Download IE. CNM 2009-12-07 963

Hinduism
Miss Isler
Trimester 1
World Religions
Origins
• India
• Many mingled beliefs in Indiacombination of them
• Vedas – Aryan priests’ hymns telling of
different religious rituals about fire,
earth, air, and water
– Today, oldest set of religious scriptures still
in active use. Great source for historians to
tell about India from 1500-500 BCE
Aum
• Aum, or Om
Hindu teachers
• Around 400 BCE,
Hindu teachers tried
to interpret and
explain the meaning
in Vedic hymnds
– What is the nature of
reality?
– What is morality?
– Is there eternal life?
– What is the soul?
•All of their comments
were written in
Upanishads
Upanishads- Sacred Texts
1.
The one true reality is Brahman, the mighty spirit
that creates and destroys- can be mountains, rain,
etc. Brahmin is One, but expresses itself in many.monotheistic!
Everything in Nature is tied to Brahmin (unlike in
Europe, people are different from butterflies. Not
in Hinduism)
2. One aspect of Brahman is the Self, or Soul, called
Atman. Atman is everywhere
3. Nothing that lives ever dies entirely- reincarnation
4. All Hindus must seek to reach a state of perfect
understanding called Moksha. Once reach Moksha,
the soul will never suffer another reincarnation but
join Brahman.
Brahman is God, but appears to humans in various
forms and worshipped in different gods and goddesses
Upanishads
• Text reading
Caste System
• The Caste system is a
grouping of people of how
they are made from God.
– Brahmin- from Brahman’s
Mouth- priests
– Kshatriyas- from armsrulers/warrios
– Vaishyas- legs- landowners
– Shudras- feet- slaves
– Untouchables- not from God
• All explained through
reincarnation- Brahmin did
not commit bad deeds in
earlier life, untouchables did.
Brahmin
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
Karma
• Ethical law of cause and effect
• Moral behavior in one life guaranteed
rebirth in a higher caste.
• Immoral behavior automatically
dropped a reborn into a lower caste
• Dharma- duty. In each caste, must
follow duty to “behave well”
Karma or Guru clip
Guru and Worship
• People who have
developed their
spirituality to a point
where they can now
teach others
• Spiritual leader
• Worship
– People worship at
home or in temples
– If at home, have a
shrine
Festivals
• Divali- in October/November
– Most important. Festival of Lights. The Hindu New
Year
• Navaratri- September/October
– 9 nights (meaning, and lasts). Mother Goddess,
Durga
• Holi- (May)
– Beginning of spring. Most lively festival with
bonfires and throwing of colorful paint and liquids
at each other to symbolize fertility
• Janmashtami- July/August
– A time to reflect on their spiritual progress and
evaluate on how close they are to God
Namaste
• A greeting meaning “I honor that place
in you where God resides.”
Yoga