Hinduism Essay, Research Paper

Hindus believe in four different Gods; Brahma, the creator of everything, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the destroyer, and Krishna and Rama the avatars and incarnations of Vishnu. The main beliefs of the Hindu religion include; Karma the good and bad deeds which ultimately create man?s destiny, Maya the world and space around us as a divine illusion, Atman-Brahman the divine absolute in all of us, and Punar-Janman the reincarnation of people from past lives. There are four ways for an individual to gain salvation. Jnana Yoga for the intellectual person in which salvation is found in the way of knowledge, Karma Yoga for the active people in which salvation is found by action, Bhakti Yoga where devotion is the way to salvation, and Rajah Yoga in which the way of integration is for the experimental person. Hinduism has four distinct stages of life. The first is the stage of the student, which includes the time from initiation to marriage. Householder is the second stage in which marriage brings responsibilities to the family and to the community. Retirement, the third stage, is when the burden is relieved and duties are lessened. Fourthly Sanyasin in which the final spiritual quest is taken, and the renunciation of your possessions occurs. The goals of true devotion and life are Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. Dharma is the responsibilities and virtues in your life. Artha is the attainment of material possessions, wealth and power. Kama is the artistic love for both pleasure and joy, and Moksha is the salvation and final release through both discipline and devotion