Some Myths about Hinduism!!?
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I have studied spirituality and religions for many years, nearly 18 years now since I was in my late teens. I found Hinduism philosophies a great source of Truth, Knowledge, Wisdom and Love. So I ended up being so drawn to it applying its philosophies into my life. Now I seriously follow the teachings of Mata Amritanandamayi. I've been a devotee of hers for a year now.\n\nI am still learning a lot about Hinduism. I LOVE reading books about Indian sages (ALL of them!). Hey who is that in the picture you use for your avatar?
1080620
rama, krishna, balarama, hanuman, arjuna, bheema, durga, kali, bheeshma, gatotghacha, narasimha, kalki, shakti, satyabhama, abhimanyu, jatayu, ekalavya, dhronacharya, karna, yudhishtira, lakshmana, lav-kusa, nakula, sahadev, jambhavan, prahalada....etc etc etc....there are endless indian mythological stories. the names i listed so far are mostly from the two main mythologies ramayana and mahabharata (though i mentioned a couple or more from other stories.) to get the full list of all the heroes from all the indian mythologies is a near impossible task.\n\nachilles n hector r the only greek heros i can think of right now.
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Lots. A whole lot. Very very many. Hinduism alone recognizes a few million--they may actually have one of the more accurate numbers, as Hinduism recognizes gods of other religions as well.
800153
I would say that the most important aspect of Hinduism is darsan, or to see and be seen by the god(s). This is where the statues come in to play. The statues or sculptures are a temporary vessel for the god to enter and give darsan to the worshiper. To see and be seen by the divine is the whole point of worship. \n\nThis is hard for some people to understand without indepth study.\n\nHere is a really good website that can give you more information.\n\nhttp://www.hinduwisdom.info/index.htm
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Hinduism is the head. No one knows who "invented" hinduism. From there Buddha invented buddism and jainism sort of evolved from that.
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My dear get your Mytho right.\nLord Purushottama Rama has no proven historical existence. He lives i our hearts. He was created by various folklores and original allegory is credited to Hrishi Valmiqui.\nAny ways His story has endured millenia and will endure few more of them as it embibes ideal characters of Son, Man, Husband, King, Father, Friend, Guru and God.\nRama's story or Rama-yana strives to instill the same value among its readers that He Possessed.\nSome of the behaviour may be outdated in the line of borrowed wisdom from Muslim-Anglo-Sino bastardification or transmogification (tech term) of indo-Aryan school of thought.\nRamayana has endured these slights through the ages by modifying itself through the times and evolving the tale with the teller/reteller/listener. On can see marked variations in versions rendered by Valmiqui, Tulsidas, Haridas, Kadamb, Kruttiwas, Indonesian, Malay, Java and ceylonese.\nRama was a Purushottama and that is not subject to vetting from every Tom, Dick and Harry. His actions were considered according to "Dharma" or the way of life at the time the original story was firmed up (which obviously was pre-medeival). Today's morals and rules do not apply to it. As we write these lines new Ramayanas are being written. (Have u seen Japanese animated version) which apply to modern times but may be rejected in future. That is how beliefs and religion progress\nComing back to your question:\n1. Rama did not go for vanavasa of 12 years and Adnyatavas of one year there after to fulfill the promise given by his father to his step mother, that was in Mahabharata. \nRather he went for 14 years of Vanvasa to prove that His fathers wrong words are also as valueable to Him as right words.\n\n2.This is wrong that "After returning from the ordeal a garment washer murmurs about the purity of Sita and Ram discards her and she takes penance by jumping in fire and comes out of it as she is pure"\nAfter defeating Ravana-the evil Rama was expected to hug sita nd accept her, but he did'nt do so. This was written to give message to society that a woman if she spents time in other man's house should not be accepted back unconditionally (wait do not shout retrograde lemme finish)\nAt the time of writing of Ramayan Woman's dignity was big deal, then ladies did'nt stay out in Karol baugh, peddar road night clubs binging on booze or coke and came back to breakfast while their Husbands/Parents/In-laws accepting it meekly or joining her in the same sleaze-fest. \nThis message for society was to say that womenfolk once strayed must not be accepted without sound explanation or proof. that may be backward in post-feminism era but thats the way it was.\n3. That point about "Rama's rajya was ancestral property and not self earned by his father so Rama's father has no right to give it to anyone he likes" is totally way off mark. There was no questions of right or claim. If you have not noticed Ramayana is guided by duty not right. Dad's word was order from heaven. This phenomena is still there in rural india.I myself have seen it in my childhood when elders(MY DAD) obeyed their elders like God. We being "Modern" judge audaciously everything. maybe we are right may be they were right but that the way it was then\n\n\nIt is getting late I'll put in rest of the answer later
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try the following sites.\n\nmembers.cox.net/folklore/\nwww.indianfolklore.org/publications_journal.htm
115092
Hinduism\n\nAccording to historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to 5000 or more years. The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of River Indus, which flows through northern India. In ancient times the river was called the 'Sindhu', but the Persians who migrated to India called the river 'Hindu', the land 'Hindustan' and its inhabitants 'Hindus'. Thus the religion followed by the Hindus came to be known as 'Hinduism'.
