A Fun Look at Hinduism

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Chapter 1 : History of Hinduism ..........................1


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Chapter 2 : Sacred Places..................................2


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Chapter 3 : Major Beliefs..................................3


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Chapter 4 : Sacred Writings...............................4


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Chapter 5 : Rituals and Ceremonies........................5


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Chapter 6 : Daily Life for Practitioners...................6

Glossary of Terms...........................................7

Bibliography..................................................8


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Chapter 1 :

HISTORY OF HINDUISM

Origin

Indus Valley Civilization

nduism is the oldest surviving religion of the world, where its origin took place before history was ever recorded. Although there wasingle founder of Hinduism, there were several cultures that contributed to the development of Hinduism. Two of the most importa

ributing sources are The Indus Valley Civilization ( 3300-1200 BCE ) who were one of the great cultures of the Ancient world, and called the Aryans who were a nomadic group of people that migrated to India from Central Asia.

The Indu Valley Civilization Occupation The Indu Aryan Migration

duism comes from the Indus Valley. The words Indus and Hindu sound the same since they are deeply related. The Indus Valley has

runs through it called the Indus River. This same river was known in Sanskrit as the Sindhu River. The Persians who came to Indiaater, referred to the Sindhu River and Valley as the Hindu River and Valley. So, the word Hindu was initially meant to describe any

came from the Hindu Valley.


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The Sindhu or Hindu Valley

Chronological Timeline - Major Events

Number of Practitioners

Hinduism is the largest religion in Asia and the world's third largest, in terms of numbers of followers with approximately 806 mill

worldwide. About 400,000 555,000 followers are based in the UK. These tend to be descendants of Hindu immi rants.


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s the main religion of India, where it began. From there it spread, about 1000 years ago, east along the trade routes to other lands. I

places other religions later became more important In others, like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and India, it is still the main religion.

Mill ions of Hindus Gather for Pi lgrimage

Hinduism Around The World Today

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Chapter 2 :

SACRED PLACES

Sacred Places

Hinduism, pilgrimage is not required yet numerous Hindus do so to show their faith and devotion. There are many options for Hindus, a

many sacred places. A lot of Hindus try to bathe in the river Ganges, as it is supposed to be able to cleanse sins. There are also seve

are deemed especially holy - calledtirthas, and are centres of pilgrimage. Examples are Ayodhya, where Rama was born, and also VThese are also deemed good locations to die or be cremated, as it connects the earthly to the divine.

Some of the Sacred Places within India:

GANGA RIVER

The Ganga River

he Ganga River is a very sacred river. Very religious Hindus bathe in the Ganga river every Tuesday. They pay honor and respect toestors and gods by cupping her water in their hands, lifting it and letting it fall back into her; They offer flowers, petals and float hes filled with oil and lit wicks. Many Hindus ask in there wills for there ashes to be thrown into the Ganga river. During special cere

and rituals, practitioners use ordinary water to symbolise the Ganga river since it is sacred and brings good blessings.

Hindu Praying at Ganga River Hindus Bathing in Ganga


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er Hindu Praying in Ganga River

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Vaishno Devi Temple Entrance

mu and Kashmir is one of the most sacred places for Hindus. Many of them, go on pilgrimage there. It is known for its 200-300 shrin

main Hindu shrine, people most frequently visit, is that of GoddessMata. Its believe that Goddess Mata was ill-treated by GodBhherefore she killed him as a punishment for his shameful deed. Feeling slightly guilty later on, Mata decided that whenever people co

mmu, theyll first visit her temple andthenvisit God Bheros. She also resoluted that all men that visit God Bheros temple will gain stand power.

The Goddess Mata

MATHURA


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Mathura Vrindavan

ely known as the birth place of Lord Krishna, Mathura , a very sacred Hindu site, is located on the Western bank of river Yamuna. M

represents the religion of living.

thuras art has flourishe since over 1200 years. The Great School of Sculpture consists of numerous sculptures and clay figurines to

its devotion to Art. Such art forms are rare in the records of Indian Art History.

In Mathura :

1) Shri Krishna Janma Bhumi - The Birth Place of Lord Krishna.

