1. Hinduism is a religion with no known founder. People south of the “Hind” river in India were first classified as Hindus by Persian invaders.
  2. Hinduism, therefore, is not one religion — it is an amalgamation of various religious belief systems and practices that existed in the geographical region south of the Hind River.
  3. The Hindu scriptures are classified into SRUTHI (what is heard or revealed) and SMRITHI (what is remembered). The 4 Vedas (Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva) of the Sruthi tradition are the most authoritative scriptures of Hinduism. However, Mahabharata and Ramayana, epics in the Smrithi tradition, are more popular among the Hindus than the Vedas. The Bhagavad Gita, an excerpt from the Mahabharata, is considered the most versatile of all Hindu Scriptures.
  4. Hinduism is founded on the principle of 'Sanatana Dharma', defined by the phrase: "that which exists is One: sages call it by various names." In that sense, it can be considered a monotheistic or monistic religion.
  5. The God figure in Hinduism is the Brahman—the Universal Soul, best expressed as the sound 'OM'.
  6. The supreme goal of Hinduism is the union between the individual soul (atman) and the Brahman. The process of achieving this union is called Yoga (yoked together). The way of accomplishing this union is called marga (path).
  7. RAJA Yoga/Marga (way of discipline) uses physical postures and meditation techniques to boost the psychic energy of the atman to align itself with the Brahman.
  8. KARMA Yoga/Marga (way of action) uses disinterested action ('nishkama karma') to peel off the layers of ego until there is no barrier left to separate atman from Brahman.
  9. JNANA Yoga/Marga (way of knowledge) believes in Nirguna Brahman, an impersonal God with no attributes. The union is achieved by exercising our intellect (mindful meditation) to eliminate ignorance (avidya).
  10. BHAKTI Yoga/Marga (way of devotion) is the most popular form of Hindu religious practice, and it proposes the idea of Saguna Brahman (God who has personal attributes), often called Ishvara or Bhagvan. The union with Ishvara is achieved through love and devotion.
  11. The one God Ishwara manifests himself as three distinct personal gods (Trimurthy): Brahma (creator), Vishnu (sustainer) and Shiva (destroyer).
  12. The Brahma is depicted as a god with four heads faced in four different directions. Shiva is often portrayed as half man—half woman (arthanariswaran). The female side of Shiva is called Shakti. She appears as Shiva’s wife Parvati as well as two other goddesses — Durga and Kali.
  13. Vishnu enters the world when evil overcomes good, and harmony of the world is threatened. His descent into the world is called Avatar (incarnation).
  14. The ten most popular descents of Vishnu are collectively called 'Dasavatara'. Rama and Krishna are the most popular and commonly worshiped avatars.
  15. Yajna (sacrifice) is considered the link between the human and the divine in Hinduism. Vedas talk about Prajapati, a god who performed a cosmic sacrifice with his own body and became immortal after experiencing death. There are many parallels between the Prajapati sacrifice in Vedas and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
  16. Jesus is often considered to be a yogi (one who has achieved the ultimate union with Brahman) in Jnana Yoga and an avatar (the manifestation of God in human flesh) in Bhakti Yoga.
  17. The final avatar (Kalkin) who is going to come at the end of this age is described in a language similar to that of the apocalyptic savior figure in the book of Revelations. He is going to destroy the existing world and initiate a new epoch called the Satya Yuga (the age of Truth).
  18. The avatars of Hinduism came to destroy the sinners and save the righteous. But the Jesus avatar came to save the sinners, not to destroy them. He will come back again as the final avatar to establish the reign of God in a new world.

  1. What would be your response to a Christian from India who regards himself/herself also as a Hindu?
  2. Is Yoga nothing more than a physical exercise routine? Why or why not?
  3. Is Hinduism a monotheistic religion?
  4. How is the Jesus avatar of the Bible different from the avatars of Hinduism?
  5. Comment on Sadhu Sunder Singh’s analogy, "Hinduism has been digging channels. Christ is the water to flow through these channels."

  1. Watch the film Avatar (2009). Observe how it reflects the theological framework of avatar in Hinduism and the doctrine of incarnation in Christianity?
  2. Gather pictures of various Hindu deities from the Internet. Who are they and what are they known for?

  1. Watch the film Avatar (2009). Observe how it reflects the theological framework of avatar in Hinduism and the doctrine of incarnation in Christianity?
  2. Gather pictures of various Hindu deities from the Internet. Who are they and what are they known for?

  1. The Descent of God
    Chapter 2, The Unknown God