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Dravidic people settled in
Indus Valley
S
- strong worship of a form
of feminine divinity and
of Siva
- lasts until 1500 BC
Before reading the chapters on Hinduism:
] What would you say Hinduism is about?
ORIGINS OF THE
‘ETERNAL RELIGION’
Read pages 19 to 21.
] What are the origins of the term
O
3000 BC
Perceptions Exercise
N
TI M E LI N E
compilation of oral Vedas
600 BC –
100 BC
Production of Upanishads
After
300 BC
Romance of Ramayana
and Mahabharata and
Bhagavad-gita
T
C.a 800 BC
] What are Hindu people like?
Hindu Tantric tradition
established
1206
Muslim Sultanate
established in Delhi
C
most other religions. It has no archbishops,
] How do Hindus live?
1757
holy man to follow. The one ineluctable
certainty is a person's dharma.’
Task: As you read the chapters on Hinduism write the terms with the correct definitions below.
Sanatana Dharma; Moksha; Indra; Saivism; Smriti; Dharma; Karma; Pantheism; Margas; Scruti;
Samsara; Vedas; Atman; Vaishnavism; Agni; Dvija.
Term
Definition
Everything is God
Heard writings
The twice-born ceremony
God of fire
Earliest Hindu writings
S
Life of Hindu Reformer
Ram Rohan Roy – founder
of society of Brahman,
1828
(C) The Economist Newspaper Limited, London 1991À
O
1772-1833
British Rule established
in Calcutta
of God are most important to him, what
L
1556 – 1605 Reign of Mughal emperor
Akbar
decides for himself which manifestations
G
1483 – 1530 Reign of Babur, founder
of Mughal empire
chief rabbis, grand muftis. Each Hindu
scriptures to accept as authentic, which
P
500 AD
R
Compilation of the
Laws of Manu
‘Hinduism is far more unstructured than
E
200 AD
E
P
Aryan invasions of Indus
valley (and extending to
around 1000 BC).
I
Hinduism?
around
1500 BC
Devotion to god Siva
1920
Ghandi assassinated
1966
International Society for
Krishna Consciousness
founded in New York
Warrior and storm god
The Soul
Remembered writings
Eternal law/religion
Paths to salvation
Duty
Actions that determine future existence
Y
1948
Devotion to god Vishnu
R
6
India granted
independence from Britain
The ‘running around’ – entrapment
A
1947
Ghandi launches antiBritish campaign based on
non-violence
Escape into the one eternal reality
S
1857 – 1858 Abolition of Mughal
empire and establishment
of direct British rule.
THE VEDAS
Gods, drugs and sacrifice
] Fill in the gaps in the diagram of the Vedas and
their various extensions below.
Verses
Vedas
Chants
Atharvan Priests
Did you know?
Aranyakas
Every 12 years at the festival of Kumbh Mela,
millions make the pilgrimage to meet on the
banks of the Ganges to bathe, pray, and make
offerings to the holy men. Hindus believe that the
Ganges will wash away the sins of the pilgrims,
along with those of previous generations.
Extensions
Give a brief explanation of the diagram:
UPANISHADS
From page 27, write a paragraph on the Upanishads.
Include the following:
Explain how a person’s life would be affected by belief
in polytheism.
The term Upanishad means . . .
The term takes its meaning from . . .
Many Hindus claim that the Upanishads are . . .
What is your response to the concept of a multitude of
gods in the universe?
Read pages 27 to 29.
Brahman: The One behind the many
What do you feel about the possibility that you are a
‘spark’ from a ‘flame’ that ultimately needs to be
reabsorbed into the flame?
Mahatma Ghandi (1869 – 1948)
Considered the father of the Indian nation. Famous for policy
of non-violent resistance – crucial in the fight for Indian
Independence. This policy was emulated by Dr. Martin Luther
King Jnr. in the United States in the fight for civil rights for
black Americans on the 1950s and ‘60s.
7
Read pages 29 to 33.
Did you know?
