and considering the same the people under […]
• Hinduism: Religious Adaptation in Britain They began to grow in numbers and had to move into the interior and south of India, mingling with the Dravidians who were probably the people of the Indus civilization.
• Hinduism as a Religion of South Florida There are many predominant themes in the religion, and they can be grouped as ethics and duties called as “Dharma”, the cycle of life that includes birth, living, death, and again rebirth or “Samsara”; the […]
• Salvation and Self in Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism The accomplishment of the elevating state of ‘Moksha’ is the final goal of Hinduism, whereas Buddhism aspires to attain the elevating state of ‘Nirvana’ as its final aim.’Moksha’, the final outcome of which is ultimate […]
• Hinduism in the West and Transformation of Yoga The religious encounter issue examined in this case study is appropriation and transition of the Hindu religious and cultural practice of yoga for mass adoption in the West.
• Hinduism Beliefs and Western Philosophy of Religion The Ramayana is an epic poem by Valmiki, and it majors on the life of the Kosala Prince, Rama, by exploring how his father, King Dasaratha, kicked him out of the kingdom and his adventures […]
• Hinduism and Buddhism: Definition and Comparison The only technique required in this context is wouldevotion.’ The followers of this religious group are required to demonstrate outstanding devotion as they strive to serve their religious faiths.
• Hinduism and Its Understandings of the Divine Vishnu – known as the “preserver”, Vishnu is credited as being the protector of the world as we know it and is responsible for the restoration of moral order in society.
• Buddhism and Hinduism: Religious Differences In Hinduism, only representatives of higher varnas, Brahmins, can attain moksha with the help of gods. Hinduists believe in the multitude of gods who can be the manifestations of one Great God.
• Zoroastrianism and Hinduism Religious Practices The religion set forth in the Zend-Avesta bases its teachings on the concept of struggle between good and evil. Once ranked as the most influential religions in the world, Zoroastrianism started fading during the turn […]
• Buddhism and Hinduism Differences One of the main differences between Buddhism and Hinduism is the fact that Theravada Buddhism has no gods, as Buddha is not a god, he is an enlightened being that has reached and realised the […]
• Religious Studies Discussion: Hinduism and Buddhism It is believed that Hinduism evolved and later spread to other areas in India. In conclusion, the objectives and practices of Hinduism and Buddhism are similar in many ways.
• Religious Teachings: Jainism vs. Buddhism and Hinduism The Jains believe in the existence of a divine being, and they attribute the forces that govern their fate in life to the Supreme Being.
• Hinduism Religion: Food and Asceticism The concept of meagerness asserts the need to supply the body with “just enough food to sustain the body for the service for which it is made”. Food is an important part of the Hindu […]
• Islam and Hinduism Development in India There are various reasons that led to the flourishing of Hinduism and Islam in the country while Christianity and Buddhism took a beating in the country.
• Hinduism: History, Teachings, Ethics and Beliefs One of the main elements of Hinduism is the Veda. Hinduism provides a lot of teaching in regard to the principles of right and wrong as accepted in the society.
• Women Status in Hinduism and Islam This paper explores the meaning of women in Hinduism and Islam and the possible sources of such aggressive opposition to gender equality in some areas of Hindu and Islamic majority countries.
• Hinduism and Judaism’ Religions: Practices and Rituals Practices and rituals signify the activities that the followers of a religion are required to engage in. Practices and rituals are the physical manifestations of the activities of religion.
• Three Concepts of Hinduism Tradition The concept mainly involves the ability of an individual to do the right thing both in the family and beyond the universe.
• Teachings of Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism Karma is partly determined by the will of God, in addition to the actions of an individual. Hindus believe that Karma is partly determined by the will of God, in addition to the actions of […]
• Contemporary Accounts of Nature and Grace: Karl Rahner’s Christian Theology and Hindu Theology The studies have helped in the elimination of stereotypes against the followers of Hindu religion and encouraged Christian thinkers to reflect on the foundations of their religious beliefs through the motifs of Hindu.
• Comparison Between Hinduism and Buddhism The Afghans, Persians, and Arabs first used the term “Hindu” to denote the inhabitants of the aforementioned regions. The aspect of worship is one of the most vital religious practices in Hinduism.
• Interactions between Hinduism and Modernity Hinduism which is one of the religions in the world has a lot of interactions with the modern world despite being an ancient religion.
• Hinduism’s Religion and Its Scriptures The scriptures that determined the practices of Rishis are regarded as the basis of the religion of Hinduism. Irrespective of the differences in religious practices among different sections of the Hindu, the perception of the […]
• The Concept of Hinduism Religion All the different denominations endorse the belief in the Brahman which is the ultimate reality seen as the universal soul as well as the individual soul called Aatman.
• Hinduism and the Issue of Mortality In discussing the concept of mortality in Hinduism, it is vital to appreciate the fact that liberation of the souls ensures that life remains permanent, before death and after the natural process of recuperation.
