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Hinduism
• One of the oldest
known religions in the
world.
• Unlike most other
religions, Hinduism has:
-No single founder
- No single scripture
- No commonly agreed upon set
of teachings
Hinduism
• Because of the previous things mentioned,
scholars often refer to Hinduism as a ‘way of
life’ or a ‘family of religions.
• The term 'Hindu' was
derived from the river or
river complex of the
northwest, the Sindhu.Indus River
• Sindhu is a Sanskrit word
used by the inhabitants of
the region, the Aryans (later
used by other invaders to
describe the land and its
people).
Principles of Indian
Hinduism
• Karma - The law of moral
causation; explains why
certain people have certain
lots in life.
– Why are the poor miserable?
Why are the wealthy so
comfortable?
– Our status is the result of our
own past actions and our own
present doings. We ourselves are
responsible for our own
happiness and misery.
Principles of Indian
Hinduism
• Dharma
– Natural universal laws
whose observance
enables humans to be
contented and happy,
and to save oneself
from degradation and
suffering.
Principles of Indian
Hinduism
• Examples of Dharma
– nonviolence, not stealing,
– truthfulness, refraining from
speaking a truth which hurts,
refraining from backbiting
– control of anger and jealousy
– practicing charity and kindness to
all,
– practicing hospitality, etc.
– "Treat your mother and father as
Gods.”
Principles of Indian
Hinduism
• Samsara
• The process of passing from
one body to another
throughout all species of
life.
– Hindus believe that
consciousness is present in
all life forms
– (1) aquatics, (2) plants, (3)
reptiles and insects, (4)
birds, (5) animals and (6)
humans
Principles of Indian
Hinduism
Around and
around it goes,
like Shiva the
cosmic dancer.
Samsara or
Reincarnation
3 Major Texts of Hinduism
1. The Vedas
– The oldest and most
important is the Hindu text
• First in the form of oral
histories composed about
1500 BCE
• Then written in Sanskrit
about 600 BCE
– It contains 4 books: with
hymns, incantations, and
rituals from ancient India.
3 major texts of Hinduism
2. The Bhagavad Gītā (400 BCE)
– A poem describing a conversation between
a warrior Arjuna and the God Krishna.
– 700–verse scripture
– Called the “Song of God”
3 major texts of Hinduism
3. The Upanishads (400 BCE)
– They explain how the soul (Atman) can be
united with Brahman.
• Through meditation and religious instruction
with a guru (or a teacher)
Polytheistic
• Hindus believe in many
deities
– These very interesting
looking gods are not to be
taken literally
• The Big Guy: Brahman
– The one supreme, universal
Spirit that is the origin and
support of the universe;
genderless
Polytheistic
• After Brahman, The Hindu Trinity (“The
Big 3”):
–The triumvirate consists of three gods
who are responsible for the creation,
upkeep and destruction of the world.
–Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
The Trimurti of Hinduism
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
The Creator
The Preserver
The Destroyer
Brahma:
The Creator
• He is the father of Manu,
and from Manu all human
beings are descended.
– Not to be confused with
Brahman (The Big Guy)
– He is clad in red clothes.
– is traditionally depicted
with four heads, four
faces, and four arms…one
for each of the 4 Vedas
Vishnu:
The Preserver
• Brahma is the creator of the
universe and Shiva is the
destroyer. Vishnu is the
preserver and protector of
the universe.
• His role is to return to the
earth in troubled times and
restore the balance of good
and evil.
• Vishnu is the essence of all
beings, the master of and
beyond the past, present
and future.
Vishnu:
The Preserver
• Human body, color of the
clouds (blue colored) with
four arms .
– Conch: the sound this
produces 'Om', represents
creation
– Chakra: symbolizes the mind
(a wheel)
– Lotus flower: existence and
freedom
– Mace: represents mental and
physical strength
• Been reincarnated nine
times ( only 1 more time)
Shiva: The Destroyer
• Shiva is commonly known
as the God of Destruction,
but it is more appropriate
to call Shiva the God of
Regeneration.
– He is also associated with
procreation.
– Infertile women will pray to
him in the hopes of bearing
children.
• Also seen as the god of
meditation and asceticism.
– He will be depicted sitting
cross-legged with his eyes
half-closed.
Shiva:
The Destroyer
• Weapon: red trident
• Third eye
• The Ganges River
flows from the matted
hair
• Seated upon a tiger
skin
• Garlanded with a
snake
Dancing Shiva
Conveys the Indian conception of the
never-ending cycle of time. Shiva's dance
is set within a flaming halo. The god
holds in his upper right hand the a drum
that made the first sound Om. His upper
left hand holds a fire that will destroy the
universe. With his lower right hand, he
makes a gesture that wards off fear. The
dwarflike figure being trampled by his
right foot ignorance. Shiva's front left
hand, pointing to his raised left foot,
signifies refuge for the troubled soul. The
energy of his dance makes his hair fly to
the sides. The symbols imply that,
through belief in Shiva, his devotees can
achieve salvation.
Ganesha:
Elephant Headed God
• Elephant-deity riding a
mouse
• Most popular Hindu
God
• He is the lord of
success and destroyer
of evils and obstacles.
• He is also worshipped
as the god of
knowledge, wisdom and
wealth.
Kali: Dark
Mother
• Goddess of time,
doomsday, and death,
or the black goddess.
• Kali is the killer of
human ego.
• Although she looks
violent and aggressive
she is considered to be
a reflection of a mother
protecting her children
from evil.
Kali: Dark
Mother
• Characterized as black
or blue, partially or
completely naked, with
a long lolling tongue,
multiple arms, a skirt or
girdle of human arms, a
necklace of decapitated
heads, and a
decapitated head in one
of her hands
Moksha
• When a soul finally escapes the karmic
cycle, it becomes one with Brahman when
the last bodily incarnation dies.
• Moksha is not available for women so it is
considered better to be born a man.
• The best position to be born into is that of a
man of a high caste or a guru. These are the
ones most likely to achieve union with
Brahman and end the cycle of lives
(reincarnation).
Hindu Traditions:
Where’s the Beef?
• A large section of Hindus embrace
vegetarianism in a bid to respect
higher forms of life.
• While vegetarianism is not a
requirement, it is recommended as
a purifying lifestyle
– About 30% of today's Hindu
population are lacto-vegetarian
– Another 20% of the Hindu
population practice
vegetarianism on religious days
Hindu Traditions:
The Bindi
• The red dot Hindu women wear on the
forehead
– Its location over a chakra (energy point), is
intended to help focus during meditation.
– Also a symbol of good fortune.
– Bindi was once only for married women but today
is worn by girls and women of all ages.
Hindu Traditions: Mehndi
• The application of henna as a temporary form
of skin decoration
• Described in the earliest Vedic ritual books
• Intended to be a symbolic representation of
the outer and the inner sun; "awakening the
inner light".
• Women have Henna applied to their hands
and feet for their weddings and festivals