Hindu Americans comprise one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. Of the 1 billion Hindus worldwide, the Hindu American population currently numbers around 2 million, but this does not include the estimated 32 million others who derive inspiration from Hindu spirituality and practice Hindu teachings such as yoga and meditation. With growing numbers comes an increasing awareness of a place in American dialogue and the need for the accurate portrayal of the faith in line with its beliefs and practices. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) presents herein, more short answers to common questions about Hinduism.

What is the meaning of the swastika?

Contrary to the hateful and violent association the swastika has come to take on in the aftermath of the Holocaust and World War 2, the swastika is an ancient and holy symbol of auspiciousness and good fortune. It is still commonly used at the entrance of Hindu homes, in temples, and on invitations to auspicious occasions such as weddings and other rites of passage. In Sanskrit, the word is a combination of  ‘Su’ meaning ‘good’, and ‘Asti’ meaning ‘to exist’. The four limbs of the swastika have diverse symbolic meanings for Hindus: the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva), the four stages of life (brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha, sanyasa), the four goals of life (dharma, artha, kama, moksha), the four seasons, the four directions, and the four Yugas (Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali). The swastika is also a sacred symbol for Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians. Unfortunately, the continued conflation of the swastika with the emblem of the Nazis, properly called a hakenkreuz (“hooked cross”), still overshadows the beautiful meaning behind this ancient Hindu symbol.

I've heard some Hindus use the term "Sanatana Dharma." What is that?

Sanatana Dharma and Hinduism are synonymous.  The term Sanatana Dharma, loosely translated as “Eternal Law or Way,” is self-referential.  While the term “Hindu” is a centuries-old Persian word referring to the Indic civilization they found espousing certain philosophical precepts and a way of life on the banks of the Indus river, it has gained wide currency as a self-referential term.  Over the millennia, the diverse adherents of Sanatana Dharma or Hindus include those who, amongst other concepts, are inspired by the Vedas and other Hindu sacred texts; accept that there are multiple paths to, perspectives on, and ways to worship the one all-pervasive Ultimate Reality, Absolute, Divine, or Consciousness (Brahman); acknowledge an underlying unity of all existence; understand life to be shaped by the law of karma and reincarnation; view dharma or right living as both a responsibility and way of being that is most conducive to spiritual growth; and see liberation (moksha) as an ultimate goal. Other terms used to refer to Hinduism include Vedic, Sanskritic, Yogic, Indic, Dharmic, and Ancient Indian.

Do Hindus have Commandments?

Hinduism is a family of traditions that emphasizes experience and evaluation and thus, offers overarching guidelines rather than absolute commandments in regulating individual behavior. For a Hindu, all actions are to be guided by dharma. Hindu ethical values flow from one’s understanding of the nature of reality and inform the Hindu understanding of right and wrong. [See What is Dharma?] Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra provides a very succinct codification of ten principles which are also found in numerous sources of Hindu scripture and teachings and considered the foundations for dharmic thought and action.  Of the ten, five are yamas, or guides for social behavior, and five are niyamas, or guides for personal behavior. The five yamas include compassion, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, and abstention from greed.  The five niyamas include cleanliness, contentment, self-discipline, scriptural study, and surrender to Ultimate Reality, Divine, or Absolute.



What is moksha?

The ultimate purpose and goal for a Hindu’s religious and spiritual practice is to attain moksha. Moksha is achieved through Self-realization (atma-jnana), that is realization of one’s true, divine nature. Hindus understand each living being  to be a divine self (atman, , life principle, consciousness), but that spiritual ignorance leads one to identify the self completely with the body and mind (ego), thereby forgetting the divine nature of not only one’s self, but all of existence. Moksha is characterized by the overcoming of spiritual ignorance; the complete elimination of material desires and attachments; the perfected ability to be happy, live in the present moment and experience absolute peace; and most importantly, the awakening of pure compassion towards all. Moksha also translates to liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara). Someone may attain moksha during his or her lifetime or upon the death of his or her physical body.

What is the red dot many Hindu women wear on their forehead?