• Evil in the Theology and Practice of Hinduism and Christianity To understand the concept of evil in Hinduism one should understand the meaning the concept of karma, which is believed to be one of the simplest and at the same time one of the most […]
• The History of Judaism and Hinduism This essay aims at providing a brief history of Judaism as well as Hinduism in an attempt to provide a better understanding of the similarities and differences of the two religions from their places of […]
• Christianity and Hinduism Religions Comparison Western religions are mostly monotheism and are separate from the western religions which are generally distinguished as polytheist.generally, western religions such as Christianity are based on the believe of a supreme being or one deity […]
• Hinduism’s Cultural and Religious Opinions As a result, it is not easy to trace the history of Hinduism and the Hindus are not concerned about the specific dates when the religion might have started.
• Buddhism & Hinduism: Comparisons and Contractions To start with the two religions share many things in their beliefs in that they both believe in rebirth which is determined by the actions one does in the daily life.
• A Brief Comparison of Native American Religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism, and Taoism
• A History of the Ancient Cultures and Religions of Hinduism and Greek Rationalism
• The Diffferences In Marriage Between Islam And Hinduism
• A Look at the Beliefs of Karma, Reincarnation, Samsara and Enlightenment as Depicted in Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism
• An Analysis of the Beliefs, Rituals of Life, Worship, Holy Books and Pilgrimage in Hinduism
• Comparison between the Beliefs and Ideas of Plato, Freud and Hinduism
• The Significance of Cow Protection and Vegetarianism in Hinduism
• An Analysis of the Similarities and Differences between Mesopotamian and Egyptian Civilizations, and the Religion of Hinduism
• Hinduism is an Umbrella Term for a Group of Similar Religions
• An Overview of the Origins and Examples of Buddhism and Hinduism in the United States
• Compare and Contrast the Role of Women in the Following Belief Systems Buddhism Christianity Confucianism Hinduism
• Cultural Influences on Economic Thought in India: Resistance to diffusion of neo-classical economics and the principles of Hinduism
• The Funeral/Burial Rituals Of The Hinduism Tradition
• Evaluation of the Principle of Ahimsa is Hinduism’s Greatest Gift to the World
• Explain the Impact on Hinduism of One Significant Person or School of Thought Other Than the Vedas
• Hinduism and Its Relation to the Indus Valley Civilization
• The Central Scriptures in Hinduism, the Role of the Caste System in India, the Path to Moksha in Hinduism, and the Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism
• Hinduism Composition – Religious beliefs Religious Values Spirituality Works
• How Buddhism and Hinduism Share a Belief That Life Suffering is Caused by Desire
• The Diwali Festival, Its Importance to Hinduism, and Pollution in Diwali
• Major Gods of Hinduism
• The Different Reactions of Women and Dalits to the Persecution by Religion, Hinduism, and Society in Hinduism
• Women Of Hinduism : A Religious And Cultural Tradition Of India
• The Idea of Human Perfection in Three Major Eastern Religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Daoism
• Yoga And Hinduism
• The Similarities between Hinduism and Greek Mythology and Their Rulers of All Gods Indra and Zeus
• Considering that Hinduism lacks a uniting belief system, what makes up the Hindu religion?
• Why Hinduism Does not Have a Founder and a Common Scripture?
• Are Hinduism’s Practices Philosophical or Strictly Religious?
• How Hinduism is Very Different from Christianity and Other Western Religions?
• What Are the Core Moral Teachings of Hinduism and Budhism? On What Are They Based?
• How Rituals Permit the Practice of Worship in Hinduism?
• What Everyone Needs to Know About Hinduism the Sacred Cow?
• Why Rama is the Most Popularly Worshiped Deity in Hinduism
• What is a Worldview and Compare and contrast Hinduism to a Biblical Christian?
• How Buddhism and Hinduism Are Alike and Are Also Different?
• How Buddhism and Hinduism Share a Belief That Life Suffering Is Caused by Desire?
• How Did the Revival of Hinduism Influence Buddhist Followers?
• How Christianity and Hinduism Contribute to World Peace?
• How Does Sibi Reflects the Values Shown in Hinduism?
• What Are Some Similarities Between Hinduism and Buddhism?
• What Cultural and Societal Influences Made Hinduism Vital to the Region Where It Originated?
• What Are the Roles of the Female Deities in Hinduism?
• What Hinduism Conclude About the Afterlife?
• What Does Hinduism Say About Holy Spirit?
• What Impact Has Hinduism Had on Modern India’s Society?
• Why Did Hinduism Need to Reform?
• Does Hinduism Believe in God?
• What Are the Five Fundamental Beliefs of Hinduism?
• What Kind of Religion Is Hinduism?
• What Does the Hinduism Religion Believe?
• Does Hinduism Celebrate Christmas?
• Is Eating Meat a Sin in Hinduism?
• Why Do Hindus in Hinduism Have Red Dots on Their Foreheads?
• What Is Not Allowed in Hinduism?
• How Many Gods Does Hinduism Have?
• Do in Hinduism Believe One God?
• Who Is the Supreme God in Hinduism?
• Who Is World First God in Hinduism?
• Who Is the Real God in Hinduism?
• Is Krishna Above All Gods in Hinduism?
• How Does the Bhagavad-Gita Reveal the Fundamental Teachings of Hinduism?
• How to Explain the Difference Between Varṇa and JāTi and Their Place in Hinduism?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 28). 139 Hinduism Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/hinduism-essay-topics/

