Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion and has the third largest following of all modern organised religions. Although, Hinduism originated in India, its presence can be felt all over the world and over the centuries has been a major influence in modern thinking.
Ancient Hindus texts are the foundations of moral codes, laws, philosophical viewpoints and a precursor of modern science. Much of the knowledge founded by the ancient Indians which gave rise to Hinduism has been lost. But here are 10 interesting facts that are not widely known outside India and Hinduism.
Hindus are not original Hindus
The word Hindu was given to people of Indian origin by travelers, possibly the Aryans that entered northern India through Pakistan and encountered the tribes that lived along the Sindhu River. Sindhu became Hindu and their religion was given the name Hinduism. The first records of people being called Hindus are found in Persian and Greek writing.
Hindus believe in a circular time rather than linear
The concept of time in Hinduism is cyclical and divided into four ages or yugas; satya yuga, treta yuga, dwapar yuga, kali yuga. This idea also gives rise to reincarnation, the death and rebirth of the soul that returns to Earth as another life form once we die.
But the life cycles are also aspects of the cyclical nature of energy. Hindus believe that time is a manifestation of God. Time begins when primordial energy becomes active and ends when the energy returns to the source of absolute consciousness where it is transformed to new energy and the cycle of time starts again.
The sacred number of 108 is found in nature
Ancient wisdom is based around the principles of nature which in turn are the building blocks of creation. Everything we see is the result of the five sacred shapes we know today as Platonic solids although these shapes were understood thousands of years before Plato.
The mathematical equation phi (1.618) is found throughout nature and is closely linked with the number 108. Hindus and Muslims both refer to Gods using the number 108 to highlight its importance throughout creation.
The angles of the upper arms of a pentagon are 108 degrees. In ancient symbolism, the pentagon or five pointed star represents man, two legs, two arms and the head. Because phi can be found throughout the entire human body, 108 degrees is considered a sacred number.
Hindus do not consider the pursuit of wealth a sin
This is perhaps a contentious argument as most people do not consider the pursuit of wealth a sin, but rather a necessity of survival and a comfortable way of life. But wealth in Hinduism does not mean material possession like other religions want us to believe.
In Hinduism, wealth is wisdom and experience. There are four categories of wealth; Kama – the pursuit of sexual and sensual pleasure that can give rise to spiritual experience; Artha – the pursuit of a comfortable livelihood; dharma – the pursuit of knowledge and teaching; moksha – the pursuit of liberating the mind.
All living creatures have a soul trying to connect to spirit
One of the most difficult concepts for non-Hindus to grasp is the difference between soul and spirit. Hinduism classes soul and spirit as two separate energies that in essence are one and the same energy.
They explain the concept through the descriptions of Brahman and Atman. Ancient Sanskrit texts explain that Atman is the soul of all living things, and Brahman is the zero-point from whence all creation originates.
The overriding goal for Hindus is to reconnect atman with brahman and liberate the mind from bondage. This is how we understand more about life, grow in consciousness and improve ourselves as individuals whether on a moral or a spiritual level.
Ancient Hindu Texts Explain The Big Bang
The explanation given for the creation of the Universe in Vedic literature is not far removed from discoveries in modern science. The Nasadiya hymn od Rig Veda X.129 for example, alludes to the theory of the primeval zero-volume atom proposed by George Lemaitre.
1. THEN was not non-existent nor existent: there was no realm of air, no sky beyond it.
What covered in, and where? and what gave shelter? Was water there, unfathomed depth of water?
2 Death was not then, nor was there aught immortal: no sign was there, the day’s and night’s divider.
That One Thing, breathless, breathed by its own nature: apart from it was nothing whatsoever.
3 Darkness there was: at first concealed in darkness this All was indiscriminated chaos.
All that existed then was void and form less: by the great power of Warmth was born that Unit.
4 Thereafter rose Desire in the beginning, Desire, the primal seed and germ of Spirit.
Sages who searched with their heart’s thought discovered the existent’s kinship in the non-existent.
5 Transversely was their severing line extended: what was above it then, and what below it?
There were begetters, there were mighty forces, free action here and energy up yonder
6 Who verily knows and who can here declare it, whence it was born and whence comes this creation?
The Gods are later than this world’s production. Who knows then whence it first came into being?
7 He, the first origin of this creation, whether he formed it all or did not form it,
Whose eye controls this world in highest heaven, he verily knows it, or perhaps he knows not.
Hindus are travellers
The Roma people of Europe, commonly known as gypsies, have common ancestors that date back to ancient India. They still use Sanskrit words in their language.
The discovery was made several years ago in a joint research study by Indian and Estonian academics which confirmed the Roma people originate from the Indian sub-continent.
Anaesthetics were used by ancient Indians
The ancient text known as Sushruta Samhita is an account of countless treatments and medical procedures including various forms of surgery that were used in India over 2600 years ago.
It is believed the text was written by an Indian physician called Sushruta, known by Hindus as the ‘father of surgery.’ The book demonstrates ancient physicians used anesthesia and conducted surgical procedures such as caesarean births, cataract and the removal of urinary stones.
Hinduism have the biggest pilgrimage site in the world
Hinduism may rank as the third largest religion in the world, but it boasts the largest pilgrimage site. Sri Venkateshwara Temple also called as Balaji Temple in Tirupath attracts over 60,000 visitors a day and receives donations of some US$2bn a year.
Hinduism influenced all other world religions
Hinduism is the world’s oldest known religion although was influenced by earlier pagan religions. Other world religions also have pagan influences and the stories in the Koran, the Bible, and the Torah all share similarities with Hinduism. It is also common knowledge that Hinduism heavily influenced Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
