Wys bron van Hindoeïsme

[[Lêer:Hinduism percentage by country.png|duimnael|260px|Lande met Hindoes.]]
[[Lêer:Hinduism Expansion in Asia.svg|duimnael|260px|Historiese verspreiding van Hindoeïsme van Indië na [[Suidoos-Asië]].]]
'''Hindoeïsme''' is die grootste [[godsdiens]] in [[Indië]], [[Nepal]] en [[Mauritius]], asook van ongeveer ’n halfmiljoen mense van Indiese oorsprong in [[Suid-Afrika]]. Dit word ook as ’n [[dharma]], of lewenswyse, beskou. Dit is die derde grootste godsdiens in die wêreld, met meer as 1,25&nbsp;miljard aanhangers, of 15-16% van die wêreldbevolking, wat as [[Hindoe]]s bekend is. Die woord "Hindoe" is ’n term wat net buite die groep vir hulle gebruik word,{{sfn|Siemens|Roodt |2009|p=546}}{{sfn|Leaf|2014|p=36}} en hoewel Hindoeïsme al die oudste godsdiens in die wêreld genoem is, beskou baie beoefenaars van die godsdiens dit as ''Sanatana Dharma'' ([[Sanskrit]]: सनातन धर्म, "die Ewige weg") – dit verwys na die idee dat sy oorsprong buite die [[menslike geskiedenis]] gevind kan word, soos in die Hindoegeskrifte onthul word.{{sfn|Knott|1998|pp=3, 5}}{{sfn|Hatcher|2015|pp=4–5, 69–71, 150–152}}{{sfn|Bowker|2000}}{{sfn|Harvey|2001|p=xiii}} Nog ’n term is ''Vaidika dharma'',{{sfn|Sharma|Sharma|2004|pp=1–2}}{{sfn|Klostermaier|2014|p=2}}{{sfn|Klostermaier|2007b|p=7}}<ref name="Sharma1985a">{{Cite journal|last=Sharma|first=A|year=1985|title=Did the Hindus have a name for their own religion?|url=https://josa-publications.sydney.edu.au/chronological-index-1960-2002/|journal=The Journal of the Oriental Society of Australia|volume=17|issue=1|pages=94–98 [95]}}</ref> "die dharma van die [[Veda]]s", hoewel dit minder gepas is.<ref name=SmithBK1998>{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Brian K. |title=Questioning Authority: Constructions and Deconstructions of Hinduism |journal=International Journal of Hindu Studies |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=313–339 |year=1998 |doi=10.1007/s11407-998-0001-9 |jstor=20106612 |s2cid=144929213}}</ref>

Hindoeïsme is ’n uiteenlopende stelsel van gedagtes wat gekenmerk word deur ’n reeks [[Filosofie|filosofieë]] en gedeelde begrippe, rituele, [[kosmologie]]se stelsels, pelgrimsterreine en gedeelde teksbronne wat onder meer [[teologie]], [[metafisika]], [[Hindoemitologie|mitologie]], Vediese [[yajna]], [[joga]], rituele en tempelbouwerk insluit.{{sfn|Michaels|2004}} Prominente temas in Hindoeïsme sluit in die vier [[purushartha]]s, die vier doele van die die lewe: [[dharma]] (etiek/pligte), [[artha]] (sukses/werk), [[kama]] (begeertes/passies) en [[moksha]] (bevryding/vryheid van die siklus van dood en [[reïnkarnasie|hergeboorte]]/verlossing),<ref name="Bilimoria 2007 p. 103">{{harvnb|Bilimoria|2007}}; sien ook {{harvnb|Koller|1968}}.</ref>{{sfn|Flood|1997|p=11}} sowel as [[karma]] (aksie, bedoeling en gevolge) en [[samsara]] (die siklus van dood en hergeboorte).{{sfn|Klostermaier|2007|pp=46–52, 76–77}}{{sfn|Brodd|2003}} Hindoeïsme skryf ewige pligte voor, onder meer eerlikheid, weerhouding daarvan om ander lewende wesens seer te maak, geduld, selfbeheersing, deugsaamheid en deernis.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dharma |first1=Samanya |title=History of Dharmasastra |last2=Kane |first2=P. V. |volume=2 |pages=4–5}} Sien ook {{harvnb|Widgery|1930}}</ref> Hindoepraktye sluit in rituele soos [[puja]] (aanbidding) en ritmiese voordrag, [[meditasie]] ([[dhyana]]), sanskara ([[deurgangsrite]]s), jaarlikse feeste en per geleentheid pelgrimstogte. Sommige Hindoes laat hulle sosiale lewe en materiële besittings agter in ruil vir ’n lewe in ’n [[klooster]] om moksha te bereik.<ref name="ellinger70">{{Cite book |last=Ellinger |first=Herbert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pk3iAwAAQBAJ |title=Hinduism |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |year=1996 |isbn=978-1-56338-161-4 |pages=69–70}}</ref>

Hindoegeskrifte word geklassifiseer as dié wat gehoor is en dié wat onthou word. Die belangrikstes is die [[Veda]]s, [[Upanishad]]s, [[Purana]]s, [[Mahabharata]]s, Ramayanas en Agamas.{{sfn|Klostermaier|2007|pp=46–52, 76–77}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Zaehner|first=R. C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWuezQEACAAJ|title=Hindu Scriptures|publisher=Penguin Random House|year=1992|isbn=978-0-679-41078-2|pages=1–7}}</ref> Die vier grootste denominasies van Hindoeïsme is tans [[Vaishnavisme]], [[Shaivisme]], [[Shaktisme]] en [[Smartisme]].{{sfn|Lipner|2009|pp=377, 398}} Bronne van gesag en ewige waarhede in die Hindoegeskrifte speel ’n belangrike rol, maar daar is ook ’n sterk Hindoetradisie om gesag te bevraagteken ten einde ’n groter begrip van dié waarhede te ontdek en die tradisie verder te ontwikkel.<ref name="frazierintrop2">{{Cite book |last=Frazier |first=Jessica |url=https://archive.org/details/continuumcompani00fraz |title=The Continuum companion to Hindu studies |date=2011 |publisher=Continuum |isbn=978-0-8264-9966-0 |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/continuumcompani00fraz/page/n15 1]–15 |url-access=limited}}</ref> Buiten dat dit die oorheersende godsdiens in Indië, Nepal en Mauritius is, is daar ook aansienlike Hindoegemeenskappe in [[Suidoos-Asië]], insluitende in [[Bali]] in [[Indonesië]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peringatan |url=https://sp2010.bps.go.id/index.php/page/warning |website=sp2010.bps.go.id}}</ref> die [[Karibiese See]]gebied, [[Noord-Amerika]], [[Europa]], [[Oseanië]] en [[Afrika]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vertovec |first=Steven |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FRVTAQAAQBAJ |title=The Hindu Diaspora: Comparative Patterns |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-136-36705-2 |pages=1–4, 7–8, 63–64, 87–88, 141–143}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=18 December 2012|title=Hindus|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-hindu/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209012719/https://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-hindu/|archive-date=9 Februarie 2020|access-date=14 Februarie 2015|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project}}<br />{{Cite web|date=18 Desember 2012|title=Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Numbers (2010)|url=http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-number.php?sort=numberHindu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201224548/http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-number.php?sort=numberHindu|archive-date=1 Februarie 2013|access-date=14 Februarie 2015|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project}}</ref> Dit is naas die [[Islam]] die vinnigs groeiende godsdiens in die wêreld.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burke|first=Daniel|title=The fastest growing religion in the world is ...|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/living/pew-study-religion/index.html|access-date=2021-03-04|website=CNN Religion}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wormald|first=Benjamin|date=2015-04-02|title=The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Etimologie==
[[Beeld:Bratan Bali Indonesia Balinese-family-after-Puja-01.jpg|thumb|’n Balinese Hindoegesin ná puja in die Bratantempel in [[Bali]], [[Indonesië]].]]
Die woord "Hindoe" is afgelei van die [[Indo-Ariese tale|Indo-Ariese]]{{sfn|Flood|2008|p=3}}/[[Sanskrit]]-wortel{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=6}} ''sindhu''.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=6}}{{sfn|Parpola|2015|loc="Chapter 1"}} Die [[Irannese tale|Proto-Irannese]] klankverandering van ''*s'' na ''h'' het tussen omstreeks 850 en 600&nbsp;v.C. plaasgevind, volgens die professor in Indologie Asko Parpola.<ref>{{harvp|Parpola|2015|loc=”Chapter 9”}}: "In Iranian languages, Proto-Iranian *s became h before a following vowel at a relatively late period, perhaps around 850–600 BCE."</ref>

Die gebruik van die term "Hindoeïsme" om ’n versameling praktyke en geloofsoortuigings te beskryf is ’n redelik onlangse ontwikkeling: Dit is in 1816-'17 die eerste keer deur die godsdienshervormer radja Ram Mohun Roy gebruik.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=433}} Omstreeks 1830 is dit gebruik deur [[Indië]]rs wat Britse [[kolonialisme]] teengestaan het en hulleself wou onderskei van ander godsdiensgroepe.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=433}}{{sfn|Doniger|2014|p=5}}{{sfn|Parpola|2015|p=1}} 

Die woord "Hindoe" is veel ouer en was vermoedelik die naam wat gebruik is vir die [[Indus]]rivier in die noordwestelike deel van die [[Indiese subkontinent]].{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=433}}{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=6}} (Die Indo-Ariese woord ''sindhu'' beteken "rivier" of "oseaan".){{sfn|Flood|2008|p=3}} Dit word dikwels in die ''[[Rigveda]]'' gebruik. Volgens die Britse geleerde Gavin Flood is die term die eerste keer gebruik as ’n [[Persië|Persiese]] naam vir die mense wat oorkant die Indus (Sanskrit: ''Sindhu'') gewoon het,{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=6}} meer spesifiek in die inskripsie uit die 6de eeu&nbsp;v.C. van [[Darius I van Persië|Darius I]] (550-486&nbsp;v.C.).{{sfn|Sharma|2002}} Dit was dus ’n [[geografie]]se aanduiding en nie ’n godsdiensterm nie.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=6}} Onder die vroegste verwysings na "Hindoe" met betrekking tot godsdiens is dalk in die 7de-eeuse [[Chinees|Chinese]] geskrif ''Rekord van die Westelike streke'' deur [[Xuanzang]]{{sfn|Sharma|2002}} en die 14de-eeuse Persiese geskrif ''Futuhu's-salatin'' deur 'Abd al-Malik Isami.

Die [[Arabies]]e term ''al-Hind'' verwys ook na die mense wat oorkant die Indus woon.{{sfn|Thapar|1993|p=77}} Dié term kom van die pre-Islamitiese Persiese term ''Hindū'', wat na alle Indiërs verwys. Teen die 13de eeu is ''Hindustan'' gebruik as ’n gewilde alternatiewe naam vir [[Indië]], wat beteken die "land van Hindoes".{{sfn|Thompson Platts|1884}}

Die term "Hindoe" is later soms in Sanskritgeskrifte van tussen die 15de en 18de eeu gebruik om ’n onderskeid te tref tussen Hindoes en [[Moslems]], wat ''Yavanas'' ("buitelanders) of ''Mlecchas'' ("barbare") genoem is.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=O'Conell |first=Joseph T. |year=1973 |title=The Word 'Hindu' in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Texts |volume=93 |pages=340–344 |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |issue=3 |doi=10.2307/599467 |jstor=599467}}</ref> Europese handelaars en koloniste het die term eers teen die einde van die 18de eeu begin gebruik om te verwys na aanhangers van Indiese godsdienste.

==Definisies==
Hindoeïsme sluit uiteenlopende idees oor [[spiritualiteit]] en tradisies in, maar het geen ekklesiastiese orde, onbetwiste godsdiensowerhede, beheerliggaam, profete of heilige boek nie – Hindoes kan kies of hulle [[Politeïsme|politeïsties]], [[Panteïsme|panteïsties]], [[Panenteïsme|panenteïsties]], [[Pandeïsme|pandeïsties]], [[Henoteïsme|henoteïsties]], [[Monoteïsme|monoteïsties]], [[Monisme|monisties]], [[Agnostisisme|agnosties]], [[Ateïsme|ateïsties]] of [[Humanisme|humanisties]] wil wees.<ref name=Lipner2009p8>{{harvnb|Lipner|2009|p=8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict |publisher=Academic Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-12-369503-1 |editor-last=Kurtz |editor-first=Lester}}</ref><ref>MK Gandhi, ''[http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/essence_of_hinduism.pdf The Essence of Hinduism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724045756/http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/essence_of_hinduism.pdf |date=24 Julie 2015 }}</ref> Volgens Doniger is die "idees oor al die belangrike kwessies van geloof en leefstyl – vegetarisme, niegeweld, ’n geloof in hergeboorte, selfs kaste – ’n onderwerp van debat, nie [[dogma]] nie".{{sfn|Doniger|2014|p=3}}

Vanweë die groot reeks tradisies en idees wat deur die term "Hindoeïsme" gedek word, is dit moeilik om ’n omvattende definisie saam te stel.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=6}} Die godsdiens "daag ons begeerte uit om dit te definieer en kategoriseer".{{sfn|Knott|1998|p=117}} Dit is al beskryf as ’n godsdiens, ’n godsdienstradisie, ’n stel godsdienstige sienings en ’n "lewenswyse".{{sfn|Sharma|2003|pp=12–13}} Uit ’n Westerse [[Leksikografie|leksikale]] standpunt word na Hindoeïsme as ’n godsdiens verwys, nes na ander gelowe. In Indië word die term "dharma" verkies, wat ’n breër betekenis het as die Westerse woord "godsdiens".

