Download hindu

Ms. McPeak
What do you know about the
Hindu faith?
Hinduism Fast Facts
meaning of name
Hindus call their “religion” sanatana dharma, or "eternal truth." The term Hindu was
placed later by the Persians and comes from hindu (Sanskrit sindhu), literally "river."
date founded
Earliest forms date to 1500 BC or earlier
place founded
India
founder
none; It is considered a way of life to Hindu
people and not a religion
adherents
900 million
size rank
third largest in the world
main location
India, also United Kingdom and United States
major sects
Saivism, Vaisnavism, Saktism
Fast Facts Cont..
sacred texts
Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita
original language
Sanskrit
spiritual leader
No real leader though some seek knowledge from
guru’s
place of worship
temple or home shrine
theism
pantheism with polytheistic elements (All the deities are considered
to be peoples representation of Brahman
Cont...
ultimate reality
Brahman ( similar concept to God )
human nature
in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but able to escape
purpose of life
to attain liberation (moksha) from the cycle of reincarnation
how to live
order life according to the dharma “That positive order that upholds
the universe”
afterlife
if karma unresolved, soul is born into a new body; if karma resolved,
attain moksa (liberation)
What do Hindus Believe?
The Gods are part of a universal spirit
called Brahman which is the energy or
supreme spirit that sustains all things
(God)
In Hinduism the purpose of life is to
achieve union with Brahman:
-There are three paths to salvation called the margas.
karma-marga - performing social obligations.
jjnana-marga - meditation and yoga to gain insight
into one's self.
bhakti-marga - devotion to one's personal god.
What do Hindus Believe?
This can also be interpreted as living the best way of life,
while being obedient to the eternal power and being the
nicest person possible while always reflecting on the self
What Do Hindus Believe?
Reincarnation is a central belief which is influenced by
Karma ( The accumulated effect of actions whether good or
evil)
- if you do bad deeds in this life, in the next you may come
back in a lower state of being ( ie from a human to a fly)
What Do Hindus Believe?
-a persons soul may pass through hundreds of rebirths until
it reaches “moksha” or release. There spiritual perfection is
gained and the spirit returns to Brahman
-bathing in the river Ganges is a purifying act and all bad
sins are said to be washed away.
Caste System
Hindu society is divided into a hierarchical system called the caste or jati. It
is hereditary and each caste has its own set of values, rules, dietary beliefs,
etc. Many do not marry outside their castes.
- Brahmans - the priests and other educated professionals.
- Kshatriyas - warriors and those who own a lot of land.
- Vaishyas - formerly the farmers, now those involved in commerce;
merchants.
- Shudras (some sources say Sudra) - the lowest of the social classes.
Made up of laborers, artisans, and other servants.
There are some that do not fall into a
ny of these categories called the Dalits, or the "untouchables." They are
lower than the Shudras on the hierarchy, and they are people who perform
"unclean" work, such as leather working and street cleaning. Although the
Hindu religion teaches against discrimination and prejudice and it is not as
common, both sometimes exist within the caste system and its remnants
still remain.
Caste System
There are some that do not fall into a
ny of these categories called the Dalits, or the
"untouchables." They are lower than the
Shudras on the hierarchy, and they are
people who perform "unclean" work, such as
leather working and street cleaning. Although
the Hindu religion teaches against
discrimination and prejudice and it is not as
common, both sometimes exist within the
caste system and its remnants still remain.
The Hindu Trinity
* There are many Hindu deities but the major three are:
Brahma the creator
( not to be confused
with Brahman)
Vishnu the preserver
Shiva the destroyer
*Each God/Goddess has his/her own unique set of stories or qualities
Worship
Puja (worship) takes place in the Mandir
(temple).
Mandirs vary in size from small village
shrines to large buildings, surrounded by
walls.
People can also visit the Mandir at any
time to pray and participate in the
bhajans (religious songs).
Hindus also worship at home and often
have a special room with a shrine to
particular gods.
Festivals
Hindus celebrate many holy
days
●
●
●
●
●
Diwali (the festival of
lights) is the best
known
Holi
Navaratri (celebrating
fertility and harvest),
Raksha Bandhan
(celebrating the bond
between brother and
sister)
Janmashtami (Krishna's
birthday)
Getting God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0rk0FxGmrO0