Hindu Religious Traditions: Rituals, Symbols & Beliefs

Introduction to Hinduism

As one of the oldest religions in history, Hinduism encompasses many sacred elements associated with deeply rooted religious traditions. Most of these elements of Hindu culture and practice have evolved and changed over the course of many centuries.

The Hindu religion is based on Hindu philosophy, along with its rituals and practices (Fowler, 1997). Hindus believe in multiple gods because Hindu philosophy holds that every human being is a part of a divine being. The Hindu religion encourages religious freedom and invites people to practice whatever religion they are most comfortable with.

Daily Rituals and Religious Practices

Most Hindus participate in religious traditions and rituals every day, whether they are at home, at work, or traveling. Devout Hindus perform daily observances such as worshiping at dawn after bathing. Many of these rituals are performed at a family shrine and often include lighting a lamp and offering food before images of deities. Others recite from religious scriptures, sing devotional hymns, practice meditation, chant mantras, and more.

Pilgrimage is another practice which, while not mandatory in Hinduism, is increasingly common. A large number of holy places (Tirtha Sthanas) exist in India, including Varanasi (Benares), Kedarnath, and Rameshwaram, and Hindus often undertake pilgrimages to these sites.

Purity, Purification, and Vedic Rites

One important element of Hindu religious traditions is the distinction between purity and pollution (Fowler, 1997). Religious acts assume some degree of impurity or defilement for the Hindu who performs them, which must be overcome through ritual procedures. Purification is usually accomplished with water and is a common feature of most Hindu religious traditions. Other characteristics include a belief in sacrifice and the concept of merit, gained through charity and good deeds, that accumulates over time and is performed to earn favorable circumstances in future lives.

Vedic rites of fire-oblation are occasionally performed, though they are held in high esteem in theory (Fowler, 1997). In Hindu wedding and funeral ceremonies, however, the chanting of Vedic mantras remains the norm. Rituals known as upacharas change with time. For example, over the past few hundred years, sacred dance and music offerings in the standard Sodasa Upacharas have been replaced by offerings of rice and sweets.