What is sacred text of Hinduism?
The Vedas. These are the most ancient religious texts which define truth for Hindus. They got their present form between 1200-200 BCE and were introduced to India by the Aryans. Hindus believe that the texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on to the next generations by word of mouth.
What is the Hindu religion based on?
Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect). One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul. This philosophy holds that living creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul.
What role do sacred texts play in Hinduism?
Important among these were texts that codified a developing and central concept of Hinduism, dharma. This concept deals with the right order between the different strata and birth-groups (varṇa and jāti) of Hindu society (which we lump together under the term ‘caste’) and its male and female members.
Which is the correct description of the Hindu caste system?
Introduction to Hindu caste system: The caste system is a system, which decides a person’s social status and trade by his/her birth. The modern caste system is a misinterpreted form of Varnashrama, also called as Chaturvarnya System i.e. Four Varna System.
How many castes and subcastes are there in India?
At present in India, there are more than 2800 castes and subcastes. In Vedic times, there were only four castes. So between the period of about 3500 years, Hindus have thrown out the original caste system and have evolved now to a new form of the caste system.
Which is an example of a Hindu subcaste?
For example, In Brahmins, there are subcastes like Chitpavana Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmin, Kayastha Brahmin, Vaishnava Brahmins, Kokanastha Brahmins, and a lot. When a baby is born in a Hindu family, he/she is not only a Hindu but is also attached to a particular caste and subcaste, which his/her family is from.
Are there any jatis or caste system in India?
Jatis have existed in India among Hindus, Muslims, Christians and tribal people, and there is no clear linear order among them. The term caste is not originally an Indian word, though it is now widely used, both in English and in Indian languages.