2) Jama Masjid - Built by Abo-inNabir-Khan in 1661.A.D. the mosque has 4 lofty minarets,

with bright colored plaster mosaic of which a few panels currently exist.

3) Vishram Ghat - The sacred spot where Lord Krishna is believed to have rested

after slaying the tyrant Kansa.

4) Dwarkadheesh Temple - Built in 1814, it is the main temple in the town.


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During the festive days of Holi, Janmashthami and Diwali, it is decorated on a grand scale.

5) Gita Mandir - Situated on the city outskirts, the temple carving and

painting are a major attraction.

6) Govt. Museum - Located at Dampier Park, it has one of the finest collection of

archaeological interest. Rare items from the Gupta and Kushan period (400 B.C.-1200A.D.) are on display.

Major attraction for tourists.

Sacred Places on a Map


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Religious Hindu Symbols

LOTUS

flower of lotus represents culture and politeness. It is often seen in the hands of various deities and gods such as Lord Ganesha. Th

Brahma is always depicted sitting on a big lotus. The lotus is also used in many Hindu rituals.


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SWASTIKA

astika is the second most important symbol for Hindus. The word Swastika means Everything is Good which adds to its meaning, lu

prosperity. It is also worn as a pendent and drawn on temple walls.

OM

is the most important symbol in Hinduism. All the majormantrasstart with Om which represents Brahman, the Almighty. It is said tthe sound heard at the time of the creation of the universe. It is worn as a pendent, ring, cup, printed on t-shirts and even on temple

Place of Worship

dirsare the term for Hindu temples or places of worship. These can be devoted to one or more gods/goddesses, and they are the foeligious life. However, there is no established rite of communal or group worship in mandirs. In fact, Hindus are supposed to try an

personal offerings and prayers to gods or goddesses.


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Birla Mandir Delhi

villages or in the streets there are shrines, and the majority of Hindu homes have a small shrine where Pujamay be performed. The also make offerings or prayers to the god/goddess of their choice in the morning and possibly in the evening. The shrine may be smal

picture or statue of god/goddess.

Shrine in the Home of a Hindu Statued Ganesh

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Chapter 3 :

MAJOR BELIEFS

Gods and Goddesses

re are many, many gods and goddesses in Hinduism. However, the main three areBrahma, Vishnu, and Ganesh/Ganesha.Brahma is the

the world, while Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. Vishnu can represent mercy and protection from evil. Rama represents follrma - always following sva - dharma with perfect adherence to moral and ethical codes. He is also the husband of Sita. Ganesh, the egod, is the youngest god and is reffered to as the Remover of Obstacles.

God Vishnu God Ganesh God Brahma

God Rama

Defining Beliefs

Hinduism, there is no single belief, contrary to some other religions. Everyone has their own goal, although there are the four goals o

but these are very general. However, it is believed to be good when following ones sva - dharma, but bad when ignoring it.

SVA-DHARMA

a - Dharmais similar to your moral, or even conscience. Sva - dharma is your belief to do what is right. Dharma is doing what is righ

armais ignoring sva - dharma or dharma and is very bad. One must always follow their sva-dharma, although this may differ from person. A child may believe that he/she must wash clothes in theGangesevery day, but on the contrary a grown woman may think this isit dirties the Ganges. Everyone has their own sva - dharma, and must do his or her best to follow it. Dharma is believed to have two

pleasure and profit. This is calledPurushartha.

VARNA

rnais linked to sva - dharma. Varna is a term referrin to sva - dharma based on what class or sta e of life you are at. For exam le,


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were studying the philosophies of Hinduism, you may arrange your sva - dharma to try and memorize a certain part of the Mahabhar

KARMA

You get what you give

duism religion believes in karma, which you may have heard of.Karmais the belief that when you perform an act of goodness, a reacodness will happen to you. If you do something bad, for example go against dharma, then a bad reaction will occur to you. This reacti

happen immediately or in the future, maybe even in future lives (samsara).

