The Hindu Faith

The Hindu tradition has no founder and is best understood as  a group of closely connected religious traditions rather than a single religion. Hindus believe in one God under many manifestations or images, so that all prayers addressed to any form or manifestation will ultimately reach God.

For Hindus, religion is a sanctified and disciplined path one follows to reach a higher level of consciousness or goal, i.e. to become a better person by following the path of Dharma, the ancient law that underlies the order of the universe and is reflected in a moral and ethical life. They believe in the law of karma, a simple law of cause and effect.

Hindus believe in the divine nature of the soul which journeys from body to body depending on the merits and sins of one's action, which determines one's future rebirth. Hindus believe that the Divine descends to earth and these manifestations of God include Rama, Krishna and the Buddha. They also see the presence of God in all living things. Worship and general religious activity are commonly centred around the home, such as the veneration of divine images around a shrine morning or evening. Prayer and the reading of the Holy Scriptures are also important practises. Hindu temples have public worship twice daily and Sunday is a day for communal worship and activity.

There are many religious festivals, the most commonly celebrated being Diwali, the festival of lights and Navrathri, nine nights during which goddesses such as Durga, the Great Mother are worshipped. Hindus follow the concept of ahimsa (non injury) which encourages many of them to be vegetarian.