Top 10 Misconceptions About Hinduism

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Hinduism is one of the most popular religions in the world. Its practices throughout the world including in Europe and the Americas. Many people get their first contact with Hinduism through yoga and its relaxing and meditative workouts. Naturally, in the western world with only one view into this deep and interesting religion people become curious and sometimes develop misconceptions about the Hindu religion. With that in mind, check out the list below of the top 10 misconceptions about Hinduism in order to help you clear up some of these misunderstandings and get some better understanding about Hinduism beliefs.

#10: Hinduism facts all start with the name!

One of the most important Hinduism facts to know is that the word “Hindu” does not refer to any of the ancient texts of Hinduism. In reality, the term actually refers to the people that live in the region of the Indus River in the country of India. Most probably, the modern day term most likely came after the Persian invasion in India. The Persians referred to the people living in the area as “Hindus”.

The most common name for the Hindu religion is actually Sanatana Dharma. The rough translation for this is the “eternal duty of God”. The followers of Hinduism are called Dharmis. This term means simply followers of Dharma. Unfortunately, many people in the West, do not know these Hinduism facts.
However, the term Hinduism has become used so widely in the rest of the world, that even many Indians use the term to describe the religion.^[1]Major World Religions: From Their Origins To The Present^[2]Hinduwebsite – The Origin and Definition of the Name Hindu^[3]WIKIBOOKS – Hinduism/Etymology of the words Hindu and Hinduism

#9: What about their eating habits?

A large minority of the Hindus are vegetarians. However, it is not a requirement in Hinduism beliefs. In fact, a majority of people who practice Hinduism are not vegetarians. In fact, only about 35% of Hindus follow a vegetarian diet. The main reason that a large minority of Hindus refrain from eating meat is due to their belief that all animals are living beings with sentiments. Therefore, Hindus prefer to not hurt them or to cause them any pain. Hindus call this spiritual belief ahimsa. A lot of the Hindu people who are vegetarians are also spiritual leaders. According to their Hinduism beliefs when someone slaughters or consumes meat products, it piles up negative karma.^[4]ListAKA – Top 10 Myths about Hinduism that are not True

#8: The Religious Organization of Hinduism

Unlike other major religions like Christianity and Islam, Hinduism does not have as organized a religious structure. In fact, Hinduism beliefs did not spread and become popular until relatively recently. The main reason these other religions developed a more hierarchical structure was due to their spread through very strong nations such as the Roman and Byzantine Empire for Christianity and the Muslim Caliphates for Islam. One of the major Hinduism facts is that there never was a real central leader or empire that promoted Hinduism. Therefore, the evolution of Hinduism took place in a much more natural way and never developed as formal of a religious structure.

#7: Where Does the Caste System Come From?

For many people, Hinduism and India are one in the same. The caste system assigns a person by birth to their position in society. It uses the term “varna” to imply that this social order is part of a framework of moral obligations. The system divides Indians into the following categories: the Brahmins who are the priests and the teachers, the Kshatriyas who are the warriors and the rulers of the people, the Vaishyas who are farmers and merchants, and the Shudras who are the laborers. In addition, there is an additional category of people who do not belong to any of the other previous ones. They are known as Dalits and are the outcasts of the society.

It is a common misconception about Hinduism that it follows a caste system. However, this is far from the truth. In fact, this is not part of Hinduism major beliefs at all. The caste system comes exclusively the non religious Indian culture.

#6: Hinduism Beliefs with Regards to Idol Worshiping

One of the major misconceptions about Hinduism beliefs is that it promotes idol worshiping. However, Hindus do not see it that way at all. In fact, they simply just see god in every part of the creation. According to Hinduism, all objects are an “arca” or living embodiment of god. Hindus believe that every part of our lives is an image of god. This practice is called “murthi puja” which translates to “image worship”. Therefore, one of Hinduism major beliefs is that they are worshiping different aspects of god.

#5: Are Cows really a Sacred Animal for the Hindus?

Hindus do not worship cows. It’s that simple. This misconception has increased a lot mainly because of the way that the worshippers treat the cows, which perceive cows as an animal that gives a lot more in comparison with what it takes, since it only needs grass and water and provides us with milk, cream, yogurt, cheese, butter, and even fertilizer for the fields!

Aside from their giving nature, they are also respected for their peaceful nature. Because of these reasons, Hindus honor and respect this animal, but they do not worship it contrary to popular belief.

#4: What does the red dot on the forehead mean in Hinduim?

In Hinduism, the red dot on the forehead is called a bindi. Millions of women and little girls throughout the India and the rest of the world wear this red dot. However, to many people in the west, they do not know what it really means.

Bindis played a spiritual role in Hindu culture. However, its religious significance has lessened in our age. Traditionally, a woman would wear a crimson colored bindi between her eyes, to show love and prosperity. The location of the bindi correlates to the third eye. According to Hinduism beliefs the third eye awakens when someone loses their “ahamkara” or their ego. However, in modern times it has lost its meaning, and women can wear any color they choose fitting. For example, a black bindi represnets loss. Widows usually wear it to show the loss of their husband or of another relative. Additionally, men also wear a kind of bindi called a tilak. However, unlike the bindi, the tilak is represented by a number of lines on the forehead. Different colors show the difference between their castes.

#3: How old is Hinduism?

Many people ask which religion is the oldest in the world? The religions that emerged on the Asian continent through the millennia are literally uncountable. However, Hinduism seems to be one of the oldest. In fact, it may be the oldest religion in the world that is still alive today. Historians estimate that Hinduism began developing around 4000 BC.^[5]BBC – History of Hinduism However, there is no specific date nor founder of Hinduism.

#2: Do Hindus Have a Holy Book?

Hindus have divided their sacred texts into two categories with third book as well. The first category is the Suruti or divinely inspired texts. The second category is the Smriti or the teachings of the priests and sages of Hinduism. The third book is the Bhagavad Gita. This text teaches many of the holy tenets of Hinduism through a dialogue between Pandava Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna. The Gita is also considered to be an allegory for a person’s ethical and moral compass in their lives.^[6]Internet Sacred Text Archive – Hinduism

#1: Is Hinduism Monotheistic or Polytheistic?

Many people wonder, is Hinduism polytheistic or is Hinduism monotheistic? In fact, it is a common misconception that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. However, the truth is a bit more complex. The misunderstanding come down to the fact that the idea of god in Hinduism is a bit more complicated than other religions. In general, Hinduism beliefs is that there is one single god. However, Hinduism major beliefs is that there are many representations of god or “Deva”. Hindus believe that god is so complex that people cannot understand him. Therefore, it is necessary to break him down into many different representations, the Shiva and the Vishnu.