Hinduism: Gods and Traditions

Explanation: The Trimurti brings together three aspects of the divine: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer/transformer. Together, they represent the cosmic cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution.

Explanation: Ganesh (Ganesha) is the son of Shiva and Parvati. According to myth, Shiva accidentally cut off his head and replaced it with an elephant's. He is invoked before any new project or journey.

Explanation: Diwali (or Deepavali) is the festival of lights, celebrated in October-November. Millions of oil lamps (diyas) are lit to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Explanation: The Vedas are a collection of 4 texts: Rig Veda (hymns), Sama Veda (chants), Yajur Veda (ritual formulas) and Atharva Veda (incantations). They date from around 1500-500 BCE and are written in Sanskrit.

Explanation: The Ganges (Ganga) is Hinduism's most sacred river. Hindus believe bathing in its waters washes away all sins. Varanasi, on its banks, is India's holiest city.

Explanation: The cow is sacred in Hinduism as it symbolizes maternal generosity and non-violence (ahimsa). It is associated with several deities, notably Krishna. Cow slaughter is banned in most Indian states.

Explanation: Om (ॐ) is the original sacred sound in Hinduism. It represents the cosmic vibration from which the entire universe was born. It is chanted at the beginning and end of prayers and meditation.

Explanation: The Bhagavad Gita is a philosophical dialogue between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, embedded in the Mahabharata. This 200,000-verse epic poem is the longest in the world.

Explanation: Holi, the festival of colors, celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Participants throw colored pigments (gulal) and tinted water in a festive and egalitarian atmosphere.

Explanation: Moksha is the ultimate liberation from the cycle of reincarnations (samsara). The soul (atman) then merges with Brahman, the ultimate reality. It is the supreme goal of Hindu life, comparable to Buddhist Nirvana.

Explanation: Krishna is traditionally depicted with blue (or dark blue) skin. This color symbolizes infinity and the divine. Krishna is the 8th avatar of Vishnu and one of Hinduism's most popular deities.

Explanation: Yoga means "union" or "bond" in Sanskrit. It refers to a set of disciplines aimed at uniting body, mind and soul. Yoga originated in India over 5,000 years ago as a Hindu spiritual practice.

Explanation: The bindi represents the "third eye" (ajna chakra), seat of wisdom and inner vision. Worn between the eyebrows, it symbolizes spiritual awakening. Traditionally red, it is also decorative.

Explanation: Samsara is the cycle of death and rebirth to which every soul is subject. The quality of the next life depends on accumulated karma. Liberation (moksha) ends this cycle.

Explanation: Hinduism has about 1.2 billion followers, or 15% of the world population. It is the 3rd largest religion. 94% of Hindus live in India, which has about 1.1 billion.