Download Hinduism PPT #1

HINDUISM
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
GRADE 9 SS
AISG
2016
Key Words
Aryan
Sanskrit
Dharma
Moksha
Karma
Vedas
Brahman
Reincarnation
Ramayana
Mahabharata
Ahimsa
Varna
Brahmin
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Sudra
Untouchable
Ancient India

Human origins in India began in the Indus Valley

Ancient cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro

These civilisations ended around 1800 BCE

With the decline of the Harappan civilisation, Indus Valley was
invaded and settled by the Aryans.

Aryan civilisation would be the basis of Hinduism
The Beginnings of Hinduism

New ideas surfaced as Aryan culture mixed with existing culture

Hinduism

One of the major world religions - 850 million people practice
Hinduism in India today

Oldest practiced religion in the world

No single founder

Worship many gods and goddesses

Brahman- one single spiritual power which lives in everything

More than one path to truth - People are different so they need many
different ways of approaching god
The Trimurti
Three main deities:
Shiva the destroyer
Brahma the creator
Vishnu the maintainer
Hindu Gods and Goddesses

All the gods stand for a different part of Brahman

The most important gods are:


Brahma- The Creator

Vishnu- The Preserver

Shiva- The Destroyer
Hindu gods take many different forms

Avatar- representation of a Hindu god or goddess in human or animal
form
Brahma

Born from golden egg

Created earth

Not as widely worshipped
as Vishnu and Shiva
Vishnu

Kindly god

Concerned with welfare of humans

Visits earth in different forms

guide humans

Protect from disaster
Shiva

Not concerned with human matters

Very powerful

Responsible for creative and destructive forces in the universe

Developed from Rudra
Religious texts

Two main Hindu Holy Books:

Shruti – ‘that which is heard’ (Vedas, prayers and philosophies)

Smriti – ‘that which is remembered’ (aphorisms, stories, and histories)

Stories are part of the Smriti in a book called ‘Puranas’ – they take
form of long poems.

Sanskrit Epics – Ramayana + Mahabharata
A Hindu’s Duties


Dharma- religious and moral duties of each person

Must be obeyed

Duties depend on class, age, and occupation

EX: Man must protect the women in his family
Ahimsa- nonviolence

All people and living things must be treated with respect

Many do not eat meat and try to avoid harming living things
Caste System… (varna)
You are born in a social class system…
Brahmin
2.
Kshatriyas
3.
Vaishyas
4.
Shudras
Aryans
1.
5.
…
(fire priests, scholars and
teachers)
(warriors, administrators and law
enforcers)
(agriculturists, cattle raisers and traders)
(service providers and artisans)