Hinduism

                   Hinduism is based on "the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times". The scriptures were transmitted orally in verse form to aid memorization, for many centuries before they were written down.Over many centuries, sages refined the teachings and expanded the canon. In post-Vedic and current Hindu belief, most Hindu scriptures are not typically interpreted literally. More importance is attached to the ethics and metaphorical meanings derived from them. Most sacred texts are in Sanskrit. The texts are classified into two classes: Shruti and Smriti.

Shruti

                   Shruti (lit: that which is heard primarily refers to the Vedas, which form the earliest record of the Hindu scriptures. While many Hindus revere the Vedas as eternal truths revealed to ancient sages (Ṛṣis),some devotees do not associate the creation of the Vedas with a god or person. They are thought of as the laws of the spiritual world, which would still exist even if they were not revealed to the sages.Hindus believe that because the spiritual truths of the Vedas are eternal, they continue to be expressed in new ways.
There are four Vedas (called Ṛg-, Sāma-, Yajus- and Atharva-). The Rigveda is the first and most important Veda. Each Veda is divided into four parts: the primary one, the Veda proper, being the Saṃhitā, which contains sacred mantras. The other three parts form a three-tier ensemble of commentaries, usually in prose and are believed to be slightly later in age than the Saṃhitā. These are: the Brāhmaṇas, Āraṇyakas, and the Upanishads. The first two parts were subsequently called the Karmakāṇḍa (ritualistic portion), while the last two form the Jñānakāṇḍa (knowledge portion). While the Vedas focus on rituals, the Upanishads focus on spiritual insight and philosophical teachings, and discuss Brahman and reincarnation.

Smritis

Hindu texts other than the Shrutis are collectively called the Smritis (memory). The most notable of the smritis are the epics, which consist of the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa. The Bhagavad Gītā is an integral part of the Mahabharata and one of the most popular sacred texts of Hinduism. It contains philosophical teachings from Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, told to the prince Arjuna on the eve of a great war. The Bhagavad Gītā, spoken by Krishna, is described as the essence of the Vedas. However Gita, sometimes called Gitopanishad, is more often placed in the Shruti, category, being Upanishadic in content. Purāṇas, which illustrate Hindu ideas through vivid narratives come under smritis. Other texts include Devī Mahātmya, the Tantras, the Yoga Sutras, Tirumantiram, Shiva Sutras and the Hindu Āgamas. A more controversial text, the Manusmriti, is a prescriptive lawbook which lays the societal codes of social stratification which later evolved into the Indian caste system

Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority and many practising Hindus do not claim to belong to any particular denomination. However, academics categorize contemporary Hinduism into four major denominations: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism. The denominations differ primarily in the god worshipped as the Supreme One and in the traditions that accompany worship of that god.Vaishnavas worship Vishnu as the supreme God; Shaivites worship Shiva as the supreme; Shaktas worship Shakti (power) personified through a female divinity or Mother Goddess, Devi; while Smartas believe in the essential oneness of five (panchadeva) or six (Shanmata, as Tamil Hindus add Skanda) deities as personifications of the Supreme.
The Western conception of what Hinduism is has been defined by the Smarta view; many Hindus, who may not understand or follow Advaita philosophy, in contemporary Hinduism, invariably follow the Shanmata belief worshiping many forms of God. One commentator, noting the influence of the Smarta tradition, remarked that although many Hindus may not strictly identify themselves as Smartas but, by adhering to Advaita Vedanta as a foundation for non-sectarianism, are indirect followers.
Other denominations like Ganapatya (the cult of Ganesha) and Saura (Sun worship) are not so widespread.

The Tantric traditions have various sects, as Banerji observes:
Tantras are ... also divided as āstika or Vedic and nāstika or non-Vedic. In accordance with the predominance of the deity the āstika works are again divided as Śākta (Shakta), Śaiva (Shaiva), Saura, Gāṇapatya and Vaiṣṇava (Vaishnava).