ATMAN

tman is the real, spiritual self behind all ego and material longing. It is referring to yourself as a spiritual, enlightened. Atman can aconsidered a spirit having a humans experience, instead of a human experiencing a spirit.

Values

Money Educationd

the Hindu tradition, it's valued that boys touch the elders' feet for blessings and good luck with education, though girls are not to

ucation, money and food is thoroughly valued. All over India, no one ever touches their books or education related items with their fene ever shoves them away with their feet or throws them on the floor, mostly books. This is done to show respect and value for educa


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Goddess Lakshmi

ere is a particular goddess that represents money, education and food, and by disrespecting any of these, it's believed that you donut them and these can be taken away from you. Money is never thrown, and food should never be eaten in a sulk. Food is always suppaten with joy to show that it is cared about. Money is never to be touched by feet, but if it does then amends must be made by tough

money to the forehead.

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Chapter 4 :

SACRED WRITINGS

The sacred writings of Hinduism are split into two main parts. These are theMahabarataand theVedas.

Vedas and Mahabharata

The Vedas A scene from The Mahabharat

heVedas or Vedais composed of the most ancient texts in Hinduism. The name Vedas literally mean sacred knowledge. The Mahabhincludes many philosophical and worship teachings.

Scriptures in Daily Life

Original Hindu scrpture - Written in Sanskrit

dus must read from the sacred texts at least once a day, usually in the morning accompanied by praying. Sometimes, they may also si

ether as a family and explain the scripture to each other. During daily life, many Hindus may also use the stories in scripture to mak

decisions or to guide their moral and ethical decisions.

Important Stories in Sacred Texts


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The Bhagavad Gita

TheBhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord), in the sixth section of the Mahabharata, talks of the houses of Bharata in war -If you will not fight this righteous war, then you will fail in your duty, lose your reputation, and incur sin.

text was written 500BCE - 100CE and is the worlds longest poem. Its moral is interpreted as hard decisions, and deciding what is b

you and others.

Lord Rama and Hanuman from the Mahabharat

Another story in the Mahabharata is theRamayana : a famous tale about princess Sita being kidnapped by an evil devil, Ravan -Dear to him appeared his purpose, Rama to his people dear,

Private wish and public duty made his path serene and clear.

This moral is similar to the story of Bhagavad Gita, it is a story of sva - dharma, adharma, and following ones duty.

Sanskrit

e ancient sacred texts of Hinduism are all written inSanskrit, an archaic language which was developed from theAryans. The Aryanm a foreign country and brought with them a different religion and from them also developed the Vedas/Veda. Not much is known abou

but their relatives are supposedly from Europe, Ireland, Iran and Iraq.


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Chapter 5 :

RITUALS & CEREMONIES

induism is often described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals! There are numerous important rituals, festivals and ceremoniemark a Hindus life.

Naming Ceremony

mportant ceremony in Hinduism is the naming ceremony. It is usually attended by close friends, relatives, and the nuclear family. Theemony is called eitherNamkaranorNamkaranSanskar, and is quite an elaborate tradition. This tradition is performed after 10 dayn the baby is born, since the first 10 days are believed to be unlucky (both mother and child are impure). When those inauspicious tave passed, a cleaning of the house takes place to cleanse and purify. The mother and child are then washed and bathed in the traditner, preparing for the ritual. The guests are there to participate in the ceremony - showing close relationship with the baby and the

A major guest who must be invited is a priest.e rite starts with the mother wetting her childs head with some water, not unlike a Christian baptism. The wetting of the head signiffication of her baby. When this is completed, the baby is passed to his or her paternal grandfather or father sitting nearby or next

priest. A holy fire is lit and the priest will chant or sing hymns in order for the gods to bless the child.ccording to the date and time of birth of the child, a particular letter of theSanskritalphabet is chosen which would prove lucky fobaby. A name will be decided starting with that letter, and the father will then whisper the name four times in the right ear of the bhrough this, the baby will receive blessings and good wishes from everyone present, including the priest. A feast is usually held to en

tradition.