The red dot or bindi, once primarily a symbol of marriage, has largely become a fashionable accessory for Hindu females of all ages, regardless of their marital status.  Traditionally, bindi were red or maroon in color, circular in shape, made of vermilion paste (kumkum), and applied with the ring finger of the right hand. Today, bindi come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and are often self-adhesive for convenience.

The male version of forehead markings is called tilak and can be made of kumkum, sandalwood or sacred ash. It is applied in a variety of shapes including lines, U-shapes and dots. The tilak can be representative of an individual’s deity tradition. The adornment of tilak is not as prevalent as that of bindi. The marking of either, however, is amongst the first requisite steps in most rituals and sacred ceremonies.

Both bindi and tilak are placed approximately one centimeter above the center of the eyebrows, which is considered to be the sixth chakra, ajna. The bindi is associated with the worship of the Ultimate Reality as the feminine divine. It is also indicative of the conceptual “third eye of spiritual wisdom”, as Shiva, the greatest of Yogis, is depicted as having. Bindi and tilak may also represent interdependence of both the feminine and masculine aspects of Ultimate Reality. Lastly, the bindi and tilak serve as reminders of a seeker’s ultimate goal of enlightenment, liberation or moksha.

How often is a Hindu supposed to pray?

Prayer is integral to Hindu practice.  Many Hindus follow set, obligatory guidelines in terms of specificity of prayers as well as timing, frequency and length while others may be more fluid and individualized in their practice. One is not guaranteed moksha upon the performance of certain types or amounts of prayer nor is anyone condemned for lack of prayer, but progress towards moksha is proportional to spiritual effort. Hindus may pray at a personal, home altar which is usually placed in a room or space dedicated for worship; at a temple; or wherever they may be (and without an altar) . Prayers may be to a specific deity or set of deities or to no deity in particular.  Prayer may also vary in form and include:

  • Chanting of a particular deity’s name or deity specific mantra (japa) using a mala. Often a mala, a looped thread which holds 108 beads, is used during chanting as an aid for keeping count and the devotee’s concentration.
  • Chanting of time specific slokas, including upon waking, while bathing, while lighting a sacred oil lamp, prior to eating, before studying and prior to retiring for the day
  • Chanting of slokas for peace and universal well-being (including nature)
  • Rituals and offerings conducted by the individual or a priest
  • Singing of devotional poems
  • Meditating
  • Studying scripture

Do Hindus believe in heaven or hell?

Because Hindus believe in karma and reincarnation, the concept of heaven and hell as worlds of eternal glory or damnation do not exist in Hinduism. Hindus also do not ascribe to the concept of Satan or devil that is in eternal opposition to God or the Ultimate Reality. [See What is Karma? and Do Hindus believe in reincarnation?]

Some Hindus may believe in what is described in Hindu scriptures as two planes of existence that can be likened to heaven and hell. These are respectively svarga and naraka. Neither svarga or naraka, however, are permanent or eternal. Both are intermediary planes of existence in which the atman might exhaust a portion of its karmic debt or surplus before taking physical birth once again to strive for moksha. [See What is moksha?]

Why are so many Hindu Gods depicted blue in color or as animals?

The depiction of some Gods and Goddesses as blue toned is an example of the importance of symbolism in Hinduism. Blue, the color of the sky, represents the limitlessness of the sky and universe. Blue is also the color of water, which is life-sustaining. Swami Chinmayanada, a modern day sage, explained that the human eye sees that which is infinite as blue so the blue tone serves as a reminder of the Divine’s infiniteness.

Because Hinduism teaches that all of nature is Divine, Hindus believe that the Ultimate Reality manifests in the various forms that are found in nature, including animals, rivers, mountains and earth. For example, Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles, is depicted with an elephant head which symbolizes wisdom, as elephants are recognized to be among the wisest of animals. Hanuman, worshiped as the perfect devotee and depicted as a monkey, symbolizes the individual’s ability to quiet the ever racing human mind through loving devotion to the Divine and selfless service.

Do Hindus belong to different denominations? If so, can they intermarry?

