Hinduism

Hinduism (commonly called Sanatana Dharma, roughly translated as ‘Perennial Faith’) is an umbrella term for native Indian religions. It is characterized by a diverse array of belief systems, practices and scriptures. It has its origin in the ancient Indo-Aryan Vedic culture, giving it claim to be among the oldest major world religions, predating the

Yoga

Yoga (/ˈjoʊ.ɡə/ (listen);[1] Sanskrit: योग, lit. ‘yoke’ or ‘union’ pronounced [joːɡɐ]) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated in ancient India, aimed at controlling (‘yoking’) and stilling the mind, and recognizing the detached ‘witness-consciousness’ as untouched by the activities of the mind (Citta) and mundane suffering (Duḥkha). There are a broad variety of the schools of yoga, practices, and goals[2] in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism,[3][4][5] and traditional forms and modern methods

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Dharma

Dharma (/ˈdɑːrmə/;[7] Sanskrit: धर्म, romanized: dharma, pronounced [dʱɐrmɐ] (listen) (Pali: dhamma) (Tamil: aṟam)) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others.[8] Although there is no direct single-word translation for dharma in Western languages,[9] it is commonly translated as “righteousness”, “merit” or “religious and moral duties” governing individual conduct.[10][11] In Hinduism, dharma is one of the four components of the Puruṣārtha, the aims of life, and signifies behaviours that are

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Bhakti

Bhakti (Sanskrit: भक्ति) literally means “attachment, participation, fondness for, homage, faith, love, devotion, worship, purity”.[1] It was originally used in Hinduism, referring to devotion and love for a personal god or a representational god by a devotee.[2][3] In ancient texts such as the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, the term simply means participation, devotion and love for any endeavor, while in the Bhagavad Gita, it connotes

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Śrauta

Śrauta is a Sanskrit word that means “belonging to śruti”, that is, anything based on the Vedas of Hinduism.[1][2] It is an adjective and prefix for texts, ceremonies or person associated with śruti.[3] The term, for example, refers to Brahmins who specialise in the śruti corpus of texts,[4] and Śrauta Brahmin traditions in modern times can be seen in Kerala and Coastal Andhra.[5] Śrauta is a Sanskrit word that means

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Vedanta

Vedānta (/vɪˈdɑːntə/; Sanskrit: वेदान्त, IAST: Vedānta; also Uttara Mīmāṃsā) is one of the six (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning “end of the Vedas”, Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, the speculations and philosophies contained in the Upanishads, specifically, knowledge and liberation. Vedanta contains many sub-traditions on the basis of a common textual connection called the Prasthanatrayi: the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and

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Advaita Vedanta

Advaita Vedānta (/ʌðˈvaɪtə vɛˈðɑːntə/; Sanskrit: अद्वैत वेदान्त, IAST: Advaita Vedānta) is a school of Hindu philosophy and “spiritual experience.”[1] The term Advaita (literally, “non-duality”) refers to the idea that Brahman alone, pure consciousness, is ultimately real, while the transient phenomenal world is an illusory appearance (maya) of Brahman, and the true self, atman, which is self-luminous pure awareness, is identical with Brahman.[2][3][4] In this view, jivanatman or individual self is a mere reflection of singular Atman in a multitude

Folk religion

In religious studies and folkloristics, folk religion, popular religion, or vernacular religion comprises various forms and expressions of religion that are distinct from the official doctrines and practices of organized religion. The precise definition of folk religion varies among scholars. Sometimes also termed popular belief, it consists of ethnic or regional religious customs under the umbrella of a religion, but outside official doctrine and practices.[1] The term “folk religion” is generally held

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Smarta tradition

Smārta tradition (Sanskrit: स्मार्त) is a major Hindu denomination. It reflects a Hindu synthesis of four philosophical strands: Mimamsa, Advaita, Yoga, and theism.[1] The Smarta tradition rejects theistic sectarianism,[1] and it is notable for the domestic worship of five shrines with five deities, all treated as equal – Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Ganesha, and Shakti.[2] The Smarta tradition contrasted with the older Shrauta tradition, which was based on elaborate rituals and rites.[3][4] There

