Hinduism

1
Hinduism

• A Very Brief Introduction

2
E L E C T R I C I T Y
I N F I N I T Y
POSITIVE
SPIRIT
POTENTIAL
NEGATIVE
MATTER
CONSCIOUSNESS
ILLUMINATION
3
Scriptures

• Hundreds of scriptures
• oldest scriptures the four Vedas
• Most popular scripture Bhagavad Gita

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The Law of Karma
OF PAST LIFE
OF PRESENT LIFE
Helpful Actions
Good Environment
make
Hurtful Actions
Evil Environment
make
Desires Aspirations
Capacities
make
Sustained Thoughts
Character
make
Successes
Enthusiasm
make
Experiences
Wisdom
make
Painful Experiences
Conscience
make
Will to Serve
Spirituality
makes
5
What ism is Hinduism?

• Everything from Atheism to Polytheism
• Different interpretations of the same scriptures
  led to differences in belief

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Concept of God

• Nirguna Brahman - God without attributes
• Saguna Brahman - God with attributes
• Saguna Brahman can be worshipped in any shape or
  form, human or otherwise

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Hindu Trinity

• Brahma - the Creator
• Vishnu - the Preserver
• Shiva - the Destroyer
• Three aspects/powers of the same divine being

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Basic Beliefs

• Karma - the law of cause and effect you reap
  what you sow
• Reincarnation - eternal soul traverses through
  different bodies till it finds liberation

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Symbolism in Hinduism
10

• Hindus have always had great respect for Mother
  Nature and its creatures
• Cow is especially significant because it
  symbolizes gentleness

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Four Goals of Human Life

• Kama fulfillment of desires
• Artha accumulation of wealth
• Dharma performance of social and religious
  duties
• Moksha freedom from want

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Four Paths to Moksha

• Karma Yoga - Path of righteous action
• Bhakti Yoga - Path of selfless devotion
• Jnana Yoga - Path of rational inquiry
• Raja Yoga - Path of renunciation

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Temple Worship

• Temples provide an atmosphere conducive for
  spiritual progress
• Centers of social and cultural activities
• Provide a place for collective worship and prayers

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Six Philosophical Schools

• Sankhya - Sage Kapila
• Yoga - Sage Patanjali
• Mimamsa - SageJaimini
• Vedanta Sage Vyasa
• Nyaya - Sage Gautama
• Vaisheshika - Sage Kanada

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History of Hinduism

• Originated between 4000 and 2000 BC
• No single founder
• Vedas the oldest scriptures of Hinduism
• Veda means to know
• Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda
• Upanishads explain the philosophical ideas in
  story and dialogue form

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Veda Vyasa

• 1500 BC
• classified the Vedas into the four traditional
  collections
• composed the 18 Puranas
• composed his great poetic work, the Mahabharata
  in a period of two and a half years

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Sankara

• Advaitha philosophy
• 7th century AD
• traveled all over India having public debates
  with other philosophers
• true happiness can be attained by removing
• avidya(ignorance) and maya (self deception)

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Ramanuja

• 10th Century AD
• Vishistadvaitha
• wanted everybody irrespective of social standing
  to enjoy the eternal bliss of Lord Narayana
• Bhakti - complete surrender to the Lord

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Madhva

• Dwaitha philosophy
• 12th Century AD
• the world is not an illusion.
• solitary study of the scriptures, performing
  one's duty without self-interest, practical acts
  of devotion

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Vivekananda

• First Hindu leader to visit America
• Famous address at the World Parliament of
  Religions in Chicago on September 11,1893
• Spent three years preaching the Vedanta
  philosophy in America and England
• Founded the Ramakrishna Mission

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Contemporary Hindu Leaders in America

• David Frawley
• Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
• Mahesh Yogi
• Satchidananda
• Mata Amritanandamayi

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Festivals

• Hinduism is a celebratory religion
• The motive Festivals keep us close to Gods,
• invigorate our household and renew our
• personal life.
• Festivals signify victory of good over evil.
• Every month of Hindu calendar has atleast one
• significant festival. Each festival has
  regional
• significance also.
• Celebration of diversity.

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April/May

• Yugaadi/Ugaadi
• The first day of the year according to
• the National Calendar of India. 
• The day falls in the beginning of spring
• - Vasanta Ritu When the Goddess of
• Nature gets bedecked as a divine
• bride.

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Sri Ramanavami
Mahavir Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti
Birthday of Lord Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, and
his coronation as a king.
Birthday of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism
Birthday of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism
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May/June
Guru Purnima

• Guru Ones teacher. The day
• commemorates the birthday of
• Veda Vyasa.
• Time to remember and felicitate
• ones teachers.

• Lord Muruga
• Worshipped mostly in
• South India

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July/August
Raksha Bandhan
Krishnashtami
Symbolizes the love between brother and sister.
Birthday of Lord Krishna, favorite lovable God
of many )
27
August/September
Ganesh Chaturthi
Durga Pooja/Navaratri
Birthday of the elephant God, Ganesha
A nine day celebration signifying the victory of
Mother Durga over the evil demon King
Mahishasura.
28
October/November
Mother Lakshmi
Deepavali The festival of lights

• Mother Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and
  prosperity is worshipped
• on this day.
• Beginning of the Hindu financial year.

29
December/January
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
Sankranti/Pongal
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, one of the Sikh
Gurus
Celebration of the harvest festival
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February/March
Holi
Mahashivaratri
Holi, the festival of colors commemorating the
victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Holika
Birthday of Lord Shiva