Hinduism: Sacred People, Spaces, Texts, and Rituals
Sacred People
Hinduism reveres certain individuals as sacred. Brahmans, the highest caste, dedicate their lives to deities and focus on spiritual matters. Sadhus, or Yogis, are wandering ascetics who renounce worldly life. Gurus are masters of religious knowledge, teaching Hinduism to children and young people.
Sacred Spaces
Sacred sites in Hinduism are often near rivers or lakes. Pilgrimage is significant. Holy cities along the Ganges River are especially revered. Pushkar, with its Brahma temple, is believed to grant liberation from reincarnation. The Ganges is the most important river, and Benares (Varanasi) is a sacred city. Temples are spaces for personal worship, featuring a Garbhagriha (sanctuary) and a Shikhara (pyramidal roof).
Sacred Books
Hindu sacred texts are diverse. Sruti books, revealed texts, include the four Vedas: Rig-Veda (verses), Yajur-Veda (rituals), Sama-Veda (chants), and Atharva-Veda (spells). Brahmanas and Upanishads complete the Sruti. Smriti books, traditional texts, include the Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes devotion, action, and knowledge.
Rituals
Rituals are central to Hinduism. The birth ritual involves purifying the mother and welcoming the child. The initiation ritual, for students aged 8-12, includes receiving a sacred thread. Marriage rituals are astrologically timed and involve sacred fire. The death ritual involves cremation and offerings to the deceased, reflecting the belief in reincarnation.