Hinduism: Learn about the Four Goals of the World’s Third Largest Religion!

Hinduism is widely regarded as the world's oldest religion, standing third on the list of mass religion. Hinduism, or Sanatan Dharma, has 95% of its total followers living in India itself. Hinduism is more a culture than religion and works on a system of beliefs.

The ultimate aim of this system of beliefs is to attain the four goals in life, that are:

Kama

In Hinduism, Kama stands as a synonym for desire. It is suggestive of man's desire to please his aesthetics and sensibility, like one's sexual desires, ambitions and passion. Getting ambitious of one's desires is essential to bring one to the path of righteousness.

Arth

Arth (meaning of life) is the attainment that deals with the riches of the world and wealth. One of the beginning steps is to reach a peaceful stage of economic stability and prosperity. More than monetary stability, the attitude one has toward others and how he talks to the ones below him, makes the difference.

Dharma

Dharma is believed to lead one to heaven. It is an individual's responsibility to do good deeds and indulge in meditation, selfless work, dedication to God and other sorts of 'purushartha' or hard work. This purushartha makes one closer to the almighty and nirvana.

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Moksha

Moksha is the achievement of nirvana through undeterred meditation and devotion, which is the highest form of purushartha. Moksha disconnects one from worldly materialism and releases the soul from sadness, pain and grief.

Here are some basic yet rare facts that are sure to clear one's questions about Hinduism:

I. Hinduism believes in 4 eras in the circle of life— Satya yug (Often called Satyug, the age of Utopia), Tretha Yug, Dwapar Yug and Kali Yug. Kali Yug is the ugliest phase of all, a state of massive destruction and loss of innocence. It is after the Kali Yug that the cycle restarts.

II. Mahabharata— the famous Hindu epic, is considered as the longest epic in literature, and is 10 times more than the total word length of Odyssey or Illiad. Mahabharata is said to be 1.8 million words long.

III. Indeed selflessness is a virtue, but Hinduism has no stance against one's wish to earn wealth. The gods and goddesses of wealth and prosperity, such as Lakshmi, Vishnu and Kubera are religiously followed and worshipped. It is on the major festival of Diwali when Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for bringing health, wealth, and propensity to her devotees.

IV. Do you know why the Rudraksha mala used for chanting and praying has 108 beads? The number 108 holds immense significance in Sanatan Dharma, because the ratio distance between the Sun and the earth, and even the moon's diameter is 108. Thus, 108 holds an important place in this faith.

V. All Hindu Gods are pictured riding or flying on certain animals and birds. But the holiest animals in Hinduism are- cow (symbolic for Lord Krishna and Nandi— that of Lord Shiva), Elephant (for the head of Lord Ganesha), snake (wrapped around Lord Shiva; significant of calm acceptance), and peacock— the wagon of some Hindu gods.

VI. Rig Veda, the fundamental holy scripture of the Hindu faith was composed 3,800 years ago. It has been orally passed over since ages, and the present form of the Rig Veda has been composed out of 'dant kathaas' or oral folk tradition.

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VII. Karma is the basic fundamental deciding factor of one's life after death or rebirth. How good your next life would be will be decided by the good deeds you perform in this birth.

VIII. River Ganga is considered as one of the purest rivers to have ever fallen on earth. It works as a redemptive way for a man to take a dip in the holy water and wash away his sins.

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IX. The Kumbh Mela is the world's biggest and grandest religious gathering which has nearly 100 million devotees from all over the world. The Mela takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and Sun enters Aries.

– by Chetna Karnani, at NewsGram.