Hindus
Worshippers of Vishnu
Hindus are adherents of Hinduism, the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent.
The term encompasses diverse traditions, beliefs, and practices—from devotion to particular deities like Vishnu or Shiva to philosophical schools emphasizing meditation or ritual.
Hindu also functions as an adjective: Hindu temples, Hindu philosophy.
The word derives from the Sanskrit name for the Indus River.
Hindu canonical texts
- UpanishadsVedic philosophical scriptures
- Bhagavad GitaHindu philosophical dialogue
- MahabharataSanskrit war epic
- RamayanaSanskrit heroic verse narrative
shruti · Sanskrit · sutras · Agamas · epics · mythology · Vedanta
Deep, loyal commitment
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- spiritualityConnection to the sacred
- beliefTrust held as true
- pietySincere religious devotion
dharma · karma · moksha · samsara · meditation · prayer · theism · pantheism
Hindu god of creation
- VishnuHindu deity of preservation
- ShivaHindu god of dissolution
- LakshmiGoddess of wealth, beauty
- ParvatiHindu goddess of fertility
Saraswati · Ganesha · Krishna · Rama · Durga · Kali · Indra · avatars
Hindu worship ritual
- aartiHindu light ceremony
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
- tilakHindu forehead marking
incense · fasting · offerings · cremation · darshan · Ganges · immersion · circumambulation
Inherited social division
- varnaHindu hereditary social order
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- AyurvedaTraditional Hindu healing practice
- yogaMind-body exercise discipline
vegetarianism · joint family · arranged marriage · dowry · untouchability · reform
Scattered population sharing origins
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- populationAll inhabitants combined
- templesHoly places or head sides
- priestsOrdained religious leaders
Brahmins · pandits · swamis · ashrams · gurus · devotees · pilgrims · immigrants
Vedas
Hindu canonical texts
- UpanishadsVedic philosophical scriptures
- Bhagavad GitaHindu philosophical dialogue
- MahabharataSanskrit war epic
Ramayana · shruti · Sanskrit · sutras · Agamas · epics · mythology · Vedanta
devotion
Deep, loyal commitment
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- spiritualityConnection to the sacred
- beliefTrust held as true
piety · dharma · karma · moksha · samsara · meditation · prayer · theism · pantheism · monism
Brahma
Hindu god of creation
Parvati · Saraswati · Ganesha · Krishna · Rama · Durga · Kali · Indra · avatars · trimurti
puja
Hindu worship ritual
tilak · incense · fasting · offerings · cremation · darshan · Ganges · immersion · circumambulation
caste
Inherited social division
- varnaHindu hereditary social order
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- AyurvedaTraditional Hindu healing practice
yoga · vegetarianism · joint family · arranged marriage · dowry · untouchability · reform
Diwali
Hindu festival of lights
- HoliSpring festival of colors
diaspora
Scattered population sharing origins
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- populationAll inhabitants combined
- templesHoly places or head sides
priests · Brahmins · pandits · swamis · ashrams · gurus · devotees · pilgrims · immigrants · settlers
- FaithsChristians, Catholics, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- Indian faithsSikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhs, Jains
- South Asian peoplesPunjabis, Gujaratis, Tamils, Bengalis, Assamese
- ancient paganspagans, polytheists, druids, animists, sun worshippers
- French FaithsHuguenots, French Jews
HindusMuslims
Adherents of Islam
atheists · Christians · Buddhists · non-believers · Sikhs
Hindusatheists
Those without religious faith
secularists · nonbelievers · agnostics · materialists · humanists
- Hindu mythologyIndia's traditional religious narratives
- Hindu templeSacred structure for worship
- Hindu weddingTraditional Indian marriage ceremony
- Hindu deityGod of Indian religion
- Hindu goddessFemale deity in Hinduism
- Hindu festivalSpiritual celebration in Hinduism