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Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism cannot be traced back to a
single person’s ideas
Instead blends ancient Aryan traditions
with beliefs of conquered peoples
Aryan priests preserved sacred texts
the Vedas and the Upanishads
Hindu Beliefs
Brahma is the single supreme force that
unites the universe
There are many gods, each symbolizing a
form of Brahma
Three main gods in Hinduism: Brahma,
Vishnu, and Shiva
Gods of Hinduism
 Brahma: Creator
of
the
World
 Vishnu: Preserver of
the World
 Shiva: Destroyer of
the World
Hindu Beliefs
Every Individual has a Soul
Each Individual Soul is part of a Universal
Soul known as the Atman
While most of the world sets goals of
personal wealth, Hindus believe that goals
of personal wealth only brings pain and
suffering
Hindu Beliefs
The Only Goal in Life is to free the soul
from its individual existence through
reunion with Atman
This Goal can take many life times
Thus Hindus believe in reincarnation
Reincarnation
The cycle of births and rebirths
experienced by the soul as it passes from
one body to another
This can include both humans and
animals
In each cycle the soul moves closer or
further away from Atman
Actions in life affect whether you move up
or down in your reincarnated form
The Caste System
Indian society is divided into many classes
under the caste system
An individuals place in
society is dependant on
their actions in their
past life
These past actions in
life are known as Karma
Karma
An individual can move up in society by
obeying religious duties and moral laws
These can include obeying caste
regulations on diet, work and social
behaviour
UH OH!
Disobeying these laws
can result in rebirth as
an animal
The Caste System
By 600 BC, Brahmans had become
highest members in Hindu society
Brahmans were believed
to be closest to Atman
They were tasked with
guarding sacred tasks
and performing religious
rituals
Brahmans
To be highest members of society meant
they must have obeyed the caste laws in
a past life
Some Hindus were critical of the power
and lifestyle of the Brahmans
The most famous critic was Siddhartha
Gautama, eventual founder of Buddhism