Hinduism is not divided by denomination, but by other categories, including deity traditions, sampradayaparampara and darsana. Most Hindus belong to one of four major deity traditions – Shaivas, Shaktas, Vaishnavas, and Smartas.  While all traditions share many beliefs and practices, the central deity worshipped as well as certain philosophical tenets differ.  Shaivas primarily worship different forms of Lord Shiva, Shaktas worship Shakti or the Divine Mother in Her various forms, Vaishnavas worship forms of Lord Vishnu and Smartas worship different forms of six major deities including Lord Shiva, Shakti, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Surya, holding them all to be forms of Brahman, the eternal, infinite, unchanging principle that is the substratum of the universe and is both immanent and transcendent.

Hinduism is not divided by denomination per se, but by other categories, including deity traditions, sampradaya, parampara and darsana. Most Hindus worship on the basis of one of four major deity traditions — Shaivas, Shaktas, Vaishnavas, and Smartas. While all traditions share many beliefs and practices, the central deity worshiped as well as certain philosophical tenets differ. Shaivas primarily worship different forms of Lord Shiva, Shaktas worship Shakti or the Divine Mother in Her various forms, Vaishnavas worship forms of Lord Vishnu and Smartas worship different forms of six major deities including Lord Shiva, Shakti, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Surya, holding them all to be forms of Brahman, the eternal, infinite, unchanging principle that is the substratum of the universe and is both immanent and transcendent.

Each deity tradition may also further branch into sampradaya. Adherents of a sampradaya have familial connections and/or strong faith in the heightened spirituality, divine experiences, and philosophical knowledge of the founder and/or current guru or swami (spiritual head) of the sampradaya. Hindus may also freely choose between different sampradayas based on their temperament and understanding. A sampradaya following a particular lineage or succession of swamis is said to be of a particular parampara. Hindus of different deity traditions, sampradaya and parampara can intermarry although many choose to marry within these branches for a variety of reasons. [See What are the six major philosophical schools in Hinduism?]

What are the six major philosophical schools in Hinduism?

Over the ages, various philosophical or theological schools developed in Hinduism through a dynamic tradition of intellectual inquiry and debate. From timeless and universal questions such as the feasibility of being truly happy, the purpose of life, or the relationship between humans and the Divine emerged many philosophical schools or darshana. Darshana literally means “seeing.” In Hindu teachings darshana relates to the different ways of “seeing” the Divine and attaining moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

These schools very often approach the same texts and teachings, but from different perspectives and arrive at different conclusions. The six darshana that are recognized as the most influential include Sankhya, Vaisheshika, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Yoga and Vedanta.

While each school is comprehensive and complex, they are succinctly summarized below:

  • Vaisheshika: considered one of the most ancient atomic theories founded by Sage Kanada, who held that all matter is made up of atoms and these atoms are activated through Divine intervention. Vaisheshika and Nyaya eventually merged.
  • Nyaya: a system of logic proving the existence of the Divine as well as other core Hindu concepts such as karma. Nyaya insists that nothing is acceptable unless it is in accordance with reason and experience. The thoroughness of Nyaya logic and epistemology greatly influenced many succeeding schools of thought.
  • Sankhya: considered one of the oldest schools of thought, Sankhya divides all of existence into two categories — Purusha (divine consciousness) and prakriti (matter). Very little Sankhya literature survives today, and there is some debate over whether or not the system is dualistic because it propounds the existence of these two categories.
  • Mimamsa or Purva Mimamsa: interprets the rules of Vedic ritual, proffering perfection in ritual as a path towards moksha.
  • Yoga: more aptly Raja Yoga, focuses on quieting the mind through an eight limb system (Ashtanga yoga) as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras for a balanced life and ultimately moksha.
  • Vedanta: arguably the most influential on modern Hinduism and relies primarily on transcending one’s identification with the physical body for liberation. The means by which an individual can transcend one’s self-identity is through right knowledge, meditation, devotion, selfless service, good works amongst other religious and spiritual disciplines. Major subschools of Vedanta include Advaita, Dvaita, and Visishtaadvaita.

What are the major Hindu holidays?

Holidays and ways of celebrating those holidays are as richly diverse as the family of traditions called Hinduism. However, there are certain holidays that have come to be widely celebrated throughout the Hindu diaspora. Generally, Hindu holidays may commemorate a particular deity, season or event in history. Often, the same holiday may celebrate several different events or attributes of a variety of manifestations of the Divine (God or Deity). Hindu holidays don’t necessarily fall on a specific day each year as the Hindu calendar is lunar.

