Many years ago I dated a girl from Nepal. She told me Hinduism was not a religion or a philosophy, but a way of life. Rich in meaning, I have been enamoured by the Hindu lifestyle ever since.
After years of studying Hindu myth and philosophy, I came to realise there are underlying meanings to the epic tales. The gods – devas, devis and demons – are personifications of ourselves and through dedication and meditation the lessons within these ancient texts can help us find peace of mind.
There is a mysterious essence about Hinduism that is shared by many other religions in the world, yet the difference is there appears to be few arguments about what the stories told in Hindu myth mean. However, that does not mean that modern interpretations are entirely accurate.
Even so, unlike other religions which cause terrible conflicts and rivalry, Hindus are open-minded and respect the views and opinions of others. Hindus understand that everybody follows there own path and subsequently tolerate all other religions.
It is quite clear in my mind that the Hindu belief is right. The objective of organised religion throughout the world causes war and debate that is destructive, misleading and distracting.
When you study ancient texts you will find they have symbolic meaning embedded into them. And they are all teaching the same lessons. Myths are essentially puzzles initiates have to solve for themselves. And because we all have different experiences in life we all learn in different ways.
Everybody has their own path. And the lessons to be learned along the way are buried deep within the ancient symbolism.
A brief history of Hinduism
A shroud hangs over the origins of Hinduism. Scholars are not certain of the exact dates the practice began and are divided in their opinions as to how it started in the first place.
Believed to date back to around 2000 BCE, Hinduism is called the oldest “religion” although traditions and philosophies found in Hinduism existed in earlier civilisations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. (modern day Iran and Iraq).
What we do know is that Hinduism began in India and spread throughout the Indo-China region. Some theories imply it was forged from a combination of the Zoroastrian philosophies of the Sumerians and the ancient Vedic traditions that already existed in India.
One of the leading debates amongst scholars is the Aryan Invasion that settled in northern India having travelled from Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey. However, the Aryan description of blond hair and blue eyes is more fitting of ancient Nordic races. Furthermore, ancient Sanskrit bears a close resemblance with many modern European languages.
In 1921, archaeologists discovered an ancient settlement along the dried up Saraswati river basin which flowed across north-west India and into Pakistan. It is believed that a group of peoples known as the Harappan civilisation lived there 9000 years ago.
Small seals have been found with images of the Hindu God, Shiva, said to be the most powerful of the Hindu pantheon. The history of Hinduism therefore probably dates back many years than scholars give it credit for.
Of course, the name given to the practice was probably different back then, but there is a strong possibility the underlying themes, symbolism and lessons share a close resemblance. Vedic texts were almost certainly the forerunner of what today is known as Hinduism.
Hindu mythology and symbolism
Hindu teachings come from ancient Sanskrit texts, many of which have not been deciphered. The oldest texts are the Rig Vedas written about 3500 years ago.
The vedas, as they are more commonly known, were later followed by the Puranas, the sacred laws, the epics, the Vedantas and the Yogas. The stories told in these ancient books eulogise multiple Gods – said to be 330 million deities, although most are reincarnations of earlier characters.
In the fourth chapter of the Rig Vedas, the Brihadaranyka, Yajnavalkya identifies 33 principle Gods which he then attests is actually one God. And that God is you – or rather your higher self.
In gematria – an ancient form of mathematics that adds up numbers until the figure is reduced to a single digit – 330, 000,000 equals 33. Repeating numbers, 11,22, 33 etc and 111, 222, 333 and so on are master numbers and not broken down further.
In ancient symbolism, the number 33 represents enlightened beings that have mastered their emotions and have peace of mind. Christians will be aware that Jesus began his ministry at the age of 29 (2+9=11) and died at the age of 33. Christians are confused why Jesus is “God and man.” In essence, Christ is the God IN man.
The correlation between Buddhism, Judaism and Catholicism can all be related to Hinduism which in all likelihood was designed from earlier traditions. It’s worth mentioning that Islam bears a close resemblance to Judeo-Christianity. This all modern world religions have roots in ancient wisdom.
Hindu mythology influenced the teachings of Prince Gautama Siddhartha, the historical Buddha, the father of modern day Buddhism. History attests that Gautama Buddha was dissatisfied with the corrupt teachings of corrupt authorities and sought to find his own Truth.
Siddhartha was 29 (11) when he began his life as an ascetic and reached enlightenment six years later at the age of 35 (3+5=8). In Hebrew, the number of God is 26 (2+6=8). So God is recognised in the number eight and when Siddhartha reached enlightenment he became a God IN man.
Buddha or Bodhi, comes from an ancient Sanskrit word to mean “enlightened one.” Many “Buddhas” existed before Siddhartha Gautama. In ancient India they were called yogis. Today, we hear yogis being described as “people who are proficient in yoga.”
Whilst this statement is true, the ancient practice of yoga involved much more than the balancing exercises we perform today. The point of yoga is to sharpen the mind’s ability to concentrate and train initiates to practice meditation effectively.
It is through meditation – or if you prefer contemplation – that you acquire self-knowledge. You become enlightened and the master of your thoughts, emotions and actions. You become a Buddha. God in man.
In the famous Hindu epic the “Bhagavad Gita,” Lord Krishna describes yogis having:
“Fearlessness, purity of heart, perseverance in acquiring wisdom.”
This is the way of life initiates of Hinduism must learn to reach self-enlightenment.