H2

• Hinduism

  • The oldest major world religion
  • 5000 years old and 3rd largest
  • the traditional religion of India, originated in the Indus Valley
  • The religion is based on God-given truths or laws and is a way of life based on universal principles.
• Hindu influences remain in Thailand, Malaysia and Bali, in Indonesia
• Hinduism

  • has no founder therefore it is not based on the teachings of a person or group of people; most likely the Indus Valley people
  • It is a polytheistic religion
• Archeologists have found many statues of a female figure in the homes of Indus Valley people
• Hinduism is a collection of beliefs and practices developed over thousand of years.
• Wisdom - Vedas: the Holy Writings
• Vedas - are a collection of Hindu writings
• Vedas - oldest writings
• Veda means "to know"
• Vedas are believed to be divinely given (god given) or revealed knowledge.
• Vedas are divided into 4 scriptures

  • Rig Veda
  • Yajur Veda
  • Sama Veda
  • Atharva Veda
• each Veda has 4 parts:

  • Mantras
  • Brahmanas
  • Aranyakas
  • Upanishads
• Mantras - prayers and hymns
• Brahmanas "priests" - provide information and explain the rituals, ceremonies and importance of saying prayers.
• Aranyakas "the forest books - written for hermits and saints who lived simple lives isolated in the forest.

  • contain meditations and asceticism
• Upanishads "sitting down near" - writings about the origins of the universe, characteristics of God and the presence of the atman or soul in all living beings.

  • are religious conversations between holy men that ordinary people could listen to
• Rig Veda

  • the oldest and most important section of the Vedas
  • it tells of 33 gods, all of whom are born of one creator, Brahman
  • the 3 gods : Brahman, Vishnu and Shiva form the Hindu trinity
• Hindus Worship

  • believe in one supreme being, whom they call Brahman
  • worship that one God in various forms, according to the different functions they believe He performs.
  • Believe that God is omnipresent everywhere in all living things.
  • they believe that the diety may be presented in masculine and feminine ways
• GOD

  • G: Generator - this represents God's ability to create things.
  • O: Operator - this represents God's ability to preserve things and keep them going.
  • D: Destroyer - this represents God's ability to destroy things.
• Hindu Trinity :

  • Brahma
  • Vishnu
  • Shiva
• Household shrines feature pictures and statues of the chosen gods.
• Brahma : The Creator

  • Supreme presence, or God
  • All other gods originate from Brahma
• Vishnu : The Preserver of the Universe

  • Maintains balance between good and evil
  • Appears in 10 different forms of avatars
• Shiva : The Destroyer

  • Worshipped as the destroyer or reproducer
  • fire represents cycle of birth and death
  • Crushes dwarf to symbolize ignorance
  • holds the flame of destruction, purification and renewal
  • His hands symbolize blessing and protection
  • snakes symbolizes his power over evil forces
• Puja - is the name given to the ritualistic worship.
• Mandir

  • a hindu place of worship or temple
  • it is considered to be the "home of God"
  • each mandir is dedicated to a god or deity
• Dharma

  • is the moral balance of all things
  • it is played out in all aspects of life : religious, social and family
• Karma - is the belief that a person experiences the effects of his or her actions-that every act or thought has consequences
• Samsara or Reincarnation

  • represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth in which a person carries his or her own karma
  • a person may experience effects of past lives and a worldly status depends upon actions in a past life.
  • Good thoughts or actions can liberate a person.
• Moksha

  • Like heaven for the Christian, Hindus strive to reach it or a state of changeless bliss.
  • This is achieved by living a life of religious devotion or moral integrity.
  • The ultimate reward is a release from samsara and union with God.
• Caste System

  • It is the basis for social divisions in Hinduism
  • Each Hindu is born into a caste group
  • Wether one is born into a high or low cast depends on the cycle of rebirth and depends on the deads of one's previous life.
• The Four Classes - Caste System

  • Brahmans
  • Kshatriyas
  • Vaishyas
  • Shudras