"139 Hinduism Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 28 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/hinduism-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '139 Hinduism Essay Topics & Examples'. 28 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "139 Hinduism Essay Topics & Examples." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/hinduism-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "139 Hinduism Essay Topics & Examples." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/hinduism-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "139 Hinduism Essay Topics & Examples." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/hinduism-essay-topics/.

• Indian Culture Essay Ideas
• Meditation Questions
• Yoga Questions
• Theology Topics
• Sikhism Research Topics
• Catholicism Topics
• Holy Spirit Titles
• Buddhism Topics
• God Paper Topics
• Jesus Christ Research Ideas
• Judaism Ideas
• Protestantism Questions
• Confucianism Titles
• Meaning of Life Essay Ideas
• Afterlife Research Topics

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

• Publications
• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

7 facts about Hindus around the world

Every year, Hindus around the world celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. The holiday lasts five days , and Indians mark it with gifts, prayers and many sources of light, including lamps, candles and fireworks. This Diwali, some Hindus also are celebrating the appointment of Rishi Sunak as the United Kingdom’s first Hindu prime minister.

With Diwali celebrations and Sunak’s transition underway, here are some facts about Hindus around the world, drawing on a Pew Research Center survey of India conducted in 2019-2020, our 2021 study of the religious composition of India , and other sources.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to take a closer look at the Hindu population around the world, the vast majority of which lives in India. Much of the analysis is based on the June 2021 report “ Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation ,” based on a survey of 29,999 adults across India, the Center’s most comprehensive, in-depth exploration of Indian public opinion to date. Here are the questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology .

In addition, this analysis uses past Pew Research Center work projecting global religious populations from 2010 to 2050 (“ The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050 ”), analyzing India’s religious composition and fertility rates since independence (“ Religious Composition of India ”), comparing global educational attainment by religion (“ Religion and Education Around the World ”) and analyzing the changing sex ratio in India (“ India’s Sex Ratio at Birth Begins to Normalize ”). Together, these four reports drew from more than 2,000 data sources, including censuses and a variety of surveys. Additional information about the methods used can be found in the Methodology section of each report.

