Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
HINDUISM Origins of Hinduism: The Indus Valley Civilization • Hinduism, unlike most major religions, does not have one person who is considered a “founder.” • Instead, its roots are with the people of the Indus River valley who lived 5000 years ago. Origins of Hinduism: The Indus Valley Civilization Many early Indus practices and beliefs shape Hinduism: • Cleanliness & bathing • Agriculture • Water is sacred Origins of Hinduism: The Aryan Invasion • The Aryan tribes were powerful and conquered all they came into contact with. • They had a very different belief system and way of life from the Indus people. Origins of Hinduism: The Aryan Invasion • The Aryans were not agricultural – they were warlike • They worshipped only male gods • Over time, the Indus and Aryan religious beliefs and practices mixed together Origins of Hinduism: The Vedas • The Vedas are one of the sacred texts of Hinduism. • For centuries, they were passed down orally until the Aryans transcribed them into Sanskrit, the sacred Hindu language. Hindu Deities: The Hindu Trinity Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. What does that mean? Hindu Deities: The Hindu Trinity The Vedas introduce 3 main Hindu gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva Although each deity has his own characteristics, many Hindus believe they represent three properties of one god. Hindu Deities Brahma: The Creator • Many Hindus believe that all other gods originate from Brahma. • He has four faces that look to the four corners of the universe. • He holds the Vedas, a jar of holy water from the Ganges River, and a necklace of prayer beads • He sits on a lotus throne Hindu Deities Vishnu: The Preserver • Vishnu’s role is to keep a balance between good and evil in the universe. • To do this, he returns to earth in different forms, both animal and human, called avatars. • Tradition says Vishnu has had 10 avatars, but the two most beloved are Rama and Krishna Rama Krishna Hindu Deities Shiva: The Destroyer • Shiva is worshipped as the destroyer or purifier. • He dances in a halo of fire, representing the cycle of birth and death. • He is crushing the demon of ignorance • He holds a drum in one hand and the flame of destruction, purification, and renewal in the other • Shiva wears snakes to symbolize his power over evil forces. Hindu Deities: Hindu Goddesses • Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) • Durga (universal mother) • Sarasvati (goddess of learning and arts) Hindu Deities: Kali • Durga, like many Hindu deities, takes many forms. One of her most popular and feared manifestations is Kali: Goddess of Destruction Hindu Deities: The Ramayana • The epic poem, Ramayana, tells the story of the life of Rama, a Prince and the 7th incarnation of Vishnu. It is one of the most celebrated stories in all of Hinduism. • It is often retold and performed around the world. Hindu Beliefs: Dharma • Dharma stands for the ultimate moral balance of all things. • The universe has a divine order, but there is also order within one’s personal life. • Each person has the responsibility to balance his or her own dharma. Hindu Beliefs: Karma • Karma is the belief that a person experiences the affects of his or her actions--that every act or thought has consequences. Hindu Beliefs: Samsara • Samsara is also known as reincarnation. It represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth in which a person carries his or her own karma. • Many Hindus believe that a person’s status depends upon actions in a past life. • Good thoughts and actions can liberate a person. Hindu Beliefs: Moksha • Hindus strive to reach moksha--a state of changeless bliss, or happiness. • It is achieved by living a life of religious devotion and moral integrity without any interest in worldly things. • It may be many lifetimes within the wheel of life before Moksha is achieved. Hindu Beliefs: The River Ganges • To Hindus, water is both literally and symbolically a source of life, renewal, and hope. • The river Ganges, which begins in the Himalayas, is the most sacred river in India. • Many believe that contact with the river helps balance a person’s karma. Hindu Holidays: Diwali • Diwali, is the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the Hindu New Year. It usually falls in October or November (late Oct 2011!) • People decorate their streets and doorways with small clay lamps, and their floors with colorful floor paintings made of rice flour. • The celebrations last for five days. Hindu Holidays: Holi • Holi is the Hindu spring festival. • The holiday begins in the evening with bonfires that people sing and dance around. • In the morning, the fires are put out. People throw colored powders and colored water at each other in a playful spirit. Hindu Worship: The Mandir • The Hindu mandir, or temple, is a holy place of gathering and worship. • Each temple is dedicated to a particular god. • Each morning, a priest decorates a shrine to the god or goddess with fresh flowers, fruit, incense, candles or lamps. Hindu Worship: Family Shrine • Many Hindus keep a shrine in their home. These are dedicated to a particular god and can vary in size. • Some common features of a family shrine are – – – – – – A picture of the god Fresh fruit and flowers Incense or perfume A bell, rung for prayers An oil lamp Scriptures from which prayers are read Hindu Symbols: Om • The symbol Om, or Aum, is the main symbol of Hinduism. It is both a visual and oral representation of Brahmin, or God. • This symbol is the most widely used in all Indian religions, appearing in both Buddhism and Sikhism. Hindu Symbols: Swastika • The swastika is an ancient symbol of good fortune and protection. Besides being used as a symbol for Vishnu, it also represents the eternal wheel of life. • In India, it is common to find swastikas marked on buildings and animals to protect them from evil spirits and natural disasters. Hindu Symbols: The Lotus • The lotus bud, which is born in water and unfolds itself into a beautiful flower, symbolizes the birth of the universe. • Many deities are depicted sitting on a sacred lotus flower. Hindu Symbols: The Cow • For ages, the cow has been held sacred by Hindus. One myth says that the cow was created by Krishna from his own body. • For many Hindus the cow is a sacred animal, providing milk and butter, but not eaten for its meat!