Hinduism

(noun)

A religion or a way of life found most notably in India and Nepal; with over one billion followers, it is the world's third largest religion by population.

Related Terms

Examples of Hinduism in the following topics:

  • Hindu Sculpture

    • Hinduism is a conglomeration of diverse traditions and philosophies rather than a rigid set of beliefs.
    • Because religion and culture are inseparable with Hinduism, recurring symbols such as the gods and their reincarnations, the lotus flower, extra limbs, and even the traditional arts make their appearances in many sculptures of Hindu origin.
    • In addition to these symbols, flowers, birds, animals, instruments, symmetric mandala drawings, objects, and idols are all part of symbolic iconography in Hinduism.
    • The Hindu temple style reflects a synthesis of arts, the ideals of dharma, beliefs, values, and the way of life cherished under Hinduism.
    • Elaborately ornamented with sculpture throughout, these temples are a network of art, pillars with carvings, and statues that display and celebrate the four important and necessary principles of human life under Hinduism—the pursuit of artha (prosperity, wealth), the pursuit of kama (pleasure, sex), the pursuit of dharma (virtues, ethical life), and the pursuit of moksha (release, self-knowledge).

  • Indonesian Painting

    • Indonesian painting has been shaped by a myriad of cultural influences, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and colonial forces.
    • Indonesia is centrally-located along ancient trading routes between the Far East, South Asia, and the Middle East, resulting in art and paintings that are strongly influenced by a multitude of religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity.

  • Buddhist Architecture in Indonesia

    • Indonesian architecture has been shaped by interaction between indigenous customs and foreign influences, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
    • Situated on the ancient maritime trading routes between the Near East and the Far East, Indonesia was exposed to a multitude of foreign cultural practices and religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
    • The Majapahit rulers practiced a mix of Hinduism, Buddhism, and animism, and the religious architecture reflects this synthesis.

  • Animism

    • Examples of animism can be found in forms of Shinto, Serer, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Pantheism, Paganism, and Neopaganism.
    • In Hinduism, the cow is not considered a god, but rather, a symbol of wealth, strength, abundance, selfless giving, and a full Earthly life.

  • Champa Art in Early Vietnam

    • Most of the surviving art expresses religious themes, synthesized from Hinduism, Buddhism, and different indigenous cults.
    • The subject matter was mostly drawn from the legends and religious traditions of India, and the sculptures feature Hindu and Buddhist deities, such as Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti (the divine feminine creative power in Hinduism), and Avalokiteshwara (the bodhisattva of compassion).

  • Sculpture in Southeast Asia

    • Hinduism and Buddhism were brought to the region and became the main religions practiced from about the 1st century BCE to the 13th century CE.
    • These sculptures expressed religious themes and synthesized elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and indigenous cults.

  • Painting in Southeast Asia

    • Hinduism and Buddhism, both of which originated in the Indian subcontinent, were introduced to Southeast Asia from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE.
    • Southeast Asia subsequently came under the influence of several powerful Indic dynasties, which established kingdoms, practiced and spread Hinduism and Buddhism through the region, and patronized art that reflected their religious beliefs.

  • Maurya Dynasty

    • After the Kalinga war (262-261 BCE), Ashoka converted from Hinduism to Buddhism.

  • Vedic and Upanishadic Periods

    • The Vedic period in India (c. 1700 - 500 BCE) is marked by the composition of the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.
    • The Vedic period (or Vedic age) in India was a period in history during which the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, were composed.
    • Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.

  • Sacred Ceremonies and Pilgrimages

    • While many religions retain pilgrimage sites specific to their spiritualities, for this chapter we will focus on the pilgrimage sites of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
    • According to Karel Werner's Popular Dictionary of Hinduism, "[m]ost Hindu places of pilgrimage are associated with legendary events from the lives of various gods....