The Hindu understanding of the cycle of life
Hindus are generally strong believers
in astrology and take special religious
significance from the movement of the
sun, moon, and various planets. Depending
on the positions of the planets various
days are unsuitable for weddings and
important business decisions.
] How do you feel about the ultimate goal of
Hinduism? What does this mean for who you are?
Provide an explanation of the Hindu concept of
Entrapment by explaining each of the key components
of the diagram
] What do you feel is the ultimate goal in being human?
Moksha
] What, according to Hinduism is the ‘goal of life’?
The truth of life is that Brahman is no different from
along the way is always the same, the Bank of Karma, where the
Atman, the spiritual force within us, what you might call the
liberation account of each of us is credited or debited depending
soul. The individual soul touches upon the world soul like a
on our actions. This, in a holy nutshell, is Hinduism, and I have
well reaches for the water table. That which sustains the
been a Hindu all my life. With its notions in mind I see my place
universe beyond thought and language, and that which is at
in the universe.
the core of us and struggles for expression, is the same thing.
From Life of Pi, by Yann MartelÁ
The finite within the infinite, the infinite within the finite. If
you ask me how Brahman and Atman relate precisely, I
would say in the same way as the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit relate: mysteriously. But one thing is clear: Atman
seeks to realise Brahman, to be united with the Absolute,
and it travels in this life on a pilgrimage where it is born and
dies, and is born again and dies again, and again and again,
until it manages to shed the sheaths that imprison it here
below. The paths to liberation are numerous, but the bank
8
Write a short speech outlining the essential Hindu
understanding of the life cycle. Design your speech so
that a year seven or eight student could understand it.
Present it to the class.
In the above extract, how does the writer describe
the process of ‘life on a pilgrimage’ for the Hindu?
What is the implication of such an understanding
of ‘levels’ of society for people in each of the four
categories? Consider both the positive and negative
aspects.
SMRITI LITERATURE
Caste, Duty and Salvation
Read pages 35 and 36. Write a paragraph on
the Bhagavad-gita. Include the following:
] What the Bhagavad-gita is.
] The major contribution of the Bhagavad-gita
according to the author.
The Three ‘Paths’ to Salvation
Read pages 38 and 39.
Path of duties (karma-yoga)
What response do you have regarding dharma,
detachment, and karma-less action?
The Four Castes of People in Hindu Society
Read pages 36 to 38.
Fill in the details of the table to illustrate the four levels
of Hindu society.
What is the significance of performing actions with
complete detachment?
The Four Levels of Hindu Society
Brahmans (Priests)
Ksatriyas (Warrior-kings)
Do you think it is possible to act with ‘complete
detachment’?
Vaisyas (Common people)
Sudras (Servants)
Path of knowledge (jnana-yoga)
How appealing do you find the path of knowledge?
How might someone become interested in this way
of salvation?
A student is feeling lonely at school. She is having trouble
fitting in with her group of friends. She feels misunderstood
at home and doesn’t feel she is able to relate to her parents.
She has a sense of being directionless. All things look
meaningless to her. She aches for meaning, significance
and hope.
George Harrison (1943 – 2001)
Beatles guitarist, songwriter. Harrison’s search for God began in his
mid ‘20s. It led him to delve deeply into the mystical world of
What would the Hindu faith have to say to her?
eastern religions, especially Hinduism, Indian philosophy, culture
What answers would Hinduism offer to her problems?
and music.
9
Interview with Shaini Sivagnanam
When Shaini Sivagnanam migrated with her
family to Australia from Sri Lanka, in 1996, she
always knew she would bring her Hindu faith
with her. ‘I can’t even imagine not being a
Hindu,’ she gasps. ‘It is the thing that gives me
direction in life. Without it I would be very
confused,’ she adds.
Shaini is from a family of five who came to Australia under the Australian
government’s skilled migration program. Since arriving in Australia Shaini
has been to school and university. At 23, she is in the workforce as an
Actuarial Analyst. There were some adjustments to make when joining
Australian culture. ‘There was much stricter discipline in my Sri Lankan
school,’ she explains. ‘The students had more respect for the teachers.’
Learning a new language was also difficult.