Deity Celebrations

  • Shivaratri (February/March) — Pays homage to Lord Shiva, the divine manifestation of transformation and regeneration
  • Ram Navami (March/April)— Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu and embodiment of dharma (righteousness)
  • Krishna Janmashtami (August/September) — Celebrates the birth and life of Lord Krishna, one of the most endeared incarnations of Vishnu and deliverer of the Bhagavad Gita
  • Ganesha Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi (August/September)Pays homage to Lord Ganesha, also known as Lord Vinayaka, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and divine manifestation of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune
  • Navaratri (March/April, June/July, September/October, December/January, January/February) — A nine night celebration of the feminine divine that occurs five times a year (the spring and fall celebrations being amongst the more widely celebrated). The most popularly worshiped manifestations of the feminine divine include Goddess Durga representing the Mother Goddess and Shakti (Divine Energy), Goddess Saraswati representing knowledge, speech and the arts and Goddess Lakshmi, representing good health, wealth and prosperity. Many fasts and rituals associated with Navaratri are exclusive to women.

All of these celebrations may include fasting, temple visits, special rituals, chanting of mantras, singing of devotional prayers, dancing and all-night vigils.

Seasonal Celebrations

  • Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana or Pongal (January 14) — One of the few solar holidays that marks the transition of the Sun into Capricorn or Makara rashi on its celestial path and the northward journey of the sun. It also broadly coincides with the winter harvest in many parts of India. Hindus thank God for the bountiful harvest and may pay homage to Goddess Saraswati on this day as well as to ancestors. Pongal is widely celebrated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
  • Holi (February/March) — Welcomes the arrival of spring and the harvests it brings.  It also celebrates triumph over divisiveness and negativity. A visually stunning event with people tossing colored powders in the air and using dyed water in an atmosphere where culture, camaraderie and oneness are honored. In the evening, the community lights bonfires and eats festive foods. One of the largest festivals in the world, Holi is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
  • Vaisakhi (April 13) — Vaisakhi is an ancient harvest in the Indian state of Punjab as well as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It also marks the solar new year for Hindus in Nepal and the Indian states of Kerala, Orissa, West Bengal, and other regions with celebrations paying homage to various regional deities. For Sikhs, Vaisakhi is especially significant as commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa (collective family of all initiated Sikhs) in 1699.

Other Celebrations

  • Raksha Bandhan / Veda Upakarma (August/September) — A holiday which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.  Sisters tie a decorative sacred thread or amulet on the right wrist of her brothers (often including distant cousins and friends considered honorary brothers) with her prayers for his protection and well-being while sweets are exchanged. In return, brothers give their sisters small tokens or gifts of appreciation.
  • Diwali or Deepavali (October/November) – One of the most celebrated Hindu festivals, commemorates the victory of good over evil. The word refers to rows of earthen lamps celebrants place around their homes. The light from these lamps symbolizes the illumination within the individual that can overwhelm ignorance, represented by darkness.

I read that yoga can't be claimed by any religion. Isn't yoga a Hindu practice?

Yoga refers to spiritual disciplines that are essential to the understanding and practice of Hinduism. The term covers a wide array of practices, embodied in eight “limbs,” which range from ethical and moral guidelines to meditation on the Ultimate Reality. Yoga is a way of life that combines both physical and spiritual exercises, entails mastery over the body, mind and emotional self, and transcendence of desire.  The ultimate goal is moksha. [See What is moksha?]

In the West, Yoga has largely become an asana-based (posture) physical practice, allowing practitioners to delink it from its Hindu philosophical and spiritual roots.  But a perusal of the best known Yoga texts will demonstrate the contrary. Patajanli allots less than 25% of his revered Yoga Sutras to asana.  The remainder focuses on what is essentially Hindu philosophy.

Yet, even when Yoga is practiced solely in the form of an exercise, its Hindu roots cannot be avoided.  As the legendary Yoga guru B.K.S Iyengar points out in his famous Light on Yoga, “Some asanas are also called after Gods of the Hindu pantheon…” It is disappointing that many yogis regularly practicing Hanumanasana or Natarajasana continue to deny the Hindu roots of their Yoga practice.

