FIND OUT MORE. Buddhism 289 • Southern Asia 266–267
286 Society and Beliefs
Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions and the
main religious tradition of India. More a way of life
than a set of beliefs, it has no individual founder. It
developed slowly over a long period of time out of
a variety of local religions.
DID BUDDHISM LEARN FROM HINDUISM?
Buddhism is not interested in whether God
exists, or how and why the world was created.
Instead, it focuses on the Hindu idea of the
cycle of rebirth and how to achieve nirvana,
or release from this cycle, by freeing its
followers from greed, hatred, and ignorance.Hindus believe that living things do not have
just one life but are trapped in a cycle of
death and rebirth, known as samsara.
People are reborn into higher or
lower social positions depending on
their actions in their current life.DO HINDU GODS LIVE IN STATUES?
Images are powerful symbols of the presence of a god
and offerings are often made before them. The most
popular gods include the elephant-headed Ganesh,
symbol of wealth and success, and the monkey god
Hanuman, symbol of heroism and loyalty.WHAT IS BRAHMAN?
Many Hindus believe that beneath this variety there
is one unchanging reality known as Brahman, the
eternal creative force which made the Universe and to
which all things return. Hindus believe that human
souls are reborn in cycles of. REINCARNATION.1 FESTIVAL OF COLOUR
Holi marks the start of
spring. During the day,
people visit and greet
one another, and
commemorate the
mischievous pranks of
the god Krishna by
throwing coloured
water and powder over
one another.BRAHMA 3
Brahma the creator (not to be confused
with Brahman) has four heads, in
order to see in all directions. Together
with Vishnu the preserver and Shiva
the destroyer, these gods are known to
Hindus as the Trimurti, or “three forms”.4 HOLY SADHU
Sadhus are wandering
holy men who have
cut all family ties,
own nothing, and live
on alms. They devote
their life to gaining
wisdom and achieving moksha
(release from the cycle of rebirth).1 “HAIL TO KRISHNA”
Hare Krishnas belong to a branch of Hinduism that was established in
America in the 1960s by A.C. Bhaktivedanta. They honour Krishna, one
of Vishnu’s incarnations, and their name comes from the devotional
mantra they chant: “Hare Krishna” (“Hail to Krishna”).Hinduism
REINCARNATION
SHIVA THE DANCER 3
The god Shiva symbolizes both
destruction and creation. He is
shown here dancing on the body
of a demon, with a hoop of
flames around him to represent
the energy of the Universe.1 SACRED SOUND
The sacred symbol Om
(or Aum) is a mantra
(repeated sound) that
represents Brahman and is
often used to help meditation.Hinduism