Download Introductory Questions: Hinduism

Introductory Questions:
Hinduism
• Where did Hinduism originate?
• Hinduism is considered a major world
religion. Why do you think this is?
• Is Hinduism polytheistic or monotheistic?
Basics of Hinduism
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Originated in India
Dates to1500 BCE
Third largest religion
80% of India
Geographical term (Sindu
River or Indus Valley)
Aryans
Indus Valley
• 1500 BCE
• 4000 – 2200 BCE
• Poems and ritual
• Built houses for
texts called VEDAS
worship
Rig Veda – the oldest
• Stone sculptures
of the Sacred Texts
and charms to
• Agni - worshipped
ward off evil
forces of nature as gods
• Fire altars & animal
• Atman - human soul
sacrifices
• SAMSARA = endless cycle of reincarnation
• KARMA = Basic belief of cause and effect (all
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actions have a consequence)
DHARMA =personal conduct and righteous living
MOKSHA= the liberation from samsara and the
uniting of ATMAN (human soul) with BRAHMAN
(ultimate soul)
VEDAS
• Composed in Sanskrit
• literally means “knowledge“
• RIG VEDA
• Upanishads – mystical texts on
human existence
EPICS
• Ramayana – Hindu Epic of
about 24000 verses including
hero story of Rama
• Mahabharata and Bhagavad
Gita
Legal Codes
• Laws of Manu
Brahman
• The Supreme
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God or “the
Eternal”
Soul of
everything
All gods are
aspects
“There is but one
god, but he has
many faces”
Brahman
-is the supreme being
-entity without form
or quality
-soul of universe
-divine, invisible,
unlimited
Preserver
Destroyer
Creator
Brahma
(Saraswati)
Shiva
(Parvati)
Vishnu
(Lakshmi)
• Son of Shiva and Parvati
• Human body and an
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elephant’s head with only
one short tusk
Worshipped as the remover
of all obstacles
Milk Miracle – Sept. 25, 1995
Vishnu has many AVATARS
(incarnations)who appear
on earth as humans or
animals to conquer evil and
establish righteousness
7th- Rama
8th- Krishna
9th- Siddhartha Gautama
(Buddha)
Denominations of Hinduism
• Saivism: worship the Supreme God as SHiva, the
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Compassionate One.
Shaktism: worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother,
Shakti or Devi.
Vaishnavism: worship the Supreme as Lord Vishnu and
His incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama.
Smartism: worship the Supreme in one of six forms:
Ganesha, Siva, Sakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda.
 Goal: is to attain the universal soul or divine
wisdom called Brahman
freedom to individually worship and guide own spiritual
experience.
personal conduct and righteous living (dharma)
Goal to achieve moksha, (liberation) from endless
cycle of rebirths called Samsara and reunite atman
with Brahman
– ॐ । असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योततगगमय । मत्ृ योमागमत
ृ ं
गमय ।।
– OM Asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya,
mrityormāmritam gamaya
– "OM (Lead me) from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light,
from death to immortality."
• Aum (also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in
Hinduism and Vedas
• Used in meditation and prayer as sound gives
supernatural power
• Represents the original sound of creation
• To chant “om” will steady and elevate the mind
• Good luck symbol
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representing “well being”
Usually illustrated in red
Used on wedding
invitations, drawings
Used in rituals to bring
good luck and protect
against evil
• 4 Paths to
Salvation
• 4 Stages of Life
• 4 Goals of Life
• Caste System
• Puja
• Upanayana
• Vegetarianism “holy
cow”
• Arranged Marriages
• Diwali – Festival of Lights
• Ahimsa – non-violence
• Yoga – philosophy and
exercise together – very
spiritual
• Best known Hindu in world
• Fought to end discrimination
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against Indians in South Africa
Tolerant of all religions
Religious ideals on duty, truth,
non-violence (ahimsa) and
spiritual liberation (moksha)
Negotiated independence of
India in 1947
Opposed social injustice of
Hindu society (ie.
untouchables)
Assassinated in 1948