Why do we consider the Ganges water so holy and pure?
The story of the holy river Ganga (Ganges) A long time ago in the heavens, lived a beautiful Goddess called Ganga. She was very playful, very powerful and very pure. Everything she touched became pure like her. A king on earth wanted to bring her down
Does God live only in a Heaven like Vaikunta or Sivaloka?
God does not only live in heaven, He is here too Hindus say that God not only lives in heaven, He is here too. They say that God has been in front of us all the time but we just did not realise it. It is God alone who appears as everything around us,
What are the Holy Books of Hinduism?
Hinduism teaches that the best way we can learn about God is from people who have actually experienced God. We can ask them to help us learn about God. But it is very difficult to find such people. The second best way to find out about God is by studying
What are the holy epics (Ithihasas) and legends (Puranas) of Hinduism?
[These] holy books of the Hindus, contain lots of very exciting and colourful stories. They include epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. They also include books called the Puranas which contain legendary stories about Gods and Goddesses. Such stories
What does Krishna teach us?
Krishna teaches us about the different ways of becoming spiritual. Krishna is [an] avatar of Vishnu born on earth to help us understand religion. He teaches how we can think about God in different ways and how we can find God using different methods.
What does the symbol Om stand for?
Om is the best name for God All rishis who go into deep meditation and experience God , hear the sound Om. This is why the Om sound is very important for Hindus. They say that it is the best symbol or name for God. Hindus use the word Om at the start
What does the Swastika symbol stand for?
Swastika means: 'Let good luck come to us from everywhere' This symbol is meant to bring good luck. It has a shape that points in four directions. It means : Let auspiciousness or good luck come to us from all four corners of the world. Reference: Primary
What does the Lotus flower signify?
Lotus is a symbol of purity Even though the lotus flower grows out of muddy water, it emerges pure, beautiful and detached. In the same way, Hindus are encouraged to lead pure lives. Reference: Primary Hinduism by Seeta Lakhani (Ch.1, 'What Is Hinduism',
Why do some Hindus put a mark (tilak) on their forehead? What does it signify?
Tilaks are Special Marks on the Forehead Some Hindus put a mark on their forehead; this mark is called a tilak. Different Hindus may use different markings. Some put a round red dot on their foreheads. Some Hindus mark their foreheads with three horizontal
Who is a Guru according to Hindu tradition?
Hindu Teachers are called Gurus Teachers who help Hindus learn about their religion are called gurus. They answer our questions about who God is, and how we may find God. Reference: Primary Hinduism by Seeta Lakhani (Ch.1, 'What Is Hinduism', p.9)
Who is a Swami according to Hindu tradition?
Holy people are called Swamis Swamis are monks. Swamis wear orange clothes. They leave their homes and families and stay in monasteries. They wish to find God by helping others. One swami who became very famous and found God by serving others was Swami
How do Hindus relate themselves to God?
Even though there can be only one God, different people think of God in different ways. Many Hindus like to think of God as a father in heaven. Some Hindus like to think of God as a mother in heaven. Hinduism says that there are hundreds of different
What is the message of Swami Vivekananda to America?
Vivekananda brings the message of pluralism to America A famous person called Swami Vivekananda brought the message of pluralism from India to the West about a hundred years ago. He taught that all religions are different ways of becoming spiritual. No
Can we look upon God as our father?
God as a father figure in Hinduism : Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva (Three in one: Trimurti) Brahma When Hindus think of God as a person who is responsible for creating the universe, they call him Brahma. He is shown with four heads to see in every direction.
Can we look upon God as our mother?
God as a mother There are some Hindus who do not like to think of God like a man. They prefer to think of God as a woman, so they worship God as the Mother Goddess. The Mother Goddess is the source of all power and strength. She is called Shakti, which