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Name: ________________ Date: _____ Pd. ____ HISTORY of HINDUISM Hinduism is the oldest and most complex of all religious systems. Providing an adequate history for the development of Hinduism is difficult, since it has no specific founder or theology and originated in the religious practices of Aryan tribes who moved to India from central Asia more than three thousand years ago. The Aryans attacked the Harappan people who lived in modern day India around 1500 BC. Eventually, through adaptation to the religious beliefs of the other, both groups developed similar religious belief systems, founded on the polytheism of the Aryans and the sanctity of fertility of the Harappans. Soon, the predominantly Aryan society developed the caste system, which ranked society according to occupational class. The caste system is as follows: Brahmins Priests and their families, the highest class. Kshatriyas Soldiers, king-warrior class Vaishyas Merchants, Farmers, Laborers, Craftspeople Harijahns "Untouchables"- those thought to be descended from the Harappan aboriginal peopleextremely poor and discriminated against The higher a person's caste, the more that person is blessed with the benefits and luxuries life has to offer. Although the caste system was outlawed in 1948, it is still important to the Hindu people of India and is still recognized as the proper way to stratify society. Since the early days of Hinduism, it has branched and now encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs and religious organizations. Not only is it the primary religion of the region around India, but portions of Hindu beliefs have found their way across oceans to other countries and have been influential in the foundations of other religions, such as Transcendental Meditation and Buddhism. References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images 'Brahma' courtesy of http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/ekprem/hinduism.htm Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 Basic Beliefs of Hinduism Hinduism is based on the concept that human and animal spirits reincarnate, or come back to earth to live many times in different forms. The belief that souls move up and down an infinite hierarchy depending on the behaviors they practiced in their life is visible in many of the Hindu societal policies. The caste system survives and charity towards others is unheard of because each individual deserves to be in the social class they were born in. A person is born into the highest class because they behaved well in a past life, and a person is born into poverty and shame because of misbehaviors in a past life. Today, a Hindu can be polytheistic (more than one god), monotheistic (one god), pantheistic (god and the universe are one), agnostic (unsure if god exists), or atheistic (no god) and still claim to be Hindu. This open theology makes it difficult to discuss basic beliefs since there are many ideas about what Hinduism means. However, these universal ideas must be mentioned. Central to Hinduism are the concepts of reincarnation, the caste system, merging with brahman (or the ultimate reality), finding morality, and reaching Moksha (the peaceful escape from the cycle of reincarnation). Religious documents include Sruti, (what is heard) and Smriti, (what is remembered). The Sruti include deeply religious things communicated to a seer and recorded. The Vedas, the religious writings, include mantras (hymns of praise), brahmanas (sacrificial rituals) and upanishads (108 sacred teachings). The Smriti include the law (books of laws), puranas (myths, stories, legends) and epics (sets of holy myths including Ramayana and Mahabharata). The Hindu paths to salvation include the way of works (rituals), the way of knowledge (realization of reality and selfreflection), and the way of devotion (devotion to the god that you choose to follow). If the practitioner follows the paths of these ways, salvation can be achieved. References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images 'Krishna' courtesy of About Rajasthan- http://www.rajasthanweb.com/about/religion/index.htm 'Ganesh' and 'Shiva' courtesy of World Religions in Images 'Gsarawt' courtesy of Presja http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/ekprem/hinduism.htm Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 Hindu Terms Atman The real self, the eternal life principle. (Soul) Brama The creator god Brahmin A member of the priestly caste, the highest class. Dharma The teachings of virtue and principle Karma The culminating value of all of one's life actions, good and bad, which together determine one's next rebirth and death. Moksha The term for liberation from the bondage of finite existence. Puranas Part of the Hindu scriptures consisting of myths and legends mixed with historical events. Samsara The rebirth of souls passing on from one existence to another until release can be achieved, reincarnation. Upanishads Part of the Hindu sacred texts containing treatises on the nature of ultimate reality and the way to achieve union with the absolute. Veda The oldest of the Hindu scriptures, consisting of four collections of sacred writings. Yoga The Hindu path of union with the divine. Any sort of exercise (physical, mental or spiritual) which promotes one's journey to union with Brahma. References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Written by Sara Wenner, 2001