Die studie van Indië en sy kulture en godsdienste, asook die term "Hindoeïsme", is gevorm deur die belange van kolonialisme en deur die Westerse begrip van godsdiens.{{sfn|Sweetman|2004}}{{sfn|King|1999}} Sedert die 1990's is dié invloede die onderwerp van debat onder geleerdes{{sfn|Sweetman|2004}} en onder kritici van Westerse sienings oor Indië.{{sfn|Nussbaum|2009}}

===Sienings oor strominge===
[[Beeld:Aum Om navy blue circle coral.svg|thumb|links|200px|Die [[om]], ’n gestileerde letter van die [[Devanagari]]-skrif, word in Hindoeïsme as ’n godsdienssimbool gebruik.]]

Hindoeïsme, soos wat dit algemeen bekend is, kan in ’n paar groot strominge verdeel word. Van die historiese verdeling in ses hooffilosofieë is twee skole, [[Vedanta]] en [[Yoga]], tans die prominentste.<ref name="Matthew Clarke 2011 28">{{Cite book |last=Clarke |first=Matthew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DIvHQc0-rwgC&pg=PA28 |title=Development and Religion: Theology and Practice |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85793-073-6 |page=28 |access-date=11 Februarie 2015 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174115/https://books.google.com/books?id=DIvHQc0-rwgC&pg=PA28 |url-status=live }}</ref> As dit volgens hoofgode verdeel word, is die vier moderne strominge [[Vaishnavisme]] (Vishnu), [[Shaivisme]] (Shiva), [[Shaktisme]] (Devi) en [[Smartisme]] (vyf gode wat as gelykes behandel word).{{sfn|Nath|2001|p=31}}{{sfn|Flood|1996|pp=113, 154}} Hindoeïsme aanvaar talle goddelike wesens: Baie Hindoes beskou hulle as aspekte of manifestasies van ’n enkele, onpersoonlike absolute realiteit van God; ander Hindoes glo ’n spesifieke godheid verteenwoordig die oppergod en die ander is laer manifestasies van dié oppergod.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=14}} Ander kenmerke is die erkenning van [[Atman (Hindoeïsme)|atman]] (die siel, self), [[reïnkarnasie]] van die atman en karma, en ’n geloof in dharma (pligte, regte, wette, waardes en die regte leefwyse).

McDaniel (2007) klassifiseer Hindoeïsme in ses groot soorte en verskeie klein soorte, ten einde die uitdrukking van emosies onder Hindoes te verstaan.<ref name="junemcdaniel6">June McDaniel "Hinduism", in {{Cite book |last=Corrigan |first=John |title=The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Emotion |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-19-517021-4 |pages=52–53}}</ref> Volgens McDaniel is die hoofsoorte Volkshindoeïsme, geskoei op plaaslike tradisies en kultusse van plaaslike godhede, en die oudste, niegeskrewe stelsel; Vediese Hindoeïsme, wat geskoei is op die vroegste [[Veda]]s wat na die 2de millennium&nbsp;v.C. teruggespoor kan word; Vedantiese Hindoeïsme, wat gebaseer is op die filosofie van die [[Upanishad]]s, insluitende [[Advaita Vedanta]], wat klem lê op kennis en wysheid; Yoga-Hindoeïsme, wat die teks van die ''[[Yoga Sutra]]s'' volg en klem lê op selfondersoekende bewustheid; Dharmiese Hindoeïsme of "daaglike moraliteit", wat volgens McDaniel in sekere boeke gestereotipeer word as die "enigste vorm van die Hindoegodsdiens met ’n geloof in karma, koeie en kaste"; en [[#Bhakti|bhakti]] of gewyde Hindoeïsme, waar intense emosies uitvoerig geïnkorporeer word in die navolging van die spirituele.<ref name="junemcdaniel6" />

Michaels onderskei tussen drie Hindoegodsdienste en vier vorme van Hindoegodsdienstigheid.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=21}} Die drie godsdienste is "Brahmanies-Sanskritiese Hindoeïsme", "volks- en stamgodsdienste" en "gestigte godsdienste".{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=22}} Die vier vorme van godsdienstigheid is die klassieke "karma-marga", jnana-marga, bhakti-marga en "heroïsme", met sy wortels in militaristiese tradisies. Dié tradisies sluit in Ramaïsme (die aanbidding van [[Rama]], ’n held uit die epiese letterkunde; daar word geglo hy is ’n reïnkarnasie van Vishnu),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of RAMAISM|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ramaism|access-date=2020-10-28|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|archive-date=29 Desember 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174144/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ramaism|url-status=live}}</ref> sowel as dele van politieke Hindoeïsme.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=23}}  "Heroïsme" word ook ''virya-marga'' genoem.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=24}} Volgens Michaels behoort die meeste Hindoes tot een van die "gestigte godsdienste", soos Vaishnavisme en Shaivisme wat op verlossing fokus en dikwels minder klem lê op [[Brahmaan]]se (priesterlike) gesag.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|pp=21–22}} Hy sê onder die "gestigte godsdienste" is [[Boeddhisme]], [[Djainisme]] en [[Sikhisme]] wat nou aparte godsdienste is; [[Sinkretisme|sinkretiese]] bewegings; en verskeie "ghoeroeïsmes" en neogodsdienstige bewegings.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|pp=22–23}}

===Hindoe-sienings===
Hindoes se geloofsoortuigings is uitgebreid en uiteenlopend en daarom word dikwels na Hindoeïsme as ’n "familie godsdienste" verwys eerder as een godsdiens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hinduism |url=https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism |access-date=2020-04-23 |website=History |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174138/https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism |url-status=live }}</ref> In dié groep godsdienste is daar verskillende teologieë, praktyke en heilige geskrifte.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basics of Hinduism |publisher=Kauai's Hindu Monastery |url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/readlearn/basics/fourteen-questions/ |access-date=2020-04-23 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174156/https://www.himalayanacademy.com/readlearn/basics/fourteen-questions/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Die godsbegrip in Hindoeïsme is kompleks en teenstrydig. In een opsig word [[Brahma]] as 'n panteïstiese god beskou wat in alle dinge en mense teenwoordig is, en in 'n ander opsig as 'n transendente, persoonlike god.

Die Hindoeïste het 'n sterk leerstelling oor reïnkarnasie. Hulle glo dat die menslike siel dikwels in ander liggame op aarde gebore word. Die liggaam word oud en sterf, maar die siel word weer in 'n nuwe liggaam gebore om sodoende sy ontwikkeling na hoër vlakke van goddelikheid voort te sit. 'n Beter [[karma]] word deur goeie werke en geregtigheid ([[dharma]]) opgebou. Uiteindelik sal die siklus van nuwe geboortes verbreek word wanneer die siel met die universele god saamsmelt. Vroeër of later sal dit met elke mens gebeur – niemand gaan verlore nie. Vir die onkundiges en dwalendes sal dit net langer neem om dié toestand te bereik. 'n Persoon met 'n slegte karma, wat deur negatiewe en selfsugtige dade gekenmerk word, sal in sy volgende lewensiklus gestraf word deur 'n minderwaardiger en moeiliker lewe te lei. Iemand met 'n goeie karma sal voorspoed, aansien en seëninge ervaar.

====''Sanatana Dharma''====
Vir sy aanhangers is Hindoeïsme ’n tradisionele leefwyse.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Insoll |first=Timothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QNxnYjYRuOMC&pg=PA35 |title=Archaeology and world religion |publisher=Routledge |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-415-22155-9 |access-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174124/https://books.google.com/books?id=QNxnYjYRuOMC&pg=PA35 |url-status=live }}</ref> Baie beoefenaars verwys na die "ortodokse" vorm daarvan as ''Sanatana Dharma'', die "ewige wet" of "ewige weg".<ref>{{harvnb|Bowker|2000}}; {{harvnb|Harvey|2001|p=xiii}}</ref>{{sfn|Vivekjivandas|2010|p=1}} Hindoes meen Hindoeïsme is duisende jare oud. Die tydlyn van gebeure in die antieke Indiese geskiedenis voorsien ’n chronologie van gebeure in verband met Hindoeïsme wat lank voor 3000&nbsp;v.C. begin. Die Sanskrit-woord "dharma" het ’n veel breër betekenis as "godsdiens" en is nie gelyk daaraan nie. Alle aspekte van ’n Hindoe se lewe – die verkryging van rykdom (artha), die vervulling van wense (kama) en die verkryging van bevryding (moksha) is deel van dharma.{{sfn|Knott|1998|p=111}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hacker |first=Paul |title=Dharma in Hinduism |journal=Journal of Indian Philosophy |year=2006 |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=479–496 |doi=10.1007/s10781-006-9002-4|s2cid=170922678 }}</ref>

Volgens die [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] het ''Sanatana Dharma'' histories verwys na die "ewige" pligte wat godsdienstig in Hindoeïsme verorden word, soos eerlikheid, die weerhouding daarvan om ander lewende wesens seer te maak, reinheid, selfbeheersing, deugsaamheid, deernis, ensovoorts. Dié pligte geld ongeag ’n Hindoe se klas, kaste of sekte en hulle staan in teenstelling met ''svadharma'', ’n mens se "eie plig" in ooreenstemming met jou klas of kaste (''varna'') en lewenstadium (''purushartha'').<ref name="EB-sanatana dharma">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Sanatana dharma {{!}} Hinduism |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/665848/sanatana-dharma |access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> In onlangse jare is die term deur Hindoe-leiers, hervormers en nasionaliste gebruik om na Hindoeïsme te verwys. ''Sanatana dharma'' het ’n [[sinoniem]] geword vir die "ewige" waarheid en leringe van Hindoeïsme, wat bo geskiedenis verhewe en "onveranderlik, ondeelbaar en uiteindelik niesektaries is".<ref name="EB-sanatana dharma"/>

Volgens ander geleerdes soos Kim Knott en Brian Hatcher verwys ''Sanatana Dharma'' na ’n "tydlose, ewige stel waarhede", en is dit hoe Hindoes die oorsprong van hulle godsdiens beskou. Dit word gesien as dié ewige waarhede en tradisie met ’n oorsprong buite die menslike geskiedenis en wat goddelik onthul word in die Vedas – die antiekste geskrifte van die wêreld.{{sfn|Hatcher|2015|pp=4–5, 69–71, 150–152}}{{sfn|Knott|1998|p=3}} Vir baie Hindoes is die Westerse term "godsdiens" in die mate waarin dit beteken "dogma en ’n instelling wat na ’n enkele stigter teruggespeur kan word", ongeskik vir hulle tradisie, sê Hatcher. Vir hulle is Hindoeïsme ’n tradisie wat na minstens die antieke Vediese era teruggespeur kan word.{{sfn|Hatcher|2015|pp=4–5, 69–71, 150–152}}{{sfn|Lipner|2009|pp=15-17}}

====''Vaidika dharma''====
Sommige verwys na Hindoeïsme as die ''Vaidika dharma''.{{sfn|Sharma|Sharma|2004|pp=1–2}} Die woord 'Vaidika' beteken "wat afgelei is van die Vedas" of "in verband met die Vedas".<ref name="MW_Vaidika dharma">{{Cite web|last=Monier-Williams|first=Monier|year=1988|title=Sanskrit English Dictionary|url=http://sanskritdictionary.com/scans/?col=1&img=mw1022.jpg|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174152/http://sanskritdictionary.com/scans/?col=1&img=mw1022.jpg|archive-date=29 December 2020|access-date=24 Julie 2018|website=sanskritdictionary.com}}</ref> Geleerdes het die terme Vaidika en Avaidika tradisioneel gebruik vir onderskeidelik dié wat die Vedas as ’n gesaghebbende bron van kennis beskou en dié wat dit nie doen nie, om te onderskei tussen verskeie Indiese skole van Djainisme, Boeddhisme en Charvaka. Volgens Klaus Klostermaier is die term ''Vaidika dharma'' die vroegste selfbeskrywing van Hindoeïsme.{{sfn|Klostermaier|2014|p=2}}{{sfn|Klostermaier|2007b|p=7}} Arvind Sharma meen daar is bewyse dat Hindoes dié term al teen die 4de eeu gebruik het.<ref name="Sharma1985a"/> 

Die term ''Vaidika dharma'' dui op ’n kode of praktyk wat "op die Vedas gebaseer is", maar dit is onduidelik wat dit presies beteken, sê Julius Lipner.{{sfn|Lipner|2009|pp=15-17}} Dit beteken nie Hindoes heg ’n algemeen aanvaarde betekenis aan die term nie. Baie het nie afskrifte van die Vedas nie en het dit nie gelees, soos Christene met die [[Bybel]] doen en Moslems met die [[Koran]], nie. Dit beteken egter nie hulle hele lewensoriëntasie kan nie na die Vedas teruggespoor word nie.{{sfn|Lipner|2009|pp=15-17}}

Om die Vedas se gesag te aanvaar beteken dikwels bloot dat iemand homself as ’n Hindoe beskou,{{sfn|Lipner|2009|p=16}} en "die meeste Indiërs bewys vandag lippediens aan die Vedas en het geen erg aan die inhoud van die geskrifte nie".<ref>{{harvnb|Michaels|2004|p=18}}; sien ook {{harvnb|Lipner|2009|p=77}}; en {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Brian K. |title=Sacred Texts and Authority |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |year=2008 |editor-last=Neusner |editor-first=Jacob |page=101 |chapter=Hinduism}}</ref> 

====Hindoe-modernisme====
[[Beeld:Swami Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg|thumb|180px|Swami Vivekananda was ’n sleutelfiguur in die bekendstelling van Vedanta en Yoga in Europa en die VSA;{{sfn|Feuerstein|2002|p=600}} Hy het die gaping tussen gelowe oorbrug en Hindoeïsme ’n wêreldgodsdiens gemaak.{{sfn|Clarke|2006|p=209}}]]

