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Hinduism's Core Beliefs: What Hindus Believe, Explained Simply
The core beliefs of Hinduism in plain words: one divine reality (Brahman) in many forms, atman, karma, rebirth, dharma, moksha and the four traditions.
The short answer
Most Hindus believe in one all-pervading divine reality, Brahman, which is worshipped in many forms as gods and goddesses.
They believe each living being is an eternal self (atman) that is reborn through many lives under the law of karma, that dharma, right living, is the way to live, and that the ultimate goal is moksha, liberation from rebirth. Hinduism accepts many paths to the divine, rests on scriptures from the Vedas to the Bhagavad Gita, and has four main traditions: Shaiva, Shakta, Vaishnava and Smarta.
What do Hindus believe? The short answer
Hinduism, also called Sanatana Dharma ("the eternal way"), has no single founder and no single creed. But most Hindus share a set of core beliefs. They accept that there are many paths to, and many ways to worship, the one all-pervasive ultimate reality (Brahman); they acknowledge an underlying unity of all existence; they understand life to be shaped by karma and reincarnation; they see dharma, right living, as both a responsibility and a way of being; and they see liberation, moksha, as the ultimate goal.
| Belief | In one line | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Brahman | One divine reality behind everything | Below |
| Many forms of God | That reality is worshipped as many gods and goddesses | Hindu gods and goddesses |
| Atman | The true self in every being is eternal and divine | Atman meaning |
| Karma | Every action has consequences | Karma meaning |
| Samsara | The self is reborn through many lives | Below |
| Dharma | Right living, duty and ethics | Meaning of dharma |
| Moksha | Liberation from rebirth is the final goal | Moksha meaning |
One God or many gods?
Most Hindus believe in one all-pervasive divine reality that is formless (Brahman) and is also worshipped in many forms, as God and as gods and goddesses. The individual deities are personifications of that one cosmic force. A good image: the divine is like a diamond with innumerable facets, and each deity is one of those facets. Worshipping one facet does not deny the others.
That is why a Hindu can worship Ganesha in the morning and Lakshmi at Diwali, and still say there is one God. See Hindu gods and goddesses and Brahma (who is not Brahman).
Atman, karma and rebirth
Every living being is an eternal self, the atman. Karma, the Sanskrit word for action or deed, is the law that every action has consequences, in this life or in future ones. Driven by karma, the atman is reborn into new bodies: this cycle of birth, death and rebirth is samsara. Because of this, Hindus do not believe in an eternal heaven or hell; any higher or lower worlds are temporary, and the self moves on.
Dharma and the four goals of life
Dharma means right living: the duties and ethics that fit your stage of life and your relationships. It is the first of the four goals of life, with artha (wealth earned rightly), kama (pleasure enjoyed rightly) and moksha (liberation). See meaning of dharma.
Moksha: the final goal
The ultimate goal of Hindu life is moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, reached by realizing one's true, divine nature. The Bhagavad Gita teaches several paths to it: action (karma yoga), devotion (bhakti), knowledge (jnana) and meditation. See moksha meaning.
What are the Hindu scriptures?
Hindu scriptures include the Vedas and Agamas, the Upanishads, the epics (including the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which contains the Bhagavad Gita), the Puranas and many other texts. But scripture has a different place than in many religions: Hinduism is premised on self-realization, not revelation alone. The truth in the texts is meant to be experienced personally. See which Hindu scripture to read first.
The four main Hindu traditions
Most Hindus belong to one of four major deity traditions. They share most beliefs but center on different forms of God:
| Tradition | Main deity |
|---|---|
| Shaiva | Shiva |
| Shakta | Shakti, the Divine Mother (Durga, Kali, Parvati) |
| Vaishnava | Vishnu and his avatars, Rama and Krishna |
| Smarta | Six deities, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Ganesha, Murugan and Surya, all as forms of Brahman |
Where does the word "Hindu" come from?
"Hindu" is a centuries-old Persian word for the people and civilization living by the Indus river. Hindus themselves often call their religion Sanatana Dharma, the eternal way.
How Hindus live these beliefs
Belief in Hinduism is lived more than recited: a lamp lit at home each morning, a mantra, a verse of the Gita, festivals through the year, and kindness to all beings. Diya, the app, helps you keep that daily practice with prayers, Gita verses and a diya to light. Diya is available for iPhone. See the Diya app.
Related reading
Questions people ask
What are the main beliefs of Hinduism?
One divine reality (Brahman) worshipped in many forms; an eternal self (atman) in every being; karma and rebirth (samsara); dharma, right living; and moksha, liberation, as the final goal.
Is Hinduism polytheistic?
Not in the usual sense. Most Hindus believe in one divine reality that appears in many forms. Worshipping Shiva, Vishnu or the Goddess is worshipping that one reality in a form you can relate to. Scholars call this monism or henotheism rather than polytheism.
Do all Hindus believe in Brahman?
Almost all Hindu traditions speak of one ultimate reality, but they describe it differently: as formless Brahman, or as a personal God such as Vishnu, Shiva or the Goddess, who is that reality.
What is the concept of maya in Hinduism?
Maya is the power that makes the world appear separate and lasting, hiding its unity with the divine. Many teachers translate it as illusion; others as the creative power of God. Seeing through maya is part of the path to moksha.
Do Hindus believe in heaven and hell?
Not as eternal places. Some scriptures describe higher and lower worlds where the self works out part of its karma, but these are temporary stops before rebirth, not final destinations.
Can you explain Hinduism in a way kids can understand?
God is everywhere and in everyone. God can be seen in many forms, like one person being a parent, a friend and a teacher. Every good or bad thing we do comes back to us (karma). We live many lives, and the goal is to become so good and wise that we are one with God.
Research notes
Sources
Follow the reading behind this article through the references below. Each source represents its own author, institution, or tradition.
- Short answers to real questions about Hinduism
Hindu American Foundation
- Hinduism 101: What?
Hindu American Foundation
- Puja: What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism?
Smithsonian Institution, Freer and Sackler GalleriesPublished by Smithsonian Institution
- Puja: Why are there so many different gods and goddesses?
Smithsonian Institution, Freer and Sackler GalleriesPublished by Smithsonian Institution
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