More than nine-in-ten of the world’s Hindus live in India. There are more than 1.1 billion Hindus in the world and roughly 94% of them live in India, according to Pew Research Center projections for 2020. Eight-in-ten Indians (79.8%) identify as Hindu, according to the country’s 2011 census . Far fewer Indians are of other religions, including Islam (14.2%), Christianity (2.3%) and Sikhism (1.7%).

The largest Hindu populations outside of India are in Nepal – the only other country in the world with a Hindu majority – and Bangladesh. In the UK, British government statistics show that Hindus make up just under 2% of the population in England and Wales . In the United States, they account for less than 1%, according to Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religion Landscape Study .

Nearly all Hindus in India celebrate Diwali, but many also celebrate Christmas. More than nine-in-ten Indian Hindus (95%) celebrate Diwali, while roughly one-in-five (17%) say they participate in Christmas festivities and 7% say they celebrate Muslim Eid, according to Pew Research Center’s 2019-2020 survey . (In the U.S., 95% of Indian American Hindus celebrate Diwali, according to a 2012 survey .)

Diwali is among the most popular religious holidays in India and is also celebrated by large majorities of the country’s Jains (98%), Sikhs (90%) and Buddhists (79%), as well as by substantial minorities of Christians (31%) and Muslims (20%).

The vast majority of India’s Hindus believe in God (98%), including eight-in-ten who say they believe in God with absolute certainty. Even though Hinduism is sometimes referred to as a polytheistic religion , very few Hindus (7%) take the position that there are multiple gods, according to the Center’s 2019-2020 survey . The prevailing view, held by 61% of Hindus, is that there is one God “with many manifestations.” About three-in-ten Indian Hindus (29%) say simply: “There is only one God.”

The survey asked Hindus who say they believe in God which god(s) they feel closest to, seeking to measure the concept of ishta devata (“personal god”). The vast majority of Hindus selected more than one god or indicated that they have many personal gods. Hindus most commonly feel close to Shiva (44%). Roughly three-in-ten Hindus say they feel closest to Ganesha (32%) and Lakshmi (28%), and 17% of Indian Hindus feel closest to Lord Ram – three deities commonly honored during Diwali .

Many Indian Hindus regularly perform puja  – a worship practice that often involves prayer and giving offerings to deities. Most Hindus in India perform puja at home daily (55%). Fewer Hindus perform puja at temples daily (20%). Hindu women are much more likely than men to perform puja in their home daily (64% vs. 47%), but there is no gender gap when it comes to performing puja at temples (20% vs. 21%). 

Four-in-ten Indian Hindus believe in reincarnation. Although reincarnation is a mainstream teaching in Hinduism, fewer than half of Hindus express belief in this teaching . College-educated Hindus are slightly less likely than others to say they believe in reincarnation (34% vs. 41%).

Hindus in the U.S. and Europe are among the most educated religious groups where they live. In the U.S., Hindu adults have an average of 15.7 years of formal schooling – a full year more than the next most highly educated U.S. religious group (Jews), and nearly three years more than the average American adult (12.9 years), according to a 2016 Pew Research Center analysis . Similarly, the average level of education among Hindus in the UK is greater than that of other British adults (13.9 years vs. 12.2 years). These differences reflect the fact that religious minorities often have more education, on average, than a country’s majority, particularly when the minority group is largely foreign born and comes from a distant country.

In India, Hindus are among the groups with the least education: 39% of Hindu adults have 10 or more years of schooling, compared with 48% of Sikhs and 47% of Christians, according to India’s 2019-2021 National Family Health Survey.

Nearly two-thirds of Indian Hindus (64%) say it is very important to be Hindu to be truly Indian. A majority of Hindus (59%) also say speaking Hindi is crucial to being truly Indian.

