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Essay / Influence of Hinduism - 887
Hinduism is the oldest religion known to date and continues to maintain a loyal following. Starting in India, it thrives and flourishes in a more modern society. With more than 750 million followers, Hinduism continues to leave its mark. It contains an assortment of sacred texts called Vedas, including the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. Through these books, the Hindu people learn how a follower should act. Striving to please the gods and achieving a state of Nirvana. By achieving this, Hindus can be reborn or reincarnated into a higher class. Being reincarnated into a higher class is something to achieve as you become a better version of yourself in a new life. In Hinduism, heaven and hell do not exist. The third perspective is time, and Hinduism has suffered from this. When Hinduism began to gain ground among the Indian people, it could be believed that the practitioners of this religion were getting what they deserved in life, and that everything these people experienced was a direct result of their past behavior. . In the early 1800s, Western influence began to take hold of the Hindu religion, sowing the seeds of Christian beliefs. This slight Christian influence altered the beliefs of Hindus, eventually leading them to believe that they could be foreign evils and sins through the various sacrifices of Jesus Christ. To start from scratch, it was necessary to take into account the socio-economic aspects, the effects of time and the geographical aspects which influence the way people go about things. When we examine the Yajurveda (Shukla), we find a much more direct reference to reincarnation. This verse states: “savitā te shridebhyah prthivyām lokamicchatu, tasmai yujyantAmustriyāh. » (Yajur Veda 35.2). This directly translates to: “The Sun God grants bodies in different births, according to your deeds, thus providing a happy or unhappy place on this earth. May the radiant rays be useful to you. This statement from the Yajur Veda is indicative of how the Hindu people believe in reincarnation. Even with all these factors affecting people's beliefs, they still believe. It may not be as important in today's times as it was thousands of years ago, but it still plays an important role in Hindu belief.