WHERE DOES THE NAME HINDU COME FROM?

-THE WORD "HINDU" COMES FROM THE NAME OF THE RIVER INDUS,
WHICH FLOWS 1800 MILES FROM TIBET THROUGH KASHMIR AND
PAKISTAN TO THE SEA.
-THE WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST RELIGION
HINDUISM
(SANTANA DHARMA )
HINDUISM IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS SANTANA DHARMA, A SANSKRIT PHRASE
MEANING "THE ETERNAL LAW
HINDUISM IS THE WORLD'S THIRD MOST POPULAR RELIGION, WITH AROUND 750
MILLION FOLLOWERS. THE RELIGION OF HINDUISM ORIGINATED IN NORTHERN INDIA,
NEAR THE RIVER INDUS, ABOUT 4000 YEARS AGO AND IS THE WORLD'S OLDEST
EXISTING RELIGION.
 ITS PLACE OF ORIGIN IS INDIA
HINDUISM IS PRACTICED BY MORE THAN 80% OF INDIA'S POPULATION.
HINDUISM HAS NO FOUNDER, IT DEVELOPED OUT OF BRAHMINISM.
HINDUISM IS THE OLDEST RELIGION, IT MAY DATE TO PREHISTORIC TIMES.
WHAT IS HINDUISM?

HINDUISM IS A CONGLOMERATION OF DIFFERENT DOCTRINES AND

TRADITIONS MAINLY BASED ON VEDAS AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME
BY GREAT SAINTS WITHOUT CHANGING THE BASIC TEACHINGS OF THE
RELIGION AND THE MAIN AIM OF LIFE.
IN SIMPLE WORDS , HINDUISM IS A WAY OF LIFE WHICH HELPS YOU TO
LIBERATE FROM THE CYCLE OF BIRTH AND REBIRTH.
 OM (AUM)
is the main symbol of Hinduism. It is the sound heard in deepest
meditation and is said to be the name most suited for God.

This is the most universal of Hindu symbols and its sound is used in
meditation. In Hinduism, the word Om is the first syllable in any
prayer. More specifically, Om is used to symbolize the universe and
the ultimate reality. Some people say that this symbol represents
the three aspects of God: the Brahma (A), the Vishnu (U) and the
Shiva (M).
 THE SWASTIKA
Although this symbol has a negative connotation in some
parts of the world because of Nazi Germany, the swastika
is actually a sign of luck and fortune. This variation of the
cross has been present in ancient Hinduism and is used to
represent honesty, truth, purity and stability. Its four
angles or points also symbolize the four directions, or
Vedas.
 THE SRI YANTRA
Also called the Shri Chakra, this symbol is characterized by
nine interlocking triangles that radiate from a central point.
Of the nine, the four upright triangles represent the
masculine side or Shiva; while the five inverted triangles
represent the feminine, or the Shakti (Divine Mother). As a
whole, the Sri Yantra is used to symbolize the bond or unity
of both the masculine and the feminine divinity. It can also
mean the unity and bond of everything in the cosmos.
THE TILAKA
This symbol is often placed on the forehead of a devotee of
Hinduism. This is different from the bindi worn by Hindu
women, though. The tilaka comes in many different shapes,
depending on the custom or religious affair. A devotion to
Vishnu is indicated by a U-shaped tilaka, while horizontal
lines symbolize a devotion to Shiva.
 RUDRAKSHA
The Rudraksha is a tree that is found in Southeast Asia, Nepal, the Himalayas and
even New Guinea and Australia. Its blue seeds are said to symbolize the tears of
Shiva, the Destroyer. Legend has it that when Shiva saw how his people suffered, he
shed one tear from his eye, which grew into the Rudraksha tree. The name Rudrashka
actually comes from Rudra (another name for Shiva) and aksha, which means
eyes. The seeds from this tree are also used to make prayer beads or rosaries.
BINDI

BINDI - ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN ITEMS IN HINDUISM IS THE BINDI, A DOT (OFTEN
THE COLOR RED) WORN ON WOMEN'S FOREHEADS. IT IS A FORM OF THE TILAK, A SYMBOLIC MARK WORN
BY MANY HINDU MEN AND WOMEN, BUT THAT HAS LESS RELIGIOUS MEANING THEN OTHER TILAKS.
TRADITIONALLY, THE BINDI IS WORN ON THE FOREHEAD OF MARRIED HINDU WOMEN. IT SYMBOLIZES
FEMALE ENERGY AND IS BELIEVED TO PROTECT WOMEN AND THEIR HUSBANDS FROM BAD THINGS. BINDIS
ARE TRADITIONALLY A SIMPLE MARK MADE WITH THE PASTE OF COLORED SANDALWOOD, SINDOOR OR
TURMERIC. THE BINDI IS MOST COMMONLY A RED DOT MADE WITH VERMILION.
BRAHMAN

