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Hinduism
Global History I: Spiconardi
Origins
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Developed over thousands of years combining
the beliefs of the Aryans & Indus peoples
NO single founder
The word Hindu is derived from the river
Sindhu or Indus
The Universal Spirit
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Hindus believe in one unifying spirit called
Brahman
Brahman is too complex for humans to
understand
Hindus worship many gods to give a more
concrete form to Brahman
The Three Main Hindu Gods
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Brahman The creator
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Vishnu The preserver
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Shiva The destroyer
Hindu Pantheon
Ātman
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Ātman our innermost and true selves
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It is unchanging (unlike our bodies and minds)
We lose sight and awareness of our ātaman in our
search for material things and “true happiness.”
We cannot find true happiness this universe
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We must achieve moksha
Moksha
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The main goal of life is to achieve union with
Brahman (moksha)
Moksha can only occur when you free
yourself from all your selfish desires
Most people cannot achieve moksha in one
lifetime
Reincarnation
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Reincarnation  the soul is reborn in a new
body
Each new lifetime allows you to get closer to
moksha
Hindus get closer to this union by being born
into higher levels of existence
Karma & Dharma
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Karma  the deeds & actions (both good &
bad) of a person’s life that affects his/her
existence in the next life
Dharma  The moral & religious duties that
are expected by of an individual
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A persons gender, class/caste, age, & occupation
can affect his/her dharma
The Caste System
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Caste/Varnas
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Social groups into which people are born in & out
of
You cannot move into a different caste during
your life time
The Caste System
Brahmins (Priests)
Kshatriyas (Rulers & Warriors)
Vaisyas (merchants, farmers, & artisans)
Sudras (non-Aryan farmers & servants)
Untouchable (butchers, gravediggers, trash collectors)
Other Facts
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The Ganges River is sacred
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Bathing in it can purify, cleanse, and cure the sick
Upon death many Hindus are cremated & have some of
their ashes spread in the Ganges
Sacred Texts
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Bhagavad-Gita  most important text; it is a dialogue
between a prince and the Vishnu in disguise.
Vedas Book of hymns, prayers, and philosophies
Other Facts
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Reverence towards the cow (“The Sacred Cow”)
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Seen as a symbol of life and nourishment
Cow Dung
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Used for energy, tilaks (religious markings), & fertilizer
Other Facts
The Bindi
 Forehead decoration that
symbolizes the relationship
status of a Hindu women
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Red = Married
Black = Single
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Black can also ward off
evil spirits