Download Some Hindu Basics

Hindu Basics
History
• No known founder of Hinduism
• Hybrid of polytheism and monotheism-Worship many gods and goddesses to help
them understand Brahma.
• Combination of Indus Valley Civilization and
Aryan Civilization
• Vedas and Upanishads: The sacred texts are
thought to be the ultimate authority.
3 Prominent Gods
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
*Have over 330 million different celestial beings in
the area.
**Brahman is the one god that all avatars and
celestial beings are a part of.
***Be sure not to confuse Brahma, Brahman and
Brahmin (learn about later.)
Brahma – the Creator
• The creator of
everything.
• Depicted with 4 heads
and 4 arms.
• Each head recites a
Veda.
Vishnu – the Preserver
• Preserver and protector
of the universe.
• Depicted with a conch
shell, chakra (mind),
lotus and mace.
Shiva – the Destroyer
• The transformer or
destroyer.
• Sometimes manifest as
Nataraja (Lord of the
Dance.)
Kali—Goddess of Destruction
• Typically depicted wielding
a sword and a decapitated
head.
• She wears a necklace of
human skulls and stands on
a corpse.
• Many Hindus revere her
because they think that
worshiping her will bring
enlightenment.
Other female deities include
Lokshmi, Parvati, and Durga
Pilgrimages
• Pilgrimages: 4 big pilgrimage sites at each of
the compass points.
• Many Hindus visit all of them.
– Takes 10 weeks.
•
•
•
•
Rameshavaram in the south 
Dwarkadheesh in the west 
Cacutta by following the Ganges (north) 
Puri in the East
The Ganges River
• The Ganges starts in the Himalayas and
supplies water to the holy city of Varanasi.
• Hindus believe that bathing in the river can
help balance a person’s karma.
• Many people visit the Ganges every year.
• Many deposit the ashes of their loved ones in
the river.
Hindu Calendar
• Each month begins with the new moon which
means holidays and festivals are on different
dates from year to year.
• Some Holidays:
– Magha: Winter solstice festival
– Chaitra: Spring festival
– Bhadrapada: Celebration of siblings
– Karttika: New Years, festival of lights
Mandir (Hindu Temple)
• Each Mandir is dedicated to a specific god.
• There is a shrine to the god containing an
image or painting of the god/ess.
• Each morning priests and worshippers,
decorate the shrine with fresh flowers,
candles, fruit and incense.
• Puja (daily worship) is performed at dawn,
noon, dusk and midnight.
Temple (Continued)
• Worshipers focus on the deity then offer a
food offering.
• Temple Video
Bharata Natyam
• A lot of sculptures in Hindu Temples mimic the
motion from early Temple dances.
• Bharata Natyam Dance Video
Hindu Symbols
• Ancient symbol of
auspiciousness, good
fortune, and protection
• Represents the eternal
wheel of life rotates upon
an unchanging center,
God
• Hindus believe it protects
them from evil spirits and
natural disasters
• Pre-dates Nazi Germany
Symbols (Continued)
• “Om” a visual and oral
representation of
Brahman used as a
mantra.
• Cows
• Believed that the
celestial cow was
created by Lord Krishna
and that gods
sometimes visit Earth in
the form of cows.
Symbols (Continued)
• The lotus bud.
• Symbolizes the
birth of the
universe.