Hindu Catholic Dialogue Commemorative Brochure 20150523

Author(s): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Publisher: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND
Al. When and where was the religion founded? What is now known as the Hindu religion originated in India a few thousand years B.C.E., the precise period being open to debate. The term “Hindu” is relatively recent, introduced by the ancient Greeks and Persians to indicate the people who lived by the Sindhu River (also known as the Indus River). The ancient term is “Sanatana Dharma,” which means “eternal path of righteousness.”
A2. Who are the main prophets or seers? The sages to whom the original scriptures were revealed preferred to remain anonymous. Since then, there have been numerous sages and teachers from ancient times to today.
A3. Are saints venerated?
Although there is no formal tradition of granting "sainthood,” sages and teachers, both ancient and contemporary, are deeply venerated.
A4. What was the original language of the main scriptures? Sanskrit
A5. What are the main divisions and how did they arise? The philosophy and practices of Hinduism span an extremely broad spectrum of spirituality. Followers of specific beliefs or practices may consider themselves as separate communities, akin to denominations in Christianity. Distinctions may arise due to philosophy, (such as the traditions of Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya), the choice of a favorite form in which God is worshipped (such as worshippers of Vishnu, Shiva, or the Divine Mother), or the modes of worship prescribed by revered teachers (such as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vallabhacharya, Basavanna, or Dayananda Saraswati). As India is a large and diverse country, regional and language differences are also significant.
A6. How do you greet and part from each other? A typical mode of both greeting and parting is to join one's palms in front of the heart and say "namaste” or “namaskar,” which both mean “I bow to the divinity in you.” In parting, one might use words that indicate "we will meet again."
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HINDU - CATHOLIC DIALOGUE