Sedert die 19de eeu het Indiese moderniste Hindoeïsme hervestig as ’n belangrike bate van die Indiese beskawing;{{sfn|King|1999}} hulle het dit "gereinig" van sy tantriese elemente{{sfn|Lorenzen|2002|p=33}} en die fokus op Vediese elemente vergroot. Westerse stereotipes is omgekeer, klem is op die universele aspekte gelê en moderne benaderings tot sosiale probleme is ingestel.{{sfn|King|1999}} Dié veranderings het groot byval gevind – nie net in Indië nie, maar ook in die Weste.{{sfn|King|1999}} Belangrike verteenwoordigers van "Hindoe-modernisme"{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=258}} is radja Ram Mohun Roy, [[Vivekananda]], Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan en [[Mahatma Gandhi]].{{sfn|Flood|1996|pp=256–261}} Roy is bekend as die vader van die Hindoe-renaissance.<ref name="hindu1">{{Cite book |last=Young |first=Serinity |title=Hinduism |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7614-2116-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/hinduism0000youn/page/87 87] |url=https://archive.org/details/hinduism0000youn |access-date=19 February 2015 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Hy het ’n groot invloed uitgeoefen op Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), wat volgens Flood ’n "baie belangrike figuur was in die ontwikkeling van ’n moderne Hindoe-selfbegrip en in die formulering van ’n Westerse siening van Hindoeïsme".{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=257}} 

Sentraal tot Vivekananda se filosofie is die idee dat die goddelike in alle wesens bestaan, dat alle mense eenheid met dié "ingebore goddelikheid" kan bereik{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=258}} en dat liefde en sosiale harmonie bevorder sal word as mense dié goddelikheid as die kern van ander sien.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=258}} Hy het gemeen daar is ’n wesentlike eenheid in Hindoeïsme wat ten grondslag aan die uiteenlopendheid van sy baie vorme lê.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=258}} Volgens Flood word Vivekananda se visie van Hindoeïsme vandag "algemeen aanvaar deur die meeste Engelssprekende middelklas-Hindoes".{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=259}} Radhakrishnan het Westerse rasionalisme met Hindoeïsme probeer versoen en "Hindoeïsme voorgestel as ’n wesentlik rasionalistiese en humanistiese godsdienservaring".{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=249}}

Dié "globale Hindoeïsme"{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=265}} vind wêreldwyd aanklank en reik bo nasionale grense uit",{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=265}} en volgens Flood "word dit ’n wêreldgodsdiens naas die Christendom, Islam en Boeddhisme",{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=265}} vir beide die Hindoe-[[diaspora]] en Westerlinge wat by nie-Westerse kulture en godsdienste aanklank vind.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=265}} Dit lê klem op universele spirituele waardes soos sosiale geregtigheid, vrede en "die spirituele transformasies van humaniteit".{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=265}} Dit is aangehelp deurdat elemente van die Hindoe-kultuur na die Weste uitgevoer is, daar gewild geraak en as ’n gevolg in Indië weer gewilder geraak het.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=267}} 

====Regtelike definisie====
Die definisie van Hindoeïsme kragtens die Indiese reg is: "Die aanvaarding van die Vedas met eerbied; die erkenning van die feit dat die maniere van of middele tot verlossing uiteenlopend is; en die besef van die waarheid dat die aantal gode wat aanbid kan word groot is".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Derrett |first1=J. |last2=Duncan |first2=M. |title=Dharmaśāstra and juridical literature |date=1973 |publisher=Harrassowitz |isbn=978-3-447-01519-6 |location=Wiesbaden |oclc=1130636}}</ref>{{sfn|Doniger|2014|p=20}}

==Belangrikste tradisies==
[[Beeld:Ganesha pachayatana.jpg|thumb|200px|Vyf gode van die Smarta-tradisie: [[Ganesha]] (middel) met [[Shiva]] (links bo), [[Parvati]] (regs bo), [[Vishnu]] (links onder) en [[Surya]] (regs onder).]]

Hindoeïsme het geen sentrale gesag nie en baie praktiserende Hindoes behoort nie tot enige spesifieke denominasie of tradisie nie.{{sfn|Werner|2005|pp=13, 45}} Geleerdes gebruik egter vier belangrike denominasies in studies: [[Vaishnavisme]], [[Shaivisme]], [[Shaktisme]] en [[Smartisme]].<ref name="lancenelson">{{harv |first=Lance |last=Nelson |year=2007 |c= |in1=Espín |in2=Nickoloff |pp=562–563}}</ref>{{Sfn|Flood|1996|pp=113, 134, 155–161, 167–168}} Die verskille tussen hulle behels hoofsaaklik die sentrale godheid wat aanbid word, die tradisies en die siening oor verlossing.<ref name="sskumar">SS Kumar (2010), ''Bhakti – the Yoga of Love'', LIT Verlag Münster, {{ISBN|978-3-643-50130-1}}, ble. 35–36</ref> Lipner meen Hindoes volg dikwels meer as een denominasie; hy stel die term "Hindoe-polisentrisme" voor.{{sfn|Lipner|2009|pp=371–375}}

In Vaishnavisme word [[Vishnu]]<ref>Guy Beck (2006), Alternative Krishnas: Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0-7914-6416-8}}</ref> en sy [[avatar]]s aanbid, veral [[Krishna]] en [[Rama]].{{sfn|Bryant|Ekstrand|2013|pp=15–17}} Die volgelinge van dié tradisie is gewoonlik [[Asketisme|nieasketies]], [[Monastisisme|monasties]], en geneig tot gemeenskapsgeleenthede en aanbiddingspraktyke wat geïnspireer is deur die "intiem liefdevolle, vreugdevolle, spelerige" Krishna en ander Vishnu-avatars.<ref name=sskumar/> Dit sluit in gemeenskapsdanse, die sing van [[kirtan]]s en [[bhajan]]s, met klank en musiek wat volgens sommige mense meditasie- en spirituele kragte het.{{sfn|Bryant|Ekstrand|2004|pp=38–43}} Tempelaanbidding en feeste is gewoonlik opgesmuk.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Nettl |first1=Bruno |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC |title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent |last2=Stone |first2=Ruth M. |last3=Porter |first3=James |last4=Rice |first4=Timothy |publisher=Routledge |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-8240-4946-1 |pages=246–247 |access-date=21 Februarie 2016 |archive-date=11 Oktober 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011163910/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC |url-status=live }}</ref> Die Bhagavad Gita en die Ramayana, asook Vishnu-geörienteerde Puranas verskaf die teïstiese fondament daarvan.<ref>{{harv |first=Lance |last=Nelson |year=2007 |c= |in1=Espín |in2=Nickoloff |pp=1441, 376}}</ref> Filosofies is die geloofsoortuigings gewortel in die dualistiese subskole van Vedantiese Hindoeïsme.{{sfn|Bryant|Ekstrand|2013|pp=40–43}}{{sfn|Bryant|2007|pp=357–358}}

In Shaivisme word op [[Shiva]] gefokus. Shaivas word meer aangetrek deur asketiese individualisme, en dit het verskeie subskole.<ref name=sskumar/> Hulle praktyke sluit in bhakti-styl gewydheid, en tog neig hulle geloofsoortuigings na niedualistiese, monistiese skole van Hindoeïsme soos Advaita en Raja Yoga.<ref name=lancenelson/>{{sfn|Bryant|Ekstrand|2004|pp=38–43}} Sommmige Shaivas aanbid in tempels, terwyl ander klem lê op [[joga]] en daarna streef om binne-in een met Shiva te wees.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNmfdAKFpkQC |title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-14-341517-6 |page=209 |access-date=21 Februarie 2016 |archive-date=18 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418131501/https://books.google.com/books?id=pNmfdAKFpkQC |url-status=live }}</ref> Avatars is ongewoon en sommige Shaivas sien god as halfmanlik, halfvroulik; as ’n vermenging van die manlike en vroulike beginsels ([[Ardhanarishvara]]). Shaivisme is verwant aan Shaktisme, deurdat Shakti beskou word as die gade van Shiva.<ref name=lancenelson/> Gemeenskapsvierings sluit in feeste en deelname aan pelgrimstogte soos die [[Kumbh Mela]].<ref>James Lochtefeld (2010), ''God's Gateway: Identity and Meaning in a Hindu Pilgrimage Place'', Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-19-538614-1}}</ref> Shaivisme word veral beoefen in die [[Himalaja]]-streek noord van [[Kasjmir]] tot by [[Nepal]] en in Suid-Indië.<ref>Natalia Isaeva (1995), ''From Early Vedanta to Kashmir Shaivism'', State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0-7914-2449-0}}, ble. 141–145</ref>

Shaktisme fokus op die aanbidding van die godin [[Adi Parashakti|Shakti]] of [[Devi]] as kosmiese moeder<ref name=sskumar/> en word veral beoefen in noordoostelike en oostelike deelstate van Indië soos [[Assam]] en [[Wes-Bengale|Bengale]]. Devi word uitgebeeld as ’n sagter vorm soos [[Parvati]], die gade van Shiva; of as ’n kragtige vegtergodin soos [[Kali]] en [[Durga]]. Shakti word erken as die krag wat aan die manlike beginsel tot grondslag lê. Shaktism word ook met [[Tantra]]-praktyke verbind.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Scaligero |first=Massimo |year=1955 |title=The Tantra and the Spirit of the West |journal=East and West |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=291–296 |jstor=29753633}}</ref> Gemeenskapsvierings sluit in feeste, waarvan sommige optogte en die dompeling van idole in water behels.<ref>'''Geskiedenis:''' Hans Koester (1929), The Indian Religion of the Goddess Shakti, Journal of the Siam Society, Vol 23, Deel 1, ble. 1–18;<br />'''Moderne praktyke:''' June McDaniel (2010), ''Goddesses in World Culture'', Volume 1 (red.: Patricia Monaghan), {{ISBN|978-0-313-35465-6}}, Hoofstuk 2</ref>

Aanbidding in Smartisme sentreer om vyf Hindoe-godhede: Shiva, Vishnu, [[Ganesha]], [[Surya]] en Parvati.{{Sfn|Flood|1996|p=113}} Die Smarta-tradisie het tydens die (vroeë) klassieke tydperk van Hindoeïsme, omstreeks die begin van die huidige era, ontstaan toe Hindoeïsme uit die wisselwerking tussen Brahmanisme en plaaslike tradisies te voorskyn gekom het.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2013}}{{sfn|Flood|1996}} Dié tradisie word verbind met Advaita Vedanta en beskou [[Adi Shankara]] as die stigter en hervormer van Smartisme. Die term "Smartisme" is afgelei van die Smriti-geskrifte, wat beteken "dit wat onthou word".<ref name=lancenelson/><ref name="williamsonp89">{{cite book|first=L |last=Williamson |year=2010 |title=Transcendent in America: Hindu-inspired Meditation Movements as New Religion |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0814794500 |page=89}}</ref> Dié vorm van Hindoeïsme beoefen ’n filosofiese ''Jnana yoga'', die bestudering van geskrifte, nadenke en meditasie om die self se eenheid met God te verstaan.<ref name=lancenelson/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Milner |first=Murray |title=Status and Sacredness |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-19-508489-4 |pages=194–197}}</ref>

Daar is geen [[sensus]]data beskikbaar oor die [[demografie]]se geskiedenis of neigings van die tradisies in Hindoeïsme nie.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-hindu/ The global religious landscape: Hindus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209012719/https://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-hindu/ |date=9 Februarie 2020 }}, Pew Research (2012)</ref> Ramings verskil oor die aantal gelowiges van die verskillende tradisies. Volgens ’n raming in 2010 deur Johnson en Grim is die Vaishnavisme-tradisie die grootste, met sowat 641&nbsp;miljoen of 67,6% van Hindoes; gevolg deur Shaivisme, met 252&nbsp;miljoen of 26,6%; Shaktisme, met 30&nbsp;miljoen of 3,2%; en ander tradisies, insluitende Neo-Hindoeïsme en Hervorming-Hindoeïsme, met 25&nbsp;miljoen of 2,6%.<ref name="johnson400">{{Cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Todd M |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SAzizViY30EC&q=Table+1.19 |title=The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography |last2=Grim |first2=Brian J |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-118-32303-8 |page=400 |access-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-date=9 Desember 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209194251/https://books.google.com/books?id=SAzizViY30EC |url-status=live }}</ref> Volgens Jones en Ryan is Shaivisme egter die grootste tradisie.{{sfn|Jones|Ryan|2006|p=474}}

==Geloofsoortuigings==
[[Beeld:Halebid3.JPG|thumb||Paneelreliëf aan ’n muur van die Hoysaleswara-tempel in [[Karnataka]] in Indië van die [[Trimurti]]: Brahma, Shiva en Vishnu.]]

Prominente temas in Hindoeïstiese geloofsoortuigings sluit in (hoewel dit nie beperk is nie tot) [[dharma]] (etiek/pligte), [[samsara]] (die voortdurende siklus van geboorte, lewe, dood en hergeboorte), [[karma]] (optrede, bedoeling en gevolge), [[moksha]] (bevryding van samsara) en die verskillende [[yoga]]s (weë of praktyke).{{sfn|Brodd|2003}}

===Purusharthas (doelwitte van die lewe)===
In klassieke Hindoeïsme word vier doelwitte van die menslike lewe (Purusharthas) aanvaar: dharma, artha, kama en moksha.<ref name="Bilimoria 2007 p. 103" />{{sfn|Flood|1997|p=11}}

====Dharma (regverdigheid, etiek)====
[[Dharma]] (Sanskrit: धर्म) word beskou as die belangrikste doel van ’n mens se lewe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Flood |first=Gavin |title=The Fruits of Our Desiring |year=1996a |isbn=978-1-896209-30-2 |editor-last=Lipner |editor-first=Julius |pages=16–21 |chapter=The meaning and context of the Purusarthas }}</ref> Die begrip omvat gedrag wat beskou word as in ooreenstemming met die orde wat die lewe en die heelal moontlik maak,<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/dharma.aspx#1 "Dharma"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926234045/http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/dharma.aspx#1 |date=26 September 2016 }}</ref> en sluit in pligte, regte, wette, gedrag, deugde en "die regte lewenswyse".<ref name="tce">{{Cite book |title=The Columbia Encyclopedia |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-7876-5015-5 |edition=6de |chapter=Dharma}}</ref> Dharma is volgens Van Buitenen<ref name="vanbuitenen">{{Cite journal |last=Van Buitenen |first=J. A. B. |date=April–July 1957 |title=Dharma and Moksa |journal=Philosophy East and West |volume=7 |issue=1/2 |pages=33–40|doi=10.2307/1396832 |jstor=1396832 }}</ref> dit wat alle lewende mense moet aanvaar en respekteer om harmonie en orde in die wêreld te handhaaf. 

