Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
HINDUISM
Indus River and Ganges River in Northern India.
900 million Hindus in the world. Most live in India.
India: largest democracy and second largest country after China
3rd largest world religion/oldest
Hinduism= Sanatana Dharma
Hindu means “river” (Indus) in Sanskrit.
Hindus share their diversity!
3 Sacred Texts: 1. Vedas (knowledge)
2. Upanishads
3. Bhagavad Gita
Hinduism is hard to define:
• 1. No single founder or prophet• 2. No single sacred text• 3. No commonly agreed upon set of teachings
Hindu Beliefs: MONISMall reality is one! (interconnected)
BRAHMAN: supreme spirit, creator
UNION/MOKSHA
• Liberation or freedom from the constraints of this world and union with Brahman
ATMAN = universal Brahman found within all people/spirit/divine soul
ATMAN is BRAHMAN!!
REINCARNATION
Hindu view on time
• Westerners view life as linear: birth, life, death, eternity with God
• Hindus view life as cyclical: birth, death, rebirth, death, rebirth…samsara…many births, many deaths
KARMA
• Literally means “actions” or “deeds”• The force from what we do: our decisions, our
actions• “What goes around comes around, baby!”
Hindus are MONOTHEISTIC, believing in one supreme god with many “faces”!
330 million gods and goddesses
BRAHMA CREATES.
Vishnu preserves
Shiva destroys
Ganesh(a): god of good fortune and overcoming obstacles
Cow Veneration in India
Puja means worship.
Arti Ceremony/Hindu shrine
Mandirs: Hindu temples
MANDIRS: Hindu temples
Swamis are spiritual teachers.
The Caste System
DALITS are Untouchables
Mahatma Gandhi
Four Stages of Life:1. Student
2. Householder
3. Forest Dweller
4. Wandering Ascetic
Four Paths To Salvation:1. Works/Karma Yoga
2. Path of Knowledge/Jnana Yoga
3. Meditative Exercises/Dhyana Yoga
4. Path of Devotion/Bhakti Yoga
Hindu Birth Ritual
Ceremony of the Sacred Thread
Hindu marriages are often arranged by parents.
Bathing in the sacred Ganges River
Diwali
Holi
Kumbh Mela
Namaste!
Sari
Bindi
Tilak
Henna on bride’s hands
OM: Sound of creation