Ashramas

                      Traditionally the life of a Hindu is divided into four Āshramas (phases or stages; unrelated meanings include monastery). The first part of one's life, Brahmacharya, the stage as a student, is spent in celibate, controlled, sober and pure contemplation under the guidance of a Guru, building up the mind for spiritual knowledge. Grihastha is the householder's stage, in which one marries and satisfies kāma and artha in one's married and professional life respectively (see the goals of life). The moral obligations of a Hindu householder include supporting one's parents, children, guests and holy figures. Vānaprastha, the retirement stage, is gradual detachment from the material world. This may involve giving over duties to one's children, spending more time in religious practices and embarking on holy pilgrimages. Finally, in Sannyāsa, the stage of asceticism, one renounces all worldly attachments to secludedly find the Divine through detachment from worldly life and peacefully shed the body for Moksha.

Monasticism

Some Hindus choose to live a monastic life (Sannyāsa) in pursuit of liberation or another form of spiritual perfection. Monastics commit themselves to a life of simplicity, celibacy, detachment from worldly pursuits, and the contemplation of God. A Hindu monk is called a sanyāsī, sādhu, or swāmi. A female renunciate is called a sanyāsini. Renunciates receive high respect in Hindu society because their outward renunciation of selfishness and worldliness serves as an inspiration to householders who strive for mental renunciation. Some monastics live in monasteries, while others wander from place to place, trusting in God alone to provide for their older to provide sādhus with food or other necessaries. Sādhus strive to treat all with respect and compassion, whether a person may be poor or rich, good or wicked, and to be indifferent to praise, blame, pleasure, and pain
Varnas

Hindu society has traditionally been categorized into four classes, called Varnas (Sanskrit: "colour, form, appearance"):

• the Brahmins: teachers and priests;
• the Kshatriyas: warriors, nobles, and kings;
• the Vaishyas: farmers, merchants, and businessmen; and
• the Shudras: servants and labourers.

                            Hindus and scholars debate whether the so-called caste system is an integral part of Hinduism sanctioned by the scriptures or an outdated social custom.Among the scriptures, the Varna system is mentioned sparingly and descriptively (i.e., not prescriptiveapart from a single mention in the late Rigvedic Purusha sukta, the rigid division into varnas appears to be post-Vedic, appearing in classical texts from the Maurya period. The Bhagavad Gītā (4.13) states that the four varṇa divisions are created by God, and the Manusmṛiti categorizes the different castes.However, at the same time, the Gītā says that one's varṇa is to be understood from one's personal qualities and one's work, not one's birth. Some mobility and flexibility within the varnas challenge allegations of social discrimination in the caste system, as has been pointed out by several sociologists.
Many social reformers, including Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar, criticized caste discrimination.The religious teacher Sri Ramakrishna (1836–1886) taught that

Ahimsa, vegetarianism and other food customs

                                  Hindus advocate the practice of ahiṃsā (non-violence) and respect for all life because divinity is believed to permeate all beings, including plants and non-human animals. The term ahiṃsā appears in the Upanishads,the epic Mahabharataand Ahiṃsā is the first of the five Yamas (vows of self-restraint) in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

In accordance with ahiṃsā, many Hindus embrace vegetarianism to respect higher forms of life. Vegetarianism is propagated by the Yajur Veda and it is recommended for a satvic (purifying) lifestyle. Estimates of the number of lacto vegetarians in India (includes adherents of all religions) vary between 20% and 42%. The food habits vary with the community and region, for example some castes having fewer vegetarians and coastal populations relying on seafood.Some Hindus avoid onion and garlic, which are regarded as rajasic foods.Some avoid meat only on specific holy days. Observant Hindus who do eat meat almost always abstain from beef. The cow in Hindu society is traditionally identified as a caretaker and a maternal figure, and Hindu society honours the cow as a symbol of unselfish giving.Cow-slaughter is legally banned in almost all states of India.
Some Hindus from certain sects - generally Shakta, certain Shudra and Kshatriya castes and certain Eastern Indian and East Asian regions; practise animal sacrifice (bali). Although most Hindus, including the majority of Vaishnava and Shaivite Hindus abhor it.

“	"Lovers of God do not belong to any caste . . . . A brahmin without this love is no longer a brahmin. And a pariah with the love of God is no longer a pariah. Through bhakti (devotion to God) an untouchable becomes pure and elevated."