64991
Hinduism is a complex religion that believes in many forms of one god.  They do not even consider themselves a religion, but a Dharma, which is something far greater.  The true name for Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma.  They worship numerous gods, but the main ones (called the Trimurti, similar to Christianity's Trinity) are Brahma the Creator(who created the world), Vishnu the Preserver/Protector (who protects and is currently Hinduism's most popular god and Shiva the Destroyer (who wil end the world when the time comes, for now he destroys evils.)  Hinduism believes in reincarnation.  You begin as a more lowly life form and work yourself up to being a human through good deeds (known as Karma, which is sort of a point system ith God.)  Once you achieve Moksha, which is utmost goodness and connection with God, you are granted eternal heaven.  Hinduism is far more complex than all this.  I suggest you do more research, it's an incredibly interesting religion.
1017422
Namaste! (the divine in me reverently bows and honors the divine in you)\nHinduism has managed to stay around because it's central message and teachings are still relevant. Most people outside of Hinduism, sadly, are very misinformed or misunderstand Hinduism. NonHindus think that Hindus worship statues and pictures, yet this is not true. Those images are just symbols and Hindus are not worshipping them, they are using them to focus their mind on God and all that the symbolism is used to remind us of about God. For example, that elephant headed image, called Ganesh (the name means "First Lord" and reminds us to keep God as a priority), the elephant head is a symbol. In ancient India elephants were used to clear the forests to make roads, to knock down buildings that needed to be rebuilt. They were basically the ancient version of the modern bulldozer. Thus the symbolism of the elephant head is to remind us that God removes the obstacles that stand in our way of getting closer to God. And that's not where the symbolism with Ganesh stops. People find it odd that the images always have so many arms and hands. In each hand they hold something or they make a gesture. These also are symbols. Even the very color of the figure in the image is symbolism. The mythological stories are just symbolism for the deeper philosophical and theological teachings of Hinduism (sort of like Jesus's parables in the New Testament). \n\nYou might be surprised to know that Hinduism advocated evolution. Why? Because it's sacred texts describe, in poetic imagery, the teachings that everything in the universe starts out very small and that it gradually changes and changes and changes over time. The sacred texts even say that one day our sun will grow very large and turn red. It will engulf the planets before finally collapsing on itself. Eventually the entire universe will do collapse on itself, having expanded as far as it goes, and thus once expanding as far as it can go it will then start to shrink and return back to the source...God. Everything in the universe manifested out of God (the Hindu sacred texts make it sound very similar to the Big Bang) and everything will eventually return to it). Terms like Supreme Soul, Cosmic Consciousness, Ultimate Reality, and so many others are sometimes used along side the word God. Hindus say that all religions in the world are just different perspectives on the same thing...on God. That each is just approaching, experiencing, and looking at God from a different angle. God can be called by any name and devotees can use whatever symbols, be they images of a half elephant headed and half man or something abstract like the linga or the yantra. It doesn't matter. No matter what name you call God by, God hears your prayers. No matter what form you are using to focus your mind on, symbolism you are using to remind you of God, God knows you aren't worshipping the actual image or statue, etc. You are worshiping God. Hindus call their religion "Sanatana Dharma" or "The Eternal Religion". They say this, not to be arrogant, but because they truly believe that that every religion, including the one their religion is founded upon, has the capability of making a person realize the universal truths of the innate nature of their inner Self. Hindu teachers will point to people from various religious traditions like St. Terese from Christianity who said that when she looked in the mirror all she could see was God, Rumi from Islam, the Buddha from Buddhism, Mahavira from Jainism, Ramakrishna from Hinduism, and so many others. Hindus even make the case that a person needn't have a religious tradition to realize the universal truths of the innate nature of the inner Self and point to some who later became ended up teaching within the Hindu tradition itself (again, it's very diverse and tolerant). Swami Vivekananda is one such example. There is even a saying that a Hindu teac
