Encyclopedia of Hinduism by Search the catalog with subject terms:
Hindu <topic>
Hinduism and <topic>
Hindu concepts
This is a small sampling of subject headings in our catalog. As always, the OCC librarians are ready to help you find the best resources for your specific needs.
Books on Hinduism can be found on the shelf in section: BL1100-1295
Hinduism in general:BL1100-1295
Hindu pantheon, deities: BL1216-1225
Sacred texts:
Hinduism, known as Sanātana Dharma or Vaidika Dharma by its practitioners, began in India. There are approximately 1.2 billion Hindus in the world, making it the world's third largest religion. Hinduism can be traced back at least 3000 years with some scholars saying that there is even evidence of it in the Neolithic period.* Since there is not a central authority, many different traditions and practices have developed. Most Hindus (but not all) would accept Brahman as the ultimate reality in the universe.
The "Ohm" or "Aum" symbol on the right represents the essence of the universe. The sound is incorporated into Hindu chants and prayers.
*Jones, Constance, and James Ryan. “Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Second Edition.” Encyclopedia of World Religions, Facts On File, 2016. Infobase eBooks, https://ebooks.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=107831&ISBN=9781438141763.
Most Hindus believe in Brahman (not to be confused with Brahma, one of the gods.) Brahman "connotes the highest universal principle, the Ultimate Reality of the universe....It serves as the absolute ground from which time, space, and natural law emerge."*
For some Hindus, their belief system stops there. They try to attain one-ness with Brahman.
Other Hindus worship one of more gods. By worshipping the gods, they are indirectly worshipping Brahman. One focus is on the triumvirate, or Trimurti, of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer.) Each of these gods can appear on earth in the form of an avatar. Rama and Krishna are both avatars of Vishnu.
The gods are also associated with wives and children who are also revered. Ganesh and Skanda are the children of Shiva and his wife Parvati.
There are many different sects within Hinduism. They are often based upon which god is the most revered.
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman
Trimurti image downloaded from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Replica_of_Trimurti_of_Elephanta_Caves.jpg
Ganesh image downloaded from: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/146556/god-ganesha-remover-of-obstacles
Most Hindus believe in Samsara (reincarnation) This is the process that the Atman, a person's soul or essence, must go through as the person strives to achieve one-ness with Brahman over the course of many life-times.
Where an Atman ends up in a future life, depends on the Karma in the their current life. Karma is a system of cause and effect which influence daily life as well as future life. People should strive to do good in the world to bolster their karma and to avoid doing bad which would deplete it.
After going through many cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, some people reach a state of Moksha, a release from the cycle.
Image downloaded from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ruota_del_Samsara.jpg
Here is a small sample of physical and e-books in our collection.
The Oxford history of Hinduism : Hindu practice by 
Hindu Scriptures by 
American Veda by