Mundan Vidhi

ndan Vidhi is performed to carry out the first hair cut of the baby. This ceremony needs to be carried out at the age of exactly 2 If the ceremony doesn take place at precisely this age, then it can only be done after another 2 years, at the age of 5 years old. is a huge festival and a very important part of a Hindus life. If it is carried out as per the Vedic Method. it removes any deficienc

veloped in the child before birth. It is also said that the shaving of the hair stimulates proper growth of the brain and nerves. Durindhi all the hair of the baby are removed and the baby's head is cleanly shaven.Hair collected during the hair cut are kept in betwee

puris( fried indian bread ) and then offered to holy waters like Ganges, Yamuna or any other holy water bed.

Marriage

ddin function is considered as the bi est occasion in one's life. To make the occasion very memorable, the weddin is normally cele


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on a grand scale.

Mandapt ( The place where the main ceremony takes place )

Wedding function consists of a series of rituals. Instead of making the wedding function as a routine ritual performance, they have ma

more colorful and enjoyable for both the bride and the groom. The function includes :

i) exchange of garlands

di sutrudhal- throwing colorful rice balls after taking them around the couple three times. This is a symbolic gesture to ward offeye on the bride and the groom

iii)nalangu- a fun filled evening for the bride and the groom

Hathleeva

:

Hathleeva is a ceremony in which henna or mehndi is applied to the brides hands and feet.


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The couples are then loosly coonected to each other with a scarf. This symbolizes their bond for life.

The Wedding Ceremony :

e bride and groom are seated in front of a holy fire. apunditleads the ceremony, making offerings to the holy fire and saying rewords. The couple walk around the fire 3 times, making religious vows.

Sapthapadhi :

apthapadi means taking seven steps together. The bride and groom do this while walking around the fire. This is considered to be the

important in a wedding function.

If one follows seven steps with another person, it is considered as a confirmation of their eternal friendship.

The meaning of the mantras chanted during Sapthapadhi is summarized below.

1. Let the first step you take be with full of emotions.

2. Let the second step be with full of valor and strength.

3. Let the third step be for disciplined and controlled life.

4. Let the life together be a comfortable one.

5. Let the life be full of desirable wealth.

6. Let the seasons (nature) be good to you.

7. The seventh step symbolizes that the couple declare that they aspire for all the above for a happy, married life toget

Death


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After the death of a family member, the relatives become involved in preparation of the body and a procession to the burning ground

duism, funerals are carried out in white clothes, unlike Christianity and many other Western cultures. The closest relative of the decally the eldest son ) takes charge of the final rite and lights the funeral pyre at the site. After the cremation, ashes and fragrants o

are collected in a clay pot (matka) and then eventually immersed in a holy river, usually the Ganges. Once the funeral is over, everergoes a purifying bath. Usually, 2 weeks subsequent to the funeral, close family members meet for a meal and often give gifts to th

charities.

ring memorial services, rice balls (pinda) are offered to the spirit of the dead person, as a religious Hindu ritual. These ceremoniw as contributing to the merit of the deceased while pacifying the its soul so that it doesnt linger in this world as a ghost, but rathe

through the realm ofYama( the god of death ).

Festivals

Hindu holy days and festivals follow a lunisolar calendar, thus dates vary from year to year. A few of the most popular are:

Rangoli made outside of a hindu's house on Diwali.

Feet of Goddess Lakshmi symbolise entry of wealth in the Home.

Diwali ( between late October and the middle of November ) - Known as the festival of lights, this commemorates the return ofRama from His exile in the forest. It is, for many traditions, a new-year celebration. All over india, people burn crackers all nig

celerate this festival.


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Diyas are lit to celebrate Diwali Fire Crackers on the night of Diwali

Dussehra ( between late September and the middle of October ) - A celebration of good conquering evil, this festival lasts ten

People gathered to blow up Ravan - the evil demon from the m ythological

story of Mahabharata

Holi ( day after full-moon, usuallu falls in Febuary-march ) - A spring festival to celebrate creation and renewal, linked with LKrishna. Colours are smeared on each other with paint, and coloured powder is thrown around in an atmosphere of great good hu

Holi colours

Navaratri - A nine day festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Hindus hold fasts for these ten days and are permionly eat certain things.

