Hinduism originated in India and it is believed by some authorities to date back to 1500 BC. This religion is considered to be the oldest religion in the world and is now practiced by over 700 million people all around the globe.
The principle source of belief in Hinduism is Brahman, a supreme spirit that exists in everything, including all the deities. In the tradition of Hinduism, Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma are said to be the three main deities. Brahma is said to be the creator of the world, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, while Shiva is the destroyer or transformer.
Although there are three main deities, there are many other deities that are prayed to and worshiped. Ganesh is the main deity of Flushing Ganesh Temple; he is in the form of an elephant and is thought to be able to remove obstacles. Therefore, he is worshiped before many important ventures. Ganesh is a very popular deity outside The Temple of Ganesh, and is often given the Hindu title of Shri, meaning lord, out of respect.
Astrology is another major component of Hinduism, and many practitioners actually visit astrologers to chart their lives based on their horoscope. This is very different from the horoscope found in magazines or newspapers, it is a much more complex practice that devotees of Hinduism place a lot of emphasis on. Many important services take place when planets shift positions. Hindus also pray to the planets depending on their experiences. For example, people pray to Saturn if there is a problem in their lives.
Other important concepts in Hinduism include dharma (duty), Karma (action and reaction), and Yoga (spiritual tranquility).
Although we provided a brief introduction to Hinduism, there are many more facets and concepts involved. To learn more information on Hinduism, please visit the links provided.
