The Hindu tradition is more a way of life than a set of beliefs. Hindus have many different practices that vary from country to country, even from community to community. Hindus believe that no one religion is exclusively true, but that all genuine ways of faith are aspects of the one universal. All-encompassing truth.
Most Hindus believe that the whole universe is permeated with the Divine, a reality called Brahman. This Divine can be known by many names and take many forms. For example:
- Brahma is creator
- Vishnu is Sustainer
- Shiva is Destroyer / Dissolver
Hindus understand these as many ways to understand the Divine. Thus, many Hindus do not worship a multitude of gods and understand the one supreme world-soul as manifested in a multitude of ways.
Hindus also see the presence of the Divine manifest in the females, Worshipped as the Divine Mother. A Hindu temple, or Mandir, will house the image, or murti, of one or more gods. For Hindus, the murti acts as a lens that focuses one on beholding the One God. Hindu tradition is contained in the Vedas, a body of ancient hymn and chants recited orally in verse.
Hindus believe in reincarnation, the belief that the soul’s journey to Moksha (liberation of salvation) takes the soul from one life to another and its journey from one life to the next is influenced by the deeds one performs in the present time.
One’s aim is life is to remove oneself from the cycle of birth and death.
Hindus uphold the following qualities:
- Non-violence – all life is sacred, to be loved and revered.
- Moral behaviour
- Service to others
- Seeking knowledge
- Worship and devotion to one’s personal deity.
Hindu Council of Wales and Inter-faith in Wales
Interfaith work is a necessity in present times. One has to understand each other’s faiths and belief and dispel myths and ignorance. Interfaith work is a vehicle to reach this goal. The different Hindu communities in Wales actively participate in interfaith work and pass the message of tolerance to one’s community.
“This is the sum of duty: do naught to others that which if done to you would cause pain.”
“You are totally unique. Be yourself and allow others the space to express their uniqueness. We are all individuals in the eyes of God.” (Hindu Community in Wales)
Hindu Council of Wales
The Hindu Council of Wales represents all Hindu communities in Wales.
www.hinducouncilofwales.org.uk
info@hinducouncilofwales.org,uk
Dr. Sakti Guha Niyogi, Chair
Karsan Vaghani, Vice Chair
Radhika Kabada, Secretary
Sudhaben Bhatt, Treasurer