Polytheism

• Hinduism includes more than one deity, but Hindus think of these gods and goddesses as different aspects of the same eternal being. Just as Christians believe in the Holy Trinity consisting of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Hinduism has a sacred triumvirate: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Protector and Shiva the Destroyer. Other Hindu gods include Ganesha, who is depicted as a man with the head of an elephant and is known as the remover of obstacles, and Lakshmi, who is the Hindu goddess of wealth and is known for her beauty and compassion.
  
  

Reincarnation and Karma

• Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is the belief that when a person dies, his soul doesn't go to heaven but instead moves on to inhabit another body. Hindus also believe that the desires and actions in a past life form your karma -- or fate -- in the present life. For example, if in a past life you died in a fire, in your current life you may have a strong desire to become a firefighter. Hindus believe that a person can clear negative karma, which can manifest itself as feelings of anger, guilt, fear and depression, through prayer and meditation.
  
  

Honoring Milestones

• Hindus perform elaborate rituals around life's milestones. The first haircut is accompanied by the Mundan ceremony in which both a barber and priest are in attendance as the priest cuts one section of the hair and the barber completes the job. The ear piercing ceremony is known as the Karnavedha and is believed to not only have health benefits but also to open the ears to mystical sounds. Other events, such as Hindu weddings, can last for several days. There are also elaborate rituals performed upon death, including the bathing and anointing of the body before cremation, then wrapping the body in cloth and burning it on a pyre.
  
  

Yoga

• It's easy to forget that yoga is an ancient religious discipline, considering the Western emphasis on its fitness benefits. However, yoga is a key practice in the Hindu faith and is a form of meditation thought to foster spiritual development. For example, "hatha" is Sanskrit for "force," and Hatha yoga is any of the branches of yoga that involve challenging physical poses, with the goal of purifying and preparing the physical body for spiritual enlightenment.
  
  

The Veda

• The Veda is Hindusim's holy book and may be referred to as "The Vedas" because it's divided into four sections. Rig Veda is a collection of hymns to the gods. Sama Veda is a variation of the hymns presented in the Rig Veda with music added. Yajur Veda contains hymns used for specific types of rituals. And the Atharva Veda consists of hymns designed to assist in accomplishing a variety of practical purposes, such as thwarting enemies or attracting love.