BRAHMAN - ONE CAN SAY THAT BRAHMAN ITSELF (HIM/HERSELF) CONSTITUTES THE ESSENTIAL
BUILDING MATERIAL OF ALL REALITY, BEING THE SUBSTANCE FROM WHICH ALL THINGS PROCEED.
BRAHMAN, AS UNDERSTOOD BY THE SCRIPTURES OF HINDUISM, AS WELL AS BY THE 'ACHARYAS' OF THE
VEDANTA SCHOOL, IS A VERY SPECIFIC CONCEPTION OF THE ABSOLUTE. THIS UNIQUE CONCEPTION HAS
NOT BEEN REPLICATED BY ANY OTHER RELIGION ON EARTH TO THIS DAY, AND IS EXCLUSIVE TO HINDUISM.
FIRE ALTAR

FIRE ALTAR - THE FIRE ALTAR IS REGARDED AS A DISTINCT SYMBOL OF ANCIENT VEDIC RITES. IT IS
THROUGH THE FIRE ELEMENT, DENOTING DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS, THAT THE HINDU MAKE OFFERINGS TO
THE GODS. HINDU SACRAMENTS ARE SOLEMNIZED BEFORE THE FIRE.
DHAVAJA

DHVAJA, OR 'FLAG,' IS THE ORANGE OR RED BANNER FLOWN ABOVE TEMPLES, AT

FESTIVALS AND IN PROCESSIONS. IT IS A SYMBOL OF VICTORY, SIGNAL TO ALL THAT
"SANATANA DHARMA SHALL PREVAIL." ITS COLOR BETOKENS THE SUN'S LIFE-GIVING
GLOW.
VATA

VATA, THE BANYAN TREE, SYMBOLIZES HINDUISM, WHICH BRANCHES OUT IN ALL
DIRECTIONS, DRAWS FROM MANY ROOTS, SPREADS SHADE FAR AND WIDE, YET STEMS
FROM ONE GREAT TRUNK. SIVA AS SILENT SAGE SITS BENEATH IT.
GANESHA

GANESHA IS THE LORD OF OBSTACLES AND RULER OF DHARMA. SEATED UPON HIS
THRONE, HE GUIDES OUR KARMAS THROUGH CREATING AND REMOVING OBSTACLES
FROM OUR PATH. WE SEEK HIS PERMISSION AND BLESSINGS IN EVERY UNDERTAKING.
THE TRISHULA
THE TRISHULA TRISHULA OR THE TRIDENT IS A PROMINENT HINDU SYMBOL THAT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH LORD SHIVA. THOUGH THIS THREE-PRONGED SYMBOL IS USUALLY
VIEWED AS A WEAPON USED BY THE LORD FOR THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF
DHARMA, IT ACTUALLY CARRIES DEEPER MEANINGS. IT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
TRINITY OF BRAHMA, VISHNU AND MAHESH AND STANDS FOR THE BALANCE BETWEEN
THE FORCES OF CREATION, PRESERVATION AND DESTRUCTION. IT IS ALSO CONSIDERED
SYMBOLIC OF THE THREE GUNAS RAJAS, TAMAS AND SATTVA. ANOTHER SYMBOLIC
REPRESENTATION OF THE TRISHULA IS THAT OF THE THREE FACETS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS, NAMELY, COGNITION, AFFECTION AND CONATION.
TRIPUNDRA
TRIPUNDRA THE TRIPUNDRA IS A PROMINENT HINDU SYMBOL THAT IS
USED BY SHAIVITES OR THE DEVOTEES OF LORD SHIVA. TRIPUNDRA IS
TYPICALLY A TILAK, WITH THREE HORIZONTAL LINES MADE FROM BHASMA
OR SACRED ASH APPLIED ON THE FOREHEAD. IT MAY HAVE A RED DOT OR
BINDU SUPERIMPOSED IN THE CENTER. SOME SHIVA FOLLOWERS ALSO
DRAW THE THREE ASH STRIPS OF TRIPUNDRA ON THE SIDES OF THEIR
ARMS.
The lotus

THE LOTUS

This plant is representative of creation and

is used to symbolize Vishnu, Brahma and
Lakshmi.