Orientalism

            The notion and reports on "Hinduism" as a "single world religious tradition"^[was popularised by 19th-century proselytizing missionaries and European Indologists, roles sometimes served by the same person, who relied on texts preserved by Brahmins (priests) for their information of Indian religions, and animist observations which the missionary Orientalists presumed was Hinduism. These reports influenced perceptions about Hinduism. Some scholars state that the colonial polemical reports led to fabricated stereotypes where Hinduism was mere mystic paganism devoted to the service of devils,^[while other scholars state that the colonial constructions influenced the belief that the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Manusmritiand such texts were the essence of Hindu religiosity, and in the modern association of 'Hindu doctrine' with the schools of Vedanta (in particular Advaita Vedanta) as paradigmatic example of Hinduism's mystical nature".Pennington, while concurring that the study of Hinduism as a world religion began in the colonial era, disagrees that Hinduism is a colonial European era invention.He states that the shared theology, common ritual grammar and way of life of those who identify themselves as Hindus is traceable to ancient times.

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                                                                 The four goals of life

         Hinduism believes in four main goals of life. They are karma, artha, dharma and moksha. It is said that all humans seek kama (pleasure, physical or emotional) and artha (power, fame and wealth), but soon, with maturity, learn to govern these legitimate desires within a higher, pragmatic framework of dharma, or moral harmony in all.

                                                                  The four stages of life

In Hinduism, life of a human being is divided into four stages. These stages are called Ashramas, and they are:

1. Brahmacharya, the first quarter of life as a bachelor - to be spent in learning, building the body and the mind.
2. Grihasthya, the second quarter of life as a person with a family, and doing work for livelihood.
3. Vanaprastha, the third phase of life, spent in forests and in meditation.
4. Sanyasa, the last phase of life, spent without any feeling and attachment to the world.

                                     

                                                                                               Karma and Samsara

               Karma translates literally as action, work, or deed,and also refers to a Vedic theory of "moral law of cause and effect".The theory is a combination of 

(1) causality that may be ethical or non-ethical .

(2) ethicization, that is good or bad actions have consequences.

(3) rebirth.

                     Karma theory is interpreted as explaining the present circumstances of an individual with reference to his or her actions in past. These actions may be those in a person's current life, or, in some schools of Hinduism, possibly actions in their past lives; furthermore, the consequences may result in current life, or a person's future lives. This cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth is called samsara. Liberation from samsara through moksha is believed to ensure lasting happiness and peace.Hindu scriptures teach that the future is both a function of current human effort derived from free will and past human actions that set the circumstances.  

                                              

                      Hinduism includes a diversity of ideas on spirituality and traditions, but has no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet nor any binding holy book, Hindus can choose to be polytheistic, pantheistic, monotheistic, monistic, agnostic, atheistic or humanist.Because of the wide range of traditions and ideas covered by the term Hinduism, arriving at a comprehensive definition is difficult.The religion "defies our desire to define and categorize it". Hinduism has been variously defined as a religion, a religious tradition, a set of religious beliefs, and "a way of life."From a Western lexical standpoint, Hinduism like other faiths is appropriately referred to as a religion. In India the term dharma is preferred, which is broader than the western term religion. Hindu traditionalists prefer to call it Sanatana Dharma (the eternal or ancient dharma). 

                                                                                                                                                                                      "Unlike other religions in the World, the Hindu religion does not claim any one Prophet, it does not worship any one God, it does not believe in any one philosophic concept, it does not follow any one act of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not satisfy the traditional features of a religion or creed. It is a way of life and nothing more". this is hinduism