Overall, the experience has been a good one, however. Shaini has thrown
herself into life in Australia. She enjoys playing video games, going to the
movies and going out with her friends. She loves music and is currently
So what does Shaini make of the suffering that is so much a part of life?
‘Suffering is a result of our Karma,’ she suggests. ‘Suffering is just
perception. Great people are able to direct and control their thoughts and
understand that suffering is merely a perception of the mind. Like last
year when I didn’t have a job, I was suffering. But it was more the way I
perceived the situation . . . a lot of it is about controlling your thoughts,’
she explains. So is there real suffering or is it all perception? ‘It is
perception,’ says Shaini.
Shaini says that her Hindu faith affects the way she views the world and
especially other people. Shaini describes this as ‘unity.’ ‘Everyone is the
same in essence – there is the essence of God in everyone – this is the
reason why we should treat people well.’
Shaini says that like other religions, Hindus also believe in one God.
Contrary to how some people perceive Hinduism, Shaini says that it is not
about idol worship. The idols are representative of different characteristics
of the same one God. ‘God allows us to relate to him in different forms
– the idol [merely] represents aspects of God to us,’ says Shaini.
learning the Veena – a very large Indian instrument like a guitar, although
very big. ‘You have to sit down to play it,’ she explains. Shaini is highly
And what does Shaini make of other faiths? ‘Even though they are
involved in the community. She teaches ‘human values’ at her local
worship centre where the program focuses on character education —
mainly truth, right conduct, love, peace and non-violence. She is studying
for a Diploma in Education in Human Values. She also likes to be involved
in voluntary services such as visits to nursing homes and teaching new
migrants computer skills.
different they all reach the same goal – just in a different way. It is up to
the individual to follow whatever path to God they find. It might even be
that God chooses your religion for you. There are many
misunderstandings, and some people, although mistaken [about the
exclusive claims of their religion], are still on the same path as the rest of
us,’ says Shaini.
Her life is full, and Hindu belief is an important part of who she is. So
what does her Hindu faith mean to her? ‘It explains and makes sense of
life,’ says Shaini. ‘Especially the idea of reincarnation helps to explain
some of the mysteries of life. It helps to understand the inequalities – why
some people are disabled and others are poor.’ ‘Hinduism,’ says Shaini
‘is about trying to live the right way.’ She explains that it is her belief that
there is a cosmic reaction to all actions in life. ‘If I do the wrong thing, I
will pay for it. There will be a cost,’ says Shaini. Right behaviour, according
to Shaini’s beliefs, will bring reward. Shaini says that the only way to
escape reincarnation and the constant cycle of being born and re-born is
to surrender to God’s will – to merge with God. This is called selfrealisation.
Escaping this life remains the ultimate goal. Shaini says that people from
her faith want to be released from the suffering of the world. ‘We are
looking for escape,’ she says. ‘When you are merged with God you will
experience bliss.’
1. What evidence is there to suggest that
Shaini’s faith is very important to her?
2. Why do you think that reincarnation is
perceived as a bad thing in the Hindu faith?
How does Shaini explain the way people
may escape the cycle of birth and re-birth?
3. How do you react to Shaini’s assessment of suffering
being essentially a perception?
4. Write down questions you would have for Shaini
regarding her faith and her beliefs. Discuss these in class.
5. How do you respond to the belief in all religions being
on the ‘same path,’ as Shaini puts it?
Did you know?
10
The namaste gesture (hands together, bowing head) means ‘I bow to the divine in you’.
Path of devotion (bhakti-yoga)
What looks to be the most appealing about this ‘path’
to salvation?
Local Government areas by –
Religious AffiliationÂ
Thinking it through
Design a pamphlet to be sent out from a Hindu temple
to your local area in the form of a letter-box-drop. The
pamphlet should aim to give the essentials of the
Hindu faith. It should include something of the history
of Hinduism, the paths to salvation, the important texts
of Hinduism and some examples of the gods of the
Hindu faith.
The pamphlet should be written in a catchy and appealing fashion.
It should aim to make Hinduism understandable to someone who
knows nothing (or very little) of the Hindu faith.