Janmastami - A celebration marking the birth of Lord Krishna.


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5.


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Chapter 6 :

DAILY LIFE FOR PRACTITIONERS


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ce Hinduism is a such a vast religion, all Hindus dont believe in the same things. They all have diverse opinions about ways of life dep

on where they come from. Overall, the purpose of life for Hindus is to obtain liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. The three m

mportant debts, who are looked upon the most are: Gods, Saints, Sages, and Ancestors. In Hinduism, there are three paths of life t

ollowed :Karmamarga- path of work and action, Jnanamarga- path of knowledge,Bhaktimarga- path of devotion to God. Karmys a big and very important role in the life of Hindus. It is a guide of how to behave and act throughout their life. ( For more about K

see Chapter 3 : Major Beliefs )

udying the Vedas will also help as a Hindu - it will enrich ones mind with sacred knowledge. Being a good host/hostess - serving guest

respect, love, and reverence is an important practice for a Hindu. This is considered the basis for traditional hospitality in Hindu hom

Daily Life

Tuesdays

n vegetarian practitioners become vegetarian on Tuesdays and the religious go pray at the temples. Also it is a day off for small stor

local businesses (Tuesdays for Hindus is like Sundays for Christians).

Worshiping Daily

st Hindus have a small shrine in their homes which they pray to in the morning and at night and give offerings to. While praying, Hind

ns, knows asAartis, to specific gods. Although personal prayers towards gods/goddesses are encouraged, Hindus may also choose tofamily in their home shrine. This will make you conscious of God throughout the day. This also helps the family to become one, as the

rshipping together and generally pay tribute to the gods/goddesses together. An old quote is a family that prays together stays tog

shrine is located in a separate place of its own and is usually considered inauspicious if its placed in the bedroom. Its encouraged to

h before praying so as to be clean before meeting god. Before exiting the home, Hindus may touch the feet of their god to have the

luck for the day.


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6.


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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

( Alphebetical Order)

Aartis: Hinduism hymns

Adharma: Going against dharma (see dharma), considered very bad

Aranyakas: Worship and meditation

Aryan: The language of Aryans which eventually developed into Sanskrit

Bhagavad Gita: The Song of the Lord, the worlds longest poem included in the Mahabharata

Bhaktimarga: The path of devotion

Brahma: The god who created the world

Brahmanas: Rituals and prayers to guide priests

Dharma: Conscience or belief to do what is right

Ganesh: The elephant - headed god, god of travellers and good fortune

Ganges: A holy river in India

Guru: A Hindu teacher who teaches disciples through example and spreads knowledge to them, revered highly.

Hathleva: Henna being applied to bride and groom, and they are loosely connected with a scarf

Hinduism: A religion that this book speaks of which originated in India.

India: The founding country of Hinduism

Jnanamarga: The path of knowledge


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Karma: A reaction to whatever you do - good things happen when you do good things

Karmamarga: The path of work and action

Mandir: A temple which is a place of worship for Hindus

Mantra: A Hinduism chant

Mundan Vidhi: The first haircut of a baby

Nalangu: An evening of fun and parties for the bride and groom

Namkaran: The naming ceremony

Pinda: Rice balls

Pidi Struduthal: Throwing rice spheres around the bride and groom to ward off bad luck

Puja: Prayer and singing

Puris: Fried Indian bread

Purushartha: The two parts dharma - pleasure and profit

Ramayana: A mythologicalal story about Prince Rama and his wife, Sita

Samsara: The belief of reincarnation in Hinduism

Sanskars: Hindu rituals

Sanskrit: The ancient original language of Hinduism

Sapthapadhi: Taking seven steps (bride and groom) to symbolize a good marriage


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Sva - dharma: Personal conscience

Tirthas: The seven cities considered especially holy, and which many pilgrimages are made to

Upanishads: Mystical and philosophical teachings

Varna: Arranging dharma according to what stage of life you are at

Vedas: The most ancient writings of Hinduism

Vishnu: The preserver of the world, a god representing mercy and goodness

Yama: God of Death

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A Fun Look at Hinduism