====Artha (lewensbestaan, rykdom) ====
[[Artha]] (Sanskrit: अर्थ)  is die nastrewing van rykdom vir ’n lewensbestaan, verpligtings en ekonomiese vooruitgang. Dit sluit in die politieke lewe, diplomasie en materiële welsyn. Artha sluit dus alle lewensmiddele, bedrywighede en hulpbronne in wat ’n mens in staat stel om in die toestand te wees waarin hy wil wees wat betref rykdom, beroep en finansiële sekuriteit.{{sfn|Koller|1968}} Die behoorlike nastrewing van artha word beskou as ’n belangrike doel van die menslike lewe.{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002a|pp=55–56}}<ref name="bruces">Bruce Sullivan (1997), ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'', {{ISBN|978-0-8108-3327-2}}, pp. 29–30</ref>

====Kama (sensuele plesier)====
[[Kama]] (Sanskrit, [[Pali]]: काम) beteken begeerte, wense, passie, verlange, ’n plesier van die [[Sintuig|sintuie]], die estetiese genieting van die lewe en liefde, met of sonder [[seks]]uele konnotasies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Macy |first=Joanna |year=1975 |title=The Dialectics of Desire |journal=Numen |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=145–60 |doi=10.2307/3269765 |jstor=3269765}}</ref><ref name="mmwse">Monier Williams, [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0300/mw__0304.html काम, kāma] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019211540/http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0300/mw__0304.html |date=19 Oktober 2017 }} ''Monier-Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary'', bl. 271</ref> In Hindoeïsme word kama beskou as ’n noodsaaklike en gesonde doel van die menslike lewe indien dit nagestreef word sonder om dharma, artha en moksha in te boet.<ref>Sien:
* "The Hindu Kama Shastra Society" (1925), ''[https://archive.org/stream/kamasutraofvatsy00vatsuoft#page/8/mode/2up The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana]'', University of Toronto Archives, pp. 8;
* A. Sharma (1982), ''The Puruṣārthas: a study in Hindu axiology'', Michigan State University, {{ISBN|978-99936-24-31-8}}, pp. 9–12;
* A. Sharma (1999), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40018229 "The Puruṣārthas: An Axiological Exploration of Hinduism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174154/https://www.jstor.org/stable/40018229 |date=29 Desember 2020 }}, ''The Journal of Religious Ethics'', Vol. 27, No. 2 (Summer, 1999), pp. 223–256;
* Chris Bartley (2001), ''Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy'', Editor: Oliver Learman, {{ISBN|978-0-415-17281-3}}, Routledge, Artikel oor Purushartha, p. 443</ref>

====Moksha (bevryding, bevryding van samsara) ====
[[Moksha]] (Sanskrit: मोक्ष) of mukti (Sanskrit: मुक्ति) is die uiteindelike, belangrikste doel in Hindoeïsme. In ’n sin is moksha ’n begrip wat verbind word met bevryding van hartseer, lyding en samsara (die siklus van geboorte en hergeboorte). Vanweë ’n geloof in die onvernietigbaarheid van die [[siel]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Europa Publications Staff |title=The Far East and Australasia, 2003 – Regional surveys of the world |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-85743-133-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e5Az1lGCJwQC&pg=PA39 |page=39 |access-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174155/https://books.google.com/books?id=e5Az1lGCJwQC&pg=PA39 |url-status=live }}</ref> word die dood as onbelangrik beskou met betrekking tot die kosmiese self.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58UZWWzqglMC |title=Hindu spirituality - Volume 25 of Documenta missionalia |publisher=Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana |year=1999 |isbn=978-88-7652-818-7 |page=1 |access-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-date=29 Desember 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229001010/https://books.google.com/books?id=58UZWWzqglMC |url-status=live }}</ref>

Die betekenis van "moksha" verskil van een denkskool tot ’n ander. Advaita Vedanta bepaal byvoorbeeld dat nadat ’n mens moksha bereik het, hy sy "siel, self" ken en dit identifiseer as een met [[Brahman]] en almal in alle opsigte.<ref name=karlpotter/><ref name="klausklost">{{Cite book|last=Klostermaier|first=Klaus|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x6gvAAAAIAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=Mok%E1%B9%A3a+and+Critical+Theory&q=Mok%E1%B9%A3a+and+Critical+Theory&hl=en|title=Philosophy East & West|date=1985|publisher=University Press of Hawaii|pages=61–71|language=en}}</ref> Die volgelinge van [[Dvaita]]-skole (dualistiese skole) identifiseer individuele "siel, self" in ’n moksha-toestand as apart van Brahman, maar oneindig naby, en glo hulle sal die ewigheid in ’n ''loka'' (hemel) deurbring nadat hulle moksha bereik het. Vir teïstiese skole van Hindoeïsme is moksha die bevryding van samsara, terwyl moksha volgens ander skole soos die monistiese skool in die huidige lewe moontlik is en ’n sielkundige begrip is.{{sfn|Deutsch|2001}}<ref name="karlpotter">Karl Potter, "Dharma and Mokṣa from a Conversational Point of View", ''Philosophy East and West'', Vol. 8, No. 1/2 (Apr.–Jul. 1958), pp. 49–63</ref> Volgens Deutsch is moksha ’n perfekte bestaanstoestand – van selfbewuswording, van vryheid en van "bewuswording van die hele heelal as die Self".{{sfn|Deutsch|2001}} Klostermaier<ref name="klausklost"/> meen moksha in hierdie skole impliseer ’n bevryding van voorheen belemmerde vermoëns, ’n verwydering van hindernisse vir ’n onbeperkte lewe wat ’n mens in staat stel om waarlik ’n persoon in die volle sin te wees; die begrip impliseer ’n ongebruikte menslike potensiaal van kreatiwiteit, meegevoel en begrip wat voorheen geblokkeer is. Moksha is meer as ’n bevryding van die lydingsiklus van geboorte en hergeboorte; die Vedantiese skool verdeel dit in twee: ''Jivanmukti'' (bevryding in hierdie lewe) en ''Videhamukti'' (bevryding ná die dood).<ref name="klausklost"/>

===Karma en samsara===
"Karma" kan letterlik vertaal word as "aksie", "werk" of "daad",<ref>{{Cite book |last=Apte |first=Vaman S |url=https://archive.org/details/studentsenglishs00apte_271 |title=The Student's English-Sanskrit Dictionary |publisher=Motilal Banarsidas |year=1997 |isbn=978-81-208-0300-8 |edition=New |location=Delhi}}</ref> en verwys ook na die Vediese teorie van "morele wet van oorsaak en gevolg".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Huston |year=1991 |title=The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions |location=San Francisco |publisher=Harper |isbn=978-0-06-250799-0 |page=64 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/worldsreligions000smit}}</ref><ref>Karl Potter (1964), "The Naturalistic Principle of Karma", ''Philosophy East and West'', Vol. 14, No. 1 (Apr. 1964), pp. 39–49</ref> Die teorie is ’n kombinasie van (1) veroorsaking (kousaliteit) wat eties kan wees of nie; (2) etisering, dat goeie of slegte dade gevolge het; en (3) hergeboorte.<ref name="wdointro">Wendy D. O'Flaherty (1980), ''Karma and Rebirth in Classical Indian Traditions'', University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0-520-03923-0}}, ble. xi–xxv (Inleiding) en ble. 3–37</ref> Karma verduidelik die huidige omstandighede van ’n individu aan die hand van sy of haar dade in die verlede. Dié dade en hulle gevolge kan in ’n persoon se huidige lewe wees of, volgens sommige skole, in vorige lewens.<ref name=wdointro/><ref>Karl Potter (1980), in ''Karma and Rebirth in Classical Indian Traditions'' (O'Flaherty, red.), University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0-520-03923-0}}, pp. 241–267</ref> Dié siklus van geboorte, lewe, dood en hergeboorte waord samsara genoem. Bevryding van samsara deur moksha verseker langdurige geluk en vrede, word geglo.{{sfn|Radhakrishnan|1996|p=254}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vivekananda |first=Swami |title=Jnana Yoga |publisher=Kessinger Publishing |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-4254-8288-6 |pages=301–302}} (8ste herdruk, 1993)</ref> 

==Geskrifte==
Die antieke geskrifte van Hindoeïsme is in [[Sanskrit]]. Hulle word in twee dele geklassifiseer: ''Shruti'' en ''Smriti''. ''Shruti'' is "nie deur ’n mens gemaak nie", maar aan die ''rishi's'' (sieners) geopenbaar en dit word beskou as van die hoogste gesag; die ''Smriti'' is mensgemaak en het sekondêre gesag.{{sfn|Muesse|2011|p=202}} Hulle is die twee belangrikste bronne van dharma – die ander twee is ''Sista Achara/Sadachara'' ("gedrag van edel mense") en ''Atma tusti'' ("wat jouself behaag").

[[Beeld:Rigveda MS2097.jpg|thumb|200px|links|Die ''Rigveda'' is die eerste van vier Vedas en een van die oudste godsdiensgeskrifte. Dié ''Rigveda''-manuskrip is in die [[Devanagari]]-skrif.]]
Hindoegeskrifte is saamgestel, gememoriseer en baie eeue lank en oor geslagte heen verbaal oorgedra voordat hulle neergeskryf is.{{sfn|Flood|2003|pp=68–69}}{{sfn|Sargeant|Chapple |1984|p=3}} Wysgeers het die leerstellings oor eeue heen verfyn en uitgebrei, en geskrifte ontwikkel met epistemologiese en metafisiese teorieë van ses klassieke skole van Hindoeïsme.

''Shruti'' (letterlik "dit wat gehoor word"){{sfn|Rinehart|2004|p=68}} verwys veral na die Vedas, wat die vroegste rekord van die Hindoegeskrifte uitmaak, en word beskou as ewige waarhede wat aan die antieke wysgeers geopenbaar is.{{sfn|Flood|2008|p=4}} Daar is vier Vedas – ''Rigveda'', ''Samaveda'', ''Yajurveda'' en ''Atharvaveda''. Elk word onderverdeel in vier belangrike soorte geskrifte – die Samhitas (mantras en seënbedes), die Aranyakas (geskrifte oor rituele, seremonies, offerandes en simboliese offerandes), die Brahmanas (kommentaar op rituele, seremonies en offerandes) en die Upanishads (geskrifte wat meditasie, filosofie en spirituele kennis bespreek).{{sfn|Flood|1996|pp=35–39}}<ref>A Bhattacharya (2006), ''Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology'', {{ISBN|978-0-595-38455-6}}, ble. 8–14; George M. Williams (2003), Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-19-533261-2}}, bl. 285</ref> 

Die Upanishads is die fondament van Hindoefilosofie en het ’n groot invloed op uiteenlopendes tradisies gehad.<ref name=wendydoniger/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dissanayake |first=Wiman |title=Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-7914-1080-6 |editor-last=Kasulis |editor-first=Thomas P. |page=39|display-editors=etal}}</ref><ref name=McDowell>{{Cite book |last1=McDowell |first1=Michael |title=World Religions |last2=Brown |first2=Nathan |publisher=Penguin |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-59257-846-7 |pages=208–210}}</ref> Hulle is die invloedrykste van al die Hindoegeskrifte en word beskou as tekste par excellence van Hindoeïsme – hulle sentrale idees beïnvloed steeds gedagtes en tradisies.<ref name="wendydoniger">{{harvnb|Doniger|1990|pp=2–3}}</ref><ref name=Olivelle2014p3q>{{Cite book |last=Olivelle |first=Patrick |title=The Early Upanisads |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-535242-9 |page=3}}</ref> Daar is 108 Upanishads, waarvan tussen 10 en 13 deur geleerdes beskou word as die heel belangrikstes.<ref name=Olivelle1998Introduction>{{cite book |last=Olivelle |first=Patrick |year=1998 |title=Upaniṣads |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-282292-5 |chapter=Inleiding}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Thirteen Principal Upanishads |translator-last=Hume |translator-first=Robert |url=https://archive.org/stream/thirteenprincipa028442mbp#page/n1/mode/2up}}</ref>

Die merkwaardigste van die ''Smritis'' ("wat onthou word") is die epiese verhale en die [[Purana]]s. Die epiese verhale bestaan uit die Mahabharata en Ramayana. Die ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' ("Lied van die Heer") is ’n integrale deel van die Mahabharata en een van die gewildste heilige geskrifte in Hindoeïsme.<ref>''Sarvopaniṣado gāvo'', ens. (''Gītā Māhātmya'' 6). ''Gītā Dhyānam'', aangehaal in {{cite book |chapter=Introduction |chapter-url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/introduction/ |title=Bhagavad-gītā |trans-title=As It Is |via=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase |access-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174201/https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/introduction/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Die Puranas, wat van omstreeks 300&nbsp;n.C. saamgestel is,{{sfn|Lorenzen|1999|p=655}} bevat uitgebreide [[Mitologie|mitologieë]] en is sentraal in die verspreiding van algemene temas van Hindoeïsme deur lewendige vertellings. Die ''Yoga Sutras'' is ’n klassieke geskrif vir die Hindoeïstiese Yoga-tradisie, wat in die 20ste eeu opnuut gewild geword het.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Michelis |first=Elizabeth De |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHBBDq_Ul3sC |title=A History of Modern Yoga: Patanjali and Western Esotericism |date=2005 |publisher=Continuum |isbn=978-0-8264-8772-8}}</ref>

Sedert die 19de eeu het Indiese moderniste die "Ariese oorsprong" van Hindoeïsme weer beklemtoon; hulle het die geloof "gesuiwer" van sy tantriese elemente{{sfn|Lorenzen|2002|p=33}} en die Vediese elemente weer uitgelig. Hindoemoderniste soos Vivekananda beskou die Vedas as die wette van die spirituele wêreld wat steeds sal bestaan al word hulle nie meer aan die wysgeers geopenbaar nie.{{sfn|Vivekananda|1987|loc=Volume I|pp=6–7}}{{sfn|Harshananda|1989}} In die tantriese tradisie verwys Agamas na gesaghebbende geskrifte oor die leringe van Shiva aan Shakti,{{sfn|Jones|Ryan|2006|p=13}} terwyl Nigamas verwys na die Vedas en die leringe van Shakti aan Shiva.{{sfn|Jones|Ryan|2006|p=13}} In Agamiese skole is die Vedas en Agamas ewe gesaghebbend.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dhavamony |first=Mariasusai |title=Hindu Spirituality |publisher=Gregorian University and Biblical Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-88-7652-818-7 |pages=31–34}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=David |title=The Dance of Siva: Religion, Art and Poetry in South India |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-521-48234-9 |page=116}}</ref>

==Praktyke==
===Rituele===
[[Beeld:(A) Hindu wedding, Saptapadi ritual before Agni Yajna.jpg|thumb|240px|’n Bruilof is die omvattendste ritueel wat ’n Hindoe in sy lewe sal onderneem. ’n Tipiese Hindoetroue word met ’n vuurritueel (op foto) voltrek.{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002a|p=427}}]]
Die meeste Hindoes hou tuis godsdiensrituele.<ref>{{harvnb|Muesse|2011|p=[https://archive.org/details/hindutraditionsc00mues/page/216 216]}}.</ref> Dié rituele wissel aansienlik van streek tot streek, dorp tot dorp en individu tot individu. Hulle is nie verpligtend nie. 

