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Ancient India
Religion
Two Major Religions
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Ancient India followed two major
religions
Hinduism
Buddhism
Hinduism
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Founded in 1500 B.C.E in
the Indus Valley
Grew out of Brahmanism
Holy book is the Vedas
Have many holy days
Worship in Temples
Priests are their religious
leaders
Gandhi is a famous Leader
who practiced Hinduism
Symbol is Lotus Plant
Hindu Beliefs
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Polytheistic- Hindus
worship many gods
Three main gods
Brahma- the
creator
Vishnu- the
protector
Shiva- The
destroyer
Hindu Beliefs
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Hindus believe in
Reincarnation( each person
has many lives)
Karma says that what a
person does in each life
determines what he or she
will in the next life
Good deeds allow a person
to be reborn as a higher
being
Evil deeds cause a person
to be reborn as a lower
being
Buddhism
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Founded in India by
Siddhartha Guatama (later
came to be the Buddha)
Buddhists try to follow life
of the Buddha
Led by monks and nuns
Worship in temples
Symbol is the Lotus Plant
Buddha’s teachings are in
the Dharma
Buddhist Beliefs
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Believe in 4 Noble Truths
People suffer because
their minds are not at ease
That condition comes from
wanting what one doesn’t
have or from wanting life
to be different
People can stop suffering
by not wanting
People can stop wanting
by following the Eight Fold
Path
The Eight Fold Path
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Following the eight fold
path meant having the
right opinions, desires,
speech, actions, job,
effort, concentration,
and meditation
This path led to
Nirvana (state of being
where suffering ends)