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After Buddhists, Hindus (almost all of whom are Tamils) represent the largest religious group in Sri Lanka. Hinduism recognises literally dozens of deities, but the Lord Brahma is regarded as the supreme godhead.<br/><br/> Hinduism is a rather eclectic religion, or at least appears so to the non-Hindu. Thus the Buddha himself is readily incorporated within Hinduism as an incarnation of the great Hindu deity Vishnu. Like Buddhists, Hindus also seek to break the seemingly endless cycle of rebirth through attaining enlightenment. This can be achieved through meaningful worship, meditation, ascetic practices and selflessness.<br/><br/> Within Hinduism, guidance is provided by priests and gurus. In Sri Lanka the most important (and popular) Hindu deities are Skanda, the God of War, Vishnu, the Preserver of the Universe, Siva, the Creator-Destroyer, Ganpati, the God of Wisdom, Laksmi, the Bringer of Wealth, and Ganesh, the elephant-headed God.<br/><br/> Hindu gods appear in many Buddhist temples, just as the Buddha may appear in Hindu temples. The religions are distinct yet linked, as they have been for perhaps as long as two millennia.
The Betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and Kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties.<br/><br/> Chewing areca nut is an increasingly rare custom in the modern world. Yet once, not so long ago, areca nut – taken with the leaf of the betel tree and lime paste – was widely consumed throughout South and Southeast Asia by people of all social classes, and was considered an essential part of daily life.
The Betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and Kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties.<br/><br/> Chewing areca nut is an increasingly rare custom in the modern world. Yet once, not so long ago, areca nut – taken with the leaf of the betel tree and lime paste – was widely consumed throughout South and Southeast Asia by people of all social classes, and was considered an essential part of daily life.