Hinduism

• Hinduism


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


  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
  • Bali, Indonesia
• Hinduism


  Has no founder, therefore not based on the teachings of a person or group of people, most likely developed by the Indus Valley people
• Archeologists have found many statues of a female figure in the homes of Indus Valley people
• Hinduism


  A collection of beliefs and practices developed over thousands of years, a polytheistic religion
• Aryans


  • Came to India and settled along the Ganges river, their religious hymns called the Rig Veda were adopted by the Hindus and are the most sacred writings of Hinduism
• In early days animal sacrifice to the gods was an important part of their religion but soon lost its popularity as the feeling grew that animals should not be killed for sacrifices
• Vedas


  The holy writings of Hinduism, considered to be the world's oldest writings, the word 'Veda' means "to know", believed to be divinely given or revealed knowledge
• The 4 Vedas


  • Rig Veda
  • Yajur Veda
  • Sama Veda
  • Atharva Veda
• Parts of the Vedas

  • Mantras - prayers and hymns
  • Brahmanas - 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
• Rig Veda


  The oldest and most important section of the Vedas
• The Hindu Trinity


  • Brahman
  • Vishnu
  • Shiva
• Brahman


  The one supreme being that Hindus believe in, whom they worship in various forms according to the different functions they believe He performs
• God


  Hindus believe God is omnipresent (always present) everywhere in all living things, and may be represented in masculine and feminine ways
• The 3 main functions of God


  • Generator - God's ability to create things
  • Operator - God's ability to preserve things and keep them going
  • Destroyer - God's ability to destroy things
• The Hindu Trinity


  • Brahma - the Creator
  • Vishnu - the Preserver of the universe
  • Shiva - the Destroyer
• Hindus are polytheistic, worshipping more than one god or deity
• Household shrines


  Feature pictures and statues of the chosen gods
• Puja


  The ritualistic worship performed in the home
• Items on the Puja tray

  • Bell
  • Dish containing sandalwood paste
  • Food offerings
  • Holy water
  • Incense stick
  • Lamp
• Mandir


  The Hindu place of worship, considered to be the "home of God", each mandir is dedicated to a god or deity
• 4 Basic Hindu Beliefs

  • Dharma - the moral balance of all things
  • Karma - the belief that a person experiences the effects of his or her actions
  • Samsara - the cycle of life, death and rebirth in which a person carries his or her own karma
  • Moksha - the ultimate reward of release from samsara and union with God
• Caste system


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

  • Untouchables - did all the dirtiest jobs
• Hinduism has four main castes (varnas): Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors/rulers), Vaishyas (farmers/traders), Shudras (servants).