LGA
Hinduism
Percent
Total
Blacktown (NSW)
5974
2.3
255195
Liverpool (NSW)
5256
3.4
153633
Brisbane (Qld)
5201
0.6
873780
Parramatta (NSW)
4045
2.8
143143
Monash (Vic)
3317
2.1
155061
Hinduism in AustraliaÂ
Year
Numbers
Did you know?
Percentage of Pop
1986
-
-
1991
43,600
0.3
1996
67,279
0.38
2001
95,473
0.5
Birthplace of Hindus in AustraliaÂ
By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political
control of virtually all Indian lands. Nonviolent
resistance to British colonialism under Mohandas
GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU led to independence
in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the
secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state
of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries
in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the
separate nation of Bangladesh.
India
31938
Fiji
19748
Australia
16570
Sri Lanka
10206
Malaysia
2251
Essay:
South Africa
2241
How satisfactory is the Hindu understanding of the
world and our place in it?
Nepal
1717
Singapore
1303
Sachin Tendulkar
Debate:
‘Hinduism offers an appealing and coherent
understanding of the world and our relationship to it.’
] Write a conversation between a Hindu and a
Westerner who knows very little about the
Hindu faith (perhaps you at the start of this unit!).
Try to offer an explanation of the essentials of the
faith. Present the conversation to the class.
Indian cricketer regarded as one of the greatest
batsmen in the world. Up to July 2004 he has scored
9470 runs at an average of 57.39 with 37 centuries
and a highest score of 241.
11
Write half a page on the following question:
] ‘Aiming to escape this life and the cycle of rebirth
is appealing to people in poor countries only.’
Do you agree?
] What do you think about the fact that Hinduism has so many
gods, each with different functions and activities? Is this a
good thing? What might be good about this? What might
be bad?
significance of things that happen in this life.
] The Upanishads suggest that the suffering of this life is what
In what way have your perceptions of Hinduism
changed?
] Discuss this idea of ‘the One.’ If you were to accept this as true,
how would this affect your attitude to life? Consider birth,
relationships, family, and death.
] What would be some of the challenges of practising Hinduism
P
E
in the universe. From Brahman everything comes, including the
other deities, and to Brahman will everything return.
What do you understand to be the ‘good news’ of
Hinduism?
C
] Hinduism suggests that Brahman is the ultimate and only reality
In groups:
T
I
we seek to escape. How do you feel about the Hindu
understanding of suffering? Does Hinduism present an
adequate explanation and solution?
S
] Explain your reaction to the Hindu understanding of the
Perceptions Exercise
N
In pairs discuss the following:
How do you feel about the possibility that Brahman is
not a conscious, personal being? How would such a
concept affect the manner in which you would relate
to such a being?
Bollywood (Bombay’s equivalent to Hollywood)
produces Hindustani fantasy on video or the
serialised episodes of the epics of Mahabharata,
Ramayana, or Canakya.
O
Discussion Topics
Did you know?
P
on page 34. Discuss the implications of your findings as to
how appealing Hinduism is.
E
] Fill in the table on ‘What Hinduism has to say about . . .’
R
in the traditional manner in contemporary Australia?
FURTHER RESEARCH
] Research the attitude of Hinduism towards women.
Present your findings to the class.
] Examine what Hinduism says about Jesus Christ,
Muhammad and Buddha.
] Interview a Hindu person in your community – examine
the manner in which their faith impacts their life.
] What are Hindu weddings like?
] Research the impact of Muslim and British imperialism
on the culture of Hinduism in India.
] Research the four stages, or ashramas, of life. How
might this system contribute to good community and
family life?
12
] Look at the four important rites in a Hindu’s life –
birth, initiation ceremony, marriage, last rites.
] Research the Hindu gods –
Krishna, Rama, Chandra, Ganesh, Karttikeya, and Yama.
] And Hindu goddesses –
Lakshmi the goddess of wealth; Sarasvati – goddess
of learning and the arts; Kali – the slayer of demons;
Shiva, the destroyer; Parvati, and Kali the woman warrior.