Download WARM-UP: #5

Hinduism And The
Caste System
1) Who began Hinduism?
The Aryans
2) What is the name of the
religious books of Hinduism?
The Vedas
3) What is the name of
Hinduism’s supreme god?
Brahman
4) What is reincarnation?
Rebirth of the soul after
death into the body of
another
5) Why is reincarnation
important to Hinduism?
In Hinduism, living things are
never destroyed completely
and it is how one moves up
the caste system and reaches
moksha.
6) Which animal is most sacred
to the Hindus and explain why?
The cow because . . .
• was created by Brahman
• it is the highest of all animals
• it symbolizes motherhood by giving
milk, fuel, and faithful service
CASTE PYRAMID
BRAHMINS
priests and scholars
smallest of the castes
next step is moksha
KSATRIYAS
warriors and rulers
can kill animals other
than the cow
VAISYAS
merchants, farmers, artisans
make money to improve the country
SUDRAS
serve the higher castes – “the workers”
largest of the castes
Jobs they perform deal with dead animals, cleaning sewers and toilets, etc.
Have the most impure soul and are known as “outcastes”
live outside of town and only enter town to do their job
live in very poor conditions and cannot own land
The key notes to
understanding Hinduism.
• One of the oldest religions
• Began by the Aryans from the
Vedas
• Divides society into divisions
• Was enriched by taking ideas and
ideals from others
• Reincarnation is a key belief
• Everything is cyclic
• The cow is a sacred animal
• Enters into almost everything in a
person’s life
• Brahman is the supreme god
• Moksha is the final resting place for a
Hindu soul
HINDU BELIEFS
BRAHMAN
* There is a unity of all
things in the world.
• One supreme god =
Brahman
• Brahman creates,
maintains, destroys, and
recreates the universe
• Brahman is found in
everything
• Hindu’s goal is to unite
his/her soul with Brahman
MULTIPLE GODS
* Gods exist in many forms
• Many gods and
goddesses
• Gods and goddesses
represent different
qualities or powers of
Brahman
• Gods and goddesses
appear in many forms
• Hindus devote
themselves to a particular
god/goddess
DHARMA
* Do the right thing
• Always do your best
• Hindus want to act
according to Brahman to
keep harmony and
balance
• Most important part is the
soul
• Practice non-violence and
are usually vegetarians
KARMA
* The good are
rewarded and the bad
are punished
• Karma = your good +
bad actions
• When a Hindu dies
his/her soul is reborn
into another body
• Actions of current life
influence future lives
• Good life = reborn to a
higher caste
• Bad life = reborn to a
lower caste
SAMSARA
* A continuous cycle of
birth, death, and rebirth
• People are reincarnated
• Do not remember
former lives
• Moksha = goal of
Hinduism is to be
reunited with Brahman
and released from
reincarnation
• Achieve moksha by
worshipping the gods,
balancing karma, and
following dharma