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Islam

A monotheistic faith and the world’s second-largest religion. Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, believe that God (or, in Arabic, Allah) revealed his direct word for mankind to Muhammad and other prophets, including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims assert that the main written record of revelation to humankind is the Qur’an, which they

Sunni Islam

Sunni Islam (/ˈsuːni, ˈsʊni/) is by far the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world’s Muslims. Its name comes from the word Sunnah, referring to the behaviour of Muhammad.[1] The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagreement over the succession to Muhammad and subsequently acquired broader political significance, as well as theological and juridical dimensions.[2] According to Sunni traditions, Muhammad left no successor and the participants

Kharijites

The Kharijites (Arabic: الخوارج‎, al-Khawārij, singular خارجي, khāriji), also called the al-Shurat (Arabic: الشراة, al-Shurāt), were an Islamic sect that appeared in the first century of Islam during the First Muslim Civil War, the crisis of leadership after the murder of the third caliph Uthman. Some members of the army of the fourth caliph Ali seceded after he agreed to arbitration with his rival, Mu’awiya I, to decide

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Muʿtazila

Muʿtazila (Arabic: المعتزلة‎ al-muʿtazilah, English: “Those Who Withdraw, or Stand Apart”), also called Ahl al-ʿAdl wa al-Tawḥīd, is an Islamic group that appeared in early Islāmic history in the dispute over Alī’s leadership of the Muslim community after the death of the third caliph, Uthman. Those who would neither condemn nor sanction ʿAlī or his opponents but took a

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Murijite Islam

Murjiite Islam (Arabic: المرجئة‎, “Those Who Postpone”), also spelled Murji’as, Murji’ah or Murji’ites, were an early Islamic sect. Murji’ah held the opinion that God alone has the right to judge whether or not a Muslim has become an apostate. Consequently Muslims should practice postponement (ʾirjāʾ) of judgment on committers of major sins and not make charges of disbelief (’takfir’) or punish accordingly anyone who

Sufism

Sufism (Arabic: ٱلصُّوفِيَّة‎), also known as Tasawwuf[1] (ٱلتَّصَوُّف), is mysticism[2] in Islam, “characterized … [by particular] values, ritual practices,[3] doctrines and institutions”.[4] It is variously defined as “Islamic mysticism”,[4][5][6] “the mystical expression of Islamic faith”,[7] “the inward dimension of Islam”,[8][9] or “the phenomenon of mysticism within Islam”.[10][11] Sufism began very early in Islamic history,[10] and represents “the main manifestation and the most important and central crystallization of” mystical practice

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Shia Islam

Shia Islam or Shi’ism is the second largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him,[1] most notably at the event of Ghadir Khumm, but was prevented from succeeding Muhammad as the leader of the Muslims as a result of the choice made by some of Muhammad’s other companions at Saqifah. This view

Jesus Christ

Jesus, also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure in Christianity. Most Christian groups believe that Jesus is God, and Muslims believe he was one of God’s prophets. Because of his significance in these religions, many consider him the one of the most influential historical figures of all time. The primary sources about

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Judaism

Judaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths. It is also one of the oldest religious traditions still practiced today. The tenets and history of Judaism constitute the historical foundation of many other religions, including Christianity and Islam; sometimes known as the Abrahamic religions,

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Reconstructionist Judaism

Reconstructionist Judaism[a] is a modern Jewish movement that views Judaism as a progressively evolving civilization and is based on the conceptions developed by Mordecai Kaplan (1881–1983).[1][2] The movement originated as a semi-organized stream within Conservative Judaism and developed from the late 1920s to 1940s, before it seceded in 1955[3] and established a rabbinical college in 1967.[4] (The central organization of the movement renamed itself to Reconstructing Judaism in

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Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism (known as Masorti Judaism outside North America) is a Jewish religious movement that regards the authority of Jewish law and tradition as emanating primarily from the assent of the people and the community through the generations, more than from divine revelation. It therefore views Jewish law, or halakha, as both binding and subject to historical development. The Conservative rabbinate employs modern historical-critical research, rather

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