Well how can you tell if it's god or just a coincidince?
I don't know, that's why I am asking you^^ (btw I'm an atheist who doesn't believe in any form of supernatural things, so to me it's all coincidence...)
As for your other question, karma is simply there, it is implied that if you do good, good will be done unto you and vice versa.
What happens when you die?
Reincarnation, although there are sages who die and simply begin to live in Swarglok(Heaven). Your position in the new life of course depends on how you behaved in the previous. There are also some humans who drink "Amrit" which is what grants the gods their immortality.
What do you do during the vrathas, and what are their purpose? Are there different vrathas for different things, or what?
There are many purposes, I don't know but a fraction of them, they are used to bless a new house, help a couple conceive, etc.
What holidays do Hindus celebrate?
Diwali - The festival of lights, it signifies the victory of good over evil, specifically the culmination of the epic Ramayana, in which Rama, Sita, and Lakshamana, return from their exile.
Navratra - A nine day holiday, dates change depending on the year. It starts in Sept or October, and ends in October or November.
There are many others such as Jamnashtmi which is the birth of Lord Krishna, the physical avatar of the god Vishnu. This festival was just two days ago.
nice discussion going on...i want to contribute I have following questions , answers must be given in plain and simple language
1) What is the concept of "heaven" and "hell" in hinduism ? 2) What exactly is reincarnation ? What is my purpose of being born on this earth ? Who will decide what I will be in my next life? 3) What are the deeds considered to be good in hinduism ? If anyone who doesn't believes in God , is still considered good if he is not hurting anyone ?
1. You go to heaven only if you're really good (helped people and stuff) and hell only if you're really bad, like killed a guy bad. 2. Your spirit gets passed of from one form into another, every seventh reincarnation you are a human. 3. You can be considered good, like you won't go to hell, but you won't go to heaven either, you'll just get reincarnated.
This is wondering me: Why do Hindus have a kind of stain in the head?
What you're referring to is called the Bindi. It is a religious symbol to show one is a Hindu and represents divine sight. Read the link to find out all it's meanings.
Svaraga(Heaven) is the abode of the gods, the only permanent residents of the plane. The souls there are those who were good in their previous life and enjoy the pleasures of Heaven before their next reincarnation. Note that the ultimate goal in Hinduism is to be one with the Brahman, or the Universe; that is the end to the cycle of reincarnation, from that point you are the universe. This final unity is reached when the soul has let go of desire, it no longer wants for anything and that's when moksha is achieved.
Naraka is the typical hell, those who lived sinful lives are punished here before being sent onto their next life, so thankfully it's not eternal torment.
1) What are the good deeds that I should do in order to go to heaven ?? ..or get a higher level in my next birth ?? .... is it necessary to go to temples and worship someone ???