Die aard en plek van die rituele is die individu se keuse. Sommige diep godsdienstige Hindoes doen daagliks rituele soos aanbidding teen dagbreek (gewoonlik by ’n gesinsaltaar) nadat hulle gebad het. Dit sluit gewoonlik die aansteek van ’n lamp en ’n offerande van kos voor die beelde van gode in, asook die opsê van godsdienstekste, die sing van bhajans (gewyde liedere), joga, meditasie, die sing-praat van mantras, ensovoorts.{{sfn|Heitzman|Worden|1996|pp=145–146}}

Vediese rituele voor ’n heilige vuur (yajna) en die sing van Vediese liedere word ook op spesiale geleenthede uitgevoer, soos op ’n bruilof.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sharma |first=A |year=1985 |title=Marriage in the Hindu religious tradition |journal=Journal of Ecumenical Studies |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=69–80}}</ref> Rituele by ander groot gebeure in die lewenstadium, soos ná die dood, sluit die yajna en die praat-sing van Vediese mantras in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 |url=http://www.sudhirlaw.com/HMA55.htm |access-date=25 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605133731/http://www.sudhirlaw.com/HMA55.htm |archive-date=5 Junie 2007}}</ref>

Die woorde van die mantras is "self heilig"{{sfn|Holdrege|1996|pp=346–347}} en "omvat nie linguistiese uitings nie".{{sfn|Holdrege|1996|p=347}} Soos Klostermaier opmerk, word hulle eerder in hulle toepassing in Vediese rituele magiese klanke, "’n middel tot ’n doel".<ref>{{harvnb|Klostermaier|2007|p=55}} haal aan uit Madhav M. Deshpande (1990), [https://www.scribd.com/document/378011865/Madhav-Deshpande-Changing-Conceptions-of-the-Veda-From-Speech-Acts-to-Magical-Sounds ''Changing Conceptions of the Veda: From Speech-Acts to Magical Sounds''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801162442/https://www.scribd.com/document/378011865/Madhav-Deshpande-Changing-Conceptions-of-the-Veda-From-Speech-Acts-to-Magical-Sounds |date= 1 Augustus 2020 }}, p.4.}}</ref> In die Brahmaniese perspektief het die klanke hulle eie betekenis; mantras word beskou as "oerritmes van die skepping" wat dit waarna hulle verwys, voorafgegaan het.{{sfn|Holdrege|1996|p=347}} Deur hulle op te sê word die [[kosmos]] geregenereer. "Solank as wat die suiwerheid van die klanke behou word, sal die opsê van die mantras doeltreffend wees, of hulle deur mense verstaan word of nie."{{sfn|Holdrege|1996|p=347}}<ref name=Coward2008p114>{{harvnb|Coward|2008|p=114}}</ref>

===Deurgangsrites===
Groot mylpale in die lewe word in Hindoeïsme as sanskaras ([[deurgangsrite]]s) gevier.<ref name="pandey">{{Cite book |last=Pandey |first=R |title=Hindu Saṁskāras: Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1969 |isbn=978-81-208-0434-0 |edition=2nd |location=Delhi}}</ref><ref name="knipe">{{Cite book |last=Knipe |first=David |title=Vedic Voices: Intimate Narratives of a Living Andhra Tradition |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-19-939769-3 |page=52}}</ref> Die deurgangsrites is nie verpligtend nie en verskil grootliks van een gender, gemeenskap of streek tot die ander.<ref name=pvkanesamsk>{{Cite book |last=Kane |first=PV |title=History of Dharmasastras |publisher=Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute |series=Part I |volume=II |pages=190–417 |chapter=Saṁskāra |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofdharmas029210mbp#page/n248/mode/2up}}</ref> Die ''Gautama Dharmasutra'' is in die middel van die eerste millennium&nbsp;v.C. saamgestel en lys 48 sanskaras,<ref name=patrick/> terwyl die ''Gryhasutra'' en ander geskrifte wat eeue later saamgestel is, tussen 12 en 16 sanskaras noem.<ref name="pandey"/><ref name="carlolson">{{Cite book |last=Olson |first=Carl |title=The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-historical Introduction |publisher=Rutgers University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8135-4068-9 |pages=93–94}}</ref> Die lys sanskaras omvat beide uiterlike rituele, soos die viering van ’n baba se geboorte en ’n baba se naamgeeseremonie, en innerlike rites van resolusies en etiek, soos barmhartigheid en ’n positiewe houding.<ref name="patrick">{{Cite book |last=Olivelle |first=Patrick |title=Dharmasutras – The Law Codes of Ancient India |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-19-955537-6 |pages=90–91}}</ref>

Die belangrikste deurgangsrites sluit in<ref name="pvkanesamsk"/> [[swangerskap]], die rite voor die [[fetus]] begin beweeg en skop, die ooievaarstee, viering van die geboorte, naamgeeseremonie, baba se eerste uitstappie, eerste vaste kos, eerste haarsny, begin van sy skoolloopbaan, ensovoorts. Ander is die eerste skeer vir seuns en [[maandstonde]] vir meisies, ’n gradeplegtigheid, bruilof, vas, en verassing vir ’n volwassene en begrafnis vir ’n kind.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Siqueira |first=Thomas N. |date=March 1935 |title=The Vedic Sacraments |journal=Thought |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=598–609 |doi=10.5840/thought1935945}}</ref> 

===Bhakti===
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Bhakti verwys na aanbidding, deelneming in en liefde vir ’n god.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2009 |title=Bhakti |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/63933/bhakti |access-date=16 Junie 2015 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174330/https://www.britannica.com/topic/bhakti |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="karen">{{Cite book |last=Pechelis |first=Karen |title=The Continuum Companion to Hindu Studies |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8264-9966-0 |editor-last=Frazier |editor-first=Jessica |pages=107–121 |chapter=Bhakti Traditions |editor-last2=Flood |editor-first2=Gavin}}</ref> ''Bhakti-marga'' word beskou as een van baie moontlike paaie van spiritualiteit en ’n alternatiewe weg na moksha.<ref>{{harvnb|Lochtefeld|2002a|pp=98–100}}</ref> Die ander paaie, wat die keuse van die aanbidder is, is ''Jnana-marga'' (pad van kennis), ''Karma-marga'' (pad van werke) en ''Raja-marga'' (pad van oordenking en meditasie).<ref name="johnmartin">{{Cite book |last=Sahajananda |first=John Martin |year=2014 |title=Fully Human Fully Divine |publisher=Partridge India |isbn=978-1-4828-1955-7 |page=60}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Tiwari |first=Kedar Nath |title=Comparative Religion |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=2009 |isbn=978-81-208-0293-3 |page=31}}</ref>

Bhakti word op verskeie maniere beoefen, van die opsê van mantras en japas (towerspreuke) tot individuele, privaat gebede by die tuisaltaar<ref>{{Cite book |last=Huyler |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cnNcDn36VHcC |title=Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-300-08905-9 |pages=10–11, 71}}</ref> of in ’n tempel voor ’n beeld van ’n god.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gonda |first=Jan |year=1963 |title=The Indian Mantra |journal=Oriens |volume=16 |pages=244–297 |doi=10.1163/18778372-01601016}}</ref>{{Sfn|Fowler|1997|pp=41–50}} Hindoetempels en tuisaltaars is belangrike elemente van aanbidding in hedendaagse teïstiese Hindoeïsme.<ref name="Foulston2012p20">{{Cite book|last=Foulston|first=Lynn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3N4mGlbutbgC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|publisher=Routledge|year=2012|isbn=978-1-135-18978-5|editor-last=Cush|editor-first=Denise|pages=21–22, 868|display-editors=etal}}</ref> Terwyl baie mense op spesiale geleenthede ’n tempel besoek, vind die meeste daaglikse gebede plaas by ’n tuisaltaar, gewoonlik ’n deel van die huis wat heilige beelde van gode of ghoeroes bevat.<ref name="Foulston2012p20" />

’n Vorm van daaglikse aanbidding is aarti (smeekbede), ’n ritueel waartydens ’n vlam geoffer en ’n pryslied gesing word.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Lutgendorf|first=Philip|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fVFC2Nx-LP8C&q=hanuman's+tale|title=Hanuman's Tale: The Messages of a Divine Monkey|date=2007-01-11|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-804220-4|pages=401|language=en|access-date=29 Desember 2020|archive-date=29 Desember 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174158/https://books.google.com/books?id=fVFC2Nx-LP8C&q=hanuman%27s+tale|url-status=live}}</ref> Voorbeelde is ''Om Jai Jagdish Hare'', ’n gebed tot Vishnu, en ''Sukhakarta Dukhaharta'', ’n gebed tot Ganesha.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34752006|title=Ganesh, the benevolent|date=1995|publisher=Marg Publications|others=Pal, Pratapaditya., Marg Publications.|isbn=81-85026-31-9|location=Bombay|oclc=34752006|access-date=29 Desember 2020|archive-date=29 Desember 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174126/https://www.worldcat.org/title/ganesh-the-benevolent/oclc/34752006|url-status=live}}</ref> Ander gemeenskaps- en persoonlike praktyke sluit in puja, kirtan of bhajan, waar ’n groep aanbidders gewyde liedere en verse lees of gedigte sing.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2015 |title=Puja |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=http://www.britannica.com/topic/puja |access-date=16 Junie 2015 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174151/https://www.britannica.com/topic/puja |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=DeNapoli |first=Antoinette |title=Real Sadhus Sing to God |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-994003-5 |pages=19–24}}</ref> Terwyl die keuse van die god van die aanbidder afhang, is die gewildste tradisies Vaishnavisme, Shaivisme en Shaktisme.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reinhart |first=Robin |title=Contemporary Hinduism: ritual, culture, and practice |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-57607-905-8 |pages=35–47}}</ref> ’n Hindoe kan verskeie gode aanbid, almal as henoteïstiese manifestasies van dieselfde hoër god, kosmiese gees en absolute spirituele begrip wat [[Brahman]] genoem word.{{sfn|Prentiss|2014}}{{sfn|Sharma|2000|pp=72–75}}

Hoewel bhakti-praktyke gewild en maklik uitvoerbaar is, beoefen nie alle Hindoes dit nie.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smart |first=Ninian |title=The Yogi and the Devotee |publisher=Routledge |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-415-68499-6 |pages=52–80}}</ref> 

===Feeste===
[[Beeld:Deepawali-festival.jpg|thumb|220px|Die fees van ligte, [[Divali]], word wêreldwyd gevier. In Suid-Indië word dit "Dipavali" genoem.]]
[[Beeld:Hindus in Ghana celebrating Ganesh Chaturti.jpg|thumb|220px|Hindoes in [[Ghana]] vier Ganesh Chaturti.]]
Hindoefeeste (Sanskrit: ''Utsava''; letterlik "om hoër te lig") is seremonies wat die individuele en sosiale lewe met dharma verweef.<ref name=sandrarobinson/><ref name="yustf">{{Cite book |last=Yust |first=Karen-Marie |title=Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7425-4463-5 |page=234 |chapter=Sacred Celebrations |postscript=. Sien ook hoofstuk 18.}}</ref> Hindoes vier baie feeste deur die jaar. Die datums word bepaal volgens die [[Hindoekalender]], ’n [[maansonkalender]]; baie vind plaas met óf [[volmaan]] ([[Holi]]) óf [[donkermaan]] ([[Divali]]), dikwels met seisoenswisselings.<ref name="denisecushf">{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Sandra |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7007-1267-0 |editor-last=Cush |editor-first=Denise |page=907 |display-editors=etal}}</ref> Sommige feeste word net in ’n sekere streek gevier en behels plaaslike tradisies, terwyl ’n paar soos Holi en Divali wêreldwyd plaasvind.<ref name=denisecushf/><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Foulston |first1=Lynn |title=Hindu Goddesses: Beliefs and Practices |last2=Abbott |first2=Stuart |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-902210-43-8 |page=155}}</ref>

Op die feeste word gewoonlik gebeure in Hindoeïsme gevier, insluitende spirituele temas en die viering van aspekte van menslike verhoudings, soos die band tussen broers en susters tydens Raksha Bandhan.<ref name=yustf/><ref>{{Cite book |editor-last=Holberg |editor-first=Dale |title=Students' Britannica India |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica (India) |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-85229-760-5 |volume=2 |page=120 |chapter=Festival calendar of India }}</ref> ’n Fees gedenk soms verskillende stories, na gelang van die Hindoedenominasie, en behels streektemas, tradisionele [[landbou]], plaaslike [[kuns]], familiebyeenkomste en puja-rituele.<ref name="sandrarobinson">{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Sandra |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7007-1267-0 |editor-last=Cush |editor-first=Denise |pages=908–912 |display-editors=etal}}</ref>

