ABSTRACT
Hinduism is a very ancient religion; no-one is certain of its exact age. It has thousands of gods and goddesses, but most Hindus would argue that these are all manifestations of one God in many different forms. Hindus divide up into different sects whose beliefs and philosophies are quite different. Hindus believe that purification of the body is as necessary as purification of the mind. One facet of Hindu belief that must be mentioned is the caste system. Most Hindus living in Britain have been considerably influenced by our western theories about what causes illness and infection, though equally there has been considerable influence from Ayurvedic medicine within holistic approaches to healthcare. Most Hindus need time for meditation and prayer and this requirement will undoubtedly continue in terminal illness. Hindu priests, Brahmins will help the dying patient to accept death philosophically, an acceptance which is a strong feature of Hindu attitudes.