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There are about 33million deities in Hindu religion. Lord Ganesha is the god of knowledge.Goddess Durga is The god of Power. Ram(a) &Krishna are thesame gods but of diffrent era's.They are the gods of dasha avatar (10 births). thoes births are 1)Matsya(fish) 2)Kurma(tortoise) 3)Varaha(pig) 4) Nrisingha(head of lion & body of man) 5)Vaman(short man) 6)parshu Ram 7)Ram 8)Krishna 9)Buddha(to whome buddhist follow) 10) Kalki (who will take birth after 38000 years after). You asked about Shiva , he is one of the 3main Gods Vishnu(who gives birth),Bhramha(who takes care),Shiva(who kills).Krishna is the only god  who has been called the supreme personality of godhead. If you still want to know more visit a sight, India divine.com.\nAnd yes these gods are not only taking care of this earth but also of this universe\n                                Thank you for reading!
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hinduism is not a religion inwestern sence. it is a culture and includes the beliefs of whole india. hindu=indu=indian.\n\nthere is know known origin. its oldest beliefs go way back. even before bronze age.\n\nbuddha started his preachings in Sarnath, Varanasi.\n\nSikhism was organised by Guru govind Singh in punjab. he started is as martial branch of hinduism to fight muslims agaist percecution of hindus.
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Many of us in Sg havent even heard of 'Vedic math"\nBe your own teacher and try this site:\nhttp://hinduism.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=hinduism&cdn=religion&tm=5&gps=53_6_1020_600&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//vedicmaths.org/Introduction/Tutorial/Tutorial.asp
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This is the only one I could find\nhttp://www.hindu.com/2006/02/27/stories/2006022719150300.htm
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Hinduism is not a religion.\nIt is a collection of thoughts and beliefs gathered over thousands of years.\nThey have hundreds of Gods and hundreds of different theories.\nEvery region in India has a differnt following for a particular God and follow different rituals.\nHinduism has evolved with time. Because people have made changes according to thier wishes.\nEven Jesus and Mohammad (PBUT) are considered Avatars or forms of thier God.
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animism is still very much part of hinduism. we believe god is present everywhere. rishi kanad declared everying is made of atoms(kana). it also accepted that whole world is made of 5 elements (earth,water,fire,air and space). and \nevery element is a form of god.\n\ni do not know about Tantric rituals as such. but often a milder form of it is still practiced. even on internet. you will find tantrik raksha kavatch sold on line. there are yntras representing god and mantras to recite revering it in that form. \n\nmostly these pooja are more related with mother Kali or Kal Bhairav(a form of shiva, time personified). \n\n some tantrik sects still do exist. and I would not be surprised if there are some of them still following full fledged tantric rituals. some of these sects were not respected that much, you know why i guess. but people still believe in their powers. and were too afraid of them to criticize at their face. still are. \n\nbuddhist also had a tantric sect and goddess Tara was the chief goddess.\n\nshamans are still out there. mostly in tribal areas or villages but even in big cities tantrik have a good buissness. though most of them are frauds. even muslim shamans are present.\n\n\n\nregarding Ali's post:\n\nwell dear we do not need muslim scholar to tell what you are saying. we already know it. it is a long established fact; for some 3000 years now . i am surprised that only one muslim scholar was able to find that out! man! that is slow.
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I have the perfect site for you to look up the information you  are looking for. It has myths listed from Aboriginal tribes up to the latest urban mythology. I am sure you will find this link most useful for your studies.