Beliefs about God
- Hindus believe in Brahman, the ultimate reality, which is in everything.
- Brahman is often worshipped through many deities, which show different aspects of God. The Trimurti is Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer). Ganesh, with an elephant's head, is the remover of obstacles.
The soul and the cycle of life
- Each living thing has an eternal soul, the atman.
- Samsara is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Karma is the law that good and bad actions have consequences, affecting future lives.
- Moksha is freedom from samsara, the ultimate goal.
- Dharma is a person's duty, and ahimsa means non-violence towards all living things, which is why many Hindus are vegetarian.
Worship, texts and festivals
- Puja (worship) happens at home at a shrine, or at a temple (mandir), using murtis (sacred images), offerings of food and flowers, and the arti lamp.
- Sacred texts include the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana.
- Diwali, the festival of lights, remembers Rama and Sita's return home after defeating Ravana. Holi, the festival of colours, celebrates spring.
Key terms
- Brahman
- The ultimate reality in Hinduism.
- Atman
- The eternal soul.
- Samsara
- The cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
- Karma
- The law that actions have consequences.
- Moksha
- Freedom from the cycle of rebirth.
- Dharma
- A person's duty.
- Puja
- Hindu worship.
- Mandir
- A Hindu temple.