’n Paar groot streek- en wêreldwye feeste is:
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Makar Sankranti
* Pongal
* Thaipusam
* Vasant Panchami
* Maha Shivaratri
* Shigmo
* Holi
* Gudi Padwa
* Ugadi
* Bihu
* Vishu
* Ram Navami
* Kartik Purnima
* Raksha Bandhan
* Krishna Janmastami
* Gowri Habba
* Ganesh Chaturthi
* Onam
* Navaratri
* Dussehra
* Durga Puja
* Divali of Tihar or Deepawali
* Chhath
* Bonalu
* Rath Yatra
* Dashain

{{div col end}}

===Pelgrimstogte===
Baie Hindoes onderneem pelgrimstogte, wat histories ’n belangrike deel van Hindoeïsme was en vandag steeds is.{{Sfn|Fuller|2004|pp=204–05}} Pelgrimsterreine word tirtha, kshetra, gopitha of mahalaya genoem.{{Sfn|Lochtefeld|2002n|pp=698–699}}{{Sfn|Jacobsen|2013|pp=4, 22, 27, 140–148, 157–158}} Die reisproses na ’n tirtha is ’n Tirtha-yatra.{{Sfn|Bhardwaj|1983|p=2}} Volgens die Hindoegeskrif ''Skanda Purana'' is daar drie soorte tirtha: ''Jangam Tirtha'' is na ’n beweegbare plek van ’n [[sadhu]], [[rishi]] of [[ghoeroe]]; ''Sthawar Tirtha'' is na ’n onbeweegbare plek, soos Benaras, Haridwar, berg Kailash of heilige riviere; ''Manas Tirtha'' is na ’n geestesplek van waarheid, welsyn, geduld, meelewing, sagte spraak en die siel.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Krishan |last2=Sinha |first2=Anil Kishore |last3=Banerjee |first3=Bijon Gopal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RrkUMlsu_YIC |title=Anthropological Dimensions of Pilgrimage |publisher=Northern Book Centre |year=2009 |isbn=978-81-89091-09-5 |pages=3–5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Maw |first=Geoffrey Waring |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IarXAAAAMAAJ |title=Pilgrims in Hindu Holy Land: Sacred Shrines of the Indian Himalayas |publisher=Sessions Book Trust |year=1997 |isbn=978-1-85072-190-1 |page=7 |access-date=5 Julie 2017 |archive-date=16 Februarie 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216202914/https://books.google.com/books?id=IarXAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

[[Beeld:Simhasth2016 Ujjain Snan2.jpg|thumb|280px|links|Die [[Kumbh Mela]] in 2016 in Ujjain.]]
[[Beeld:Holi Festival of Colors Utah, United States 2013.jpg|thumb|220px|[[Holi]] word in [[Utah]], [[VSA]], gevier.]]
Pelgrimstogterreine word genoem in die epiese [[Mahabharata]] en die [[Purana]]s.{{Sfn|Kane|1953|p=561}}{{Sfn|Eck|2012|pp=7–9}} [[Kumbh Mela]] is ’n groot pelgrimstog op die vooraand van die sonfees Makar Sankranti. Dit word vier keer in 12 jaar op een van vier terreine gehou: Prayag Raj, by die samevloei van die riviere [[Ganges]] en [[Yamuna]]; Haridwar, naby die oorsprong van die Ganges; Ujjain, aan die rivier [[Shipra]]; en Nasik, aan die oewer van die rivier [[Godavari]].{{sfn|Eck|2013|pp=152–154}} Dit is een van die grootste massapelgrimstogte ter wêreld, met ’n geraamde 40&nbsp;miljoen tot 100&nbsp;miljoen mense wat deelneem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alan |date=14 Januarie 2013 |title=Kumbh Mela: The Largest Gathering on Earth |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2013/01/kumbh-mela-the-largest-gathering-on-earth/100438/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=14 November 2017 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174128/https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2013/01/kumbh-mela-the-largest-gathering-on-earth/100438/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Op dié geleentheid word tot die [[son]] gebid en in die rivier gebad, ’n tradisie wat aan die Indiese filosoof en teoloog Adi Shankara  toegeskryf word.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshan |title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths |publisher=Penguin |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-14-341517-6 |chapter=Kumbh Mela}}</ref>

Sommige pelgrimstogte is deel van ’n vrata (gelofte), wat ’n Hindoe om verskeie redes kan aflê.{{Sfn|Eck|2012|pp=9–11}}{{Sfn|Bhardwaj|1983|p=6}} Dit gedenk dalk ’n spesiale geleentheid, soos die geboorte van ’n kind, ’n deurgangsrite soos ’n kind se eerste haarsny, of die herstel van ’n siekte.{{Sfn|Eck|2012|p=9}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bharati |first=Agehananda |year=1963 |title=Pilgrimage in the Indian Tradition |journal=History of Religions |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=135–167 |doi=10.1086/462476|s2cid=162220544 }}</ref> Dit kan ook wees uit dankbaarheid vir gebede wat verhoor is.{{Sfn|Eck|2012|p=9}} Ander redes vir ’n tirtha kan wees om geestelike waarde daaruit te kry om na beroemde tempels te reis of in riviere soos die Ganges te bad.{{Sfn|Bhardwaj|1983|pp=3–5}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Amazzone |first=Laura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PM_TNDu8NHUC |title=Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-7618-5314-5 |pages=43–45}}</ref>{{sfn|Holm|Bowker|2001|pp=69–77}} Dit kan ook wees om boete te doen en berou te betoon, vir onbedoelde foute en bedoelde sondes, in die Hindoetradisie.{{Sfn|Lingat|1973|pp=98–99}}{{Sfn|Bhardwaj|1983|p=4}} 

Die regte prosedure van ’n pelgrimstog word algemeen in Hindoegeskrifte beskryf.{{Sfn|Kane|1953|p=573}} ’n Gewilde siening is dat die reis of ’n deel daarvan te voet afgelê moet word en dat net van ’n vervoermiddel gebruik gemaak word as die pelgrimstog andersins onmoontlik sou wees.{{Sfn|Kane|1953|pp=576–577}}

==Persoon en gemeenskap==
===Varnas===
[[Beeld:12BCM11.jpg|thumb|220px|Priesters besig met ’n Kalyanam (huweliksbevestiging) van die gode in ’n tempel in Telangana, Indië. Dit word elke dag van die jaar in dié tempel uitgevoer.]] 
Die Hindoegemeenskap word in vier klasse, of varnas, gekategoriseer: die ''Brahmins'', Vediese onderwysers en priesters; ''Kshatriyas'', stryders en konings; ''Vaishyas'', boere en handelaars; en ''Shudras'', diensknegte en werkers.{{sfn|Sharma|2000|pp=132–180}}

Die ''Bhagavad Gita'' verbind die varna met ’n individu se plig (svadharma), ingebore natuur (svabhava) en natuurlike neigings (guna).{{Sfn|Halbfass|1995|p=264}} Die ''Manusmriti'' kategoriseer die verskillende [[kaste]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manu Smriti Laws of Manu |at=1.87–1.91 |url=http://www.bergen.edu/phr/121/ManuGC.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528064608/http://www.bergen.edu/phr/121/ManuGC.pdf |archive-date=2010-05-28}}</ref> Sommige sosioloë meen beweegbaarheid en buigsaamheid binne die varnas weerspreek bewerings van sosiale diskriminasie in die kastestelsel,<ref name="Silverberg Paper">{{Harvnb|Silverberg|1969|pp=442–443}}</ref>{{sfn|Smelser|Lipset|2005}} maar ander verskil.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Huston |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedworld00smit_1 |title=The Illustrated World's Religions |publisher=Harper Collins |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-06-067440-3 |location=New York |chapter=Hinduism: The Stations of Life |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedworld00smit_1 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Geleerdes debatteer oor of die sogenaamde kastestelsel deel is van Hindoeïsme weens die geskrifte of weens sosiale gebruike.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|pp=188–197}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=V |first=Jayaram |title=The Hindu Caste System |url=http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_caste.asp |access-date=28 November 2012 |website=Hinduwebsite}}</ref> Sommige hedendaagse kenners voel die kastestelsel is deur die Britse [[Kolonialisme|koloniale regering]] geskep.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=de Zwart |first=Frank |date=Julie 2000 |title=The Logic of Affirmative Action: Caste, Class and Quotas in India |journal=Acta Sociologica |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=235–249 |doi=10.1177/000169930004300304 |jstor=4201209}}</ref>

Geleerdes wat afstand van die wêreld gedoen het, word in Vedantiese werke beskou as "bo alle varnas verhewe". [[Monnik]]e word aanbeveel om hulle nie te bekommer oor die kaste van die gesin by wie hulle kos bedel nie. Geleerdes soos Adi Sankara bevestig dat Brahman nie net bo alle varnas verhewe is nie; die man wat met hom geïdentifiseer word, styg ook uit bo die onderskeid en beperkings van kaste.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jhingran |first=Saral |title=Aspects of Hindu Morality |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1989 |isbn=978-81-208-0574-3 |location=Delhi |page=143 |oclc=905765957}}</ref>

===Joga===
[[Beeld:Shiva Bangalore.jpg|thumb|220px|’n Standbeeld van [[Shiva]] in ’n jogaposisie.]]
Hoe ’n Hindoe ook al die doel van die lewe definieer, daar is verskeie metodes (jogas) wat deur wyse manne geleer word om dié doel te bereik. [[Joga]] is ’n Hindoedissipline wat die liggaam, gees en bewussyn oefen vir gesondheid, kalmte en spirituele insig.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chandra |first=Suresh |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses |publisher=Sarup & Sons |year=1998 |isbn=978-81-7625-039-9 |edition=1st |location=New Delhi |page=178 |oclc=40479929}}</ref> Geskrifte wat aan joga gewy word, sluit in die ''Yoga Sutras'', ''Hatha Yoga Pradipika'', ''Bhagavad Gita'' en, as hulle filosofiese en historiese basis, die Upanishads. Daar is vier vorme van joga, of ''marga'' (paaie): [[Joga#Bhakti-joga|Bhakti Yoga]] (die pad van liefde en toegewydheid), [[Joga#Karma-joga|Karma Yoga]] (die pad van regte optrede), [[Joga#Klassieke joga|Raja Yoga]] (die pad van meditasie) en [[Joga#Hatha-joga|Jnana Yoga]] (die pad van wysheid).<ref name="bhaskaressentgeneral">{{Harvnb|Bhaskarananda|1994}}</ref> ’n Individu kan een of meer jogas bo die ander verkies, volgens sy geneigdheid of begrip. Die gebruik van een joga sluit nie ander uit nie. Die moderne praktyk van joga as oefening (tradisioneel "Hatha Yoga"), word deesdae bloot "joga" genoem en die verband daarvan met Hindoeïsme word soms betwis.{{sfn|Jain|2015|pages=130-157}}

===Simboliek===
[[Beeld:Shiva Nataraja, AK-MAK-187.jpg|thumb|220px|Die standbeeld van Nataraja (die god Shiva as ’n danser) wat die silkus van skepping en vernietiging uitbeeld.]]
Hindoeïsme het ’n stelsel van [[Simbool|simboliek]] en [[Ikoon|ikonografie]] ontwikkel om dit wat heilig is in [[kuns]], [[argitektuur]], [[letterkunde]] en aanbidding uit te beeld. Dié simbole se betekenis kom uit geskrifte of kulturele tradisies. Die lettergreep "[[Om]]" (wat die [[Brahman]] en [[atman]] verteenwoordig) het ontwikkel om Hindoeïsme self te verteenwoordig, terwyl ander tekens soos die [[swastika]] goeie vooruitsig verteenwoordig{{Sfn| Doniger|2000|p=1041}} en [[tilaka]] (letterlik "saad") op die voorkop – wat beskou word as die ligging van die spirituele derde oog<ref>{{Cite book |last=Napier |first=A David |title=Masks, Transformation, and Paradox |publisher=University of California Press |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-520-04533-0 |pages=186–187}}</ref> – die teken is van ’n seremoniële verwelkoming, seën of ’n mens se deelname aan ’n ritueel of deurgangsrite.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=SD |title=Rice: Origin, Antiquity and History |publisher=CRC Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-57808-680-1 |pages=68–70}}</ref> 

[[Blom]]me, [[voël]]s, [[dier]]e, [[instrument]]e, simmetriese [[mandala]]tekeninge, idole en ander voorwerpe is alles deel van die Hindoeïstiese ikonografie.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=TA Gopinath |title=Elements of Hindu iconography |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1998 |isbn=978-81-208-0878-2 |pages=1–8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Banerjea |first=JN |title=The Development of Hindu Iconography |date=September 2004 |publisher=Kessinger |isbn=978-1-4179-5008-9 |pages=247–248, 472–508}}</ref>

===Ahimsa, vegetarisme en ander kosgebruike===
Hindoes is ten gunste van ahimsa (niegeweld) en respek teenoor alle lewende dinge omdat geglo word goddelikheid kom voor in alle wesens, insluitende [[plant]]e en diere.{{sfn|Monier-Williams|1974}} Die term "ahimsa" kom voor in die Upanishads<ref name="Radhakrishnan">{{Cite book |last=Radhakrishnan |first=S. |title=Indian Philosophy, Volume 1 |publisher=George Allen and Unwin Ltd. |year=1929 |edition=2nd |series=Muirhead library of philosophy |location=London |page=148}}</ref> en die epiese Mahabharata, en is die eerste van die vyf yamas (geloftes van selfbeheersing) in Patanjali se ''Yoga Sutras''.

