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Hinduism
Overview
Hinduism
•Originated more than 3000 year ago.
•Does not have 1 specific founder.
•3rd most practiced religion in the world with
about 1 billion followers (1.4 million in US)
•Originated in India
•Belief in a supreme spirit---Brahman
•Oldest in the world but developed over the
centuries from many different texts.
•There is no hierarchy like Catholic Church.
Key Beliefs
•Three main ideas are important in
understanding the Hindu religion and the
caste system
•Reincarnation
•Karma
•Dharma
REINCARNATION
•Every living thing has a soul.
•When a living thing dies, its soul
moves into another living creature.
•Souls are reborn in a newly created
life.
What is reincarnation according to the
Hindus?
• It is rebirth of the soul in various forms.
• After the body dies, the soul may be reborn as anything
from a god to a flower to a snake.
• Each form in only temporary.
KARMA
•Every action brings about certain results.
•There is no escaping the consequences of
one’s actions.
•Good behavior is rewarded when the soul
is reborn into a higher ranking living
creature.
Karma and Moksha
•The cycle of reincarnation continues until
one reaches moksha. The cycle is governed
by the law of karma.
•Karma is derived from the Sanskrit word:
‘to do”.
•The law of karma states that every deedmental or physical-in this life affects a
person’s fate in a future life.
•Your present situation is the result of your
deeds in a past existence, says karmic law.
Moksha
•Moksha: freeing your
atman/soul from your body
•The ultimate goal of all
Hindus
•Your atman is reunited with
the Brahman and you will
have true peace.
DHARMA
•A set of rules that must be followed by all
living things if they wish to work their
way up the ladder of reincarnation.
•Each person’s dharma is different.
•Duties and obligations of your caste
•Doing your dharma will get you good
karma
Caste System
•Since they believe in
reincarnation, karma, dharma,
and moksha, all of this is tied to
the Caste System.
•So the Caste System is
fundamental to the existence of
Hinduism.
Unity of all Life---Atman
•Atman: the essential self
•Also, part of the Brahman
•Nonviolence
•Every living thing has an atman
•“The essential self or the vital
essence in human is the same
as that in an ant, the same as
that in a gnat, the same as that
in an elephant…indeed the
same as that in the whole
universe.”
•Seeing all life as
sacred – a part of a
“oneness”
•Results in the life
principle of nonviolence
•Supports the idea of
being in harmony with
nature
•A principle also found
in Jainism and
Buddhism
Ahimsa
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Holy Texts/Sacred Books
2500 – 250 BC
What are the Sacred Texts?
• Oldest, most authoritative:
• 1. Four Vedas (“truth”) – sacred hymns of
praise
• Contain knowledge revealed by Brahman
• 2. Upanishads – philosophical reflections on
the Vedas
• Also revealed to, not written by, people
• the Great Indian Epics (composed by sages)
• Ramayana
• Mahabharata (includes Bhagavad-Gita)
• Both tell stories that reflect on what it
means to live according to Vedic
teachings
Basic Practices
THREE
BASIC
PRACTICES
•Puja or worship –
corporate worship
not required – largely
individual practices
•Cremation of the
dead
•Regulations of the
Caste System
Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price,
Wyckoff
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2500 – 250 BC
What are the religious
practices of Hinduism?
• Vary greatly because worship can take place anywhere—
usually a temple or in the home.
• Spiritual leaders are called gurus or sages.
• Yoga-integrated physical and mental exercises. They
teach people to focus their minds and bodies which will
aid their meditation in order to attain moksha
• Pilgrimage to Ganges (thought it flows through 2 devas so
its water is holy. Bathing in it will purify them and
remove bad karma.
• Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and reunite with
the divine, becoming as one with Brahman (Moksha)
Hindu and Diet
• Many Hindus are vegetarian
• Since the divine soul flows through all beings,
many devout Hindus support non-violence.
• Some will not eat meat on important days
• If meat is eaten, usually fish or chicken
• Cows are Venerated (highly respected) at it is
illegal to slaughter a cow in most Indian states
• Because they provided milk and helped plow
fields. They were caretakers
Monotheistic or
Polytheistic?
God(s)
Hinduism:
Monotheism or Polytheism?
• Hinduism has aspects of both.
• There is one (mono) universal
spirit.
• This spirit manifests itself in the
form of many (poly)
gods/goddesses.
Hindu Beliefs
Om
Symbol of Brahman
BRAHMA
• Evolved over many
centuries
• GOAL: Become one with the
universal spirit Brahman
• Brahman – universal spirit,
god
• All other gods are
manifestations of Brahman
• Millions of manifestations
exist!
• Trinity – 3 most important
manifestations
VISHNU
SIVA
The Three Main Gods of Hinduism
•Brahma: the creator
•Vishnu: the preserver
•Shiva: the destroyer
•Different sects worship different gods
and their families.
•Hindus believe in the unity of all life
and every person has an essential self
or atman: part of the universal soul.
Who do Hindus worship? –
3 Most Important Devas
2500 – 250 BC
Brahma, the creator
Siva, the Destroyer
Vishnu, the Preserver
Hinduism – Map!
Hinduism Today
Hinduism in 1500 C.E.
Hinduism located in India and SE Asia
Then and Now
AUM!
AUM!
AUM!