Download Hinduism: #1 Religion of India

Hinduism: #1 Religion of India
Ch. 3 India
Caste System
• How is a caste
different from a
class?
Caste System
•
•
•
•
Varnas: castes
Jati: jobs
Reincarnation: Soul is born into another body
Karma: Cycle of rebirth, dependant upon
one’s actions in previous lives
• Dharma: Duty, according to caste, rules
• Pariahs: Outcastes, untouchables, nonAryan
Hinduism: Basic Beliefs
• Existence of a soul
• reincarnation
• Importance of one’s actions
• Dharma, karma, ahimsa
• God and man are one
• God’s soul in is everything
• Salvation
• Moksha, oneness with the universe
Hinduism: Basic Beliefs
• Scriptures:
• Written originally in Sanskrit
• Vedas
• 1200-500 BC Oldest texts
• Upanishads
• 800-400 BC Oneness with the universe
• Mahabharata
• 500 BC Epic Poem
• 200,000 lines long (longest)
• Contains the Bhagavad Gita (Arjuna,
carrying out duties of varna)
Sanskrit
Hinduism: Gods
• Brahman: supreme god
• Many gods: 300 million
• 3 main gods:
• Brahma: creator of life
• Vishnu: preserver of life
• Shiva: destroyer of life
Brahma
Hinduism: Gods
Shiva: Cosmic Dancer
Vishnu: Lord of the Worlds
India/Hinduism Questions
1. What is the purpose of reincarnation to the
Hindu?
2. What are the names of the 3 texts of
Hinduism?
3. What was Sanskrit and what did it provide
for?
4. Who are the 3 main gods of Hinduism?
5. What is the name for the Hindu concept of
“oneness with the universe?”
answers
• 1. soul is reborn depending on karma,
ultimate goal is to achieve moksha
• 2. Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata
• 3. ancient Indian language, allowed for
recording and passing down information
• 4. Brahma: creator of life,Vishnu:
preserver of life, Shiva: destroyer of life
• 5. Moksha