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Hinduism
By Erin Sickinger
Mr. Mitchell
Modern World History Hr: 6
Facts About Hinduism
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Hinduism was developed in India around 1500 B.C.
Based on the teachings of the Vedas, which are
collection of hymns and religious ceremonies that
were passed down by Aryan priests, and then were
eventually written down
Hinduism does not have a single founder.
Hinduism is the world’s oldest and most complex
religion.
Third largest religion after Christianity and Islam
– 13% of world’s population and ~ 837 million followers
Symbols
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Om Symbol is a sacred sound that
is very important to Hinduism. The
symbol represents several triads:
– the three worlds - earth,
atmosphere, and heaven
– the three major Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva
– the three sacred Vedic scriptures Rg, Yajur, and Sama
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Other symbols include:
– Shiva Linga - the symbol of the god,
Shiva
– Lotus - represents beauty and nonattachment
– Swastika - a cross with four arms of
equal length
God or gods?
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Hinduism religion believes in one
God, Brahman. They view other
gods and goddesses as
manifestations or aspects of
Brahman.
– Brahma created the universe
and all of life.
– He rules over Brahmaloka, which
contains all the magnificence of
the earth and of other worlds.
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Hinduism has hundreds of
human-like gods and goddesses,
but there are three main ones:
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Brahma the Creator
Vishnu the Preserver
Siva the Destroyer
To the farthest left is Brahma,
Vishnu, and Siva
Reincarnation
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Reincarnation is the belief that a individual is reborn into a
different form after death
– Reincarnation provides privileges for the upper class and hope for
the lower classes to behave properly in the next life.
– Reincarnation was developed in the 6th century B.C.
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Karma determines how a person will be reborn in the next life.
– What people do in this life determines what they will be in the next
life
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Dharma is a law that requires people to do their duty.
– A person’s duty depends on their social class.
– More is expected out of people of a higher class than those of
lower class
The Caste System
Aryan society developed the caste system. This is a
system which ranks a person in society according to
occupational class
There are four main social classes called varnas:
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Brahmans were priests. They were at the top of the social class
The second varna was the Kshatriyas consisting of soldiers and
warriors
The third varna was the Vaisyas consisting mostly of merchants and
farmers
The fourth varna was the Sudras, who made up a large amount of
the Indian population. Most Sudras were peasants and laborers. (They
only had limited rights in society).
The lowest class of Indian society (not even considered part of the
system) were the “Untouchables.” They were extremely poor and
discriminated against.
Beliefs and Moral Values
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Karma is ruled by Dharma (or the Divine Law)
The belief of dharma allows Hindus to solve the problem of
sin and suffering.
– The law teaches that in order to move up to a higher class one
must do their duty in their current social class in life to move up
to a higher class in their next life.
– Importantly how a person lived their past life determined the
class that they’re living in now
– These concepts allowed people of lower classes to live in
harmony with people of higher class because they had hope to
move up based on how well they lived their life
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The moral values imparted from Hinduism is that a person
must be good in order to reunite with Brahman after death –
even if it requires multiple lives through reincarnation.
Works Cited
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http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/hi
nduism.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/
http://www.anjaliom.com/apprendre/images/trimurti.jpg
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/hindu.html
http://www.1stholistic.com/Prayer/Hindu/hol_Hindubrahma.htm