Hinduism (Sanskrit Hindū Dharma—हिन्दू धर्म, also known as Sanātana Dharma सनातन धर्म, and Vaidika Dharma वैदिक धर्म) is a religion originating in the Indian subcontinent, based on the Vedas, and the oldest religious traditions still practiced today. The term, "Hinduism," is heterogeneous, as Hinduism consists of several schools of thought. It encompasses many religious rituals that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies. Most Hindus believe in a Supreme Cosmic Spirit, which may be understood in abstract terms as Brahman or which may be worshipped in personal forms such as Vishnu, Shiva or Shakti. The religion is classified by many different forms of theism such as monotheism, monism, pantheism, polytheism and even atheism. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world with approximately 970 million adherents, (2006), approximately 900 million of whom are in India.
Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്, Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर, Ādi Śaṅkara, IPA: [aːd̪i ɕəŋkərə]). Adi means "the first"; the heads of a few Hindu mathas are also given the title Shankaracharya; Acharya which means "teacher". Shankara was the first philosopher to consolidate the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, a sub-school of Vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the soul and Brahman, in which Brahman is viewed as without attributes. In the Smārta tradition, Adi Shankara is regarded as an incarnation of Shiva. Adi Shankara toured India with the purpose of propagating his teachings through discourses and debates with other philosophers. He founded four mathas ("abbeys") which played a key role in the historical development, revival and spread of post-Buddhist Hinduism and Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankara was the founder of the Dashanami monastic order and the Shanmata tradition of worship. - ...that Krishna (pictured) literally means "black" or "dark one" in Sanskrit?
Sanskrit: एकम् सत् विप्राः बहुधा वदन्ति Transliteration: Ekam Sat Viprāha Bahudhā Vadanti English: "Truth is One, though the Sages know it by many names. — Rig Veda (Book I, Hymn CLXIV, Verse 46)  | - Expand: Samyama, Tantras, Treta Yuga, Devi Mahatmya, Jnana, Gangga Negara, Kediri, Brahminicide, Brāhmanahatya, Vedanta Society, Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Yogoda Satsanga, Sarsanghachalak, Thommanon, Baksei Chamkrong, Phnom Bakheng, Phimeanakas, Phnom Krom,Banteay Samré, West Mebon, Kriyamana karma, Sanchita karma, Kama (Purusharthas), Hindu marriage Ceremony, Vedic metal, Kalpa (Vedanga), Parisada Hindu Dharma
- Cleanup: History of Hinduism, Yuga, Hindu view of marriage, Devadasi, Islamic conquest of South Asia, Ancient Vedic units of measurement, Amarnath, Californian Hindu textbook controversy, Women in Hinduism, Swami Ramdev, Vedas, Sri Anandamoyi Ma
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