In effect, the delinking of Yoga from its Hindu roots disenfranchises Hindus of recognition and appreciation for one of their ancestors’ beneficial contributions to civilization and inhibits their ability to promote an accurate and deeper understanding of Hinduism.

Do I have to be Hindu to practice yoga?

As a non-proselytizing religion, Hinduism never compels practitioners of yoga to profess allegiance to the faith or convert. Yoga is a means of spiritual attainment for any and all seekers. Thus, while one does not have to profess faith in Hinduism in order to practice Yoga or asana, Yoga is still an essential part of Hindu philosophy and the two cannot be delinked, despite efforts to do so.

What is a guru? What is a shishya?

The word guru very often refers to a master teacher who has great knowledge of or skill in a particular subject area, such as music, dance, sculpture, or other arts. When used in referring to a religious or spiritual teacher, a guru is one who not only has deep knowledge that can lead to moksha (liberation or enlightenment), but also has direct experience of Divine vision and grace which they have assimilated into their way of being. The literal translation of ‘guru’ is “dispeller of darkness.”

The students of a guru are known as shishya, meaning pupil or disciple. Prior to accepting a student, a guru traditionally tests potential students for their seriousness of study, with students progressing through different degrees of initiation and study with their teacher. A guru guides their shishya on an artistic or spiritual path, which requires both devotion and commitment to the guru’s teachings and advice, yet also requires independent contemplation and discernment. Given the deep bond often created in this relationship, though students can and have changed their guru, it is not a common occurrence nor a decision taken lightly.

The method of transmission of knowledge and relationship between student and teacher is often referred to as guru-shishya parampara (lineage). This relationship and method of teaching has been considered a sacred one in both the Hindu and broader Indian tradition since ancient times. Until the latter part of the 20th century, certain subjects, such as yoga asana, meditation techniques, and Vedanta, were only taught in this manner, through an oral tradition.

Traditionally, students used to live in the home of their guru, with that home becoming their own through their active participation in that family life as if it were the home of their birth. In this way, the guru took on the role of a parent. In modern times, lay students living with a guru is less common.

Is Hinduism compatible with science?

Contrary to popular perceptions that Hinduism is a mystical religion exclusively concerned with transcendental concepts of spiritual practice, Hinduism has been a wellspring of scientific thought and contributed immensely to the global civilization spanning more than five millennia. As a religious practice aspiring to understand the eternal mysteries of existence, Hinduism has never been a dogma espousing fundamentalist interpretations of one holy book. Hindu sacred texts describe the concept of planets in the solar system circling the sun and the earth as round and rotating on its axis. Ancient Hindus also made epochal strides in astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, metallurgy, medicine and surgery, including many findings upon which modern science, medicine and technology are based.

Revered Hindu sages, such as Swami Vivekanada and Paramahansa Yogananda, spent time working with and learning from scientists and saw compatibility with Hindu teachings. The French Nobel laureate Romain Rolland said, “Religious faith in the case of the Hindus has never been allowed to run counter to scientific laws,” while Carl Sagan once called Hinduism the only religion whose time-scale for the universe matches the billions of years documented by modern science.

Why does Hinduism have many Gods?

Most Hindus believe in one, all-pervasive Divine Reality, that is formless (Brahman) and/or manifests and is worshiped in different forms (Ishvara or God/Goddess or Deities).  This belief in the existence of one Divine Reality with diverse manifestations can best be described as monism. Hindu monism is the foundation for understandings of the Ultimate Reality or Divine that range from non-dualistic — that existence and the Divine are not separate, but one and the same, to dualistic — that existence and the Divine, while sharing divine qualities, are separate. Hinduism also encompasses theologies of pantheism, that all of existence is Divine, to panentheism, that all of existence is within the Divine, to a theology of the Divine being external to all of existence. The Sanskrit hymn, Rig Veda I.164.46:

Ekam sat vipraha bahudha vadanti
Truth is one, the wise call it by many names.

The hymn references the Ultimate Reality as Truth, and is at the crux of Hinduism’s pluralistic philosophy.

Do Hindus have a “Bible”?

