Hinduism

Hindu Basics

• 3rd largest religion in the world– 837 million adherents– 13% of the world’s

population

• Practiced primarily in India and Nepal

• ~ 80% of Indians practice Hinduism

Hindu Basics

• Often considered the oldest religion in the world.– Has no founder

• Sanskrit is the ancient language of Hinduism.

• Hindu comes from the Persian word for the people living on the other side of the Indus River.

VedasThe ancient scriptures of Hinduism. A collectionof hymns, prayers, rituals, chants, etc… They are not the only sacred writings of Hinduism.

Concepts of god

• Most Hindu believe in a single god of the highest form.

• Brahman

• God is everywhere, is everything, and is beyond everything. – god represents the very

fabric of reality.

• People are thus part of Brahman as well.

Ishvara

• The personal aspects of God.

• Applying human traits to god to better communicate.

Brahma

• “Creator god”

Vishnu

• “preserver of the world”

Shiva

• “destroyer or transformer”

Nandi

• The vehicle of Shiva.

• Often seen at the entrance to shrines of Shiva.

sacred animals

Hindus believe thatall living beings havea soul.

Dharma

• Generally translated as “the law”.

• Varies according to caste or class.

• Also seen in Buddhism and Sikhism.

• How one should live their life.– Dharma determines karma

Karma

• Cause and effect

• “a fluttering butterfly’s wings causing a storm on the other side of the world”

• Unbalance in karma will be worked out in the next life.

• Goodness begets goodness and evil begets evil.

Samsara

Sanskrit word referring to the cycle of reincarnation.

Moksha

• Release from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

• Realization of one’s union with god.

Yoga

• Mental and physical meditative practices.

Practices

• Shrines and temples

• Singing hymnals, reciting scriptures and chanting mantras.

Bindi

• Help concentration and retain energy

• Protect against demons or bad luck

• Traditionally indicated that a woman was married

• Worn all over South and South East Asia– Not only Hindus

Pilgrimages and festivals

• Holy cities in Hinduism– Allahabad, Varanasi

• Holi– Festival of Colors

• Diwali – Festival of Lights– Return of Lord Raama after

defeating the demon king Ravana – ruler of Lanka

Ganges River

• Varanasi is considered by some to be the holiest site in Hinduism. – On the banks of the

Ganges R.

• Some believe they must bathe in it once in a lifetime– Cleanse a persons soul

from sins– Heal the sick

Traditional Caste System in

South Asia

The caste system is a type of SOCIAL ORDERin which a person’s occupation and position in life is determined by the circumstances of his/her birth.

Brahmans Kshatriyas

Vaisyas Sudras

4 Original Levels of theCaste System

Brahmans

Kshatriyas

Vaisyas

Sudras

Showing theoriginal castelevels in the pyramidshape symbolizes “status”from highest to lowest, but also representsthe the portion of the populationfitting into each level.

Untouchables are NOT a part of the caste system.

Largest %of population

**Remember thatthis social orderis not basedon how much$$ you have

Brahmans: priests/ scholars

Kshatriyas: warriors

Vaisyas: farmers and merchants

sudras(artisans and laborers)

Untouchables (dalits)

Sudras: laborers

Brahmins: Religious leaders & scholars

Vaisyas: Merchants & farmers (most Woods families here)

Kshatriyas: Military leaders and politicians.

Comparisons in the “West”

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

-Mohandas GandhiGandhi was assassinated by a Hindu extremist in 1948. He diedat the age of 79.