Реферат: Hinduism Essay Research Paper HinduismTable of ContentsIntroduction

and Shiva (the destroyer)

Hinduism has no founder. It is a religion that has slowly developed over a

period of time.

Hindu Beliefs

Hindu Gods

The Hindus have four gods Brahman, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. There

main god is Brahman. He is the origin and the sustainer of all life, and the

goal of all things. He is eternal and omnipotent and only he is real. They

believe that Brahman is so great that he cannot be explained in human words

because all humans are imperfect and Brahman is perfect.

Shiva

Shiva is usually depicted with six arms each one representing a

different function to preform. He is known as the destroyer and restorer of

life, symbol of the reproductive force of nature, philosopher and sage. He has

a third eye which signifies wisdom or higher consciousness. He has a blue

throat which is a result of him swallowing a full cup of mans sins. Worship of

Shiva includes fertility rites and veneration of the symbols of male and female

sex organs. Most Hindus imagine Shiva as being in deep meditation high in the

Himalayas. Shiva is the ultimate god who holds in divine tension the

preservation and destruction of the cosmos, both its birth and death. At times

he is portrayed as the great ascetic. He is often depicted as the reconciler of

dualities such as good and evil, eroticism and asceticism, his creative energy

is depicted in the Lingam and Yoni. Shiva is frequently shown in loving union

with his consort Parvati (another form of the great goddess)

Shiva devotees are called Shaivites, and devotion usually takes the form

of Yogic practice. Shiva is often pictured, in one of the best known religious

images from India, as the lord of the cosmic dance. Shiva “LORD OF THE DANCE”.

He is surrounded by flames (energy of the universe) and snakes (representing

creative power). His upper right hand is holding a drum (to beat the rhythm of