The “VEDANTA” [Sanskrit word means the end part of “VEDA”] is the philosophical foundation of the HINDU religion and the essential theme is to enlighten oneself SPIRITUALLY in order to be an effective member of the community at large.

HINDUISM: The name “HINDU” was given to the people at the valley of the river SINDU in the northern part of INDIA by the PERSIAN [present IRAN] in the pre-Christian era [Persian changed “S” to “H”]. Also GREEKS changed the name of “SINDU” to “INDUS” and thus they named the country “INDIA”.

HINDU SCRIPTURES: The most ancient Hindu Scripture is the RIG-VEDA SANHITA which contains 1028 Hymns with 432,000 Sanskrit syllables. There are three more Vedas but they are either elaboration or extention of this core literature. There are over hundred of the Vedantic literatures, the Sanskrit name is “UPANISHAD” [conversation between the teacher and the student].

THE CENTRAL THEME OF HINDUISM: The Vedic poets observed the BEAUTY and HARMONY in NATURE which they expressed in terms of numbers and musical notes and incorporated in the poems of the Rig-veda sanhita. Moreover, they concluded that the “ONE UNIVERSAL POWER” which governs not only the movements of the Stars, Sun, Moon and the planets, for their orderly motion but also the SAME POWER is the LIFE-FORCE of the human beings, animals and the plants world. This fundamental concept of the “ONE UNIVERSAL POWER” behind every dynamical system of the cosmos and thus establishing the interconnectedness to all materials of the Universe.

THE RELIGION OF THE HINDUS: The Vedic poets realized this “ONE UNIVERSAL POWER” in their own hearts & provided a recipe of connecting with this POWER for any individual, thru KNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP. The technique of accomplishing this connection is called “YOGA”, this Sanskrit word which literally means “ to connect”.

WORSHIPS:
External: Among the Hindus the most popular is the Image worship where the icons of different gods and goddesses are worshipped regularly in the Temples and in fact they all worship the moral and ethical principle of the mythological stories of the idols. Moreover, the devotees could make eye-contact with the deities, thus establishing the personal relationship with the chosen deities. There are also seasonal worshipping being done and the most important one is the annual celebration begins on the first New-Moon nite after the Autumnal equinox and concludes on the following New-moon nite.

Internal: All these external worshipping the icons should be internalized by following the cardinal virtues of the Hinduism such as :

1. CONTROL [self]: To prepare oneself, one has to control one’s MIND thru MEDITATION and the systematic procedure as has been provided by the Vedic Seers, should be followed.
2. CONTRIBUTE [to the Society]: By participating in the activities of the society, one should contribute for the progress of the society.
3. COMPASSIONATE [to other]: One should not forget the less fortunate ones and thus try to help as much as possible.