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Hindu beliefs are vast and diverse, and thus Hinduism is often referred to as a family of religions rather than a single religion. [ web 10 ] Within each religion in this family of religions, there are different theologies, practices, and sacred texts.
The denominations of Hinduism, states Julius J. Lipner, are unlike those found in major religions of the world, because Hindu denominations are fuzzy with individuals revering gods and goddesses polycentrically, with many Shaiva and Vaishnava adherents recognizing Sri (Lakshmi), Parvati, Saraswati and other aspects of the goddess Devi ...
All previous religious texts have lost their Substance in the vision of Ayyavazhi at the very moment Kaliyan came to the world. Though Ayyavazhi has many differences from popular Hinduism, it has many beliefs and practices in common. As Hinduism is really a tree of many branches, Ayyavazhi is closest to Smartism and its Advaita beliefs in thought.
While the word religion is difficult to define, one standard model of religion used in religious studies courses defines it as [a] system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations ...
Monotheism is the belief in a single creator God and the lack of belief in any other Creator. [58] [59] Different sects of Hinduism may or may not posit or require such a belief, as religion is considered a personal belief in Hinduism and followers are free to choose the different interpretations within the framework of karma and samsara.
The Brahmanism of the Dharmaśāstra and the smritis underwent a radical transformation at the hands of the Purana composers, resulting in the rise of Puranic Hinduism, [35] "which like a colossus striding across the religious firmanent soon came to overshadow all existing religions". [181] Puranic Hinduism was a "multiplex belief-system which ...
Hinduism has approximately 1.2 billion adherents worldwide (15% of the world's population). [1] Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world behind Christianity (31.5%) and Islam (23.3%). [2] Most Hindus live in Asian countries, and the majority of Nepal and India are Hindus, and a significant number in Mauritius.
Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India and, as such, Hinduism is often called the "oldest living religion" [8] or the "oldest living major religion" in the world. [9] [10] [11] [12]