Lesson 1

• Hinduism is the oldest and largest religion, with around 15% of the entire population practicing the Hindu faith
• Hindu followers in India comprise the major bulk with almost 80% of the country's population
• Asean Countries with Hindu Faithfuls


  • Nepal (23 million)
  • Bangladesh (15 million)
  • Indonesia (3.9 million)
• Sacred scripture

  Music, recitation, dance and drama
• Sanskrit


  Language of earliest writing
• Hindu classes


  • Shruti (which is heard)
  • Vedas (earliest known Sanskrit literature from the Brahminic period and oldest scripture of Hinduism)
• 4 basic Vedic books


  • Rig-Veda (most important and oldest book from 1500 to 1200 BCE, collection of thousands of hymns and verses)
  • Yajur-Veda ("knowledge of rites", 2nd book, compilation of rituals and sacrifices of deities)
  • Sama-Veda ("knowledge of chants", 3rd book, collection of verses from basic hymns, recited by priest during sacrifices)
  • Atharva-Veda ("knowledge given by the sage Atharva", contains rituals, hymns and popular prayers to gods)
• 4 main parts of Hinduism

  • Upanishads (collection of philosophical texts, culmination of Vedas, foundation scripture of Hinduism)
  • Smriti (body of Hindu scriptures that are considered secondary to Vedas but still hold significant authority)
  • Mahabharata (one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, narrative story of the Kurukshetra war)
  • Bhagavad Gita (sacred text, part of Mahabharata, most important scripture in Hinduism)
• Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism


  • Indra (God of rain and thunderstorm)
  • Agni (God of fire)
  • Varuna, Apas (God of water)
  • Ushas (deity of dawns)
  • Pushan (God of meeting)
  • Vayu (Lord of the wind)
  • Parjanya (thunder and rain)
• Upanishads

  "Sitting down near"
• Smriti


  "Has been remembered"
• Ramayana


  "Story of Rama"
• Mahabharata


  Composed of 100,000 verses, world's largest poem
• Bhagavad Gita

  "Lord's song"
• 4 Yogas


  • Ynana Yoga (way of knowledge)
  • Bhakti Yoga (way of love)
  • Karma Yoga (way of work)
  • Raja Yoga (way of meditation)
• 4 Desirable Goals of Life for Hindus


  • Dharma (appropriate behavior)
  • Artha (pursuit of worldly success)
  • Kama (pursuit of pleasure)
  • Moksha (release from rebirth)
• Hindu scripture states that there are 330 million gods and devas
• Hindu worship or puja involve


  • Images (murtis)
  • Prayers (mantras)
  • Diagram of the universe (yantras)