Sarpedon

The river ganges is viewed as a goddess. Ganga. according to one story, she flowed out of Shiva's hair in the beginning of creation, and she nourishes all things. She is a frequent character in hindu epics, (eg Mahabharata, where she is the mother of Bhishma) Bathing in the river removes bad karma, especially at certain times. There are all kinds of pilgrimage points on the Ganges and other rivers where people would go to bathe.

Brahma: A god, of creation
Brahman: God, everything that exists, the infinite
Brahmin: a priest

hinduwoman

Hi Amie, most have given you answers already but since I love to lecture, here goes:
There is no specific founder or event that started Hinduism. It is simply a conglomeration of various gods and beliefs and rituals that grew over the centuries with the philosophers supplying some kind of underlying unity. But because it kept its continuity with the ancient past it gives the impression of existing forever.

Brahman is the Universal soul that is manifested by every object in this universe. I guess you can call it God, only it is different from what Christians mean by God. It is more like the reality underlying this world. (more like Holy Ghost?)
Brahma is the creator God. He represents the creative aspect of Brahman, and is a human like figure.
Brahmin literally means "one who knows Brahman". The original Brahmins were philosophers and priests. Over time it became a hereditary class of ritual specialists.

Strictly speaking Brahma and Shiva are not rivals. Brahma looks after creation while Shiva's task is to destroy the world when it is worn out so that a new universe can be created. However from various legends depicting conflicts among the two, it appears that the sects worshipping the two gods used to clash in ancient times. Historically speaking Brahma appears to be the god of the elite Brahmins while Shiva had a mass following. Nowadays, Brahma is hardly worshipped anywhere, while Shiva is wildly popular. However the vaishnavs (a sect of Vishnu worshippers) insist that Vishnu is the supreme god, while Shaivites insist that Shiva is supreme.

Karma literally means action. It simply another way of saying "As you sow so shall you reap". It is applicable in this life. On the supernatural plane it affects your afterlife. After death, you will go to heaven to enjoy the fruits of your good actions and to hell to suffer for your bad actions. After serving your sentence you are reborn on earth, and your condition depends on your karma in your previous life.


Infinity Lover, Ganges is the holiest of rivers. According to myth she originally was a heavenly river. She was brought to earth after austerities performed by a king so that its magical waters could revive his dead relatives. Since the river's descent would have destroyed large portions of earth, Shiva agreed to hold her in his hair.
It has nothing to do with baptism, but everything to do with the fact it is the principal source of water in north India and civilizations grew up along its banks.

roshan

hinduism has always been one religion, not a bunch of cults united together for political reasons. hindus refer to their religion as "sanathana dharma. one of hinduisms central themes is that truth can be viewed in many differrent ways, and there are many paths to the same goal.

of course, to westerners and indians influenced by western thought, hinduism cannot be one religion because western religions normally claim "there is only one god, and one final prophet/son and we are the only way and all others will burn in hell". due to the "we are the only way" doctrine, the idea that diff beliefs and practices can coexist under one religion is completely alien to the west, therefore they cannot comprehend the unity of hinduism.

roshan

regarding the questions:

1.
no, no founder or individual. it is the result of many diff sages.

2.
brahma - in hindu mythology, brahma is the creator god.
brahman - in advaita philosophy, an absolute reality, it is the essence of the universe. everything that exists is a part of brahman. the soul is the same as brahman.
brahmin - a hindu priest.

3.
no, vishnu and shiva are not seen as rivals. vaishnavas(vishnu worshippers) and shaivites(shiva worshippers) are 2 of hinduisms largest sects.

4.
no, the law of karma is not a divine reward. it is not regarded as being due to the judgment of some god, instead, karma is thought to be one of the laws of the universe, much like gravity. however some hindus believe that god can forgive your bad karmas. also, all karmas are erased when one achieves enlightenment/salvation.

