Intro so World

• Hinduism


  One of the oldest religions in the world, originating from the Indian subcontinent, encompassing a variety of gods and goddesses, with no identifiable founder
• Hindu


  Term derived from the Persian word "Hindu" in Sanskrit Sindhu, meaning "River"
• Dravidians


  • People that lived in the earlier or second millennium period in the Indus River, had their own system of religious beliefs and practices
• Aryans


  • Group of people of Indo-European background, highly civilized, had their own religious beliefs and practices based on the oral text known as VEDAS, brought a polytheistic religion similar to other Indo-European people, sacrifices was the principal form of worship
• Aryan Invasion Theory


  Claims the Aryans invaded and imposed their culture and religion on the Dravidians
• Aryan Migration Theory


  Maintains the Aryans just migrated in repeated waves into the region and intermingled with the Dravidians
• Shruti


  Sacred scriptures regarded as eternal truths handed down orally until the need to write them down, includes Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and Sutras
• Smriti


  Sacred scriptures that serve to reinforce Shruti, composed with legends, codes of conduct, worship guidebooks, includes Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita
• Vedas


  The earliest known Sanskrit literature from the Brahmanic period, regarded as the oldest scripture of Hinduism, includes Rig Veda, Yayur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda
• Brahman


  • The essence or true nature of all reality or of everything that exists, the main core of Hindu faith, regarded as the ultimate reality, one, and undivided
• Trimurti


  • The three forms or functions of Brahman: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer)
• Other Deities


  • Ganesha, Shakti, Lakshmi, Hanuman
• Samsara


  The repeating cycle of birth, life, and death
• Karma


  A bad action will result in bad consequences while a good action will result in good consequences in the future life
• Varna


  The Hindu concept of one's social class
• Ashram


  The Hindu concept of one's stage of life
• Purusharta


  The Hindu concept of basic human aims or purposes of life
• The Four Yogas


  • Karma Yoga (The Way of work), Bhakti Yoga (The Way of love), Jhana Yoga (The Way of knowledge), Raja Yoga (The Way of Meditation)
• Hinduism believes in 330 million gods
• An important ritual among Hindus is "Namaste", a gesture of greeting wherein the two palms are placed together in front of the chest and the head bows while saying the word "Namaste"
• Hindu Festivals


  • Holi, Kumbh Mela
• Major Hindu Denominations


  • Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Smartism
• Caste System


  • A social class comprising the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shundras, with opportunities based on family origin
• Women have been always been regarded as subservient to men in almost all aspects of life in Hinduism
• The conflict between Hindus and Muslims continues despite the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947
• The introduction of new values, new ways of doing things, and new attitudes, like that of consumerism, has led people to become preoccupied with many things, losing time for religious and spiritual things
• Hindu Philosophical Schools


  • Yoga, Nyanya, Vaisheshiks, Mimamsa, Vedanta
• Islam


  Means "surrender" or "submission"
• Islam


  Surrender or submission
• Islam began


  Seventh (17th) century BCE
• Muslim


  One who submits to God
• Founder of Islam


  Muhammad
• Five Pillars of Islam

  • Oblation of Muslims
• Allah


  Not different from the God of Jews and Christianity, "God"
• Muhammad


  • Born in Mecca, 570 BCE century
  • Last and Greatest prophet
  • The Muslims considered Muhammad as the "seal of prophet"
• Abu Bhark


  The father in law of Muhammad, the first caliphs and successor of Muhammad
• One of the important messages that Muhammad received from God is "that only one God, Allah, should be worshipped."
• Kaaba


  Square shape-shrined, means "cube", worship place where the Muslim should face when worshipping
• Hanifs


  No certain religion (Many gods)
• Night of Power


  Muhammad received the first message from God through the angel Gabriel