[[Beeld:Gosala in Guntur, India.jpg|thumb|220px|links|’n ''Goshala'', of koeiskuiling, in die stad Guntur in Indië.]]
In ooreenstemming met ahimsa volg baie Hindoes ’n vegetariese dieet uit respek vir ander lewensvorme. Ramings in Indië van streng laktovegetariërs, wat nooit enige vleis, vis of eiers eet nie, wissel tussen 20% en 42%, terwyl ander minder streng vegetaries of nievegetaries is.<ref name="veg">{{Cite web |ref=none |last1=Delgado |first1=Christopher L. |last2=Narrod |first2=Claire A. |last3=Tiongco |first3=Marites |date=24 Julie 2003 |title=Growth and Concentration in India |website=Policy, Technical, and Environmental Determinants and Implications of the Scaling-Up of Livestock Production in Four Fast-Growing Developing Countries: A Synthesis |url=http://www.fao.org/3/x6170e09.htm |access-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174129/http://www.fao.org/3/x6170e09.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |ref=none |last=Goldammer |first=Ted |title=Passage to India |publisher=USDA Foreign Agricultural Service |url=http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/highlights/2001/india.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619160055/http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/highlights/2001/india.pdf |archive-date=2009-06-19 }}</ref>

Dié wat wel vleis eet, verkies ’n vinnige manier om diere dood te maak omdat dit die dier se lyding verminder.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gregory |first1=Neville |title=Animal Welfare and Meat Production |last2=Grandin |first2=Temple |publisher=CABI |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84593-215-2 |pages=206–208}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Veena |title=The Oxford India companion to sociology and social anthropology |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-19-564582-8 |volume=1 |pages=151–152}}</ref> Sommige Hindoes vermy vleis op spesifieke feesdae en geleenthede.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jagannathan |first=Maithily |title=South Indian Hindu Festivals and Traditions |publisher=Abhinav |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7017-415-8 |pages=53, 69 |postscript=;}} {{cite book|first=Pyong Gap |last=Min |year=2010 |title=Preserving Ethnicity through Religion in America |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0-8147-9586-6 |page=1}}</ref> [[Bees|Koeie]] in die Hindoegemeenskap word tradisioneel beskou as versorgers en moederlike figure,{{sfn|Walker |1968|p=257}} en word vereer as ’n simbool van onselfsugtige gawe.{{sfn|Richman|1988|p=272}}

Hindoes glo kos beïnvloed die liggaam, brein en gees.<ref name="Vasudha">{{Cite book |last=Narayanan |first=Vasudha |title=A Concise Introduction to World Religions |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |editor-last=Oxtoby |editor-first=Willard G. |location=New York |chapter=The Hindu Tradition |editor-last2=Segal |editor-first2=Alan F.}}</ref><ref name="Rosen">{{Cite book |last=Rosen |first=Steven |title=Essential Hinduism |publisher=Praeger Publishers |year=2006 |edition=1st |location=Westport |page=188}}</ref> Sommige Hindoegeskrifte beveel mitahara (om met matigheid te eet) aan as een van die yamas.<ref name="ckc">{{Cite book |last=Chapple |first=Christopher Key |title=The Bhagavad Gita: Twenty-fifth–Anniversary Edition |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4384-2842-0 |pages=641–643}}</ref>

Sommige Hindoes, soos dié in die Shaktisme-tradisie<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Harold F. |title=Outline of Hinduism |date=2007 |publisher=Read Books |isbn=978-1-4067-8944-7 |chapter=12}}</ref> en in streke soos [[Bali]] en [[Nepal]],{{Sfn|Fuller|2004|p=83}}<ref>{{Cite book |editor-last=Gouyon |editor-first=Anne |title=The natural guide to Bali: enjoy nature, meet the people, make a difference |first=Bumi Kita |last=Yayasan |date=30 September 2005 |publisher=Equinox Publishing (Asia) |isbn=978-979-3780-00-9 |page=51 |chapter=The Hidden Life of Bali |access-date=12 Augustus 2010 |chapter-url=http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/welcome.jsp?action=search&type=isbn&term=9793780002 |archive-date=26 Julie 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726113644/http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/welcome.jsp?action=search&type=isbn&term=9793780002 |url-status=live }}</ref> offer diere.{{Sfn|Fuller|2004|p=83|loc=”Chapter 4”}} Die geofferde dier word as rituele voedsel geëet.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gwynne |first=Paul |title=World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tdsRKc_knZoC&pg=RA5-PT75 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4443-6005-9 |page=5 footnote 16}}</ref> Daarteenoor staan Vaishnava-Hindoes dit ten sterkte teen.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Olcott |first=H.S. |title=The Theosophist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jKBVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA146 |publisher=Theosophical Publishing House |year=1906 |volume=XXVII |pages=146 met voetnoot}}</ref> Die praktyk van niegeweld teenoor diere word so algemeen aanvaar in Hindoeïsme dat diere-offerandes oor die algemeen baie min voorkom.<ref>{{harvnb|Nicholson|2010|p=169}}</ref>

==Instellings==
===Tempels===
{|  bgcolor="#f9f9f9" style="float:right; border:1px solid grey;"
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|'''Indiese tempels'''
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| [[Beeld:Natarajartemple1.jpg|center|200px]]||[[Beeld:Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Dakshineswar, West Bengal, India (2007).jpg|200px|center]]
|-
| [[Beeld:Besakih Bali Indonesia Pura-Besakih-02.jpg|center|200px]]||[[Beeld:New Delhi Temple.jpg|center|190px]]
|-
|}

Hindoetempels is vol [[Simbool|simboliek]]<ref name=stellakvol1>{{harvnb|Kramrisch|1976a|pp=1–16}}</ref> en bevat alle elemente van die Hindoekosmologie. Die spits van die toring of koepel verteenwoordig [[berg Meru]] en is ’n herinnering aan die woonplek van [[Brahma]] en die middel van die spirituele [[heelal]];{{sfn|Kramrisch|1976a|pp=161–169}} die kunswerke en ikonografie simboliseer dharma, kama, artha, moksha en karma.{{sfn|Kramrisch|1976b |pp=346–357 and 423–424}}{{sfn|Klostermaier|2007a |pp=268–277}} Die uitleg, motiewe, plan en bouproses weerspieël antieke rituele, geometriese simbole en die geloofsooruigings en waardes van verskeie Hindoeïstiese skole.<ref name=stellakvol1/> Die tempels is spirituele bestemmings vir baie Hindoes (nie almal nie), sowel as landmerke vir kuns, jaarlikse feeste, deurgangsrites en gemeenskapsvierings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stein |first=Burton |date=February 1960 |title=The Economic Function of a Medieval South Indian Temple |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=163–176 |doi=10.2307/2943547 |jstor=2943547}}</ref>{{sfn|Michell|1988|pp=58–65}}

Hindoetempels het baie verskillende style, is op uiteenlopende plekke gebou en is die produk van verskillende boumetodes. Hulle word aangepas by verskillende gode en streekgebonde geloofsoortuigings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Boner |first=Alice |title=Principles of Composition in Hindu Sculpture: Cave Temple Period |year=1990 |isbn=978-81-208-0705-1 |at=Introduction and pp. 36–37}}</ref> Twee belangrike style is die Gopuram-styl, wat in Suid-Indië aangetref word, en die Nagara-styl van Noord-Indië.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Gopura |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9037402/gopura |access-date=16 Junie 2015 |date= |archive-date=19 Augustus 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819003114/https://www.britannica.com/technology/gopura |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Nagara |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=http://www.britannica.com/topic/North-Indian-temple-architecture |access-date=16 Junie 2015 |date= |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174235/https://www.britannica.com/topic/North-Indian-temple-architecture |url-status=live }}</ref> Ander sluit in grot-, woud en bergtempels.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meister |first=Michael W. |year=1981 |title=Forest and Cave: Temples at Candrabhāgā and Kansuān |journal=Archives of Asian Art |volume=34 |pages=56–73 |jstor=20111117}}</ref> Ondanks dié verskille deel hulle feitlik almal sekere argitektoniese beginsels, kernidees, simboliek en temas.<ref name=stellakvol1/> Baie tempels bevat een of meer idole. Die idool en heilige area in die middel van die tempel dien as fokuspunt.{{sfn|Kramrisch|1976a|pp=8–9}} In groter tempels word die sentrale area gewoonlik omring deur ’n loopgang vir die aanbidders.<ref name=stellakvol1/>

===Ashrama===
Die lewe van ’n Hindoe word tradisioneel in vier ashramas (lewensfases) ingedeel:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Olivelle |first=Patrick |title=The Āśrama System: The History and Hermeneutics of a Religious Institution |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1993 |pages=1–29, 84–111 |oclc=466428084}}</ref> ''brahmacharya'' (student), ''grihastha'' (hoof van die huis), ''vanaprastha'' (afgetredene) en ''sannyasa'' (wêreldversaking).<ref name="rks">{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=RK |title=Indian Society, Institutions and Change |year=1999 |isbn=978-81-7156-665-5 |page=28}}</ref> ''Brahmacharya'' is ’n mens se lewe as jong mens, ''grihastha'' die getroude lewe met die pligte om ’n huis te onderhou, om ’n gesin groot te maak en op te voed en om ’n gesinslewe en godsdienstige sosiale lewe te lei.<ref name=rks/> Dit begin by die bruilof en word beskou as die belangrikste fase in sosiologiese verband, want Hindoes probeer nie net ’n vroom lewe lei in hierdie fase nie, maar voorsien ook kos en geld aan mense in ander lewenstadiums en hulle nageslag.{{sfn|Widgery|1930}} ''Vanaprastha'' is die aftredestadium waarin iemand die verantwoordelikhede van die huishouding aan die volgende geslag oordra, ’n raadgewende rol vervul en geleidelik aan die wêreld begin onttrek.<ref name="alnu">{{Cite book |last=Nugteren |first=Albertina |title=Belief, Bounty, And Beauty: Rituals Around Sacred Trees in India |publisher=Brill Academic |year=2005 |isbn=978-90-04-14601-3 |pages=13–21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Saraswathi |title=Bridging Cultural and Developmental Approaches to Psychology |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-19-538343-0 |editor-last=Jensen |editor-first=Lene Arnett |pages=280–286 |chapter=Reconceptualizing Lifespan Development through a Hindu Perspective |display-authors=etal}}</ref> ''Sannyasa'' is ’n finale onttrekking aan die wêreld en ’n toestand van onbelangstelling, ’n losmaak van die materiële lewe en eiendom, en ’n fokus op moksha, vrede en ’n eenvoudige spirituele lewe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Radhakrishnan |first=S. |year=1922 |title=The Hindu Dharma |journal=International Journal of Ethics |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=1–22 |doi=10.1086/intejethi.33.1.2377174|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="DP Bhawuk 2011 pages 93-110">{{Cite book |last=Bhawuk |first=DP |title=Spirituality and Indian Psychology |publisher=Springer |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4419-8109-7 |pages=93–110 |chapter=The Paths of Bondage and Liberation}}</ref>

[[Beeld:Indian sadhu performing namaste.jpg|thumb|260px|’n Sadhu in Madurai, Indië.]]
Hoewel dié fases gewoonlik op mekaar volg, kan enigiemand die ''sannyasa''-fase binnegaan en enige tyd ná die ''brahmacharya''-fase ’n [[Askese|askeet]] word.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Holdrege |first=Barbara |title=The Hindu World |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-415-21527-5 |editor-last=Mittal |editor-first=Sushil |page=231 |chapter=Dharma |editor-last2=Thursby |editor-first2=Gene}}</ref> ''Sannyasa'' is nie verpligtend nie en ouer mense mag saam met hulle gesinne woon.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Olivelle |first=Patrick |title=The Ashrama System: The History and Hermeneutics of a Religious Institution |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-19-534478-3}}</ref>

===Monastisisme===
Sommige Hindoes kies om ’n [[klooster]]lewe (''sannyasa'') te lei, op soek na bevryding (moksha) of ’n ander vorm van spirituele perfeksie.<ref name=ellinger70/> [[Monnik]]e verbind hulle aan ’n eenvoudige en [[selibaat]] lewe, sonder die najaging van materiële dinge, of met meditasie en spirituele oordenking.<ref name="bhaskaranandaessential112">{{Harvnb|Bhaskarananda|1994|p=112}}</ref> ’n Hindoemonnik word ’n sanyasi, sadhu of swami genoem. ’n Vrou is ’n sanyasini. Mense wat hulle aan die wêreld onttrek, word hooggeag vanweë hulle eenvoudige ahimsa-gedrewe leefstyl en toewyding daaraan om moksha te bereik – laasgenoemde word as die hoogste doel in Hindoeïsme beskou.<ref name="DP Bhawuk 2011 pages 93-110" /> 

Sommige monnike woon in kloosters, terwyl ander van plek tot plek swerf, na gelang van waar hulle kos en liefdegawes kry.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=316}}

==Geskiedenis==
[[Beeld:Shore temple, mahabalipuram.jpg|thumb|180px|Die Kustempel by Mahabalipuram in Suidoos-Indië is laat bou deur die Palava-heerser Narasimhavarman II (bewind: 700-729).]]
Hindoeïsme se uiteenlopende geskiedenis{{sfn|Brodd|2003}} oorvleuel of val saam met die ontwikkeling van godsdiens op die [[Indiese subkontinent]] sedert die [[Ystertydperk]], en sommige van die tradisies kan teruggespeur word na die [[Voorgeskiedenis|prehistoriese]] godsdienste soos dié van die [[Indusvalleibeskawing]] in die [[Bronstydperk]]. Dit is dus al die "oudste godsdiens" ter wêreld genoem.{{sfn|Fowler|1997|p=1}} Geleerdes beskou Hindoeïsme as ’n samestelling{{sfn|Lockard|2007|p=50}}{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2007|p=12}} van verskeie Indiese kulture en tradisies, met uiteenlopende wortels{{sfn|Narayanan|2009|p=11}} en geen enkele stigter nie.{{sfn|Osborne|2005|p=9}}

Die geskiedenis van Hindoeïsme word dikwels verdeel in ontwikkelingstydperke. Die eerste tydperk is die voor-Vediese tyd, wat die Indusvalleibeskawing en plaaslike prehistoriese godsdienste insluit; dit het omstreeks 1750&nbsp;v.C. geëindig. Dit is in Noord-Indië gevolg deur die [[Vediese tydperk]], met die bekendstelling van die historiese [[Vediese religie]] met die [[Indo-Ariese tale|Indo-Ariese migrasies]], wat tussen omstreeks 1900 en 1400&nbsp;v.C. begin het.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=32-36}} Die daaropvolgende tydperk, tussen 800 en 200&nbsp;v.C., is "’n keerpunt tussen die Vediese religie en Hindoegodsdienste",{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=38}} en ’n vormingstydperk vir Hindoeïsme, [[Djainisme]] en [[Boeddhisme]]. 