These beliefs about Indian national identity are strongly reflected in political views, and in levels of support for India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is sometimes said to  prioritize Hindu interests . Roughly half of Hindus who say they voted in the country’s 2019 election say they voted for the BJP (49%), but support for the BJP is considerably higher among those who say both being Hindu and speaking Hindi are very important to be truly Indian (60%). Although this group of Hindu BJP voters may see a special place for Hindus in India, they are just as likely as other Hindus to say respecting other religions is crucial to being truly Indian.

• Size & Demographic Characteristics of Religious Groups

Jonathan Evans is a senior researcher focusing on religion research at Pew Research Center

How people in South and Southeast Asia view religious diversity and pluralism

Religion among asian americans, in their own words: cultural connections to religion among asian americans, in singapore, religious diversity and tolerance go hand in hand, buddhism, islam and religious pluralism in south and southeast asia, most popular.

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 USA (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax (+1) 202-419-4372 |  Media Inquiries

Research Topics

• Age & Generations
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Economy & Work
• Family & Relationships
• Gender & LGBTQ
• Immigration & Migration
• International Affairs
• Internet & Technology
• Methodological Research
• News Habits & Media
• Non-U.S. Governments
• Other Topics
• Politics & Policy
• Race & Ethnicity
• Email Newsletters

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Settings

Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy

Why is writing essays so hard?

Patterns and boring topics imposed by schools and universities are not very conducive to creativity and human development. Such essays are very difficult to write, because many are not interested in this and do not see the meaning of the text. There are a number of criteria that make it impossible to write essays:

• Boring and incomprehensible topics. Many topics could be more interesting, but teachers formulate them in a way that makes you want to yawn.
• Templates. 90% do not know how to make an essay interesting, how to turn this detailed answer to a question into a living story.
• Fear of not living up to expectations. It seems to many that the essay is stupid and that they simply did not understand the question. There is a fear of getting a bad mark and disappointing the professor, parents and classmates. There is a fear of looking stupid and embarrassing in front of the team.
• Lack of experience. People don't know what and how to write about. In order to make a good essay, you need to have a perfect understanding of the topic and have the skills of a writer.

That is why the company EssaysWriting provides its services. We remove the responsibility for the result from the clients and do everything to ensure that the scientific work is recognized.

Customer Reviews

Orders of are accepted for higher levels only (University, Master's, PHD). Please pay attention that your current order level was automatically changed from High School/College to University.

Finished Papers

Essay Service Features That Matter

Experts to provide you writing essays service..

You can assign your order to:

• Basic writer. In this case, your paper will be completed by a standard author. It does not mean that your paper will be of poor quality. Before hiring each writer, we assess their writing skills, knowledge of the subjects, and referencing styles. Furthermore, no extra cost is required for hiring a basic writer.
• Advanced writer. If you choose this option, your order will be assigned to a proficient writer with a high satisfaction rate.
• TOP writer. If you want your order to be completed by one of the best writers from our essay writing service with superb feedback, choose this option.
• Your preferred writer. You can indicate a specific writer's ID if you have already received a paper from him/her and are satisfied with it. Also, our clients choose this option when they have a series of assignments and want every copy to be completed in one style.

Essay writing help has this amazing ability to save a student’s evening. For example, instead of sitting at home or in a college library the whole evening through, you can buy an essay instead, which takes less than one minute, and save an evening or more. A top grade for homework will come as a pleasant bonus! Here’s what you have to do to have a new 100% custom essay written for you by an expert.

To get the online essay writing service, you have to first provide us with the details regarding your research paper. So visit the order form and tell us a paper type, academic level, subject, topic, number and names of sources, as well as the deadline. Also, don’t forget to select additional services designed to improve your online customer experience with our essay platform.

Once all the form fields are filled, submit the order form that will redirect you to a secure checkout page. See if all the order details were entered correctly and make a payment. Just as payment is through, your mission is complete. The rest is on us!

Enjoy your time, while an online essay writer will be doing your homework. When the deadline comes, you’ll get a notification that your order is complete. Log in to your Customer Area on our site and download the file with your essay. Simply enter your name on the title page on any text editor and you’re good to hand it in. If you need revisions, activate a free 14-30-day revision period. We’ll revise the work and do our best to meet your requirements this time.