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MERICAN Journal of Public Diplomacy and International Studies
www.
 grnjournal.us 
 
Brahman—the ultimate universal principle which has no form and is omnipresent. Atman—the 
inner self or spirit of an individual. To attain liberation from the cycles, one must acquire self-
knowledge to realize the true self. Yamas and Niyamas—a series of rules about how to live. The 
Yamas focus on self-restraints, while the Niyamas focus on virtuous behaviors.[7] 
Hinduism Deities. The concept of God in Hinduism is extremely complex, and it would be 
hard to summarize it here. However, it is possible to define Hinduism as henoteistic, i.e. worship 
a single god while accepting the existence of others. The texts speak of the existence of 
numerous gods, or Devas. Some of the most important ones include Brahma (the creator), 
Vishnu (the preserver), Shiva (the god of destruction), Ganesh (the remover of obstacles), 
Karttikeya (the god of war), and Devi (the goddess also known as Parvati, Durga, Kali). These 
gods are celestial beings that are different from the Ishvara, the personal god of Hindu 
worshippers. The vast range of Hindu gods and goddesses is best explored through their 
divine temples and sculptures. [8-141,146] 
Worship places for Hinduism. Every Hindu temple is a house of god(s), and its structure 
presents elements of Hindu cosmology: the dome represents Mount Meru – the center of the 
universe – and the carvings represent the Purusārthas. The temples are built according to various 
styles that are often adapted to the various local beliefs. One of the holiest temples in India is , 
located in Varanasi and dedicated to Shiva. Another notable temple is the Lord Jagannath 
Temple, house to 120 shrines and one of the oldest temples of the whole country. It was built 
during the 12th century and it is famous for the annual Rath Yatra. South India contains many 
beautiful hindu temples such as the Brihadishvara Temple which is also called the Dhakshina 
Meru (Meru of the south). This is a monumental temple dedicated to Shiva and the finest 
example of Chola architecture. The temple was built between 1003 and 1010 AD and now is a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site.[9] 
Daily practices of Hinduism. Hindu practitioners engage every day in religious rituals, in 
order to worship the deities and purify themselves. Some of the most common daily practices 
are: worshiping puja (a ritual prayer in order to honor the gods), bathing, fire sacrifices, 
recitation from the Vedas, hymns singing, etc. As said, the purpose of these practices is to honor 
the gods and purify themselves, as purity and pollution are two pivotal concepts of Hinduism. 
Hindus must neutralize impurity and gain merit, that will help them lead a good life in the next 
world. If you visit Varanasi, India's holiest Hindu city, you will witness a spiritual legacy that 
goes back nearly 3,000 years. This is the city of Shiva and has 90 or so ghats, or holy stairs 
leading down to a body of water, along the Ganges. In the city, visitors will be able to witness 
the endless cycle of Hindu religious practice. Thousands come to the Varanasi every day to bathe 
in the holy river and cleanse themselves of earthly sins. The evening aarti, or ritual, is performed 
every sunset at the Dasaswamedh Ghat, near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. If you attend the 
aarti, you will experience the chanting of sacred mantras and see the oil lamps and incense as 
they are offered to the river.[10-52] 
Hindu festivals (called Utsava in Sanskrit meaning «to lift higher») are ceremonies aimed 
to connect the social life to dharma. There are numerous festivals during the year, each one set 
according to the Hindu calendar. Some festivals are linked to the gods and goddesses, such as 
which honors the beloved elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh, which celebrates the victory of 
the goddess Durga, which marks the birth of Krishna, and which is dedicated to Shiva. Some 
Indian festivals celebrate the changing seasons. For example, South India's Onam celebrates the 

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