Dr. Jagan Mohan

'Hinduism' is an misnomer to the religion rightly named as 'Sanathan Dharma' or Eternal Religion.
Does Truth have an origin? Does 'eternity' have a beginning? Or does 'infinity' have a starting point.. Similarly, Hinduism is the representative of Dharma or the Law which is eternal, without origin and without end. It is never founded, but 'realised' by Sages throughout History of Mankind, the truth coded into the Vedas, which by themselves are authorless.. Not even God is the author of the Vedas (not the words, but the knowledge behind the Vedas is 'Truth' of which even God is not the origin).

First, Brahman. It is a neuter gender, a sort of name attributed to the Ultimate Reality.. also called God. But in Advaitic school of thought, Brahman is attributeless.. that is it does not even have a proper name. In human world, we use names to recognise and identify something.. to set it apart from other phenomenon. To set apart apples from oranges. For God, name is unnecessary, say the Advaitins.

Brahma is the first born in the Universe, who in turn caused the birth of all other living beings.
It is a post. You can become a Brahma after millions of lives of austerity after the present Brahma DIES. When this universe comes to an end and another universe comes into existence, a new Brahma is created.. who inturn lives for aeons and dies, with another Brahma coming to the post. The realm of Brahma is the center of the Universe, closer to Brahman.

In Mythology (Puranas), there is a idea of a Trinity. But none of the Orthodox Schools of Thought, (Vaishnavites, Shaivites, Advaitins, Dwaitins, Vishistadwaitins, Saiva Siddhantins) DO NOT BELIEVE IN A TRINITY. The Trinity in Hinduism is blown out of proportion by Christian Authors and Missionaries. Trinity as a equality between Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma is the LARGEST misconception that exists in Hinduism, unsupported by the Vedas, Upanishads and other scriptures apart from the Puranas or History books.


Hinduism is strictly against an idea of divine reward and punishments. It is a very base/animalistic tendency to get somebody to do good or refrain from doing bad by punishments and rewards. The rewards/punishments or Heaven/Hell works on a lower level of consciousness like in Children tempted with sweets or frightened with ghosts and punishments. Karma is pure reaction to all mental and physical actions. Thought, Deed and action have reactions, good or bad, immediate or belated depending on the action. simply put.

Best wishes and good luck on your study of World Religion!

[ December 09, 2002: Message edited by: Dr. Jagan Mohan ]</p>

Amie

Thank you for taking the time to help me understand Hinduism Sarpedon, hinduwoman, roshan and Dr. Jagan Mohan I really appreciate the responses...
much love
Amie~

Dr. Jagan Mohan

Amie, Perhaps this online Book 'Dancing with Siva' will help you gain real knowledge of Hinduism.

Please visit: <a href="http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/dws/Contents.html" target="_blank">http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/dws/Contents.html</a>

Starting with Chapter 1, it is a lucid explaination of difficult Hindu concepts of God, Life, Creation and Life-Goal.

However the book is based on Saivite Hinduism, a seperate school of thought (Saiva Siddhanta or Advaitadwaita). There are many schools of philosophy and they have differences although they also share common grounds.

Best Wishes.

Eclectic eye

Hi Amie
Namaste hinduwoman
Namaste Dr. Jagan Mohan

When I returned home from Viet-nam, a combat veteran with blood on my hands, Hinduism and Buddhism comforted my spiritual anguish by teaching me how to properly meditate.

My gratitude for peace of mind is profound.

Namaste

Amie

Hi Eclectic eye
I really want to learn how to meditate. I seem unable to do so, my thoughts are all over the place and my brain wont shut off! This contributes to my insomnia greatly...however I do still attempt meditation...

Hi Dr. Jagan Mohan
Thanks for the link! you are the best!

Eclectic eye

Amie,

We all have thoughts darting all over the place and a mind that wanders when we begin meditating. Fortunately I had a teacher to guide me when I started.

You've acknowledged that you can't do it by yourself and that you really want to do it properly. That is the indication that you need someone who can teach you to quiet your mind and still your thoughts.

Find a "Master of Meditation" who will guide you in the journey within yourself. It will be well worth your time and effort.

Peace