What do Hindus believe about the gods?
The earliest Hindu texts are the four Vedas,the Rig Veda being the oldest (1200BC),containing 1028 hymns with more about myths than full stories .By the time that the Mahabharata was written (300 BC - 300 AD), other gods who played only minor roles in the Vedas have become popular. Three gods in particular came to be known as the Trimurti: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Their fame grew during the Middle Ages when "stories of old" called the Puranas recorded their achievements and adventures.
Hindu religion is more philosophy than doctrine. There is no authoritative hierarchy of clergy; the religion is highly decentralized with multiple sects.So the practical defination of Hinduism can be performing the duty (Dharma) of one's stage in life and social status (caste).
- The Hindu vision of reality lies in the tension between dharma (social duty or righteousness) and moksha (release from the material world and cycles of rebirth),depending upon Karma :the moral law of causes and effects (deeds of past ) and the rebirth according to karma.
- Maybe for us in his last words to Yudhishthira, Bhishma said that in the kaliyuga (our present age), "dharma becomes adharma and adharma, dharma." Somewhat paradoxically, he continues, "If one fights against trickery, one should oppose him with trickery. But if one fights lawfully, one should check him with dharma ... One should conquer evil with good. Death by dharma is better than victory by evil deeds."