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Tantras are ... also divided as āstika or Vedic and nāstika or non-Vedic. In accordance with the predominance of the deity the āstika works are again divided as Śākta (Shakta), Śaiva (Shaiva), Saura, Gāṇapatya and Vaiṣṇava (Vaishnava and Shaivite Hindus abhor it. Religious figures / Philosophers All of India : about 1.2 BILLION PEOPLE Adi Shankara : Philosopher Saint, Social reformer Abhinavagupta : Exponent of Kashmir Saivism Agastyar : Saint, First and foremost person of Siddha Aksapada Gautama : author of Nyaya Sutras, the foundation of the Nyaya school of Hinduism Annie Besant : Theosophist and president of the Congress Party Sri Aurobindo : Mystic and philosopher Auvaiyar : Beloved Tamil female saint A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada : Founder-acharya of ISKCON Acharya Koshalendraprasad Pande Acharya of Ahmedabad Acharya of Ahmedabad Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday Acharya Rakeshprasad Pande Acharya of Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday Bhagawan Nityananda,Mystic Yogi Bharata : Advocated Advaita philosophy, Bharat, the other name for India, is named after him Bhartrihari : Author of Vairagya Satakam, hundred verses of renunciation Bhaskararaya : Author of Varivasya Rahasyam Bogar : Legendary South Indian Siddhar. Created Lord Murugan statue in Palani. Krishna Chandra Bhattacharya : Philosopher Kanakadasa:Greatest Saint of Bhakti movement. Swami Chinmayananda : Religious leader Deepak Chopra : Personality Development Author Ananda Coomaraswamy : Art historian Dattatreya : Narrated Jnana Kanda, taught Ashtanga Yoga to Patanjali Swami Dayananda : Religious leader Shri Madhvacharya : Philosopher Saint Narayana Guru : Mystic and philosopher Nisargadatta Maharaj : Teacher Patanjali : Founder of Patanjali Yoga Ram Dass : American spiritual leader Ramana Maharshi : Mystic Ram Mohan Roy : Reformer Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa : Philosopher Saint, Social reformer Ramanuja : Philosopher Saint Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu : Saint & Spiritual preceptor Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan : Vedantic Philosopher Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Hindu Seer & Spiritual preceptor Shriram Sharma Acharya : Founder of the All World Gayatri Pariwar Swami Sivananda Yogi Sivaya Subramuniyaswami : Modern sage Thirumoolar : One of the 18 Siddhars Sage Valmiki : Author of the epic Ramayana Swami Vivekananda : Philosopher Saint, Social reformer Vyasa : Author of the epic Mahabharata Paramahansa Yogananda : Yogi Tibbetibaba : Philosopher Saint Purandara Dasa : Father of Carnatic music & philosopher Ancient times to 19th century King Suddhodana(He was a leader of the Shakya people, who lived in southern Nepal),the father of Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha. Madhav (8th century A.D.), medical text author and systematizer Abhay Ashtekar, loop quantum gravity researcher Amartya Sen, economist, Nobel Prize winner Anil Kakodkar, nuclear scientist, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, 1930 Nobel Prize Winner in Physics R. Chidambaram, Scientific Adviser to Prime Minister; ex-Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Ganapathi Thanikaimoni, palynologist, French Institute of Pondicherry, awarded the Fyson Prize in Natural Science Jagadish Chandra Bose, father of radio science CONCEPT OF GOD                       Hinduism conceives the whole world as a single family that deifies the one truth, and therefore it accepts all forms of beliefs and dismisses labels of distinct religions which would imply a division of identity. Hence, Hinduism is devoid of the concepts of apostasy, heresy and blasphemy. Prominent themes in Hindu beliefs include (but are not restricted to), Dharma (ethics/duties), Samsāra (The continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth), Karma (action and subsequent reaction), Moksha (liberation from samsara), and the various Yogas (paths or practices).  Hindu epics and the Puranas relate several episodes of the descent of God to Earth in corporeal form to restore dharma to society and to guide humans to moksha. Such an incarnation is called an avatar. The most prominent avatars are of Vishnu and include Rama (the protagonist in Ramayana) and Krishna (a central figure in the epic Mahabharata). .