India is situated in South Asia, which also contains Bangladesh, Buthan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. The three most dominant religions in South Asia are Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. Hindus are in all countries of South Asia; they count for more then 80% of the population of India. Hindus have moved to diverse places of the world, like Europe and America. Still, even today, Hinduism is very centred on "the source [...] the heartland"¹: India.

This religion being so ancient, undefined and vague, Hindus were defined as "the religious remainder after one subtracts all Muslims, Jainas, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Parsis, and tribals from the religious landscape of South Asia."² Today, Hinduism is recognised as a separate religion. This religion is based on two major components: the beliefs and symbols, and the deities.

Hinduism is based on three dimensions that are listening to the universe, myhtologizing the universe, and swallowing the universe.

The most important deities in Hinduism are the Mother Goddess, Durga, and the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Hinduism is a very distinct religion full of riches and lessons precious not only to Hindus, but also to everyone else. This religion is mainly based on beliefs and deities; as opposed to the main religions, Hinduism is not monotheist. Hinduism is "a complex range of traditions, religious beliefs, philosophy, and mythology."³ I see Hinduism more as a philosophy of life than as a religion, in the traditional meaning of this word.

For more information: 

• Please see the bibliography

FOOTNOTES

1. David M. KNIPE, Hinduism: Experiments in the Sacred, New York, Harper Collins, 1991, p. 4.
2. David M. KNIPE, Hinduism: Experiments in the Sacred, New York, Harper Collins, 1991, p. 2.
3. Miranda BRUCE-MITFORD, The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols, Westmount (QC), Reader's Digest, 1996, p. 20.