HINDUISM: Beliefs and teachings

• Hindus believe that brahma is the creator of the universe and that he is the supreme god
• Hindus believe that God can have form and person and be worshipped as deities
• The Aum is the main symbol of the supreme being for Hindus
• Saguna Brahma is the idea God can be pictured and formed into a physical form. Making deities and Gods visible in Hindus daily lives
• Nirguna Brahma is the idea it is Gods “divine concieness“ with no form or shape, Nirguna Brahma is a spiritual form only.
• Most Hindus refer to the Supreme Being as bhagavan, the supreme being existing in the world of spiritus and spirits. (Personal God)
• Brahma is the Creator
• Vishnu is the preserver
• Shivia is the destroyer
• Hindus think of the Devine in 3 ways:

  Existing everywhere, a non-personal God - Brahman

  Existing in the heart of everyone, the god within' - antaryami

  A personal Lord or God called bhagavan, approached through many deities, living in the spiritual world called vaikuntha. (Vishnu as a supreme being)
• Brahma

  -Was born sitting on a lotus flower which emerged from the navel of Vishnu

  -Many believe that Vishnu’s was created to carry on his work and create all living beings

  -Brahma has 4 heads as he is responsible for the whole world
• It is believe Brahma is the least worshipped God as his work is done.

  “Brahma was […] the creator of all […] From him comes all life” - Mundaka Upanishad 1 and 2
• Saraswati

  -The consort of Brahma

  -The Goddess of learning, music, art and knowledge

  -She is seen sitting on a swan (the sign of spiritual perfection.
• Vishnu

  -He represents the soul of the entire universe

  -He is worshiped through avatars like Karishna and Rama.

  -He enters the heart of every living being to become ‘the lord within‘(antaryami).

  -He gave Birth to Brahma
• “Whenever there appears on earth decline of Righteousness [...]I send Myself to birth.” -Bagavad Gita
• • Followers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas.They aim to serve Vishnu or one of his avatars in the spiritual realm of vaikuntha.
  • Vaishnava worship is based on the Upanishads, the Vedas, the Puranas and the Bhagavad Gita, and concentrates on the concept of bhakti (personal devotion).Worship often consists of praying specific mantras such as Hare Krishna and the practice of repetitive prayer known as japa.
• Shiva

  -Shiva has earrings to show they are both female and male

  -Nandi the bull shows Shiva’s calm and gentle aspects

  -River Ganges flows from Shivas head to show everlasting time

  -Blue neck or body - Shiva drank poison meant for the world and saved it from destruction
• Shivaism

  Shiva is known as the most complex Hindu god. Shaivites select the quality that appeals to them most, or is most relevant to their situation in life at that time.

  -Worship includes meditation and focuses on the male linga or shivas dancing form
• “He watches over all beings and rules over their creation and destruction.”

  -Upanishad
• 3 main Female Deities

  Shakti- It is just a term for Goddess when she is worshipped she is worshipped by pravati, Kali and Durga

  Lakshmi- Seen to have the perfect marriage, worshipped for fortune( money pot), Often worshipped during Dwali for a wealthy new year.

  Saraswati
• Vishnu forms into avatars his most important are

  Rama the 7th and krishna the 8th
• For Hindus, the story of Rama and Sita illustrates the human virtues of wisdom, justice, equality, obedience, loyalty and devotion. The return of the happy couple is celebrated each year at Diwali.
• Krishna is the most well known avatar of Vishnu,

  He was born in prison but rescued and taken by his foster parents who were cowherds, he is often pictured playing the flute and entertaining the milk maids.

  -Representative of gods never ending living for his followers
• The 4 Yurgas:

  As time goes on they get more corrupt and shorter.

  -Gold

  -Silver

  -Copper

  -Iron
• • There are many universes, each like clusters of bubbles floating in space, created from Vishnu's breath. In each universe there is: an upper realm of heavenly planets; an earthly realm where humans live; a lower realm full of less pleasant beings.

  Every form of creation has its place within these universes. In a new creation within the cycle of life, humans might move into a different realm.
• When a soul reaches enlightenment (the gaining of true knowledge about God or self, which leads to freedom from the cycle of rebirth), the world no longer has any substance - it is shown to be an illusion (maya),
• Matter goes through three stages: creation, maintenance and destruction.

  These three qualities are known as the tri-guna and are seen in human life as passion, goodness and ignorance. It is thought that a person's actions can be explained by the balance of gunas in their personality.
• Hindus believe all Living beings have atman inside them and this is what makes them 'themselves’ If they did not have atman, they would be non-moving matter. Atman is not the same as mind and body.
• Hindus believe the atman does not die when the body does. The atman is eternal and made of spirit, Brahman. -LINKS TO REINCARNATION
• “Atman, the Spirit of vision, is never born and never dies [...] he does not die when the body dies.”

  -Upanishad 2.18
• The Hindu idea of samsara, that life is a continuous circle or cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth.

  -Birth, Creation, Raja, Passion

  -Life, maintenance, sattwa, goodness

  Death, destruction, Pralya, ignorance
• What is the ultimate goal in life for a person according to Hindu beliefs?

  Moksha, which is liberation from the cycle of rebirth into union with God
• What does the law of karma signify in Hinduism?

  A person's actions have consequences, often referred to as destiny
• What might happen to someone who behaves badly in their past life according to the law of karma?

  They may be reincarnated as a lesser being, such as a bug or beetle
• What are some qualities that can lead to inner peace and a better reincarnation in the next life?


  Being kind, generous, forgiving, hardworking, and devoted
• Why is it important for Hindus to perform good deeds without expecting rewards?

  Because doing good for the right reasons is their dharma or duty, which is essential to reach moksha
• What is the term used for the duty or moral obligation in Hinduism?


  Dharma
• What are the consequences of good and bad actions in Hinduism?

  • Bad actions lead to negative consequences in future lives (e.g., reincarnation as a lesser being)
  • Good actions lead to inner peace in this life and better reincarnation or moksha in the next life
• What is the relationship between karma, dharma, and moksha in Hindu beliefs?

  • Karma: Actions have consequences
  • Dharma: Performing good deeds as a moral duty
  • Moksha: The ultimate goal of liberation from the cycle of rebirth
• Hindu's dharma (duty) includes personal virtues such as:

  ahimsa (non-violence) and respect to all living things, so they do not inflict pain on others mind/sense control, so they will focus on what is important and spiritual humility, which involves doing things for the right reason, not to look good or important showing love to others, which includes caring for people with kindness and compassion.