History

Hinduism originated over 3000 years ago, and was formed from the beliefs, traditions and legends of a number of early Indian tribes and cultures.  It has no founder, single teacher or prophet, and has continued to be influenced by other traditions and cultures throughout its history. It is one of the largest religions in the world (as well as one of the oldest), with about 900 million followers worldwide, and 400,000 in the UK.

Beliefs

Hindus believe in one God, Brahman, who is the cause and the foundation for the entire Universe.  Other gods of Hindusim are regarded as different expressions of Brahman.  There are three principle expressions: Brahma, who creates the universe, Vishnu, who preserves the universe, and Shiva, who destroys the universe.

Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.

Worship is most commonly conducted at home, where offerings and mantras are made to a shrine of the gods.  However, some worship is also conducted in a  temple.  There are daily, annual and optional rituals that Hindus participate in, and many are conducted in front of a home-based shrine.

Pilgrimage is an important aspect of Hinduism, and rivers, temples or cities where the gods may have walked are the most common destinations.  The River Ganges is the most holy body of water to Hindus, and Varanasi is the most holy city.

The principal religious texts of Hinduism are the Vedas.  These are said to have been originally handed down to scholars direct from God, and then handed down by word of mouth to subsequent generations.  The Vedas are divided into four main sections: the Samhitas (hymns of praise to God), the Brahmanas (rituals and prayers), the Aranyakas (worship and meditation), and the Upanishads (philosophical teachings).

Traditionally, Hindus follow the custom of the caste system.  In most cities, this has largely been eroded, but in some areas the traditional castes of Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors/ruling class), Vaishyas (merchants or artisans) and Shudras (unskilled labourers and servants) are still respected.  Untouchability has been outlawed by law.

Locally

There is a Hindu Temple in Preston which can be contacted at the following address:

Address: Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, 8 Avenham Place, Preston PR1 3SX, Lancashire

Telephone: 01772 562252

Links

A comprehensive Hinduism website can be found at http://www.hindu.org/