Brahman

• Hindus believe that Brahman (the Hindu name for God or the Supreme Being) is a limitless, universal soul beyond human understanding - They believe Brahman is the source of all life
• Hindus believe that God can have form and personality and be worshipped as deities
• What is the name of the symbol below?

  The Om (or Aum)

  
• The Om or Aum is the main symbol of the Supreme Being for Hindus
• Hinduism began thousands of years ago in the valley of the River Indus in India
• Hindu teachings were passed down through revelation , oral tradition and written scripture
• Stories about Hindu gods and deities have been woven into everyday life in India
• Hinduism is referred to as sanatana dharma (eternal truth) by many followers
• What does sanatana dharma mean?

  Eternal truth
• What is the main holy River in Hinduism?

  River Ganges
• What is Saguna Brahman?

  The ideas that God has form and can be pictured - Different images of Hindu gods give the Supreme Being form and personality - These deities and their murtis make Brahman visible in believers' daily lives
• What is Nirguna Brahman?

  The idea that God is ' divine consciousness ' with no form or shape , God is a spiritual presence only - The Om or Aum symbol , written in Sanskrit, is sometimes used to represent this - It is considered to be the first sound at the beginning of all creation (It represents Brahman)
• The Om or Aum symbol is written in Sanskrit
• What is Sanskrit?

  The sacred language of Hinduism
• " He moves , and he moves not. He is far , and he is near. He is within all and outside all " - Isa Upanishad 1.5 - This quote links to the idea of nirguna Brahman
• Most Hindus refer to the Supreme being as Bhagavan
• What is Bhagavan?

  The Supreme Being existing in the world of deities and spirits