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Hinduism
Mr. Paul Fields, Jr.
Rogers Herr Middle School
™2008
Hinduism
• Hinduism is the oldest religion which dated
back more then 3000 years.
• It worships many gods. Yet it also adheres to
the view that there is only one God, called
Brahman.
• All other divinities are aspects of the one
absolute and unknowable Brahman.
• Hindus believes in the transmigration of souls or
reincarnation
• All living things are part of the same essence.
• The Karman is the law of cause and effect.
• The goal of the individual is to escape this cycle of
birth and rebirth so that the individual soul (atman)
becomes one with Brahman.
Influences on Hinduism
• By AD 300-650, the worships of images was
firmly established.
• After 550 BC, Buddhism and Jainism
emerged.
• Sikhism was founded by Kabir’s disciple
Nanak in the 15th century.
Hindu Dharma
• Many different paths to spiritual progress in an
experiential process.
• God may be worshipped in many forms and ways
• Eternal bliss achieved through good karma (actions) and
renunciation
• All creatures are infused with the same paramatma, and
so should be respected
• Dharma as one way of life imbibed in society
Hindu Beliefs
• All animals are trapped in worldly bodies
(samsaara), deceived by maya (illusion)
• Ultimate aim is to attain liberation (moksh) from
cycles of rebirths
• Acceptance of scriptures such as the Vedas and
the Bhagvad-Gita
• Living to be of use to others by relinquishing the
ego (ahankara); compassion (daya) to all living
things; live in accordance with nature
• Observance of moral values described in epics
such as the Mahabharat and Ramayan
Their Gods
• Hindus believe Brahman, the spirit which encompasses the whole of
creation, can be worshipped in various forms.
• The Hindu Trimurti consists of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the gods of
creation, sustenance and destruction.
• The consorts or Shakti (strength) of the Trimurti are Saraswati, Lakshmi
and Parvati, who are worshipped for wisdom, prosperity and strength
respectively.
• Avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu are worshipped in Krishna (Mahabharat)
and Ram (Ramayan)
• Ganesh, son of Shiva and Parvati, is worshipped as there mover of
obstacles.
• Hanuman worshipped as symbol of courage and devotion
• Rituals are used to help focus the mind on a particular aspect of nature or
Brahman.
A Few Gods
• Vishnu is the protector and the preserver
of the world, his worship is called
Vaisnavism.
• Shiva is both destroyer and restorer, his
worship is called Shivaism.
• Shakti is the Mother Goddess. She can be
either beneficial or fierce manifested
sometime as Parvati or sometime as Kali.
How Many of You have played this
game or heard of this game….?
Its SHIVA…..WOWZERS
Hindu
Symbols
What do we mean when we
talk about symbols?
• Do all religions have symbols?
The Hindu Symbol of Aum
This symbol is the most
important and special
symbol in Hinduism.
Aum represents the Brahman
(from where the whole universe
came).
When you say AUM you use every
part of your vocal organ:
A – comes from the throat
U and M come from the lips
The Hindu Swastika
The swastika is a very holy
symbol representing the sun
god Surya.
It also shows
how Hinduism is about
every part/direction of your
life.
Which four directions could
this mean?
The lotus flower
*Hindus believe the Creator
Brahma came from a lotus flower.
*The lotus is also important
in Hinduism, as, despite
coming from muddy waters, it
becomes a beautiful flower.
*People too should become kind
and good and should never
turn in to bad people.
Mr. Fields’ Hindu Symbol
The Uzumaki Symbol
The Uzumaki Symbol represents the direction I am
headed in.
Also, the symbol represents the world as a whole.
Lastly, my Uzumaki symbol, symbolizes friendships now
and friendship to come.
What kinds of things do Hindu
symbols represent?
Your task:
Design your own religious symbol.
What does it represent?