Download Hinduism is not considered a religion or a philosophy, but a way life

Hinduism
The world’s oldest living tradition
By:
Jodie
Outline
•
•
History and
Development of
Hinduism
– 3 Major Movements
that Influence
Hindu Thought
– Islam’s Influence
– Practices Of
Hinduism
Objective of Human
Life
– Reincarnation
– Karma
– Caste Systems
– Role of Family
History of Hinduism
•Hinduism is not considered a religion or a
philosophy, but a way life
•Hindu is the Persian Name of the Indus
River
•First Encountered in the Old Persian word
Hindu, which corresponds to Vedic Sanskrit
•Earliest evidence of religion in India dates
back to 5500-2600 BCE
How did Hinduism Develop?
• Modern Hinduism developed primarily
from the Vedas
• Vedas are large body texts that
originated from Ancient India
• Vedas concentrate on worship of
deities
– Ex: Indra, Varuna, Agni, and Soma ritual.
The Three Major Movements That
Influenced Hindu Thought
• Upanishadic
– Hindu scriptures that consist of the core
teachings of Vedanta
– Dated to the Early Middle Ages around the 3rd
to 8th centuries AD
• Jaina
– Practices Non-Violence and also gave rise to
Buddhism Created the concept of Puja
• “Pu”= Flower and “ja”= Offering
• Buddhist
– Influenced Moksha and Karma in Hinduism
– Followed philosophical streams of thought
– Shramana Religion
When Islam Came to India
• Islam was introduced to India in the early 7th
century
• Arab traders
• Conquest of Sindh
• Rapid Decline in Buddhism
• Hindus converting to Islam
• During this time Muslim rulers destroyed Hindu
temples and persecuted non-Muslims leading to
drastic changes in how many people practiced
the Hindu religion
Practices of Hinduism
• Practices involve
seeking awareness of
God and blessing
from Devas
• Hinduism has
developed many
practices meant to
help one think of
divinity in everyday
life
Puja
• Puja is an act of worship or veneration
• Puja can be performed at home in a
room that is dedicated to sacred
religious practices or at a temple
• Visiting temples is not required
• Hindus also do not claim to belong to
any denomination
Violence and Diet
• Most Hindus
advocate the
practice of ahi or
non-violence and
respect for all life
Violence and Diet Cont…
• Hindus embrace
vegetarianism to
respect higher forms
of life.
• Note: Vegetarianism
is not a requirement
• Most avoid meat on
holy days
• Cow-slaughter is
legally banned in
almost all states of
India
Objectives of Human Life
• The objectives of human life is known
as Dharma
• Dharma Includes
– Righteousness
– Livelihood
– Wealth
– Sensual Pleasure
– Liberation, Freedom
The Soul
• The soul is know as
atman and is
dependent on god
• The soul is one’s
true self
• Upanishads states
that one a person
becomes fully aware
of their atma
realizes an identity
with Brahman and
thereby reaches
Moksha
Reincarnation
and
Hinduism
• Reincarnation dates
back to 800 BCE
within the Upanishads
• The soul is immortal
in the Hindu religion
• Only the body is
capable of birth and
death
Reincarnation and Karma
• Karma is the sum of ones actions
• Karma in existing life determines your
place in the next: referred to as Samsara
Karma and Caste
• Karma can determine placement
With in a certain caste
• Brahmins (intelligentsia, priests)
• Kshatriyas (kings, nobility)
• Vaishyas (merchants, cultivators)
• Sudras (artisans, workers and
Service providers
• Dalita (untouchables) (cleaned
Human excretion, moved dead bodies
The Power of Caste
• A person power within
their society is
determined by the
knowledge of their
religion
• Brahman’s hold the
most power within
Hinduism
Role Of Family
• The Hindu view of caste, ashramas, and
family are inseparable
• Ahramas is the four stages of life
• When a man marries he pays three debts he
owes to his ancestors, the gods, and his
guru
• Debts are paid by having children (boys are
more favorable), prayer, and passing along
knowledge and wisdom to his children
Hinduism in the World Today
• Hinduism is the
world’s third largest
religion
• With one billion
practicing Hindus,
of which 905 million
practice and live in
India today
References
• Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
• <ahref="http://family.jrank.org/pages/768/H
induism-Hinduism-Family.html">Hinduism
- Hinduism And The Family</a>
• Kevin Reilly (The West and the World)