Hinduism is rich in scripture, but does not have a ‘Bible’ in terms of one central, authoritative book. Hindu scripture is an extensive collection of ancient religious writings which expound upon eternal Truths that have been revealed by the Ultimate Reality and realized by the ancient sages and enlightened wise men. These Truths, which were passed on for generations through an extraordinary oral tradition, include the Vedas and Agamas; the Upanishads; the Epics, including the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana; the Puranas; lawbooks and many other philosophical and sectarian texts. Scripture in Hinduism, however, does not have the same place as it does in many other faiths. Hinduism is premised on self-realization, not revelation. To be enlightened, one must have personal experience of the Truths set out in the Vedas and other revealed/realized sacred texts and teachings. Important to note also is that the words of a living, enlightened teacher are as valid as the words of scripture.

Do Hindus believe in reincarnation?

Hindus recognize the atman (divine self, life principle, consciousness) to be immortal and evolving through the experience of varied lives in a process wherein it reincarnates into different physical bodies through cycles of birth and death. Guided by the laws of karma (see below), the atman continues on its path of spiritual evolution. The ultimate aim of Hindus is for the atman to attain freedom from this continuous cycle of birth and rebirth and discover its divine origin.



What is Karma?

Karma is the universal law of cause and effect. The critical and subtler understanding of karma is that each action has a reaction and that this cycle is endless. Thus if one sows goodness, one reaps goodness and conversely, if one sows evil, one will reap evil. To avoid the cycle of karma, Hindus strive to remain unattached to the fruits of their virtuous action in thought, word, and deed. When one can work without expecting rewards, Hindus believe that society as a whole benefits and the individual is freed from the cycle of karma and reincarnation. The Bhagavad Gita, III.19 and III.20 expounds on this:

Tasmad asakta satatam
Karyam karma samacara
Asakto hy acaran karma
Param apnoti purusah
Lokasampraham eva’pi
Sampasyan kartum arhasi

Therefore, without attachment
Perform always the work that has to be done
For man attains to the highest
By doing work without attachment
Likewise you should perform with a view to guide others
And for the sake of benefiting the welfare of the world

What is Dharma?

Dharma is a multi-layered term and its meaning depends on context. Broadly, it is the mode of conduct for an individual that is most conducive to spiritual growth. Dharma includes Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Law), which encompasses the inherent laws of nature and the Ultimate Reality, sāmanya dharma and vishesha dharma. 

Sāmanya dharma includes general laws that govern all forms and functions, including one’s duty to strive towards and achieve simple, selfless living; contentment; discernment between right and wrong;  absence of anger and greed; and empathy and compassion towards others. 

Vishesha dharma (special duties), expound upon social law or the laws defining an individual’s responsibilities within the nation, society, community and family; law according to life stage or the laws governing age-appropriate duties related to the natural process of maturing from childhood to old age; and personal law or the individualized application of dharma according to an individual’s sum of past karma, intelligence, aptitudes, tendencies, physical characteristics and community.

Why are many Hindus vegetarian?

In India, more than 30% of all Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs are vegetarian because of the fundamental belief in ahimsa (non-harming). The Vedas propound that all beings, from the smallest organism to man, are considered manifestations of God and members of a universal family. With this worldview, violence in thought, word or deed against a living being is contrary to the natural balance of the universe. Many Hindus, therefore, refrain from killing animals for food when a plethora of vegetarian alternatives are available.

What is the status of women in the practice of Hinduism?

One of the most profound attributes of Hinduism is the recognition and worship of the Divine as feminine. In fact, Hinduism is the only major religion which has always worshiped the Ultimate Reality in female form and continues to do so today. Hindus revere the Divine’s energy, or Shakti, through its personification in a Goddess. The Vedas are replete with hymns extolling the equality of men and women in the spiritual, social and educational realms. It is unfortunate, however, that the gender equality of the Vedic period and that of the Hindu view of the Divine has been corrupted by the realities of social practice and taboo. Yet, Hinduism remains one of a few major religions in which women have occupied and continue to occupy some of the most respected positions in the spiritual leadership including, Sharda Devi, The Mother, Anandamayi, Amritanandmayi Devi or Ammachi, Shree Maa, Anandi Ma, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda and Ma Yoga Shakti.