Die Epiese en Vroeë [[Purana]]tydperk, van omstreeks 200&nbsp;v.C. tot 500&nbsp;n.C., was die klassieke "goue eeu" van Hindoeïsme en het saamgeval met die [[Guptaryk]]. In dié tyd het die ses takke van Hindoefilosofie ontstaan, naamlik [[Samkhya]], [[Yoga]], [[Nyaya]], [[Vaisheshika]], [[Mimamsa]] en [[Vedanta]]. [[Monoteïsme|Monoteïstiese]] sektes soos Shaivisme en Vaishnavisme het in dieselfde tyd ontwikkel deur die [[Bhakti-beweging]]. Die tydperk rofweg tussen 650 en 1100&nbsp;n.C. vorm die laat klassieke tydperk{{sfn|Michaels|2004}} of vroeë [[Middeleeue]], waarin klassieke Puraniese Hindoeïsme gevestig is, en [[Adi Shankara]] se invloedryke konsolidasie van [[Advaita Vedanta]] plaasgevind het.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=J. J. Navone|first=S. J.|date=1956|title=Sankara and the Vedic Tradition|journal=Philosophy and Phenomenological Research|volume=17|issue=2|pages=248–255|doi=10.2307/2104222|issn=0031-8205|jstor=2104222}}</ref>

Onder beide Hindoe- en [[Islam]]itiese heersers van omstreeks 1200 tot 1750<ref>Blackwell's History of India; Stein 2010, bl. 107</ref><ref>Some Aspects of Muslim Administration, Dr. R.P.Tripathi, 1956, p.24</ref> het die Bhakti-beweging belangriker geword en dit is vandag steeds invloedryk. In die [[Kolonialisme|koloniale tydperk]] het verskeie Hindoeïstiese hervormingsbewegings die lig gesien wat deels deur [[Weste]]rse bewegings soos Unitarisme en Teosofie beïnvloed is.{{Sfn|Sharma|2002|p=27}} Die [[verdeling van Indië]] in 1947 was met godsdienstige grense langs, met die [[Indië|Republiek Indië]] wat uit die Hindoemeerderheid ontstaan het.{{Sfn|Sharma|2003|p=176-189|Thapar|1993|p=239-241}} Gedurende die 20ste eeu het Hindoeminderhede vanweë die Hindoeïstiese [[diaspora]] op alle kontinente gevorm, met die grootste gemeenskappe wat getalle betref in die [[VSA]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=The remarkable political influence of the Indian diaspora in the US|url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/remarkable-political-influence-indian-diaspora-us|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.lowyinstitute.org|language=en}}</ref> en [[Brittanje]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-03-02|title=UK Hindu population to be studied|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/uk-hindu-population-to-be-studied/story-QBEF77yew4tdgiEEICZgHM.html|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

==Demografie==
Hindoeïsme is ’n belangrike godsdiens in [[Indië]]. Volgens die land se 2011-sensus het 79,8% van die bevolking van 1,21&nbsp;miljard Hindoeïsme aangehang (dit is 960&nbsp;miljoen Indiërs).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/india/ |access-date=6 Augustus 2010 }}</ref> Ander aansienlike bevolkings kom voor in [[Nepal]] (23&nbsp;miljoen), [[Bangladesj]] (15&nbsp;miljoen) en die [[Indonesië|Indonesiese]] eiland [[Bali]] (3,9&nbsp;miljoen).<ref name="bps">{{Cite web |url=https://sp2010.bps.go.id/index.php/site/tabel?tid=321&wid=0 |title=Penduduk Menurut Wilayah dan Agama yang Dianut |trans-title=Population by Region and Religion Adhered to |publisher=Statistics Indonesia |language=id |access-date=2020-07-15 |archive-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174150/https://sp2010.bps.go.id/index.php/site/tabel?tid=321&wid=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Die meeste van [[Viëtnam]] se Cham-volk is ook volgelinge, met die grootste konsentrasie in die provinsie Ninh Thuận.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 October 2002 |title=Vietnam |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35433.htm |access-date=17 Junie 2014 |website=State.gov}}</ref>

[[Beeld:Hinduism percent population in each nation World Map Hindu data by Pew Research.svg|280px|thumb|'''Hindoeïsme – persentasie volgens land'''<ref name=prcpercent>[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Table: Religious Composition (%) by Country] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805151827/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf |date= 5 Augustus 2013 }} Global Religious Composition, Pew Research Center (2012)</ref>]]
Lande met die grootste persentasie Hindoes is:

{{div col|colwidth=24em}}
# {{vlagland|Nepal}}: 81,3%.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=2011 Nepal Census Report |url=http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525062716/http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |archive-date=25 Mei 2013}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Indië}}: 79,8%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of India Today |url=https://www.livepopulation.com/country/india.html |access-date=5 Augustus 2018 |website=livepopulation.com |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403015935/https://www.livepopulation.com/country/india.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Mauritius}}: 48,5%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resident population by religion and sex |url=http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/cso/file/2011VolIIPC.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016141533/http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/cso/file/2011VolIIPC.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2013 |access-date=1 November 2012 |publisher=Statistics Mauritius |page=68}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Guyana}}: 28,4%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guyana/ |access-date=10 Mei 2011 }}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Fidji}}: 27,9%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/fiji/ |access-date=10 Mei 2011 }}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Bhoetan}}: 22,6%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhutan |url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127364.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130031858/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127364.htm |archive-date=2009-11-30 |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Suriname}}: 22,3%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suriname |url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127405.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130031911/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127405.htm |archive-date=2009-11-30 |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Trinidad en Tobago}}: 18,2%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 Demographic Report |url=https://guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/story/2011_DemographicReport.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019211618/https://guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/story/2011_DemographicReport.pdf |archive-date=19 Oktober 2017 |page=18}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Katar}}: 13,8%.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Robin|first1=Christian Julien|last2=Gorea|first2=Maria|date=2002|title=Les vestiges antiques de la grotte de Hôq (Suqutra, Yémen) (note d'information)|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/crai_0065-0536_2002_num_146_2_22441|journal=Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres|volume=146|issue=2|pages=409–445|doi=10.3406/crai.2002.22441}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Sri Lanka}}: 12,6%.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=The Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka-2011 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop43&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |website=Department of Census and Statistics |access-date=29 July 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224211239/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop43&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Bahrein}}: 9,8%.<ref>{{harvnb|Marsh|2015|pp=67–94}}.</ref>
# {{vlagland|Bangladesj}}: 8,5%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SVRS 2010 |url=http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/SVRS/SVRS-10.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113153533/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/SVRS/SVRS-10.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2012 |access-date=2 September 2012 |publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics |page=176 (Tabel P–14)}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Verenigde Arabiese Emirate}}: 6,6%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm|title=United Arab Emirates|website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Maleisië}}: 6,3%.<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malaysia/ |access-date=10 Mei 2011 }}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Koeweit}}: 6%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pew-Templeton: Global Religious Futures Project|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/|access-date=2021-03-18|website=www.globalreligiousfutures.org|archive-date=2013-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503083508/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Oman}}: 5,5%.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/oman/|title= Middle East OMAN|publisher= CIA The World Factbook}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Singapoer}}: 5%.<ref name="2010 census>{{Cite web |last=Singapore Department of Statistics |date=12 Januarie 2011 |title=Census of population 2010: Statistical Release 1 on Demographic Characteristics, Education, Language and Religion |url=http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/popn/C2010sr1/cop2010sr1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303155259/http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/popn/C2010sr1/cop2010sr1.pdf |archive-date=3 Maart 2011 |access-date=16 Januarie 2011}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Indonesië}}: 3,86%.<ref>{{cite web|date=2011|title=Indonesia: Religious Freedoms Report 2010|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010_5/168356.htm|url-status=live|access-date=4 Maart 2021|publisher=US State Department}}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Nieu-Seeland}}: 2,62%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Table 26, 2018 Census Data – Tables |url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/2018-Census-totals-by-topic/Download-data/2018-census-totals-by-topic-national-highlights.xlsx |format=xlsx |access-date=29 Desember 2020 |archive-date=13 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413185957/https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/2018-Census-totals-by-topic/Download-data/2018-census-totals-by-topic-national-highlights.xlsx |url-status=live }}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Seychelle}}: 2,4%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/seychelles/ |access-date=10 Mei 2011 }}</ref>
# {{vlagland|Pakistan}}: 2,14%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Population by religion in Pakistan|url=http://www.census.gov.pk/Religion.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402081116/http://www.census.gov.pk/Religion.htm|archive-date=2 April 2014|access-date=3 Maart 2021}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

Demografies is Hindoeïsme die grootste godsdiens in die wêreld naas die [[Christendom]] en [[Islam]].<ref>{{Cite web |year=2015 |title=The Future of World Religions |url=http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/03/PF_15.04.02_ProjectionsFullReport.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506113049/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/03/PF_15.04.02_ProjectionsFullReport.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2015 |website=Pew Research}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Schwarz |first=John |title=What's Christianity All About? |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4982-2537-3 |page=176}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+ Demografie van groot Hindoetradisies<ref>(Wêreldgodsdiensdatabasis, 2012): {{Cite web |date=Januarie 2012 |title=Chapter 1 Global Religious Populations |url=http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/47/04706745/0470674547-196.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020100448/http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/47/04706745/0470674547-196.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-20}}</ref>
|-
! cyrus="col" | Tradisie
! scope="col" | Volgelinge
! scope="col" | % van die Hindoebevolking
! scope="col" | % van die wêreldbevolking
! scope="col" | Volgelingdinamika
! scope="col" | Wêrelddinamika
|- 
| align="center" | [[Vaishnavisme]]
| align="center" | 640&nbsp;806&nbsp;845
| align="center" | 67,6
| align="center" | 9,3
| align="center" | {{increase}} Groei
| align="center" | {{decrease}} Neem af
|- 
| align="center" | [[Shaivisme]]
| align="center" | 252&nbsp;200&nbsp;000
| align="center" | 26,6
| align="center" | 3,7
| align="center" | {{increase}} Groei
| align="center" | {{increase}} Groei
|- 
| align="center" |[[Shaktisme]]
| align="center" | 30&nbsp;000&nbsp;000
| align="center" | 3,2
| align="center" | 0,4
| align="center" | {{nochange}} Stabiel
| align="center" | {{decrease}} Neem af
|- 
| align="center" |Nieu-Hindoeïsme
| align="center" | 20&nbsp;300&nbsp;000
| align="center" | 2,1
| align="center" | 0,3
| align="center" | {{increase}} Groei
| align="center" | {{increase}} Groei
|- 
| align="center" |Hervormde Hindoeïsme
| align="center" | 5&nbsp;200&nbsp;000
| align="center" | 0,5
| align="center" | 0,1
| align="center" | {{increase}} Groei
| align="center" | {{increase}} Groei
|-
! Totaal
! 948&nbsp;575&nbsp;000
! 100
! 13,8
! {{increase}} Groei
! {{increase}} Groei
|}

==Sien ook==
* [[Avatar]]
* [[Boeddhisme]]
* [[Djainisme]]
* [[Hindoekalender]]
* [[Hindoemitologie]]
* [[Shaivisme]]
* [[Shaktisme]]
* [[Sikhisme]]
* [[Smartisme]]
* [[Vaishnavisme]]
* [[Zoroastrisme]]

==Verwysings==
{{Verwysings|3}}

==Bronne==
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{{refend}}

==Skakels==
* [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism "Hindoeïsme"]. ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' aanlyn.
* [http://www.iep.utm.edu/hindu-ph/ Hindoefilosofie en Hindoeïsme], IEP, Shyam Ranganathan, York University
* [http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/vedica.pdf Vediese Hindoeïsme] S.W. Jamison en M. Witzel, Harvard University
* [[Wikisource:The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Hindu Religion|Die Hindoegodsdiens]], Swami Vivekananda (1894), Wikisource
* [http://www.iep.utm.edu/adv-veda/ Advaita Vedanta deur Sangeetha Menon], IEP
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051103040233/http://hinduism.iskcon.com/ Heart of Hinduism: An overview of Hindu traditions], ISKCON (Hare Krishna-beweging)
* [http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/wfchannel/index.php?wfc_cid=21 What is Hinduism?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418012219/https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/wfchannel/index.php?wfc_cid=21 |date=18 April 2021 }}, redakteurs van ''Hinduism Today''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150420084630/http://pluralism.org/religion/hinduism/bibliography Hinduism outside India], 'n bibliografie, Harvard University (The Pluralism Project)
* [https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00196705/ What's in a Name? Agama Hindu Bali in the Making – Hinduism in Bali, Indonesia] Michel Picard, Le CNRS (Parys, Frankryk)
* {{Cite web|title=Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies|url=https://ochs.org.uk/|website=University of Oxford|language=en-US}}
* {{Cite web|title=International Journal of Dharma Studies|url=https://internationaljournaldharmastudies.springeropen.com/|access-date=2021-03-17|website=International Journal of Dharma Studies|language=en}}
{{refend}}
{{CommonsKategorie-inlyn|Hinduism}}
{{vertaaluit| taalafk = en | il = Hinduism}}

{{Normdata}}
{{Voorbladster}}

[[Kategorie:Hindoeïsme| ]]
[[Kategorie:Politeïsme]]