When visiting a new country with a religion so different from European beliefs, it is worth studying the basic features and traditions of that religion. This is especially important when it comes to a country like India, because the people of India are very sensitive about their religion. Here an insult to one of the many gods, traditions or religious rituals can be one of the biggest mistakes a tourist can make.
So, in this Eastern country, more than eighty and a half percent of the entire population is a follower of Hinduism. India is one of only three countries in which Hinduism is a major religion. It also includes Nepal and Mauritania. It is a very ancient religion. Its history goes back thousands of years. The first mention of Hinduism can be found in the writings of the Harappan (Indian) civilization, which dates back to 5500-2600 BC. Its prototype are the Vedas, which were dedicated to the demigods Indra – the king of all gods, Varuna – the guardian of justice, as well as the god of world waters, and Agni – the god of fire. The main feature of Hinduism at that time was the sacrifice and repetition of mantras.
The spread of religion throughout India was facilitated by the emergence of Buddhism and other religions that today form such a rich Indian culture.
Throughout its long period of existence, Hinduism has absorbed many different traditions and philosophies. At times they even contradict each other. Thus, despite the fact that Hinduism, like all Indian religions, has many gods, it still has the idea of one supreme deity who represents a single divine conduction.
The primary goal of all followers of this religion is to reconnect with this very power. To this end, Hindus meditate, participate in various rituals or yoga classes. In addition to the many gods in Hinduism, there is also the concept of demons. And they have many demons – millions of demons that also have flesh and gender. In order to seduce righteous Hindus, they may take the form of attractive people, even though they are actually quite ugly, according to Hinduism.
Nevertheless, it is still possible to distinguish basic traits and beliefs in Hinduism. For example, absolutely all Hindus believe in karma and reincarnation. There is also the doctrine of the two afterworlds in Hinduism: sansara and the exit from it. But, by its very nature, sansara is another way of calling reincarnation, as it is the transition of the soul from one body to another. The exit from samsara in Hindi is also called moksha. Moksha is the process of the soul merging without sin with a higher divine power.
To study its many traditions and rituals, one must visit India, a country where this religion is widespread.
